AUGUST 8, 2012 - U.S. Hwy 101 South to REDWOOD COUNTRY

Wednesday

AUGUST 8, 2012

We are using Kamp Klamath as our base of operations. 

Today, we drove US Hwy 101 South to Exit 753,

 and took the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. 

We pulled over at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

 which claims to have the World's Tallest trees.
  I believe that is the Redwood's claim to fame,

not necessarily this Park's.

We walked the Foothills Woodland Trail,

 after having our picture taken at the BIG TREE.

I will show you the vital stats for that tree.

NOTE:

It takes three photos to show its

awesome height.

There was not enough distance in my

camera's frame to include the entire

tree in the same photo.

We started our walk on the Woodland trail about 11:45 AM,

and got back to the truck at 2 PM.  We literally

"walked among the Redwoods"

and experienced their

greatness.  We had the path

all to ourselves, and

often had to walk single file.

Occasionally, we would hear

the sound of a Chickadee and

one time when I mimiced their

song, a Steller Jay came into view.

Another surprise came our way when I looked down

and saw a Banana Slug.

It seemed to hear me talking to it, and

almost posed

on its mossy log.

We saw two others during the

afternoon, but this first one

was the most developed.

It was about 4 inches long,

and the width of my thumb.

The birds kept us company on the trail.

A young VARIED THRUSH

which is about the size of a Robin,

seemed to flutter into my path.

He was too young to be afraid,

and stayed long enough for me to

take at least twenty pictures of him.

I video taped him, and so did Russ.

What a thrill to then see his

brothers and sisters fluttering

through the trees, making me think

they were just fledging. 

The path was rerouted

 around this giant that no longer stands.

 

I love looking through the roots

 of some of the fallen giants.

  This one created a beautiful frame.

I would have loved

 to put these

colorful flowers in

the frame.

However, they  need

lots of sunshine,

and it was not until

we got back to the Truck

that we saw them in the

open clearing.

I have to mention how God watches out for us.

We walked lots farther than we had

expected, but were not afraid

because we could hear vehicles,

and sometimes see

the distant road. 

We thought we were walking

a Loop trail but came out

one miles from our starting point,

and probably had walked 3 miles.

The one couple we met on the trail,

just before coming out to the road,

decided to turn back

to their car, and offered

us a ride back to our Truck.

We later drove that distance

and it was ONE MILE.

We were so glad we had a nice

lunch waiting in the Truck.