Sportsmobile: Northern California Coast/Redwoods Trip (April, 2009)

[twolost]

My wife and I just recently returned from a twelve day trip down to northern California - from Washington State. The trip was part business (to get some service work done on our Sportsmobile) and part vacation. Below are some pics from the vacation part of our trip. If you are interested in viewing a more complete trip report, I posted the full trip report on a forum dedicated specifically to our type of van...

here​

Skipping past the business part of the trip and jumping into the vacation portion of this trip... we are going to start out at Lost Lake Park, some 30 miles north of Fresno, CA...



In one of the more interesting things that happened today, I witnessed a heron stalking some fish right outside of our campsite (approx 100 yards away). This was an incredible experience. The heron would find a potential fishing spot and then stand perfectly still waiting for something to travel by. Like a bolt of lightning, the heron would strike with amazing speed and with precision accuracy. Below is a sequence of pictures I captured while this guy was fishing. During the strike on the below fish, I could hear the impact of the heron’s beak hit the fish like someone whacking a pumpkin with a 2x4. It was really vicious. The heron would spear the fish (impaling the fish over the heron’s beak), scrape the fish off of the beak, coil back and strike again (five more times). Then it was down the hatch.


Stalking Prey:

Attack

Gulp:

Down the hatch:

All of the way down...

more shortly...

 

[twolost]

After our Sportsmobile was serviced in Fresno, we drove west out to the Pacific Coast and then headed north up Hwy 1. Here are some select shots along the coast as we drove north:

Along Hwy 1

Random surf turf (actually, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Waddell Beach):

California Turkey Vulture:

View from Muir Beach Overlook (Seascape Drive):

Trees that lined part of our route:

Chasing the sun into the horizon (near Westport, CA):

a few more on the way....

 

[twolost]

This image is from the RV Park (Westport Beach RV and Camping) that we stayed at overnight:

Continuing futher north that morning... we opted to drive along some of the more primitive parts of the California coastline (Usal Road, Usal Beach).

Usal Beach:

Usal Road:

Among tall trees (California Redwoods):

More primitive coastal roads (Briceland Road, Needle Rock Road):

Seals at Shelter Cove:

last set coming shortly...

 

[twolost]

We found another (relatively) remote camping spot right on the beach at Gold Bluffs Beach State Park:

Wind started to kick up the surf:

Camping right on the beach (or very close to it), Gold Bluffs Beach:

map comes next...

 

[twolost]

All in all it was a great trip and the weather cooperated very nicely (with no rain). The temps ranged from 35 degrees (F) to 50 degrees (F) and we only had one day where winds were sustained at or above 35 mph. As this was still considered early in the season and as we tried to stay off of the main routes, we encountered very few other people on this trip.


For reference, here is a link to a map of the King Range National Conservation Area (aka The Lost Coast) which we were fortunate enough to spend a couple of days:

King Range Map (658KB)​

Cheers,
---TWOLOST---

 

[suntinez]

Great photos!!

:lurk:

 

[kcowyo]

Wonderful photos from one of America's best drives.

Nicely done.
.

 

[Moody]

Beautiful. Excellent shots.

 

[Maximus Ram]

Very nice. Makes me want to get out of here and head for the coast.

 

[ChuckB]

Awesome!

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

Thank you for sharing...this will be a part of my summer trip for sure!

 

[adventureduo]

Right on, great photos as usual!

 

[unwiredadventures]

Absolutely beautiful photos.

 

[jeff_wright]

Looks like an incredible trip! What camera are you shooting with? Those photos are incredible.

 

[Box Rocket]

Looks like a really great trip. Wonderful photographs! thank you for sharing.