A gigantic day !
In the real sense of the word but let me report one thing after the other.
On my way out of Eureka this morning I stopped in downtown to explore the old part of the city.
And yes, it really has an old part. Lovely old, italian influenced buildings, obviously all in wood to
use the local building material which is present in abundance. Two-three floors at the most alone the
proverbial High Street which is called here Main Street. I was very lucky as the Main Street was closed
due to local fund raiser event fr a charity displaying lots of old cars, lovingly polished up and all still
running.
Next stop on my travel south was of the famous Route 101. Ferndale, a couple of miles to the west from
the highway. Also with a lovely Main Street, according to the turbo all Victorian. The little town was heaving
with people. Reason: every other house had a “garage sale” going on and shoppers criss-crossed the road
which made traffic very slow. Finally I found a parking spot and was able to roam around and explore this really
lovely little town. A picture below shows one of the many old houses.
After exploring american little town the next was really gigantic: the “Avenue Of The Giants”, a small road
was runs through the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The “Giants” are really gigantic: the Redwood and
Sequoia Trees. The park contains one of the last remaining old-growth forests of the world and encompasses
in total 53’000 acres, of which 17’000 acres are old-growth.It is home to the 4th-tallest measured living redwood,
the Stratosphere Giant, which was measured at 112.94 metres (370.5 ft) in 2004. The tallest redwood ever
measured was the Dyerville Giant, also in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It was 113.4 metres (372 ft)
high when it fell in March 1991. It was estimated to be 1,600 years old.
The “Avenue” meanders through the forest with these giants on both sides. A fantastic experience which makes
one realise ( again ) what nature is capable of doing.
Leaving the Park I left after a couple of miles Route 101 and turned onto Road 1, heading to Fort Bragg. Route
1 is dual track road which climbs in tight corners onto the coastal mountains before going down, again in tight corners.
Having reached the bottom route 1 goes along the shore line and one a clear day one has fantastic views
on the rough edged coast with sandy beaches. Unfortunately I wasn’t that lucky as the already mentioned fog prohbited
a good view.
After this “gigantic” day I reached Fort Bragg, my stop-over. According to my turbo a local legend, Cowlick’s Ice Cream Cafe
needs to be tried. YES there ice-cream is good: Blackforest and Pecan. Mmmmm….
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