Delicalifornia: A few days away from wifi

July 6th
We pulled out of Eureka and only made it about 30 miles down the road before we came to Humboldt Redwood State Park. We were bound for Leggett for the drive through Redwood Tree, but by chance we took a scenic side route called the Avenue of Giants.

About half way through we came upon a campground and now that the long weekend is over there was vacancy. The campsite is amazing, it's actually in the middle of a redwood grove. When the breeze picks up you can smell the redwoods. If you've been to the "Flying Over California" ride at Disney's California Adventure Park, it smells exactly like that!! The kids became California State Park Junior Rangers after taking a class and a tour of the redwoods, they got badges and log books. At the group campfire Reilly won a Coast Redwood seedling which he can't wait to plant when he gets home. That night after our own camp fire(yes, the fire wood was redwood) we slept in until 9am.

July 7th
It was hard to leave Humboldt Park, but we set off again. In Leggett we found one of the few drive through trees but the van was a smidge too tall.

On the windy mountain route from Route 101 to Route 1 Hailey then Reilly took turns getting car sick, the microsuede apolstry cleans up quite well actually. By the time we got to Westport the van was running on fumes. As we pulled into the one gas station/liquor store/deli it was almost my turn to be sick when I was told that the nearest diesel was still another 15 miles South in Fort Bragg. At Fort Bragg we fueled up, groceried up and got some take out from Safeway and took to the deserted beach at Jug Handle State Reserve for supper. Tons of kelp on the beach and many varieties of wild flowers growing out of the cliffs.

South from there, Nicole fell in love with every little coastal village we came upon. We agreed just driving this coastline would make a great vacation. We watched the sun sink into the Pacific just past Anchor Bay then set up camp at Gualala for the night.