|
|
Today was one of those
days that turned out to be so blessed because we were willing
to go with the flow instead of sticking to a pre-made plan. We
headed out south from Crescent City with the Lady Bird Johnson
Grove as our goal. Near there, however, we saw a sign that said
use Davidson Road for wild elk viewing. We thought that sounded
like a nice, short diversion, so we turned, and sure enough, there
were quite a few elk lazing around in a nearby field.
But then we were intriqued
by an entrance sign to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park that said
we were only 4 miles from Gold Bluffs Beach and 8 miles from Fern
Canyon. I can never resist a beach and ferns are some of my
favorite green beings, so we decided to take off down that road
instead. We could see it was a narrow, twisty road with a sign banning
vehicles over 24 foot long, so we figured now was the time since
we were in the tow car.
|
|
|
|
It was
slow going, and we even had to cross a couple of streams, but we
didn't care - it was really a beautiful drive. By the time we made
it to Gold Bluffs Beach, we were hungry and it was a perfect spot
for our picnic lunch. We really loved the sound of the waves here
- they were different than we'd been used to along the coast so
far. This was just nothing but water as far out as you could see
- without the rocky seastacks to beat against, these waves sounded
gentler, but still ever so powerful.
|
|
|
|
By the
time we made it to Fern Canyon, mom said she was too tired to make
the trek into it. She was content to sit on a bench a short distance
away from the entrance and wait for me there where she could watch
the ocean. I went a ways back into the canyon, and was so intrigued
by it that I had made up my mind I would just insist she had to
see this - the deep canyon walls covered by shimmering emerald green
ferns, the little foot bridges giving you access across the sparkling
streams - there was just no way she could miss this!
|
|
|
|
|
|
She didn't
seem too sure about it when I told her this trek was worth it, and
she should come on even though it was a bit tiring. But here she
is a little ways into it and she now looks convinced, doesn't she?
|
|
|
|
There
were all sorts of interesting portals made by huge fallen trees
you could pass under - with incredibly interesting shapes and colors.
|
|
|
|
On the
way out, I remember thinking "If this is the last sight I see
on earth, I'd consider myself lucky." As we emerged out of
the canyon, this ray of light was shining upon us like a special
blessing - what a glorious day!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
