The 3 mile bridge

Near our home is the Headwaters Forest Reserve. The area was once the location of Falk, a turn of the century logging town whose management was taken over by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management. There are lots of nice historical artifacts, old foundations of buildings and such, but the reason everyone visits the Headwaters is the hiking trail.

The trail has something for everyone including a nice 1 mile walk to the education center, a nice bridge at mile 2 and excellent views from the banks of the Elk River. The total length of the trail is 11 miles and ends with a loop in an old growth redwood forest. So, if one wanted to, one could hike all day, about 21 miles total through some of the most beautiful and remote forests on the north coast.

Yesterday I was in the mood for some quiet reflection so I decided to take a nice walk to the bridge at the 3 mile mark. The trail is an “out and back” hike so I totaled about 7 miles for the day. When I reached the bridge I snapped these photos:

  

The 3 mile bridge is actually made from a flatbed railroad car. Nice piece of recycling.

This next part was my favorite moment of the trip. Under the bridge in the calm pools of water, I spied Coho salmon fry. The Elk River is a protected Coho Salmon spawning bed and to actually see them in the river was a real treat for me.

You can see the little guys floating above the flat rock on the left. Somehow, they managed to survive the drought and it makes my heart glad. Soon, in another year or so they will begin the 20 mile journey out to sea.

Rumor has it that there is a bridge at the 4 mile mark on this trail. I think that would be something I’d really like to see and share with everyone, but to get there, its all uphill from the 3 mile bridge. Should be interesting.

Double Rainbow

I stopped last night in town to fuel up. While I was waiting I noticed someone pointing to the sky so I turned around to see what he was looking at. And there it was; a rare double rainbow. Look closely and you can see the second rainbow above the first. Its faint, but its there.

2014 Salmon Festival

This year’s Salmon Festival, hosted by the Hoopa Indian tribe in Klamath, CA, featured fresh Pacific salmon roasted on an open fire. The man in the foreground was our cook.

Rainbow Bus

Only in Humboldt…

Custom Door Locks

Only in Humboldt…

Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park

                      Beautiful day for a stroll in Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. With the drought here in California, the creek is mostly dried up now. These pictures were taken last Fall before the drought really took hold. As is our custom, DeAnn and I built a small cairn next to the creek to mark our passing. The Redwoods were incredible and there was some strange fungi growing on the trees.

Old Fire Truck

Left to rust in peace outside of Humboldt Lagoons State Park – Dry Lagoon.

The School House

 

 

 

 

Primeval Fern Canyon

This amazing place is located in Prairie Creek State Park, California. It is a rough ride out to the canyon on about 7 miles of unpaved roads and  across two shallow creeks. Once DeAnn and I arrived, this is what we found. I apologize for the some of the blurry pictures. There was heavy fog and mist that day that was clinging to the camera lens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Range

Up in Kneeland, the hills that overlook Eureka, CA, the cattle are free range. I never really understood what that meant being a city boy and all. Then DeAnn and I rounded a corner in the road and found this guy.

This bull did not appreciate being disturbed. He had important cow business to attend to and we were keeping him from it. Hence, the glare. Needless to say, we beat a hasty retreat. He was only about 7 feet from our vehicle in this picture.