Patrick's Point

The next stop on our trip was Redwood Natl. Forest, in northern Cali. We stayed at the coolest campground ever, Patrick's Point, right on the coast and in the middle of the trees. The weather there really threw me off, since I always equate beach and ocean with sun and warm. But I quickly learned that Nor Cal is actually pretty chilly and totally foggy almost all the time, even in late July! The first night there, Cahl and I went on a walk at sunset, and it was so beautiful. The trees and plants, ocean and sun light, were so incredible. I think it the weather there was about 20 degrees warmer, I would pack up and move there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first morning, we headed north toward Crescent City. We pulled over along the way, in disbelief, when we came upon a herd of Roosevelt elk nestled down in a little field right next to the highway. It was so cool to see so many of them together, so close to us and completely uncaring that we were there.

 

Yosemite

We stayed in Yosemite for 2 days, and it was really cool. The rock masses are so much bigger than you can imagine from photos, and the giant sequoia trees are so amazing. The kids had a great time seeing all the land forms, and reading about all the history. However, about halfway through the day the boys started asking when we could go back to the campground to play mini golf.

 

El Capitan 

 

The sun is SO BRIGHT!

 

 

 

 

While we were walking by this bridge, these guys came hang gliding down into the meadow from the top of the mountains. It was pretty cool to watch them, and they were really friendly too.

 

 

 

 

 

Checking out a deer in the trees



 

 

 

 

 

 At the end of the day, we asked Hunter what his favorite thing about the park was, and his response: "Riding the bus from the visitor's center back to the parking lot!" Poor kid's never been on a bus before.

 

 

 

 

We packed a lunch, and as we were eating in one of the picnic sites, and squirrel started hanging out by us. Cahl and I tossed a few chips and bread crumbs at it, and before long it was taking things right out of our hands. It would run up, stuff it's cheeks with snacks, and then run off to it's tree. Then a few minutes later it would run back and chatter at us and do it again. It was so cute, and before long a bunch of people were watching us and laughing at the squirrel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

El Capitan on the left, and the little point way in the back of the center is Half Dome.

 

 

 

 

Part of the root structure of one of the giants.