Kayaking around Eureka

Eureka has a large bay, but we didn't actually kayak in the bay, but in two tidal rivers.

It was kind of gray and gloomy kayaking, but a nice change from the hot weather in Reno.

Our first paddle was about 4 miles on the Mad River

 We paddled upstream until the water got too shallow and then turned around and headed back toward the coast. We stopped for lunch on a sand dune, then climbed over the top of the dune to get to the beach.

The next day we did a six mile paddle in the Elk River Wildlife refuge. Still gray when we started out

but we saw a little blue sky as we headed inland

We saw lots of birds along the way, or maybe the same one over and over.

 We paddled to where the river got too narrow, then turned around and headed back to the coastal gloom

Stopping again for lunch on a dune

 Two lovely days of kayaking where the daytime high did not quite reach the overnight low in Reno.

Big Trees

This week we took a break from the hot weather and went to Eureka on the northern California coast to do a little kayaking.

We decided to detour to the south a bit on our way there to explore the Avenue of the Giants, a 31 mile section of old 101 that wanders through old growth redwood.

We have seen other redwood groves, but the redwoods never fail to impress.  This is a cross section of a tree that started growing before the year 1000 AD. My fingers are pointing to the edge of the bark about where I would have born in its lifespan.

We did some measuring of ourselves against the trees. 

I'm in front of the Giant Tree.

 The view up from ground level

Calvin measured a few more 

It was a lovely break in a long drive.