RUN FOR THE WALL Jean and Larry: August 16, 2025

August 16, 2025 - Crescent CA to Petaluma CA

Well after so many great days, today did not start out to well. We rode the first 2 hours in the rain on out way to the Redwood Forest National Park. We road along the coast. UGH!!

Before we get to the park, we saw an elk. I turned to get a pic. Not to good but this guy was huge.

The Redwood Forest is both State and National Park. It one of very few that are both.

Can you guess who that is?

Nice try boys.

We talked to the Ranger here and he recommended going to Avenue of the Giants. He said it is his favorite ride thru the redwoods. What a great suggestion.

Not a redwood but this is what we saw as we get off exit. Beautiful colors.

Unbelievable how many huge trees!!!!

At the visitor's center, there was the "Travel-Log".

Google:

Oh, to have lived in an era when woodsmen drove in hollowed-out trees along America's byways! Charles Kellogg (1868-1949) was such a fellow, piloting and sleeping in a 4,800 year old redwood log that is currently displayed in the Humboldt State Park Visitor Center.

Kellogg was concerned about the destruction of America's redwood forests. As a publicity stunt, he decided he would drive a mobile redwood tree so America's less gifted landscapes could see the majesty up close. He started working on his "Travel Log" in 1917. The Travel Log was made from a fallen 16,000 lb. redwood giant found in the forests of Scotia and donated by the Pacific Lumber Company. Kellogg took the 11-ft. diameter tree and used a one-man saw to cut a 22-ft. section for what he envisioned.

Charles Kellogg's Travel Log interior.

Claimed to be the "Largest Piece of Hewn Redwood in the World," Kellogg carved the log by hand. The resulting rustic home featured a kitchenette, toilet, 12 lockers, guest room, dining table and bookcase.

Pretty impressive. Like the size of the "tiny homes" of today.

Time for a little fun.

Almost fell but made it.

To give you an idea of how wide this is...

At home we had a tree taken down because of a lightning strike. It was 7 feet in diameter. It does not even compare.

Fun Facts:

They do not get to maturity until they are 200-500 years old
Some can live over 2000 years.
Their root system only goes down 6-12 feet but spread over 100 feet
The bark can be 12 inches thick which protects them from fire and insects.
They can grow from a fallen tree, out of the trunk
They can grow in clusters. Often grow in "Fairy Rings" where multiple trees sprout from the same root system

Back on the road. Yeah!!! blue skies.

We go off route 101 and take route 1. This runs right along the coast. It is supposed to be a gorgeous ride. Well..... you tell me

Ugh... we road this for probably 3 hours. If the road went inland, it was clear. But as soon as you got back on the coast....

We stopped at little town called Elk. It had 4 building in the town. We walked to the edge, ok maybe I walked to the edge, and looked. It was a long way down.

After that, the sun FINALLY came out.

I could put lots more here.... so maybe it was a good thing it was hazing most of the day.

It has been a long day, with the rain and fog, it is getting late. One of the last sections we take on route 1 is this really winding part. We have to go all the way to the road in the middle.

Share the road with cyclist. This is also a road that Ron did in his younger days. These guys are crazy. The road has long runs in elevation. They looked pretty exhausted.

We caught up with them in Jenner and talked to them a bit. Seems they had already ridden 157 miles or more and were planning to go at least another 30 before the day ended.

Back on the road. We still see redwoods and this time near homes. They seemed to build around them

So I think I am done for the day but as we hit the last 30 miles, there are acres and acres of grape vines. This was just north of Santa Rosa. Now we are in wine country. So many place advertising testing locations.