SEA LIONS, CRESCENT CITY & SUNSETS

Well, we have been really making the rounds. Just about everyday we have spent some time at the harbor. There are lots of sea lions hanging around and mom has been having a lot of fun photographing those big boys.

We took a drive up 199 toward Grants Pass, along the Smith River. The Smith River is really very pretty. It's big and the water runs emerald green. Our timing wasn't too good for the light so we didn't get any of the really pretty green stuff to show you. We went as far as Patrick Creek. This is a very pretty creek and we hiked up it for a couple of miles. It was a great walk. We could have driven it but mom likes to walk and so do I. You see more that way.

Along the way was a botanical trail that led to our old friend the Darlingtonia. Quite a big patch of them. They were red rather than green like the ones in Oregon. I reckon it must be the winter or something. Probably a lot colder here. They are cool looking plants green or red.

Sunsets around have been pretty good. We've been out almost every evening trying to capture them.

Although Crescent City is kind of a depressed area it is surrounded by really beautiful natural scenery. I'd recommend this place for a visit any time.

Kinsey Barnard

MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE!

We are still hiding out from the big storms here in Northern California. I think mom now has us scheduled for departure on Monday. I guess we'll just have to see how the weather holds.

Meantime, I can tell you about another adventure that we had. Mom decided to try heading south to see what we could see. Not too far south of Eureka we found The Avenue of the Giants. This is a drive that takes you through the oldest, virgin stand of redwoods in the world! That sounds like a wowser to me! Unfortunately, it was dark and dreary and mom didn't get any interesting pictures for me to show you.

Looking at the map it looked like there might be a cool loop you could make that took you through the Rockefeller Forest and eventually to a place known as the Lost Coast and then back to Ferndale and 101. Well, let me tell you. We got a lot more than we bargained for. On the little map we had picked up at the information place this loop looked like a easy little trip. What we ended up with was Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. At least that what mom called it.

Me, I'm just glad I don't get car sick cuz I've never been on such a steep and windy road in all my live long days! I mean there were so hairpin turns my fur almost curled! And some place were so steep I wondered how little Shadow was going to be able to haul us up them.

After about 2.5 hours we made it to the Lost Coast. No wonder they call it "lost". I sure thought we were! It was beautiful but I'm not sure it was worth the drive getting there. Except, if you start in Ferndale it's a lot shorter drive.










© Kinsey Barnard

PS: Read what interior designer Kristi Linauer has to say about my mom's photography! Kristi Linauer Review