Patrick's Point, Arcata, CA

16 July 2009

My apologies for the delay, but we have been opting for campsites in state parks rather than RV parks--quieter and more room for the kids to move, although they are unplugged. SO, here I sit in a coffee house in FAIRBANKS, ALASKA! Yes, we made it. To all of the nay-sayers who thought it was an ambitious trip to get here, well...the ambitious part will be getting back to park the van in time for our flight back to Muscat ;-b

So here is how the blog is going to work, I am going to catch you up with the Redwoods, CA and Crater Lake, OR; the Inner Passage Ferry we took from Bellingham, WA to Haines, Alaska, Yukon Territory and Alaska State will come later (there's just so much to say!). On that note:

Redwoods, CA to Crater Lake, OR

Wow. Green. Ginormous. Solitude.

After a night midway between Yosemite and the coast, we entered Humbolt County, CA. Known for many things medicinal and psychologically therapeutic, nothing was more so than The Redwoods We stopped for a break in Leggett, CA, where the “Drive Thru Tree” is:


























Emma in a Trunk



Then it was down the “Avenue of the Giants”, just outside of Eureka, CA. Now, there are trees, and there are TREES. But these magnificent works of time and nature were spell-binding, and to try to describe the majesty of these beasts would only insult them. There are no words in any language for the experience of the Redwood forest. 2000+ year old trees; the largest living organisms on Earth. Even David Attenburough can’t wax poetically enough to deliver an understanding. You can only live the Redwood Forest to know the captivating power of life is holds.



















Patrick’s Point, our residence for two nights, was also incredible (lamely, the word repeatedly rolled out of my mouth time and time again–I was dumbstruck with the beauty of the place.). Tide pools, sea lions, trees to the cliff’s edge, hiking trails, and GREEN, GREEN, GREEN.











Kai was SO into the trees, one actually sprouted from his face!




Emma hiding out in a local Native American house.

Reluctantly, we pulled camp to make our push to Alaska. We almost settled in.












Crater Lake, OR




After a very enjoyable drive through Jedediah Smith National Forest and numerous other national forests fostering towering Red Giants (and a pit stop for oil change and laundry in Crescent City, CA), we entered Oregon and hit Crater Lake sometime around sunset. Thinking we could camp on the rim, we made for it, but alas, the entire Crater area (inside the National park) is owned by a resort The lodge at the top was nice (the sunset over the lake MUCH more so), but not camper friendly. So we dodged a few deer (Kai is a master deer spotter. We did not hit one ) and camped in the resort-owned camp grounds lower down and spent the next day hiking and fishing and bike riding and celebrating Kai’s seventh birthday. He loved it.



























All in all, so far, GREAT! We'll sit and rest in Fairbanks until SUnday or Monday, then begin "The Great Descent". Look for an update for The Inner Passage and Alaska SOON!!