Date of departure -  July 23, 2006 - When driving the Calif. highways, I attempt to go through
          populated areas (such as San Francisco) at a time when traffic is minimal.  I went through
          San Francisco Monday morning at 4:00 a.m.  Few cars were out at that hour. I believe I drove
          over the Golden Gate, but can not swear to it, as the fog was so thick I could barely see my
          windshield. 
                   
                              South Fork Eel River                                            Nurse Log                    Top 1/3 of Coast Redwood

          Richardson Grove State Park, on the south fork of the Eel River, was my first real stop (would
          rather not think about the gas stops).  It was about 8 a.m. and I had the park to myself. I took the
          quiet path that meandered through the big trees, hoping to capture on my digital (3mg) camera
          the enchanting beauty of an old-growth redwood forest.  This presented a bit of a challenge,
          since the majority of the trees were 300 feet tall and had a girth of 30 - 50 feet.  Noticing a woman
          lying on the ground pointing her camera up, I gave it a try.  Not much success with the photo,
          but I did get acquainted with a pair of adorable banana slugs.

                                                             Historic - Victorian Eureka
                                            (click photo to enlarge)
                                        
                                     Carson Mansion                    Elegant Terns                   Terns & Pulp Mill
       Eureka is known for its charming Victorian atmosphere, its large population of Elegant Terns,
            and the last operating pulp mill in California.  "Evergreen" (the ecological friendly name of the
            pulp mill), is notorious for being out of compliance with health & safety regulations.
           ...mill operations emit carbon monoxide, methanol, sulfur dioxide, and other compounds and substances identified as hazardous by California law & the
              Federal Environmental Protection Agency. The 40 year-old mill, a community health hazard and public nuisance, is a great cause for worry in Humboldt
              County, which has an extraordinary cancer rate...     For more on the mill do a Google search.
                                              Try not to inhale too deeply while visiting Historic Victorian Eureka.

                                                                                       Arcata
                                                                              (click photo to enlarge)
                                                 
               Arcata Marsh Project          River Otter                 River Otter              Marsh Slough       River Otter Eating
                 Interpretive Center                                        searching for food        Otter Habitat
                                     
               Arcata is home to Humboldt State University, the Arcata Community forest, with miles of
               nature trails, and the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the result of a state of
               the art wastewater disposal system that uses 75 acres of marsh to treat wastewater. The
               marsh attracts thousands of birds and is nationally known as a bird sanctuary.  Another
               inhabitant of the marsh is the River Otter who searches for edibles in the narrow sloughs.
              
                                                          Crescent Cities Rocky Coast
            The worst shipping disaster on the Pacific Coast occurred off Point St. George, just north of
            Crescent City.  200 lives were lost when a steam driven paddle wheeler went down. Two 
            lighthouses are in use today to warn mariners about the trecherous rocks. The Battery Point
            Lighthouse is located on a rocky projection just offshore of Crescent City and can be visited
            at low tide. The path is rocky, and you may get your feet wet.  The St. George Reef Lighthouse,
            is located 6 miles offshore and is accessible only by helicopter.

          
                  Low Tide on the Rocky Coast                                                       Castle Rock - Bird Sanctuary
             Rocks can be disastrous to ships but are a boon to birds.  Western Gull, Brown Pelican, Pelagic & Brandt
             Cormorant, Marbled Murrelet, Tufted Puffin, Black Oystercatcher nest on the rocks.  Castle Rock, a 14 acre
             sanctuary provides space for over 11 species of nesting birds and haul out areas for Stellar's Sea Lion, Calif.
             Sea Lions, & Harbor Seals.                     (click photo to enlarge)                           

                                         
                 Battery Point Lighthouse - Only accessible at low tide.           Rocky Path        St. George Reef Lighthouse
                           
                       (total mileage 1,420)                                                                                                            next trip Seattle