Fortuna, CA / July 8 / Redwoods

Ok folks got some pictures for you all today.   Redwoods - you have got to see them if you haven't.  Valerie and Roger you must plan another trip and we must make the trek up north here to Humboldt County!    This was our second trip here and we are still wow'd by them.   They are majestic, mystical, magical I just don't have adequate words and pictures just don't capture their essence.
We awoke to rain (yeah for that) but were not deterred from our plans to see the big trees.  We headed south on the 101 to the Avenue of the Giants, which is approximately a 30 mile stretch of two lane road that goes right through the groves of redwoods.  The road is very narrow in some spots because the trees are growing so close to the side the road.  So here goes:

This is a picture of a Pacific Northwest Madrone Tree.  Beautiful red bark, at some point in the year they begin to shed their bark and it peels off to reveal a light yellow/green which as it ages turns red.   I love this tree.   Our guide on the jet boat pointed them out to us and now I look for them.  I saw a lot of them today.

We then headed to Eureka and found out way to Woodley Island and the marina there.   We found a nice cafe and had lunch looking out at the bay and all the colorful fishing boats.    We also found "The Old Man of the Sea" there!

We then headed back to Fortuna, with a very quick pit stop at the Indian Casino, Bear River Casino.  They were doing a bit of remodeling and the smoke was overwhelming when we walked in - no bueno!    So needless to say we donated a few dollars and then quickly hit the road.

There is a lot of logging and lumber mills here (duh) so today I got a shot of one of the trucks full of logs for my lil boy.  Check it out Caleb - that's a lot of logs!

And finally my model stood by this tree to give you some idea of the tree's girth - wow - to be honest I think this started as two separate trees but has grown into one.   AMAZING............