Day 3: Redding to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
I only got to post one entry while we were in California. I've returned home, but unfortunately Tom remains in Oxnard with the camera and all the photos. So... while I still have all the memories and can write some riveting text (wait 'til you read about the elk!), I think the pictures may not be posted for another week or so.
Day 3 started bright and early. We left the River Inn and headed for our truck in the parking lot, only to find a group of homeless people camped out next to it, carefully guarding its contents, or so I hoped. We stopped for breakfast and groceries in Mt. Shasta (the town, not the mountain). Breakfast at Lily's was Eggs Arnold for both of us. This is code for jazzed up eggs benedict with some avocado. Although not extraordinary, it was tasty. The patio dining was very popular as well. We got some groceries for camp dinners at Ray's Food Place. We decided they must have named it so obviously in case the potheads, in a rough bout with the munchies, were having any trouble figuring out where to go. Strong work, Ray's!
We then had an incredibly slow and winding drive first along the Klamath River and then through the forest. I was instructed, as it was my turn to drive, to take it slow and not go careening through the turns. I did as I was told, but when it began to sink in that at this rate we would have many hours to go, impatience won out and Tom took over, careening around turns at breakneck speeds. Alas, I grossly exaggerate, but it sounded more interesting, didn't it? Don't ever let the truth get in the way of a good story.
We arrived at Jedediah, set up camp and took Olive the dog down to the river beach for a swim. (Don't tell the rangers!) It was cold and cloudy but we were all having a great time. The Jedediah campground was fabulously gloomy in the way that dark forests can get: not much light came through the canopy, it was cool and damp and the tree branches dampened most of the sound made by screaming kids celebrating the end of summer. The place was a zoo with kids whizzing around on bikes and scooters, and generators running until after 10pm. Amazingly, when we got up between seven and eight the next morning, all those little peanuts had either cleared out or were sound asleep, because the place was blissfully quiet.
Stay tuned for pictures of Jedediah, and "big blue", our new monster tent (or is it an igloo?)
Day 3 started bright and early. We left the River Inn and headed for our truck in the parking lot, only to find a group of homeless people camped out next to it, carefully guarding its contents, or so I hoped. We stopped for breakfast and groceries in Mt. Shasta (the town, not the mountain). Breakfast at Lily's was Eggs Arnold for both of us. This is code for jazzed up eggs benedict with some avocado. Although not extraordinary, it was tasty. The patio dining was very popular as well. We got some groceries for camp dinners at Ray's Food Place. We decided they must have named it so obviously in case the potheads, in a rough bout with the munchies, were having any trouble figuring out where to go. Strong work, Ray's!
We then had an incredibly slow and winding drive first along the Klamath River and then through the forest. I was instructed, as it was my turn to drive, to take it slow and not go careening through the turns. I did as I was told, but when it began to sink in that at this rate we would have many hours to go, impatience won out and Tom took over, careening around turns at breakneck speeds. Alas, I grossly exaggerate, but it sounded more interesting, didn't it? Don't ever let the truth get in the way of a good story.
We arrived at Jedediah, set up camp and took Olive the dog down to the river beach for a swim. (Don't tell the rangers!) It was cold and cloudy but we were all having a great time. The Jedediah campground was fabulously gloomy in the way that dark forests can get: not much light came through the canopy, it was cool and damp and the tree branches dampened most of the sound made by screaming kids celebrating the end of summer. The place was a zoo with kids whizzing around on bikes and scooters, and generators running until after 10pm. Amazingly, when we got up between seven and eight the next morning, all those little peanuts had either cleared out or were sound asleep, because the place was blissfully quiet.
Stay tuned for pictures of Jedediah, and "big blue", our new monster tent (or is it an igloo?)
posted by K. Murphey at 7:14 PM
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