Yes they are frickin huge people

Our drive today was to head to California and the northern coast where some of the Redwoods live. The day was gray as we started out and wet but as we got closer to the coast the sun and blue sky we had been missing. Once we hit California we started seeing big trees but also acres or black burnt deadscapes where acres of trees have burned. Al this while I am doing on steep up and downhills with rocks all over the road in places from rockfalls from cliffs right up to the edge of the road. Narrow is an understatement. So I was just a bit nervous and then…..the border guards.

Our first stop in California was at a Port of Entry to check for agricultural products to prevent disease spread. First I was in the wrong lane and luckily no one else was there so switched as the very bored looking border agent leaned back a little further. So now I am even more nervous so when he asked do you have any agricultural products and I immediately said no and he said ok you can go. No dont you have any fruits or vegetables in your Airstream fridge (we did) or two bananas in your wifes pocketbook (she did). Jo just looked at me as we drove away incredulously. WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE DON’T HAVE ANY FRUITS OR VEGETABLES????? And I said ooops and dont take that banana contraband out til we are parked at our campsite lol and we sped off watching for pursuit. Bonnie and Clyde are we!

The trip once we were of the coast road US 101 brought us into crescent City. And then sticker shock hit with regular gas being $5.49!!! I decided rather than fill then I would check around but station after station all were over $5 a gallon. OMG.

Just down the road we went back into the Redwood National Park with GIANT redwoods right up to the edge of the road. Im sure my mouth was hanging open as we wound around curve after curve weaving up and down hill around the trees. Just beautiful. And then we came back out to the coast and my jaw dropped even more. What a beautiful coastline.

We kept on to the campsite Mystic River. Mystic because there really wasnt a visible river. This campground has new owners who were some of the friendliest I have met both on the phone when I had to change dates at one point and in person. They gave us two choices of sites and I picked the back in site with a better view of the sky as most places have very slow wifi that wont work if I am doing video calls for work so I set up my Starlink dish that needs a view of the sky. And this campground was old…. But when I checked the wifi speed it was faster than xfinity at home in Florida. We dont need to set up no stinking Starlink.

Because it was such a beautiful day and we got setup early afternoon we decided to be tourists right away. I had read about the Trees of Mystery tourist attraction. Mystic…Mystery…hmmm a pattern emerges. So off we went and our senior status got us in at a discount. What a cool place. They had a sky walkway in the trees and walking paths and a gondola that took us up high enough to see the Pacific and still in the Redwoods. And did I say the trees are frickin huge.

The next day we went to church in Crescent City. I thought I had been to a quick mass in Hooksett where an ex Army chaplain always was done in 35-40 minutes. This priest while pleasant and spoke well was done in 25 minutes including someone speaking about breakfast Tacos available across the street in the KofC Hall. I am from NH and couldnt keep up lol. On the way back from church put the “Tribal Nation” gas station at the casino right off the road back to the campground. $1.5 less than all the other stations in town. Not sure why everyone doesnt go there. And Jo wouldnt go to the casino.

During the night the rain drumbeat started again. So we got up to a soggy break down of camp. And a soggy spot by a front window inside the camper. I think (and hope) it was a loose window clamp. I tightened the window closure mechanism and sealed a seam above the windows and hope I fixed it. Pray that is so.