California Scenic Byway 101 & 1

We didn't have to travel far down the 101 before we were immersed in the dense Redwood forests. On the advice of one visitors center employee, we took a scenic detour through Jedediah Smith State Park near Crescent City.

Scenic detour through the Redwoods

We've seen plenty of big trees already in Alaska and on Vancouver Island but our walk was beautiful none the less. These forests are so quiet and old feeling, it's easy to feel drawn to them.

Deep in the state park we went for a walk through the big trees.

This is allegedly where scenes from Star Wars Episode VI were filmed

360 panoramic shot of the trail from Bill's phone

There was a really cool swimming spot near the trail by a river. We stopped by to explore

The river was very clear

Small bridge over the river

Log gremlins. 

That night we camped out at a small municipal park near Crescent City called Florence Keller County Park. 

The next day we packed up early and set out with the goal of reaching San Francisco. A long driving day considering all of the stops we wanted to make and scenic byways we wanted to take but we made it. 

Stopped in to stretch our legs at this scenic turnout. Bill found some rocks to climb, only to get trapped out there by the incoming tide. I laughed at him as he gave up and took his socks and shoes off to wade back. 

Just south of Crescent City are two giant Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues at the 'Trees of Mystery' tourist trap. Somewhere out of sight, one of the staff members voices the statue.

Me and Paul Bunyan

Bill and Babe the Blue Ox

An few hours down the road the highway split and we left the 101 to start the famed California scenic Highway 1. Right near this fork is one of California's 'drive-thru trees'.

Drive-Thru Tree

We were now on highway 1 but still quite a ways inland. The route lead us to the coast through a forested valley along one of the most windy roads we've been on so far this trip.

After a super windy valley drive, we arrive at the coast on highway 1

This portion of the 1 allows access to the more remote coastal areas of California

We had read about how commercialized, busy and expensive highway 1 could be south of San Francisco. It was so nice to have this part of it mostly to ourselves. The trade off was that the road was frighteningly windy, and we had no cell service in such a remote area.

Despite the heavy haze from the smoke of a near by forrest fire, we got some amazing views and dizzying heights.

Soaking up the California sun

We made our way down to Jenner where the beaches began to get more crowded. From here we cut east to the freeway to avoid the Sunday evening traffic returning to the city.

Back in service, we notified our old friend Tony that we were getting close and he met us at his apartment in Mountain View, a suburban San Francisco town.