A “World Famous” Drive

We woke up Saturday morning with a slight food hangover and the inevitable hunger pains that go along with it.  Thankfully our B&B, the Joshua Grindle, offered us a beautiful breakfast of corn and green chili soufflé, fruit and coffee to get us through the morning.  

Fully recharged we took the opportunity to explore the town and surrounding coast.  The coastline was exactly how I remembered it, rugged, barren, and uninviting in a “not for the faint of heart” way…for those willing to give it time, the layer of fog becomes a familiar security blanket that is preferable over the crowded and hot sandy beaches expected of California.    Unfortunately, it was still slightly too cold for the beach (although it was above the seasonal average) so we packed up the car and began the journey even further north to Humboldt State Park.  

Our quick stroll along the coastline

The drive took us north on Highway 1, through Fort Bragg and along the coast, and then cut inland to rejoin with Highway 101 near Leggett, home of the World Famous Drive Through Tree!  Unfortunately due to Labor Day weekend, the wait to actually experience the drive was over an hour, and while it would make for a fun story, it was not on the agenda to wait it out.  Little did we know that we were in store for plenty of other “world famous” sites and activities!  In just a 60 minute drive we passed the World Famous Tree House, World Famous Grandfather Tree, Confusion Hill activity and amusement area, The Legend of Bigfoot, and the Famous One Log House (not yet world famous). 

Our drive ended on the Avenue of the Giants, the world famous scenic drive and alternative route to Highway 101, which takes you through the giant redwoods and into Humboldt State Park. 

After unpacking our campsite (and inspecting and admiring all of our new camping gear thanks to the generous wedding gifts) Martin and I took a quick walk into the “town” of Myers Flats for bug spray and matches (the two things we managed to forget when packing) and a quick detour to the river for some sun and water.   

We went to bed earlier than expected due to the anticipated hike the next day, but not after our gourmet meal of steak, Greek salad, and bottle of red wine.  While not on a gourmet level with Café Beaujolais, it was still enjoyable and memorable nonetheless.