Out of Oregon

Oregon coast

We left southwest Oregon behind on Monday and headed toward the Pacific Coast Highway.  We decided to head to Yosemite National Park.  Sure it's the long way, but we've got to drive the Pacific Coast Highway at least one time.  Of course the route we took from Diamond Lake to Gold Beach, OR was a wee bit shall we say curvy.  At only 186 miles you would think it would not take almost 5 hours...it did.  What a road.  Narrow in spots, no guard rails and our high speed actually hit 25 MPH!  Thankfully no lumber trucks were out and about while we drove.

Once we arrived in Gold Beach we wandered around looking for a dinner spot with outside seating...none existed.  We ended up at a family restaurant that served up homemade pies...Cindi's dessert was egg custard and mine was a local amber ale whose name escapes me.  No outdoor seating meant that poor Cooper waited in the car.  The cool temperatures were good for allowing us to eat indoors while he was in the car napping.  He did get a few french fries and a piece of toast so he was a happy dog when we returned bearing gifts.

Redwoods

The next morning we headed down the coast in search of redwoods and beautiful ocean views...we found cool morning fog.  This blocked our view of the ocean for miles...glimpses were seen that made us wish for sunny blue skies.   Once we hit the redwoods we wandered around a bit following one road and then another until we stumbled upon a herd of elk.  One could say rather tame elk despite all the signs warning people that these were "wild elk".  Cindi amused herself picking fresh blackberries along the roadside and keeping Coop company.

Damn velvet...need more grass

You looking at me?

We headed out to the beach to check out Fern Canyon and to see if elk actually were on the beach at this particular campground.  The road to this spot was another narrow, bumpy, twisty road...with creek crossings to add even more dirt to the car.  Thankfully no trees were damaged while getting out of the way of oncoming vehicles.

Fern Canyon

Since the dog could not hike to Fern Canyon Cindi wandered off to see the ferns while the guys napped.  She said that the ferns covered the entire sides of the canyon walls.  At the time she did not realize that all of it had originally been created by gold mining back during the gold rush...now totally naturalized by ferns and moss.  She also found the elk in the salt marshes close to the parking lot...off to get pictures I almost had a very close encounter with a large male elk.  He looks a bit put off, but kept on eating. 

Oops...surprised me!

What?

We headed out of the Park and found another one of those roads that our GPS claimed 55 MPH and less than 60 miles to our hotel in Fort Bragg.  The miles were correct, but the speed was 20 MPH at best.  The route was CA-1 which wandered through the redwoods and up a few hillsides on its way to the coast.  There was a good bit of laughing going on as half of us saw the turn coming up while the better half gripped the steering wheel.  Coop did his part by wanting to sniff the outdoors since we were only traveling at 20 MPH...until he needed to get out and recover his senses while Mom was driving. 

Curves at 55? Hell NO!

Once we hit town we again looked around to find outdoor seating...none existed.  We wonder what's wrong with these people...weather is nice and no one's outdoors.  McD's was Cooper's choice since it was really well past his dinner and he wanted something quick. 

Tomorrow we head over the Golden Gate Bridge on our way to Yosemite Valley...should be an interesting drive.  Neither one of us enjoys driving in traffic...especially in large cities where people drive so erratically.

Roosevelt Elk in marsh

California coast