Day 11 Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park to Eureka, CA

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Seattle to San Francisco

Day 11 Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park to Eureka, CA

Tom at Big Tree
Big Tree

The weather was cloudy and foggy all day.

I left the campground and backtracked about a mile to look at Big Tree, a huge redwood over 300 feet tall and over 1500 years old.

I picked up Highway 101. I rode it past several lagoons. At Patrick's point, I left 101 to explore the shoreline on quiet back roads. I stopped at Patrick's Point State Park and got some dramatic photos of the surf and big rocks. A few miles later I saw sea lions basking on some rocks.

After lunch in Trinidad, I got back on Highway 101. This section of 101 is a freeway.

Trinidad

I got off 101 briefly and rode along Clam Beach County Park. A cyclist can camp on the beach here for $3. I was very tempted. But, I needed groceries and didn't want to backtrack the 8 miles from Arcata. I got back the freeway and rode to Eureka where I paid $15 to pitch my tent in a KOA "Kampground". As I sit here listening to the sounds of the freeway, I ponder why camping fees are inversely proportional to the desirability of the campsite. Needless to say, I am not a happy "Kamper" tonight.

Patrick's Point

I found the KOA campground incredibly boring. I was so bored that I took out my Sony Walkman radio and searched the airwaves for some entertainment. I could only find two radio stations, a country station and an oldies station. Since I can't stand country music I listened to the oldies station. That was a big mistake. For the rest of the trip I found myself humming several inane melodies such as Sammy Davis Junior's "Candy Man".

"Oh, the Candy Man can cause he …" Arrghhhh! I'm doing it again.