October 23, Redwoods, Tidal pools, Redwoods

 It's Tuesday. 

We had a lovely breakfast provided by the hotel (Holiday Inn Express in Klamath). Jane spent the night with us. She slept all night! Unfortunately, Mike did not. 

Our first stop was "Trees of Mystery."  Mike took a shuttle when we arrived there and rode to the gondola and thru the treetops. The rest of us walked thru the trees on paths on the ground and paths in the trees. It was fun!  We also took the gondola ride to the treetops and into the clouds. We were only at 775feet elevation, yet we were in the clouds. 

That little white dot is Mike amidst the many wood carvings. So many carvings! So many trees! So much history!

And Folks tales.

Babe the Big Blue Ox with Paul Bunyan. 

We enjoyed seeing the big trees and learning about them and how they grow, etc.

The path through the trees was fun for everyone. I'm glad it wasn't crowded.

The suspended walkways were well- made.

Just mossy trees. I love moss.

Here's a sideways panoramic view looking out and up. Waaaayy up.

I had to hurry to catch up with everyone as we were zig zagging through the trees!

Jane was

So nice to hold the exit gate open for us all.

Cathedral tree.

I'm really glad we went to this stop! It was fun!

This chain saw is BIG.

Up in the clouds!

I tried to get everyone together for a picture, but Emily did NOT want to cooperate.

Our gondola ride through the forest.

First stops of the day (Tuesday).

There is always plenty of road construction going on. This trip is no exception. It was cloudy today. 

This is our view. . . Following Nick and Kaylee 's car...even if we are going the wrong way! Haha. We did head out of town the wrong way at the start of our day.

Second stop was lunch at Norris Family Diner in Crescent City. Home-spun and fun. Very accommodating. 

Third stop was Safeway to stock up on healthy snacks. Or semi- healthy ones. I got nuts, fruit and crackers and granola bars and Dr. Pepper and Peanut M&M's. We know we can count on a good breakfast, but the rest of the days  and meals...not so sure.

We headed to the lighthouse and tide pools next.

Photos.

Tide pools and a seal or two in the bay, resting on rocks.

That's a sea lion laying on the rock

The photo above actually has TWO sea lions in the photo-- one on a nearby rock, and one way further away. 

Nick got a nice photo of a brown starfish in the tide pools.

We also saw anemones,  hermit and dungeness crabs, little fish.

I like this photo of Jane and Kaylee watching the seal on the rock. It's framed between them, by their knees.

 Final stop was the hike through Stout Grove Loop Trail in the Jedediah Smith State Park area. 

It was a beautiful drive there, a beautiful walk through the groves ( a very stinky vault toilet that got used by some of us , P. U.!) And a few photos of some very big trees who had very big bases and roots.

Burls!

Loading Emily into or out of the carrier. We (Emily and I) ended up walking on our own little hike because she was causing too many delays for the rest. Jane didn't want to hike, either, so she stayed in the truck with Grandpa. 

Big root systems, side by side.

Following Nick's family out, a different way than how we got in. So pretty!

As soon as we got back, the kids went swimming. Two more showers in our room, and a different sleep-over guest tonight-- Rachel. Nick and Kaylee have ample room with two queens and a pull-out sofa bed sleeper, but sometimes it's best to switch things up. 

We had fruit and crackers in our room for dinner, and I'm tired!