The California Redwood trees are stunning. The last time I was there I was around 8-years old and did not nearly appreciate their massive size or the fact that these trees have stood for hundreds if not thousands of years. We took the Avenue of Giants detour even though we knew we’d have to drive a bit longer, but Tom was keen and I wasn’t the one driving so off we went.
Close to the turn-off to the Avenue we passed the Trees of Mystery and a very large statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox, which I also remember seeing as a kid. Only I remember Babe having a face; I guess he is having a little work done at the moment. Sorry but this photo was too good not to post or maybe I am the only one who finds this kind of funny.
Once we turned onto the Avenue, ancient trees enveloped us while small towns popped up here and there, but for the most part it was just us and the Giants. Tom, a lover of woodwork, got it into his mind that we absolutely NEEDED a salad bowl made from Redwood. We stopped in atthe only store we found that was open. Inside was the oddest collection of wood products that I have ever seen including about 50 clocks lining the top of the walls, all ticking at different times. It was a bit twilight zone-ish. The shop owner came upstairs and seemed instantly perturbed that we were in her store. Tom asked if there were any more bowls to look at and she said that there weren’t, that is was low season, that she was working now to make more for high season and that we were taking up her time (OK so she did not say this but definitely implied it). Needless to say after our charming encounter we decided not to buy a bowl from her. (Hey lady, if you want us to buy a bowl, be nice, or we might have to buy one here.)
The bowl mission was not quite over. We asked around to see if there were more shops to check out. Unfortunately most shops were closed, as it was late in the day. So no bowl, but on the plus side we drove Marlin through a tree in Klamath. I remember this as a kid and thinking it was pretty cool. Tom was not as impressed as my 8 year-old self but it seemed to cheer him up after missing out on a real redwood bowl.
Should you want to drive through a tree, you can check them out here.
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“No Wrong Turns” chronicles Kelsey and her husband’s road trip — in real time — from Canada to the southern tip of South America in their trusty red VW Golf named Marlin.