Alaska 2013, Day 15, San Francisco to the Redwoods

Sunday June 16, 2013

Golden Gate Bridge

We got going early today so we could drive the Golden Gate Bridge  before there was much traffic.  They had some lane closures on the bridge for a running race but as we got there they opened the lanes at 9:00 AM, made it across with no problem!

Redwoods

From San Rafael to Willits it is dry grape country.  Small vineyards everywhere.  Willits is the Gateway to the Redwoods. From there on you get into the forest.  North of where route 1 joins back with 101 the "Avenue of the Giants" runs parallel to 101 for about 15 mi.  This part of the road winds through thick groves of old growth redwoods.

We wanted a campground close to Redwood NP, we found Emerald Forest CG in Trinidad CA.  We got in there by 6:00 and ran down to the southern end of the NP. 

We hiked Lady Bird Johnson trail.  Lots of flowers and thick growth.  We saw a rough skinned newt on the trail (large black salamander).

On the way back to the campground we stopped at the pull off at the park entrance and walked the beach.  Really calm today and very foggy.  We watched an osprey working the surf.

Critters today; I saw a group of turkeys south of Willits, a couple deer and  2 doz white pelicans on a sand bar in a lake south near Navato.

311 miles today.

3070 miles so far.

- Jon