We ended driving from Oroville, California directly to the coast in hopes that the ocean air and humidity would offer Dan’s allergies some much needed relief. Thankfully our plan worked.

Blog Redwood National Park

We ended up camping at a small campground called Big Lagoon County Park. It’s nestled in a grove of Sitka Spruce trees which offers little sunshine for our solar panels but luckily we also tote around a Honda EU2000 generator just for moments like these.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Our smaller set-up was valuable once again and allowed us to pick a site that backs up to a lagoon that is adjacent to the Pacific Ocean.

Blog Redwood National Park

A short walk from our site (site #6, I believe?) gave the kids the opportunity to explore the slippery beach rocks. By some miracle, I think only one kid slipped. Not sure how they all didn’t go down like dominos.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

We are still toting around these mother’s day plants that the kids made me. Some days they get over watered and other days they are forgotten.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Luka asked to use my camera for a bit. It’s fun to see photos from his eyes and see how the girls react to him.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

The large sitka spruces offer plenty of tree climbing opportunities while we are camped here… and plenty of sap all over their jackets that I haven’t been able to get out too.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Our friends, Tori and Skyler, were able to snag a spot large enough for their 31ft Airstream here.

Blog Redwood National Park

It’s been nice having neighbors to hang out with it while camping and out on adventures.

Blog Redwood National Park

A short bike ride from the campground leads us to the day use area.

Blog Redwood National Park

It’s so nice to have bikes again, especially with semi-paved roads. In theory, Dan and I could run for some exercise while the kids ride with us. Still hasn’t happened but it will once we stop being lazy butts.

Blog Redwood National Park

The day use area is nestled between the lagoon (on the right) and the Pacific (on the left).

Blog Redwood National Park

The kids immediately claimed this log as their pirate ship…

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

…with weapons….

Blog Redwood National Park

… a toilet…

Blog Redwood National Park

… and a plank to push your enemies into the water too, of course! Haha.

Blog Redwood National Parkf

Blog Redwood National Park

Sometimes you have to take awkward selfies to prove to the kids you existed.

Blog Redwood National Park

Nine years of traveling as a family in a camper and we’ve never explored the northern coast of California. It’s so easy to take your home state for granted. Redwoods, we are finally here!

Blog Redwood National Park

After work and school, we took a quick hike through the Lady Bird loop at the Redwoods National Park.

Blog Redwood National Park

With Junior Ranger books in hand, the kids were back to earning badges again.

Blog Redwood National Park

And Dan is feeling better so the VLOGs are being made again.

Blog Redwood National Park

Yippee! You’ll find two of them linked at the end of this blog post.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

One of the vlogs is full of Luka and his newly acquired dance moves. I’m sure watching Napoleon Dynamite had something to do with the moves.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

In between the campground and the national park, sits another campground that is populated with a large herd of elk. Not sure what the story is here but wildlife always brings smiles to our faces.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Once we finished out the work week, we hitched up and headed into the park again for some more exploring and to turn in those completed junior ranger booklets.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Luka hamming it up for Dan.

Blog Redwood National Park

And that makes this badge #113. A memorable one too because the ranger actually took her time to make sure Luka could keep up with the pledge. I love the way Mila is looking at him.

Blog Redwood National Park

A lot of the roads here don’t allow trailers but that’s okay. The roads that do allow them are pretty nice.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Walking amongst 2,000-year-old giants. It’s amazing that half of the moisture California redwoods receive comes from fog which allows them to grow up to 350 feet tall and 30 feet in diameter.

Blog Redwood National Park

These trees are amazing!

Blog Redwood National Park

Getting the shot.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Dan’s smiling right now but we will realize in a couple days is that he caught a tick from this area. Found it lodged in his back and I literally cried trying to pull it out of him. The head stayed in and the body of the tick got sent for free testing via a lab I found online. Lucky for him, it came back negative for Lyme disease. Phew.

Blog Redwood National Park

One last hike through an area that used to be a logging road but has now been reclaimed by nature.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

And yes Return of the Jedi was filmed here. Sadly, no ewoks appeared.

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

Blog Redwood National Park

The world’s tallest tree grow from a pine cone this size. So incredible.

Blog Redwood National Park

Alright, our time in California has come to an end for now.

Blog Redwood National Park

Today we start creeping up the Oregon coast.

Blog Redwood National Park

Until next time, California.

Blog Redwood National Park

Click to see our VLOG about Trinidad and the Coastal Redwoods below.

And click on this VLOG for the the national park (and Luka’s dance moves) here!

Thanks for following along,
Marlene


2 Comments

frankrizzo123 · July 27, 2017 at 9:00 pm

I’ve been following your journey for a few years now. Don’t really post, but I enjoy reading about your experiences on the road. The Redwoods are a gem for sure. Hard to capture their magnificence without seeing them in person. Kinda the same way that you know the Grand Canyon is big, but it’s not until you get to the rim and look down, and then it hits you just how big it really is.

3cyndi23 · July 27, 2017 at 9:01 pm

Love watching your children grow!!! Thanks for sharing! CBreaze OnTheRoad

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