Newton Drury Scenic Hwy

Today we spent most of our time sight seeing.  It was really foggy this morning so a nice drive up the coast sounded good idea.  We left around 10 am and headed to the Klamath river area, where there was suppose to be a great coastal drive.  We finally found the turn off and were having a great time looking at the beautiful scenery when we see a "road closed ahead" sign.  We were hoping this was a mistake but it wasn't.  It did however end at a nice overlook at the ocean.  It was really quite a view.  Then we noticed there was a cemetery right on the side of the hill.  It looked like a family plot.  What a beautiful place for you final resting place.

We drove back down the same road and then went down another road that was suppose to also take you to a drive along the coast.  This also has been closed to vehicles, only bikes and hikers can use the coastal road. As you are driving in you feel like you are in a tunnel of trees. The trees have grown up over the road making for a very pleasant drive.

Again it ended at a high bluff lookout that was spectacular.

 






Once back out on the 101 we found the Newton Drury Scenic Hwy through the redwoods.  You have to be here to understand the beauty of what you are seeing.  Some of these trees are extremely old and so awe inspiring.  I will let my pictures do the talking.

 There were fens everywhere of all different kinds.  There is also a ground cover that looks a lot like clover but it is called Redwood Sorrel.  They are eatable, I was told they taste a little like lemon grass.

At the end of this scenic drive is the visitor center.  When we got out of the truck and I saw a field with many Elk in it, I was mesmerized.  There were several males that you could only see their antlers sticking above the grass and ferns.

 













We also saw the beautiful Blue Jay, not sure if it is a Stellar Jay or not, but it was very blue with a great crown on it's head.

This is our trail sign for tomorrow, we are doing the James Irvine Trail to Fern Canyon then the Beach Campground to the Miners RidgeTrail, back to the Jame's Irvine Trail.  The ranger said the whole loop is about 11 miles.