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

March 19, 2026 - Go to Eureka

Title: March  19, 2026 - Go to Eureka

Hike Info : Description 

Hike Info:

Type: Car

From  Google Maps:

• Mileage: 450 miles
• Drive Time: 7:55

Description:

I got up at 6:30 and got a few things ready. Sherri surprises me and gets up while I am finishing up breakfast. I then spend a few minutes moving stuff out to the garage for future loading. I have been slack in getting trust tax information to the CPA to do the taxes for the trust. So I went off to do that at 8:00. When I returned, I helped Steven level sand in our patio area so he could put in pavers while we are gone. Then I load up the car. While the car does not look packed, the back end is full. But then again, I am not really prepared and we are going out for two weeks.

I start off driving. There are no issues on this segment of our drive. What we know for these next two weeks is that we are going up to David’s today in Eureka and staying through Saturday. Then joining Lawrence and Andrea in Bandon until Tuesday. We will follow them back to Salem through the following Saturday, then go down to Roseburg to stay for a couple of days. After that, we do not know. We will return by April 4th.

We talk a few minutes about possibilities, then talk about a variety of things. We do not stop in Turlock at our normal rest stop. Our first stop is in Elk Grove at our regular lunch stop-Leatherby’s. I have a turkey-cheese sandwich while Sherri’s was Jessie’s chicken sandwich. We topped it off by having a mint hot fudge sundae. What a great way to raise my blood sugar levels.

We popped over to Elk Grove’s Costco and filled up. The gas price has definitely gone up: $5.25 per gallon. Sherri then drives at 1:25 while I rest. She goes through Sacramento and Woodland. When we get to Wiliams, Sherri sees a cloud and thinks it is smoke. When we turned onto Highway 20, we saw the source of the smoke: a field was being burned. By the time we hit CLear Lake, Sherri is ready to give up driving for today. We get to a park with a bathroom about 3:45. Sherri drove for over two hours, a lot more than she is used to.

I drove for a bit more than an hour to our next rest stop. There were a couple of interesting things about this segment. First, more interesting to me than probably anybody else. A few miles after I started driving, I noticed a motorcycle with a yellow headlight following me. When I came to a passing lane, I expected the motorcycle to pass me. He did not, but other cars did. This was on Highway 20 and then when we turned onto 101, he followed us, never passing and mostly keeping a set pace behind us. Not sure why he is not passing us. I think there might be one of three things: first, was he feeling comfortable going at our pace and felt safe. Two, I had done something which really ticked him off-I would not have been aware of it. Last, I had done some damage-also not sure what I did. He left before we got to a rest stop.

Once we got onto 101, I was traveling along quite nicely. Sherri had just awoke when I glanced over at the southbound lane. At first I thought it was a man walking, but then I realized he was rolling along, like being on roller blades. I pointed at him for Sherri to see. He thought I was waving at him, which is also nice. I wonder how far he has gone and where he is going?

Our next stop was around 5pm at the Empire Camp Rest Stop. I take this opportunity to stand for awhile. I also get out my personal pharmacy and take my evening pills. After about 15 minutes we are on our way. There is not much more activity as we travel up to David’s. We munch almonds and Catalina Crunch as our snack-meal. We get to David’s a lot earlier than what I thought we would, at 6:45.

Once we unpacked, we sat around and just talked for over an hour. I think we kept David up-I know I was ready to go to bed and sleep. I got to bed about 9:30 and was asleep by 10:00, not even bothering to read more than just a few pages.

March 5, 2026 - FINS to Lost Lake

 

Title: March 5, 2026 - FINS to Lost Lake
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head: FINS Parking area

Trail: Lost Lake

Destination: End of trail

Actual Destination: Most of trail until it got muddy

Distance:  5.41 miles

Start Time: 7:35

End Time: 10:29

Travel Time: 2:52  (1.89 mph)

Moving Time: 2:19   (2.33 mph)

Elevation Rise: 354 '

Descent: 304‘

Maximum Elevation: 325'

Minimum Elevation: 270'

GPS Tracks

Description:

I got out of bed at 5:30 and was on the road to the Sportsman store by 6:45, arriving a few minutes before 7:00. Jerry of the Central Valley Hiking Group has organized this hike and is there right at 7:00. The other hiker here is Lucia. That is all which we have going with us. Three others dropped out. I drove us to the FINS near Friant.

Jerry assures us that this would be a hike I can do in my tennis shoes. I still bring along my poles-I feel more stable with them. I have not done this hike before, so I am interested in doing the trail. Plus Jerry assures me that this will be an easy hike-I think it should be. The last time I hiked with Jerry, I struggled.

The trail out of the parking lot leads us past the Friant Fish Hatchery, actually called the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery. We do not enter in as it appears to be still close-it is before 8 after all. The trail is paved and is a gentle downslope to get down closer to the river. There are also stairs which we descend-more on these later. When we reach the level of the hatchery, there is a Small Fries Children’s Trail going off to the side. We take that. It shows how trout develop. It only takes us a minute to walk through it.

Maybe a flume?

After rejoining the trail, we cross a bridge over what looks like a flume, but I am not sure about that. A short distance away we come to the eastern end of the Lost Lake campground. Rather than walking the road, Jerry leads us through the wet grass, from the dew, by the San Joaquin River.

We do not really walk by the river, rather behind some bushes which line the river. Occasionally there are holes in the line of bushes which gives us a chance to peer into the river environs. One of the benefits of walking this early is that the sunlight gets filtered, making the colors accentuated. Lots of yellows and greens. Then there are the geese and ducks which flock on both banks.

There becomes a standing joke that someone will give some money if they walk on some plants which line our side of the river. Even though sometimes these plants look pretty solid, they are floating on water. Nobody takes the offer, but if someone did, they would be taking it with a splash.

We also see lots of mistletoe in the trees-they look pretty healthy. Many of the trees look like they are still in Winter mode as we do not even see the start of leaves. Still there is enough foliage for us to enjoy a pleasant morning.

We make it through all of the campsites. This brings us to the Lost Lake Nature Trail on the south side of the park. I have walked this trail before, many years ago. Then the trail was more a bunch of use paths, resembling the Hydra of Greek mythology. I was reading that a couple of years ago, the County invested a good sum of money to make the trail easy to walk and very evident where to go. I wonder if the County will be putting up interpretive signs as well?

 

Lucia and Jerry

We got a ways down the trail when we needed to cross over a semi-fallen tree. Then, to go with the steeplechase motif, the trail turns muddy. Jerry looks ahead and it does not look very promising. We turned around rather than slosh through the slime.

Jerry had wanted to make it a loop by following the trail to the end. There it would go up the 50’ bank. We would then have a view of the snowy mountains to the east. We returned the same way we came until we came to a use trail up the slope and we followed it. This puts us at the sixth hole of the frisbee golf course. This looks over a gravel pit. We had a discussion about where we lose the lake? Turns out that the large gravel pit is where Lost Lake resides when there is water in it.

We go back down our use trail and quickly come back to the campground. We stopped for a few minutes at a picnic bench by the river. Then off we go again. We do not stop nearly as often going back as we did coming in. Still, we enjoyed the walk. I surprised myself as I still had a pretty bouncing step rather than my usual walks lately where the last mile the feet are dragging.

Mosaic Stairway

Jerry was hoping the fish hatchery would be open and we would walk through it. While the gate was open, the other end did not look promising. But there is a last bit of eye candy. Those stairs we came down? Going up we can see that there is a mosaic mural which comes into view as we face it. Not only is there one, but there is another on the steps below us and another above the one showing.

We get back to the car and I drive everyone back to the Sportsman store. When I get home, it is just past 11, right when I said I would be home by. While a little tired, I still was able to work on our patio renovation in the afternoon.

Extra Photo's

Interesting stone building at Lost Lake

A bunch of purple flowers across the San Joaquin, maybe lupine

Jerry and Lucia

Interesting river plant life

Animals

 
Flowers and Plants