Even though the sun was setting, I decided we had to stop at the famed "drive through Redwood" off 101 (there were signs pointing to the exit). The tree was in a canyon that echoed with the terrifying sounds of "Jurassic geese". Okay, they were just regular wild geese - but with a loud and scary honk!
Driving through the drive-thru redwood tree, being as touristy as can be.

February 9 Arrived in Eureka and decided to explore that and nearby Arcata. Both beautiful towns. I loved the funky, youthful atmosphere in Arcata (home of Humboldt College).
Drinking fountain and town square in downtown Arcata.

High Deco: signage for Everetts Bar, just off of Arcata's town square.

Later that afternoon, we took a drive to the rocky coastline South of Eureka. The lady at the restaurant where we had lunch swore this was a beach. It was no beach, however lovely.
Christopher looking out to a boat in the bay, on King Salmon Road South of Eureka.

February 10 A day of exploring towns North and South of Eureka. First was Ferndale. It had a lot of beautifully restored Victorian architecture. Very sleepy town in the morning with little traffic. Then it was a drive through Fortuna, which looked run down and unappealing.
Vintage movie marquee (still in use!) in downtown Fortuna.

We also visited the logging museum and picturesque grounds at Fort Humboldt State Park in Eureka. It was a perfectly sunny day; the locals assured us the weather was not normal. (Oddly, we wished for at least one day of rain.)
Driveway into Fort Humboldt State Park.

Later in the day, we drove out North to Trinidad, a small seaside village. Beautiful place, and everything was a short walk away from the beach - a real one, not just rocky coastline!
Awe-inspiring shoreline, captured on a sunny day at Trinidad, California.

February 11 It was time to reluctantly drive back to San Francisco. This day was pretty uneventful, except for the patches of fog which provided a short, hair-raising driving experience.
US 101 shrouded in fog, somewhere South of Garberville.