TRINIDAD, CA (Day 2).  Today was much cooler and damper, with fog along the beaches which drifted over the hills to higher areas, frustrating our photographic efforts.  We followed the advice of the RV park manager, driving to a "scenic" road to the beach, but turned out to be a one-lane winding and twisting road through redwoods mixed with ferns.  Yes, ferns grow here in abundance, just as they do in Washington state in the northwest area.  We met several vehicles coming head-on, with one of us stopping as close to the edge as possible while the other squeezed by.  Once we got down to the beach, it was foggy and not as nice a beach as we saw yesterday. Eventually we gave up on that area and doubled back, also an interesting drive back on that road.

After that we drove to a place that promised to show us elk grazing in a meadow.  Several hikers were there, and none of them saw an elk.  One couple from England (currently residing in LA) said they saw some earlier in the day in Orick beside the parking area of the government administration building.  We went there and in tall grass saw the small group of elk, mostly covered by the tall grass.  As for this RV park, no sign of an elk today either.

We did not pack a lunch today, hoping to eat out at a place along the way.  Wrong!  The towns all along this route have no gas stations or restaurants open.  Depressed area.  One would think with the tourists coming here business would be good.  We finally got some ice cream at a "market" in Orick, which was a convenience store.  We could not get gas until we reached Klamath.

The highlight of the day was the drive along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.  Here we saw more huge redwoods along quiet hiking paths. 

Tomorrow we leave the state of California.  Hurrah!  No more very high prices.  Hopefully no more very rude drivers (more on that later).  We shall continue to drive US101 into Oregon, where it will follow along the coastline.  Hopefully it will not be slow driving as it was in California.

The Best We Saw of Elk

Betty Beside an Unusual Tree

Note All the Ferns Among the Huge Trees

Betty Shoots Photo Inside Tree Hollow

Trail Along the Scenic Highway

Several Trees Grown Into One Another

Self-photo of Us Along the Trail