I had slept at a rest stop l and got up a bit earlier this day. I made my way back to the Redwoods and drove the very bumpy drive to Fern Canyon. There was a stream crossing that was pretty high so I parked about two miles from the Fern Canyon trailhead. I think Darlene could have done it but just to be safe I didn’t make her. I did see a low clearance car go through it and I don’t think that was such a good idea since smoke started coming out from under the hood. It was a nice walk along the road. Kind of drizzling out but not bad. The overflowing river in the canyon made part of the hike difficult to do so I didn’t do the whole thing. But what I did end up doing of the hike was very lively and beautiful. These forests were so thick and dark. It’s a wonder how the underbrush is able to grow with so much growing over the top of it. The dampness of the day made it smell earthy. The forest felt very alive.
On my walk back it started to rain a little heavier. Luckily it didn’t get too bad before making it back to my van. I ate some lunch and hung out in the parking lot for a bit. I wanted to drive the scenic byway that the ranger at the visitors center recommended, but the road was closed, he must not have known. But I did see some Elk laying in a field by the road closed sign, so that was pretty cool. I continued on 101 and moved on to Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. Along the way, I drove through tall forests that held the fog and made the trees look eerie and Twilight-like. It was cool to see the dark figured trees gradually appear through the fog as I moved through.
I entered Oregon and their coast was just as amazing as California’s so far. I stopped at Natural Bridges and did the little hike to the overlook and down closer to the rock formations. It was pretty wet since it had been raining all day and still was, but I made my way down and was blown away by the jade-colored water and the interesting rocks. They were big and had trees and foliage on them while water passed through spaces at the bottom, like a large rock bridge. The far-off coastline looked beautiful as well. Kind of misty and looming.
I made my way a bit further up the coast and called it a day at another gorgeous overlook. I’m hoping, again, I do not get kicked out at some point during the night. The overlook showed off the energetic waves and large rock formations that stuck out of the water. It was a really nice stretch of beach.
Today was a rainy low key day. I didn’t have much planned since I decided to skip my Crater Lake National Park endeavor. A lot of the park was still closed and there was a winter weather advisory for that night, and I planned to see it the next day. It didn’t feel right to make the trip over there, so my plan is to continue up the coast instead.
I made chili for dinner and cuddled up and watched some tv on this slow-moving, rainy evening.
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