It was a downpour from Olympia nearly to the California border ... about 6 hours of drenching rain ... not a fun drive. Mostly this is what I saw:

When I arrived in Crescent City, CA, I did a short hike through the dunes to the ocean (Tolawa Dunes State Park). By then it was dusk, but it felt good to get out of the car and walk.

Here’s my quaint little cabin nestled in among the redwoods.

I got up very early. I somehow managed to miss the only Starbucks in Crescent City, and by the time I discovered that I was past it, I didn’t want to retrace my steps. Thank goodness for my iPad and the mapping software that will help me find the next closest Starbucks once I finish my morning hike!

Ten Taypo (I have no idea what that means) and Hope Creek Loop Trail

(in Redwoods State and National Parks)

Ocean overlook at dawn

Quiet, peaceful trail through the redwoods, as it begins to get light

There are many signs advertising “drive-through redwoods.” I’d much rather “hike-through.”

Many trees have been damaged by fire over the decades and centuries (some of these trees can be 2000 years old!), but amazingly, they continue to survive.

It’s very hard to appreciate scale in the photos. Some of the trees are enormous.

Here are the two main species:

Coast redwood

Giant sequoia

Other plants in the forest

Sunlight finally filters through the trees. It’s beautiful.

On the way out, a herd of elk resting on the far side of the river (this is way zoomed in; I’m not really that close)

Last, a quick stop to dip my toes in the ocean (brrrr!) ... and then, back to driving