Trees of Mystery

Today we explored a tourist area named Trees of Mystery. Paul Bunyan and Babe welcomed the visitors. After paying your fee, you walked up a trail viewing all kinds of wonderful Pacific redwoods, cedars, pines, hemlock....lots of greenery. At one point, you get on a gondola and ride up over the trees to an observation tower. On the return trip back to the starting point, there is some pretty amazing wooden sculptures.
This was a little gift shop/museum...more gift shop than museum but it had really nice hanging baskets as well as flowers blooming out front.
Those are ferns growing on the tree branches...FERNS!!!
If you look closely, there is actually a tree growing out of the branch of this tree named the Family Tree. The Family Tree has 12 different trees growing off its branches. Unbelievable!
Another tree with a passage way in the trunk. A little munchkin had a great time running from one side to the other and exploring the enterior of the tree.
We took a ride on a sky lift. It was really fun riding over the top of the trees. It certainly gave you a different perspective. At one point, we were high enough to see the ocean just over the tree tops. This was the view from the observation post at the top of the mountain. It was a bit foggy or the clouds were low...not sure the difference.

There was a wide variety of wooden sculptures and pictures along the trail on the return trip down the mountain.


After a lovely trip through some gigantic trees as well as a trip over the trees, we drove into Crescent City for some seafood, gasoline, a few groceries, then home again. Well Tuesday we leave for Oregon so more from your Happy Travelers later.

Klamath, CA

We are staying at the Klamath River RV Resort. This is a view of the bridge that goes over the Klamath River (Route 101). You can see the fog has not yet burned off.
This is the view from the back of our home away from home. That's the Klamath River, very calming.
We took a ride down the Coastal Highway, parked the truck and started walking. Eventually we crossed an expanse of blackish sand and got to the Pacific Ocean. There were several of these big rocks jutting out of the sand on the beach.

The Pacific Ocean....sure isn't Myrtle Beach...been here two days and the fog never goes away. A new experience for the Happy Travelers....trying to stay warm the first of August....who knew. Tomorrow the Happy Travelers will be exploring the Redwood National Park, more very tall Pacific Redwoods, 3 that are large enough to drive through. More later.

Klamath, CA

We arrived at Klamath, CA today after traveling through the mountains and beside the Pacific Ocean in Northern California. It is so chilly we have on sweat shirts and jeans. We are camped right on the beautiful Klamath River. We drove through more really big trees, Ponderosa Pine, Pacific Redwoods, spruce, cedar, etc. The fog was so thick coming off the ocean that it made visibility difficult in places. We are in a pretty nice campground but our internet signal is very weak....just enough to get on...not enough to upload pictures so no pics until next week. We will be doing some exploring the next 3 days and on to Oregon on Tuesday. Check back then for more from your Happy Travelers.

Outstanding Concert

The Happy Travelers had the opportunity to go to an outstanding concert with 2 of our California girls and one gent---We got to attend the 20th Anniversary of the Sacramento Taiko Dan, a group of talented performers who play a wide variety of drums. It was just an amazing sight, such energy and enthusiasm. There were some drancers, as well as someone who played flute and a Japanese type guitar (sorry don't know the name of the instrument).



This little lady is in her 70's and what a performer. She was doing a little fund raising at the end of the night...see the money in her headband....what a smile! What a wonderful evening, a great concert with special people---who could ask for more! More later from your very Happy Travelers.

San Francisco Adventure

The famous Golden Gate Bridge was bathed in fog. I came all the way from Virginia and could not see the top of the bridge tower because of the fog. But I did ride across it.
Aren't these flowers gorgeous. There were hanging baskets along one of the piers. I couldn't believe how many and how full they were.
We took a walk to Fishermen's Wharf and saw these vessels along the way.
I tried to get this fellow to look at me---no go, he was watching the big guys folic on the platforms.
These big guys are very territorial and noisy. But such fun to watch.
They named these Victorian houses the painted ladies. They were really beautiful. We got to tour the large green one on the end. The owner bought in for $65,000---had to get 30people to move out of it and then put over $300,000 into the renovation. I can't remember the value now--$3.5 million or $4.2 million, sorry, it was more than my brain could comprehend. It had a kitchen to die for, a beautiful little patio area, a dining room capable of feeding 12 or more and lots more we didn't get to see.
This stained glass window was in in the parlor. There was another stained glass window over the front door.
One of our stops was at a Japanese tea garden. The landscape was green and serene. We learned that the "fortune cookies" we all get following dinner at a Chinese/Japanese restaurant were actually invented in San Francisco in that garden but no patent was put on them and during WWII, while the Japanese family who owned and operated the garden were interred, the Chinese took over the garden and the making of the fortune cookies. The garden did not do well and after the war, the Japanese again took over the garden. They have a lovely tea house in the park.


Made a stop at an old Episcopal Church, I believe it was Grace Episcopal. It truly was spectacular. My camera could not capture the beauty of thestained glass windows and art work on the walls.


One of our last stops on the tour was a brief walk through ChinaTown. All the businesses had both English and Chinese names and there was a wide variety of "stuff" from clothing and food to herbs, teas, and roots for Chinese medicine. We met an incredible Chinese gentleman who looked about 50 to 55 years old and was actually 77 and still going strong.

It was a pretty long day but quite exciting and educational. Met more folks, saw some wonderful scenery and got back to our home away for home in one piece after a trip on San Francisco's rail transit. More later from the tired but very Happy Travelers.

Napa Valley Trip

We began our tour of the wine country by stopping in the city of Napa. They have blocked off several streets from motorized traffic and it is nice to walk around the boutiques, restaurants and shops without having to deal with cars. There is a large visitors center with lots of helpful folk to give you ideas of what to see while in the area.
Isn't she cute! There was shop that sold all types of metal garden sculptures like Miss Bee.
As we were leaving the parking lot in the city of Napa, this house caught my eye. There were several on the street that had been restored and turned into businesses. Going out of the city toward the wineries, we saw many Victorian and Craftsmen bungalows lovingly renovated. This is a city that is pleasure to just tour the architecture.
This was the view as you drove into the Robert Mondavi Winery. Can you see the fountain. There were lots of flowers on the far side of the building that don't show in this picture.
This was the garden view outside the wine tasting room.
This is a typical view of the wine country---very green grape vines with the mountains in the background.

On our return trip, I decided I wanted to try and get a picture of this wind mill farm but the road was under construction and we couldn't stop. So I experimented and took the picture in the truck going 50 miles per hour. It is amazing to see these things on the hillside, hundreds of them, generating electricity. Wednesday we will be going to San Francisco. So more later from your Happy Travelers.

Sacramento Cuties/Church in Lodi

These are our California Girls plus D.J. We had a lovely visit with these wonderful ladies and gent, shared a delicious meal and told lots of stories that made each of laugh and glad we were family.
This one is for my quilting sisters. This was hand pieced and made into a block for a potential quilt. When the quilt was not put together, the blocks were given to the girls by their mother (I believe Greatgrandmother, May Donovan, actually made the blocks) and framed as pictures. I believe each of them has 4 blocks. I have been told that this Greatgrandmother could sew,crochet,knit, embroider --in other words was quite a talented little lady.
Sunday morning we traveled to the United Congregational Christian Church in Lodi, CA, not far from where we are camping in Isleton, CA. The Rev. Jack Dawson is the minister of this blended congregation of Discples and Congregational Christians. It was good to be in church, to experience the music and to pray with like-minded folks. But they only do communion on the first Sunday of the month. I missed not taking communion, especially the way we hold the bread and cup and then take it together.
This is a view of the altar (very Californian, I think).

This is the view on one side of the santuary---a wall of windows that look unto a courtyard---very soothing. Well, tomorrow the Happy Travelers will be exploring Napa Valley, so until then. Happy Trails to all of you. Enjoy wherever you may be.