Day 11

 It was time to start heading home. The first part of the trip was retracing our route. This time we stopped at the Trinidad Southbound Rest Area. The picnic benches are tucked into the redwoods and we took advantage of the short trail to stretch our legs.

Denis had decided to drive 101along the coast home. Though it took longer, it is a beautiful drive. We made the lunch/rest stop destination Sequoia Park Zoo. It is run by the city of Eureka a is the oldest zoo in California and one of the smallest zoos in the United States. What makes it an attraction is the Redwood Canopy Sky Walk. It reaches a height of 100 feet above the forest floor and is a 1/4 mile in length. There is a handicap-accessible portion which is really wonderful for folks in wheelchairs and there is the "adventure" section which is a hanging bridge. As soon as I saw it, I knew even with my fear of heights, I would feel completely safe on it. There are platforms along the way with interpretive signs to teach you about the redwood canopy. There is a whole biosystem of plants and animals that spend their whole lives in the canopy. We weren't able to spot any but there are photos on the interpretive trail.


We had fun walking around the zoo. The bald eagles may have been the most impressive animal for me to see. The Sequoia Park Forest and Garden is next to the zoo. We ate our lunch at one of the picnic benches and then explored one of the trails. We spotted some really interesting trees along the way. Including this "octopus tree." This is where another tree grows on top of a redwood stump.


A few years ago, we had stopped at the North Coast Co-op in Arcata to buy bread on our way to camp with Jim and Ardith. We decided to stop to pick up bread and something to make for dinner. We bought a skirt steak because it looked easy to make. It was, but it wasn't good...

We finally made it to Harbor RV Park in Fort Bragg after 6:30. There are many long-timers at the park with only a few spaces for travelers. There is no space between sites, not even enough space for a picnic table or to sit in chairs. I was initially disappointed but the campground is right next to Pomo Bluffs Park. It offered a nice evening walk and a good place to watch the sunset.


Location: Fort Bragg, CA 95437, USA

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