5th day in Eureka

We started off from the apartment at about 10am and drove north to Jedediah Smith State Park about an hour and a half from Eureka. We ate lunch on the way--fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Then we got to the park and went to the Visitor Center where we were given directions to three places to see.

We first went to an old growth forest that was very impressive because the trees were really huge--the forest floods every five years so the other trees don't survive and the redwoods have no competition so they grow really huge.

Next we drove to a trail where a ranger led us on a tour of the forest. We saw a lot of beautiful trees and learned more about the growth and life cycle of a giant redwood.

the tiny pine cone from the giant redwood

Lastly we explored the Smith river and decided we would love to come back another day and raft the river together.

On our way back to Eureka, we stopped in Crescent Bay and say sea lions, explored the pier and talked to Grandma B.

 sea lions in Crescent Bay

 beautiful sight from the 101

Then we stopped in Trinidad for Brad to crab and the kids and I to play on the beach and then dine at the Seascape restaurant.

a cool couple of huts on the beach, Osten & Katie playing bo bo on the beach, me bundled for winds

 sea stars clinging to the rock

 Brad pulling a pot

 our view from the Seascape Restaurant and Pier

Brad's catch from his time at the Trinidad Pier

We arrived back at the apartment at about 10pm, so we put in about a 12 hour day on the roads, trails and beaches of northern California.