Arcata, California

What a relief to come over the mountains from Central Oregon at 97 degrees to Humbolt County in the 50s and 60s.
Monday - Mike and I took off to Fern Canyon about an hour north. I thought I had been there, but I don't think so when I saw the 8 mile rutted, narrow dirt road to the coast. I am thinking who would take this road to the coast and once we got out there, we qued up behind all these cars waiting to pay their day use fee. Then we had to ford 4 streams to get to the parking lot. Of course, Fern Canyon is famous as you can see from the photos. The California coast is so beautiful and rugged.

Tuesday - Well, here I am the last day of my 5 week trek to the Northwest. Mike and I rolled out the house around noon and traveled south this time to visit the Avenue of the Giants. When I travel up or down the 101 passing by this scenic byway, I am always thinking, "It has been years since I have been through here and should stop", but am in a hurry to get to where I am going, so Mike and I went down the scenic byway to a famous grove for the last hike. The fog cleared in the redwoods and we had increased our temperature about 20-30 degrees. There is nothing like the huge redwoods to make you realize the magic of nature and the force of nature in coming through with hurricane force winds and rain to fell and uproot the giants. And then to top it off we visited the cemetary where some of the pioneers of the area found their resting places. As you probably know, this whole area depended on logging to support them when gold mining didn't "pan out". We visited Fort Humbolt and the logging exhibit. I am sitting on a steam donkey, designed in Humbolt, which hauled logs down from the forest to the harbor for transport or processing. It was a hard life and again I don't think I could live in this time period. I feel lucky to have my home on my back, my bike firmly hanging on the back of the car and all my food, clothes and necessities inside. Tomorrow I am making my last stretch home to Petaluma. Stay tune to last thoughts and insights about my phenomenal trip.