The whole family-minus Aunt Nellie, Glenn and Michael- posed for family pictures on Uncle Joe and Aunt Nellie’s deck.
This is Miss Aspen.
Dixie had her hands full with Raegan from time to time.
Johnny, Dawn, John Glenn, and Morgan Bell
Jeff, Patty holding Raegan, and Logan.
Ursula holding Buck Hunter, her husband Brent, Carson and Aspen (in front).
Stephanie and her daughter, Patti Sue.
Kenny giving Logan a hand at shooting pool.
Albert posing at the beach in Trinidad.
Logan at Shasta Lake.
Morgan showing off one of the starfish that we found at Trinidad.
Ben showing us one of the huge pinecones he found near Shasta Lake.
Surf’s Up!! Outside of Ocean World in Crescent City they had this surfboard and all of the kids took turns posing on it. This is Ben giving us the surfer’s pose.
Logan took a turn on the surfboard and did very well!
Morgan managed to look like a professional when she got on it.
Jessica in front of a redwood castle at one of the roadside redwood souvenier shops. They had a huge pile of those very large pinecones also.
Logan, Morgan, Ben, Josh, and Johnny on the rocks at Trinidad. Ben is holding either a hermit crab or a starfish.
All six of them managed to squeeze into the shark’s mouth at Ocean World.
Allison met the Captain at Ocean World and he let her rest her bones next
to him for a little while.
Front: Jessica, Morgan, Logan, Johnny, Josh, and Ben. Back: Albert, Jane John, Dawn, Kenny, and Allison. This was in front of the Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City.
We stopped in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and did a short hike on the Ah-Pah Trail. There were numerous photo opportunities and we took advantage of them! All of these “tree” photos were taken there.
Jessica sitting next to one of the huge trees.
John took this one of all of the rest of us in front of this monster tree. L-R: Jane, Kenny, Allison, Morgan, Jessica, Josh, Logan, Ben, Dawn, and Johnny.
Jessica and Allison
Jessica, Jane, Johnny, Ben, Morgan, Logan, and Josh posed by this tree on the side of the road.
I’m not sure if this is two trees that have sort of grown together or if it is one tree that was split but…they had a good time climbing in it!
This is one tree that has rotted out in the middle. There was more than enough room for all of us to walk through it.
This one gives you a good idea of how big these trees really are. They definitely make you feel very insignificant—think how the ants must feel!
In Crescent City we visited the North Coast Marine Mammal Center. The great folks there care for injured seals, sea lions, and dolphins until they can be returned to the wild. This is a little harbor seal that was recuperating there.
In Trinidad at the docks there were many of these boats moored. There was a small boat that would take you out to them when you were ready to go.
The Roosevelt Elk, the largest of their kind, are seen in herds along the road near Orick. We spotted these and stopped to get some great pictures.
This tribute to ‘The End of the Trail’ is carved from one redwood tree and stands at the entrance to the Trees of Mystery redwood tour. Inside the gift shop there is the ‘End of the Trail Museum’, a wonderful collection of American Indian artifacts. No way was there enough time to see it all.
Paul Bunyan and his ox, Babe are also located at the entrance to Trees of Mystery. The kids had a ball tickling his toes and talking to him. We learned that he had cut down the Sahara Forest in his younger days among other things.
Back in the Mt. Shasta area, we saw these magnificent granite spires in Castle Crags State Park. They range in height from 2000 feet to over 6500 feet. They are visible several times along Interstate 5.
We discovered that this area of California is Bigfoot country. There are several statues of him all over the area. This is the original statue in Willow City. You might recognize it as the one that is in the World Book Encyclopedia.
He's picked up a new running buddy in 'Bob' the Brown Elk'. They were seen here crossing Mt. Shasta on their way back East.
The devastated owner of 'The Trees of Mystery', Jim Mystery said he would now have a difficult time convincing people to stop at the popular pricey tourist trap now that Bunyan had left him.
"Paul would talk to the tourist and tell them about his history and joke with the kids. That ox just stands there.", said Mystery.
"Why would anyone stop here when they can see the Redwoods for free?"
The only mystery now at 'The Trees of Mystery', is how are we going to pay the bills now that Paul is gone?"
