Friday, May 16, 2014

Elk and Redwoods (5/15/2014)



This morning we were out of bed by 6 in hopes of seeing elk in the field right opposite the trailer. We were not disappointed! Barbara kept a sharp eye out until she saw movement. When she did, we grabbed the camera and binoculars and headed outside. There were about 5 bull elk and another 7 females just grazing and laying in the field. We enjoyed watching and photographing for about a half hour without another camper even aware of what they were missing! We had a leisurely breakfast and then I headed out for my first hike of the trip. I was on the hike by 8 and enjoyed a spectacular 7 mile hike throughout the groves of Redwoods. They were magnificent! I have always enjoyed hiking in the Smoky Mountains and enjoyed hiking here just as much. It felt so special hiking in an area where the trees can grow up to 385 feet tall and live to 2000 years. It felt almost useless trying to capture the scenes with a camera. How do you show the significance of a tree that has a diameter of 20+ feet? I have always enjoyed the “feeling” of hiking as opposed to the capturing of pictures. This was just that kind of experience. I only came across a few others on the trail, but that is not unusual as I like to hike early in the mornings and find the other “hikers” are usually closest to the trail head. I got back to the campground, took a shower and we were packed and on the road by 11:30 or so. We continued south on 101 and ended up in another state campground in a different part of the Redwood Park. (Humboldt Redwoods) We shoe horned our trailer into a site surrounded by tall trees and many stumps of the tremendous Redwoods. Just across the street were several shorter hikes that Barbara and I enjoyed walking together. We finished the day with a light dinner, played some RumiKube and hit the sack! What a great day!!!

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