The Redwood Forest.

Jedediah Smith State campground is beautiful. The road to get there is terrifying. 

Particularly if you're pulling a trailer. Not only was it miles of back and forth curves, but we were going down a 6% grade and there were giant trees at the very edge of the road. Each corner had its own speed limit. Which in all cases, was psychotic. As in way too fast. 

Jason managed to white knuckle it into the campground where we were met with a valley girl at check in. She told us about the precautions to take in bear country and that we should totally use the bear boxes to store our food. Jason joked that we should be fine since we would keep everything in our hard-sided camper and she was like "I don't know. They might try to break in, but you can like try it." Since we had spent time in Yellowstone and Glacier bear country I asked how prevalent the Bears were in the area. "There are like tons of them. They're everywhere." Needless to say, we did not have a bear break into our camper or see a bear. "They're everywhere" (said in valley girl) became our inside joke, to be said constantly. 

We had mapped out two trails that we really wanted to hike based on the reviews of some snarky man on the Intrrnet. As we were heading out of the campground we noticed a sign stating that road to our trails was closed for maintenance. Super-duper. Fortunately the most highly rated and shortest trail was just a half mile in. Back at camp I'd thought, "these trees aren't that big. We have maples back home that are bigger than these." But on this trail we were treated to the BIG ones. Everytime I saw a new really big tree I was in awe all over again. No wonder the trees at the campground looked small. In comparison they were mere twigs. 

So we only got to go on one trail, but it was perfect. We ate lunch at camp and headed into Crescent City a mere 10 miles of curves away. 

In Crescent City the wind came up and it dropped 15 degrees. "The sea was angry that day my friends." Thankfully we all had a spare changes of cold weather clothes in the car. 

Once changed, we headed down the long pier past the crab pots tethered to the railing, and took in the view. A top the hill to our right was a quaint little lighthouse. I needed to be in that lighthouse. We drove over and ran down the ramp. And the path was under the ocean. Jason noticed a sign that read, "tourists welcome pending the tide". The tide did not want me to go to the lighthouse. Never mind. We took a scenic coastal drive that looked like it was straight out of "Goonies" and then spent way too much money at Walmart. 

I must say, that if you're feeling homesick, find a Walmart and go in. They all have the same basic layout. The clientele is consistent and the self checkouts don't work right at any of them. 

Anyway, back at the campground, we roasted hot dogs and slept like dead horses.

Playing at camp.

As you can see by Jason's hair it was windy at the end of the pier.