So day three started in Crescent City California. I stayed there on the third day of my trip. It was so nice to just take my time making my way down the coast. There are so many amazing views to take in. I had to stop- over and over agian at viewpoints and waysides. At some spots I had to take off my shoes, socks and just run. And, yes, take some photos too. In the car, the ipod was on shuffle and playing good stuff so I just rolled with it. My rhythm was driving, jamming to good tunes, rubbernecking at amazing views- pull over stop- get out- grab camera- take photos in amazement, go back to the car repeat every 8 miles.
Crescent City is not only the gateway to the Redwoods, its also the glorious home to northern California's immense penitentiary system. I really think that when people get out of the joint in Crescent City (or escape for that matter) I think they just stay there and start an ex-con life for themselves. I saw more prison tatt's there then I've ever seen in my life.
While I was there for the evening I enjoyed a skate session at the incredibly average skatepark and a huge plate of msg laced salty meat stir-fry from a local "Thai Restaurant". I was their last customer- so I was thankful to be fed. I stayed in a pretty amazing motel- apparently all fashioned from the wood from one Curly Redwood tree. It was awesome.. So That 70's Show- I seriously thought I'd run into Clark W. Griswold there.
The next day I broke my fast on remnant cereal from my former apartment and hit the road through the Redwoods. I was in a bit of a time crunch as I really wanted to be in Tahoe for the weekend- starting that night, but I was also driving through the Redwoods... One could spend a lifetime exploring the Redwoods.. I did stop (strangely at the exact spot I'd stopped for a quick hike on a previous trip) and I also decided that I need to make a special trip to the redwoods and take my time.. Do it right.... So even though I'd been there before- That little hike yielded some nice photos and was pretty much the highlight of my day. I had an 8+ hour drive ahead of me...
Other highlights of the day included numerous Bigfoot monuments, museums and references. He's there... They got him. Scott Minton's seen him.... Other highlights are the towns called Big Bar (is that near Big Bear?), Big Flat (sounds dissapointing- right?), Salyer (did you guys want to name your town Slayer after the epic metal band but get it wrong on the town application?), the town of Burt Ranch (this could be a secret culinary revolution or an apocalyptic name for a town) and other towns with signs announcing "population 30... Hmmm.... I think my junior high spanish class had more people in it.
It was a beautiful drive though.. Highway 299 climbs up and over mountain passes and parallels and crosses 3 different rivers- the Mad River, the Trinity River, and the Sacramento River. Its pretty amazing. I trusted Google maps to find me the most direct route but didn't really think to look at how windy this road was or really take the time to count how many passes it went up and over. It was a great drive though. Again- it would take another lifetime to explore all the amazing bends and curves in that river and secret swimming holes and trails.
Highway 299 finally connected with Redding where I met the I-5 for a short spell. I then took smaller country highways through Chico and followed highway 20 through the northern parts of Auburn, Grass Valley, and Nevada City. The sun had gone down and my only impressions of this country was the silhouettes of tall pine trees that grew right up to the edge of the two lane highway and the clear night sky with bright pinpoints of stars.
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