Coos Bay south along to the coast to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Ahh the last section of I have never been here to: wow, the last time I was here was 1981 ..
We packed up from Sunset Bay state park, drove over to Batesndorf County Park to use their dump station and hit the highway. Almost immediately I too a wrong but Right turn and took this great back road through the hills past the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and on to one of my favorite named roads of the trip โSeven Devils Roadโ. I half expected to run into a bunch of old friends on that one. Once on 101 it was a very pleasant drive along the coast.
With Friday afternoon creeping in and Gold Bluffs Campground being first come first served we pressed on into California, grabbed a Burrito in Crescent City and set our sights on Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. My last visit was in 81 when I was a Student at Humboldt State University. My memory although hazy from smoking some of the locally products was of a small campground, great hiking and Bull Elk on the beach. We were not to be let down.
I exited 101 at Davidson road which turns to dirt and climbs up through the redwoods then down to the beach. The road has a length restriction of 24 feet so I chopped a foot off my imaginary tape measure and went for it. Width wise you can only pass in turnouts and you really have to follow the uphill traffic has the right of way rule. It had rained the night before and this would be the first time I had had my 19.5s in the dirt so I shifted into 4x4 and off we went.
We did run into some traffic heading away from the beach and the drivers were for the most part wide eyed and certain that they were going to meet their doom on the front bumper of my lumbering beast. I have never seen folks back up or swerve to the ditch so fast in my life. I loved it.
5 miles and one entering Tsunami danger zone sign later we broke out of the forest for a leisurely 3 mile drive on gravel washboard complete with one stream crossing on the way to Gold Bluffs Campground
The campground consists of one loop on the beach and about 20 sites and a vault toilet. Perfect
We snagged the last open site.
Gold Bluffs
As we settled in we were treated to a beautiful Bull Roosevelt Elk strolling his way down the beach
looking North along the bluffs towards Fern Canyon where we would go hiking the next morning
Drinks in hand, doggies at our sides we watched the Sun set into Ocean from the sand dunes
Night time
Stars and the roar of the waves breaking off shore was an excellent end to the day
In the morning we had a quick bowl of granola some coffee and took the dogs out to the beach
Fresh elk tracks
We broke camp and headed for a special treat. A hike up Fern Canyon, it is spectacular at any time but in the rain when you need to wear waders to hike up and the canyon walls are a solid waterfall through the ferns it takes your breath away
Fresh Elk Sign
Breathtaking
We climbed up out of the Canyon and strolled among the redwoods
Banana Slug
California Red Legged Frog
The happy wanderers
Another one of those reminders that we are in Earthquake /Tsunami country
Then as we descended back to beach level and came around a turn there he was. Simply magnificent
Man I hated to leave Prairie Creek. But it was back to the Lance, 4 miles of washboard, 5 miles of dirt and back to hwy 101
We stopped for Lunch in Trinidad and refueled for the drive home. We did take a side trip to Fortuna south of Eureka where we found this Bakery and Chocolate shop that had been featured on Diners Dives and Drive Ins. Their cinnamon buns were to die for. We cleaned them out.
Somewhere along the road I heard a metallic bang so I pulled over and checked. I didn't find anything but I was experiencing more sway and wander when turning right so I knew I had snapped something so I just had to drive a bit slower and all was good
As we headed south into Mendocino and Sonoma counties you could really see the effects of the drought. The Van Duzen river was dry. Sections of the Eel were dry it was amazing. At around 8pm we had dinner at Chicago pizza in Petaluma. We rolled into our driveway at around 10pm
Sunday Morning I found the snap
one of the bolts for the rear airbag mount had snapped. Same side as my blow out 10 months earlier. I have to wonder if it was related to all the damage that occurred back then.
Anyways we had a great trip, I hope you enjoyed coming along and to quote the Beatles
Thank you and I hope we passed the audition
Buzz
Ahh the last section of I have never been here to: wow, the last time I was here was 1981 ..
We packed up from Sunset Bay state park, drove over to Batesndorf County Park to use their dump station and hit the highway. Almost immediately I too a wrong but Right turn and took this great back road through the hills past the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and on to one of my favorite named roads of the trip โSeven Devils Roadโ. I half expected to run into a bunch of old friends on that one. Once on 101 it was a very pleasant drive along the coast.
With Friday afternoon creeping in and Gold Bluffs Campground being first come first served we pressed on into California, grabbed a Burrito in Crescent City and set our sights on Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. My last visit was in 81 when I was a Student at Humboldt State University. My memory although hazy from smoking some of the locally products was of a small campground, great hiking and Bull Elk on the beach. We were not to be let down.
I exited 101 at Davidson road which turns to dirt and climbs up through the redwoods then down to the beach. The road has a length restriction of 24 feet so I chopped a foot off my imaginary tape measure and went for it. Width wise you can only pass in turnouts and you really have to follow the uphill traffic has the right of way rule. It had rained the night before and this would be the first time I had had my 19.5s in the dirt so I shifted into 4x4 and off we went.
We did run into some traffic heading away from the beach and the drivers were for the most part wide eyed and certain that they were going to meet their doom on the front bumper of my lumbering beast. I have never seen folks back up or swerve to the ditch so fast in my life. I loved it.
5 miles and one entering Tsunami danger zone sign later we broke out of the forest for a leisurely 3 mile drive on gravel washboard complete with one stream crossing on the way to Gold Bluffs Campground
The campground consists of one loop on the beach and about 20 sites and a vault toilet. Perfect
We snagged the last open site.
Gold Bluffs
As we settled in we were treated to a beautiful Bull Roosevelt Elk strolling his way down the beach
looking North along the bluffs towards Fern Canyon where we would go hiking the next morning
Drinks in hand, doggies at our sides we watched the Sun set into Ocean from the sand dunes
Night time
Stars and the roar of the waves breaking off shore was an excellent end to the day
In the morning we had a quick bowl of granola some coffee and took the dogs out to the beach
Fresh elk tracks
We broke camp and headed for a special treat. A hike up Fern Canyon, it is spectacular at any time but in the rain when you need to wear waders to hike up and the canyon walls are a solid waterfall through the ferns it takes your breath away
Fresh Elk Sign
Breathtaking
We climbed up out of the Canyon and strolled among the redwoods
Banana Slug
California Red Legged Frog
The happy wanderers
Another one of those reminders that we are in Earthquake /Tsunami country
Then as we descended back to beach level and came around a turn there he was. Simply magnificent
Man I hated to leave Prairie Creek. But it was back to the Lance, 4 miles of washboard, 5 miles of dirt and back to hwy 101
We stopped for Lunch in Trinidad and refueled for the drive home. We did take a side trip to Fortuna south of Eureka where we found this Bakery and Chocolate shop that had been featured on Diners Dives and Drive Ins. Their cinnamon buns were to die for. We cleaned them out.
Somewhere along the road I heard a metallic bang so I pulled over and checked. I didn't find anything but I was experiencing more sway and wander when turning right so I knew I had snapped something so I just had to drive a bit slower and all was good
As we headed south into Mendocino and Sonoma counties you could really see the effects of the drought. The Van Duzen river was dry. Sections of the Eel were dry it was amazing. At around 8pm we had dinner at Chicago pizza in Petaluma. We rolled into our driveway at around 10pm
Sunday Morning I found the snap
one of the bolts for the rear airbag mount had snapped. Same side as my blow out 10 months earlier. I have to wonder if it was related to all the damage that occurred back then.
Anyways we had a great trip, I hope you enjoyed coming along and to quote the Beatles
Thank you and I hope we passed the audition
Buzz
