March 22, 2026 - Bandon

 

Title: March  22, 2026 - Bandon

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Touring

 

Gary with a morning ocean view

Description:

I got up at 7:15 and when I got out of the bathroom, Andrea was also up. On this cool, 38 degree morning, Andrea and I made a grocery run to the first place we saw-Rays. Then it was time to fill up with gas. It is Oregon, so we pulled into the station to have the attendant fill the tank. It ended up being 14.1 gallons. If you put in the 5.5 gallons we added yesterday, I used 19.6 gallons since Elk Grove. If we did not fill up in Brookings, we would have run out of gas right before Bandon. As it is, even without the extra gas, I got about 500 miles in this tank of gas without our gas yesterday.

 

When we came back, we had French Toast for breakfast. Andrea gets us on the ball to start off the day. About 10:30 we leave the house. The first stop is Face Rock State Park. This is prime whale migration season for the area. We were hoping to see some breaching, but nothing rose above the surface. A volunteer noted that there are whales out there, but nothing showing. We borrowed some binoculars, but to no avail. Still fun to watch the waves and rocks off the area.

 

After a while, we wandered down to the beach. There we met the wind. The wind was blowing the sand like it was snowflakes, only thing these snowflakes felt more like sandpaper against the skin. Lawrence must have seen the movie Dune as he mimicked how the Fremen walked on the sand so the sandworms did not devour them. It was blowing that hard, we sheltered among rocks when we could.

Life on the Rocks

But while walking along, we saw why several things around here are called Face Rock. There is a rock on its side which has a face. There are some legends concerning the origins of the face which has been lost in the mists of time, or maybe has been blown away with the sand.

About 12:30 we get back to the car. Then it is time to explore downtown. The first place we hit is one which David recommended: Cranberry Sweets. We spent a long time there and bought popcorn and candies and Jelly Bellies. As a bonus, they had an ample supply of samples, which we all indulged in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that there was a series of places which they went into which I just enjoyed sitting out on a bench, reading. They went to places like:

• The Toy Room
•  Bandon Card and Gift Shoppe
• Bandon Sweets and Treats
• Coastal Mist-here they got some chocolate drinks while I was once again content to read. 

Around 2:00, we went to Face Rock Creamery-see the connection with the State Park? We looked around at the various cheeses, including the one Sherri is enamored with, Vampire Slayer, a garlic based cheese. We had a late lunch there. I had a Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich while the rest of them shared meat sliders and a cheese platter. Filling and good.

 

After that, we went home to rest, starting about 3:30. That took the rest of the afternoon. Lawrence had a Zoom call with his family. Then Sherri and I talked with Steven on our own Zoom call. Sherri and I were content with our lunch and had a sandwich and a bowl of granola. Lawrence and Andrea went out to a pub where they had fish tacos. Then we talked the rest of the evening until we went to bed about 10:00.

Extra Photo's

Coquille River Lighthouse

Face Rock Beach

Face Rock Beach

Looking for Whales

Sherri on Face Rock Beach

Gary walking on water

Face Rock 

A triangle rock

Sherri and Gary on Face Rock Beach

Lawrence showing his rock climbing skills

Face Rock  (picture on a tilt)

Rocks off of Face Rock Beach

Lawrence on Face Rock Beach

Face Rock Beach

Lawrence and Andrea in a beach cave

Andrea coming up the stairs out of Face Rock Beach

Art Gallery

March 21, 2026 - Go to Bandon

 

Title: March  21, 2026 - Go to Bandon
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking  : Car 

Trail head: Howland Hill Road

Trail: Grove of the Titans

Destination: Grove of the Titans

Distance:  3.17  miles

Start Time: 12:16

End Time:    2:11

Travel Time: 1:55  (1.66 mph)

Moving Time: 1:40   (1.90 mph)

Elevation Rise:  381'

Descent: 405‘

Maximum Elevation: 431'

Minimum Elevation: 235'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Trail of the Titans

 

I woke up at 7:00 and had my breakfast. We are leaving David’s today to go up and meet Andrea and Lawrence in Bandon. Once Sherri got up, I got packed. Sherri did the same. This has been a short visit with my brother, but I enjoy being with him whether it is a short or longer visit.

About 9:40 we left David’s with me driving-that will be true all of today. We went straight up 101 without incident. After crossing the Klamath, we get about $30 of gas at Pem-Mey a Yurok tribe gas station. The thought is that we have not gotten gas since Elk Grove and I do not want to run out when we go to our next stop. As it turned out, that would not have happened. Still I would rather have that extra insurance.

Both David and Andrea had told us about a place called the Grove of the Titans. It is part of Jedediah Smith State Park. To get to it, we cut off before Crescent City and eventually end up on a dirt road called Howland Hill Road. This is mostly a dirt road. After the initial half of a mile of climbing, we start being gobsmacked with redwoods surrounding us. There is some sort of run going on today as there is a sign saying watch for runners on the road.

Forest and Ferns

I had seen that there was another trail called the Boy Scout Tree Trail. It looks like it is a 5+ mile trail. I also saw that until the end of May only a mile of it is open. There are a few cars parked there. Andrea noted that she and Lawrence did hike it several years ago and it was an OK walk.

We went on. About a half of a mile later we find lots of cars parked. This must be it. We found a slot to park the Highlander in and get out and start walking. The trail is only about a mile or so with lots of boardwalk.^* We decided not to put on our boots and just hike in our tennis shoes. This was not a mistake.

A docent is at the entrance and she gives us an overview. Apparently not only is this the trail for the Titans, but also goes along Mill Creek. As popular as it is, I was expecting a nice little gentle trail. While not steep, it did rise up pretty good. But the trail was kind; it was not challenging, just more than we were expecting. There was a bit of lushness to the walk. Not only redwoods provide overhead, but there are also lots of ferns and greenery. About mid-trail, the trail starts to descend. We come to the bottom and there is a downed redwood which you walk single file by. Beautiful. All along, we go over a wire grate boardwalk when it passes over sensitive areas. Now that we are on the bottom, the trail is completely boardwalked.

 

Mill Creek

We then reach the Grove of the Titans to find a crowd of people. The Titans are awesome even with the lack of solitude.. The docent said that the tallest is over 300’ tall and 1500-2000 years old. While the height is impressive, the age is a youngster next to some of the Gigantia we are used to. We hang around there for a while and the groups disappear. The true magnificence of the Grove appears when we are alone. There is a peace which seems to descend on the Grove when us humans disappear from the area. We just stand there, enjoying the light and silence. After about ten minutes others come along and we leave.

When we leave, we go a short way along the Mill Creek Trail until we come to the actual creek. We decided we did not want to turn this two mile round trip into a six mile journey. So we head back. Along the way, we pass several school age groups led by Titaneers-trail docents. As we pass one group, Ferne-a docent-asks what did we like about the time. Of course the trees and plant life were favorites. I say the trail is what I really appreciated, along with the redwoods. She was really struck that someone noticed the trail. She said that it was created four years ago, mostly with volunteer help. People would walk in the grates and equipment. I am very much impressed by the amount of work this entailed.

Sherri at the end of the Trail

We made it back to the car around 2:10 and continued down Howland Hill Road until we hit Highway 199.There we turned west and shortly hit Highway 197. This leads us back to 101 shortly before the Oregon border. Sherri is able to get some sleep while I drive. It really seems longer than the 90 miles from the border to Bandon. But there are a lot of curves and turns to navigate. It is a pleasurable drive. Since we did not have lunch, Sherri and I munch on almonds and Catalina Crunch like we did yesterday.

We get to Bandon and our, or should I say Lawrence and Andrea’s, BnB about 5:00pm. Once we figured out which building, we quickly got in and got most of our stuff unloaded. Lawrence and Andrea come up about 5:30 and we unload them as well as it was starting to rain. I for one am pretty tired and I vegetate for a good hour. We have my homemade lasagna for dinner. Then talk until 9:00 when we go to bed.

Background

*Trail of the Titans. In reality, the trail is a little over a mile and a half

Extra Photo's

Shadow and Mosses

Unnamed creek behind the Titan Grove

Titans

Moss

Burl making a face

Sherri on the Trail of the Titans

Trail in the Grove of the Titans

 
Flowers and Plants

Trillium

March 20, 2026 - Eureka

 

Title: March  20, 2026 - Eureka
Hike Info : Description : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: David’s House

Trail:  Trails and Roads behind his place

Description:

I did not sleep in that long, getting up by 7:15. While I was eating breakfast, Sherri got up. Sort of a repeat of yesterday. After we consumed breakfast, we talked about a range of things, just enjoying each other’s company. There was nothing particular which our conversation wandered to, just the enjoyment with each other.

After a couple hours, I moved outside to enjoy the sunshine. David followed me out after about 20 minutes with a couple of chairs. That leads to more talking and enjoyment. Sherri joins us. By the time we start to break up, it is 12:30. I have my lunch, then go to my after lunch rest. I got up after 1:30.

David wonders if we would like to go for a walk. The options he gave were the forest behind his house, walking around Sequoia Park, or doing a Costco walk. I decided that going behind his house would be enjoyable. Before you say, that seems a bit lame, while not large-looking at Google Earth, the area does seem a lot larger and goes on further than I thought-it is a lush forested area, complete with a tributary of Martin Slough.

 

Sherri descending the steep trail

We left for our walk around 2:00. This walk starts right outside of his backyard. There is a deep ravine, heavily forested. A lumber company once owned it and I think may have logged it. The path slopes down behind several houses, until it bends to the creek below. The creek runs into Martin Slough-I do not think this segment has a name. When it turns towards the creek, there is a steep 40’ drop down a clay bank. If not careful, it would be easy just to slide down rather than step down this section. We all made it down without sliding.

 

David and Sherri ascending

When we crossed the creek the area was muddy, but we were able to get across that area without too much slop on our feet. We came to a dirt road-David said it was an old logging road. It rose up a ways. We came to a Y and David asked which way did we go before? We take the other way, the upper end of the Y. The road is mostly firm, but steep. There are places where it is wet clay. We pick our way through it. The good part is the rise brings us into the sun which is enjoyable. We have seen trillium and Scottish Broom along the way, along with the usual assortment of pines.

 

On top, the rise was more gentle and we walked a ways. David does inform us that it is a way to go if we go back to David’s house via this route. Later on when I look at Google Earth, I think that is an understatement. Even though it seems further, we have only walked a bit more than a mile. At this point we decided to return the way we came. My legs are starting to feel the walk, even though it is only a mile I think the rise is more than they are used to.

We got back to David’s house around 4:00. I rest for an hour while David, being more energetic, gets dinner together. A shower really helps me feel better. David has dinner ready at 5:30. A neighbor had given him some venison and that is the meat for tonight. Pretty tasty. I washed dishes while David showers. Then we watched three episodes of Jeopardy. Then it is time to turn in, about 9:30.

Animals

Banana Slug

Banana Slug

 
Flowers and Plants

Scottish Broom

Skunk Cabbage

Pampas Grass

Pampas Grass

Ferns