Bob & Cindy's 2015 Travel Web Site
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More Lost Coast and Trinidad, California Area
So we spent one last day in the Redwood area south of Eureka, CA by taking a day trip over to Shelter Cove, a hippie town (not sure I would even call it a town) over the coastal mountains via a crappy excuse for a two lane road with 15% grades and many 10 mph curves. The weather turned out to be perfect and the tourists were non existent. Just our kind of out-of-the-way place! Pictures below. From there we went up to Trinidad, CA, expecting a similar experience, but this area is so far off the beaten path it seems we have moved 40 years back in time. Not bad, just different. We are now dropping out ourselves, doing more reading, a few hikes to the cliffs and beaches in the area and some touring up to the redwoods north of here.
Tide pools at Shelter Cove. The locals are saying the sea life in the tide pools is dying and they are not sure why. Warmer temps, the so-called Blob (a warm water area off the coast of California), they just don't know.
This is a view of the town of Shelter Cove, many homes perched up on cliffs ready to collapse under the right conditions, but a beautiful area. The lighthouse was relocated from a point about 25 miles up the coast.
Colorful flowers all over the place here
Seals lounging on the rocks, with a lot of them in the water with pups in the kelp beds. Fun watching.
The area is a jumping off spot for hikers doing the 25+ mile coastal trail. It's usually a 2 night trip. We spoke with this guy before his start north. It's a must to have tide charts in order to get around the headland areas.
Black sand beach at Shelter Cove
View looking back at the bluffs above the beaches and rocks. There is obvious erosion and just a matter of time before many to these homes drop down.
This is after we arrived in the Trinidad area on the way to Redwood National Park. There are many Roosevelt Elk and this time of year they are down in the valleys.
Trillium is wild plant/flower that grows throughout. We were early in the blooming season but these guys are everywhere.
It seems anything will grow here ... these are tulips, daffodils, and iris.
On the trail in Redwood National Park. It's magical but the dampness and lack of light makes those of us used to wide open spaces feel a little claustrophobic.
Magical though, eerie quiet and very little noticeable wildlife in these areas.
More Trillium
On the trail in Redwood NP
These guys are also in the 250 to 350 foot range. One difference between here and the coastal redwoods we saw earlier .. these have much more undergrowth and many different trees.
Waterfalls all around.
Another hike we did was a place called Fern Canyon, right by the ocean. We were just a little early as the ferns were just coming out.
Fern Canyon, it's a good thing it had not rained recently.
Enjoying life!
Cindy looking for agates on the beach. Of course she found some and now they will travel back to Spicewood. I must say the rocks that wash up here are colorful and unusual, probably because of the 3 faults that are just off the coast where we are camped (but we have not felt any earthquakes).
We have had several days of marine layer fog. it usually burns off by 11:00 in the morning but has lasted until 3 on a few days. When it does not burn off, the temps stay in the mid 50's. It's just a part of life in this area.
We've been camped just outside of Patrick's Point State Park and it's been fun to walk through the woods just to get out, whether there is fog or not. The trails go over by the cliffs with wonderful views of the rocks and beaches. One day we watched two Coast Guard helicopters training for emergency rescue, dropping dummies down on the rocks or in the water and then retrieving them, all in 25 mph winds. Amazing skills.
