The Mighty Redwoods, Newport Beach to Cresent City, CA 8/20/19

August 20, 2019

We were barely out of Crescent City before we entered the Redwood Forests. Such majesty is truly inspirational! They really remind us of how small and young we are. 

There is a heavy marine layer (low fog and mist) even up in the redwoods...I’m sure when this layer burns off, the ocean views are once again spectacular! 

We didn't make it inside Trees of Mystery...the outside was enough

We stopped so we could take a photo of Paul Bunyan and Babe at the tourist haven, The Trees of Mystery. 

Tacky Americana at it’s best! 

Closes up of these massive sculptures...they were large and colorful anyway!

This sculpture made me sad on so many levels...

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Nope, that's isn't me...funny, I wonder how many other photos she ended up in???

We decided to take the Redwood Rd that goes deeper into the Redwoods. We stopped at the Big Tree, so Mike could hike back to see it. WOW!

Majestic!!!

Even the paths back to these massive trees were almost overgrown

Love all the fern varieties and all the lush shades of green

With all these trees and no path, one could easily be lost

I got a bit of our Edge in this shot; but it was one of the very few stores around and we weren't sure it was even open?

Even overlooking the forest it was incredibly dense and lush!!!

I kept trying to capture the wildflowers and weeds because even they were pretty

We began to see farms and ranches set in the valleys in between the Redwoods, the mountains and ocean as we drive South. 

More Americana and of course Big Foot...OH MY!!!

Vista Point, the Avenue of the Giants is a cut through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, at Pepperwood. It’s somewhat hard to drive through here, as the road winds through these majestic trees with areas of blinding light followed by heavy shadows. 
For much of this smaller road we traveled alongside a river which just added to the beauty. The temperatures are back in the 80’s for the first time in days. We definitely enjoyed the cool while we could. 

Loved how the trees formed a canopy overhead

I tried to capture the darks and lights as we drove through...so lovely

So lovely and lush

Once we entered Mendocino County, we experienced the most switchbacks on one road we have ever encountered! While traversing the switchbacks, Mike was driving up or down mountains, still deep in Redwood country. Absolutely beautiful, but not for people prone to motion sickness. Oh my! After miles of switchbacks within the Redwood Forest, we breakout to coastal mountain switchbacks with once again sensational ocean vistas.  

The Inn at Newport Ranch sits out by itself with the Pacific Ocean in its front yard. http://theinnatnewportranch.com/

Finally, captured these sea oats and the Pacific ocean...love them both

The marina layers hadn't burned off completely yet

We are viewing Northern California beaches here

More flowers  or weeds still in bloom

Cucina Verona, our fabulous, tiny Italian Crescent City restaurant with their blind elderly accordion player. She had quite a repertoire! She reminded us of Jimmy, the 90+ year old violinist who played at one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Mason, OH.

Our oceanfront sunset view out of our first floor balcony ...divine!