California Duck Run 2013...

We were asked to go down to California to pick up ducks this past week.  This time we took both kids, they missed 3 days of school.  

This time we whipped dwon the I-5 thru Washington, to Eugene, Oregon, then skooted over to the coast on the 101.  Saw the Oregon SandDunes, the Jedediah Smith Redwoods and then skooted back inland to Redding, California.  From there we went further East to the Lassen Volcano State Park and then came back down towards Lodi California were we pick up the ducks.

  Here are some of the things we saw...

The Wild Cat covered bridge in Oregon. I don't know why I was so excited to see this thing now that I've seen it:) ....but whatever, just another piece of history.  I think it was built in 1925.

Here's the Oregon SandDunes...so amazing.  It was stormy and windy. There was so much sand...unreal.  In the summer this place must be packed.

We stayed here for quite a while playing 'mark the wave'.  So powerful those waves....I hear there's quite a few deaths every year from the Sneaker Waves.  There's no mercy there.

Logan changes his hat up sometimes...Dawna, he took his Australia hat from you this time:)

Umpua lighthouse, still in Oregon.  It was built in 1857.  An oldie.  This is were I swear there were grey whales 'singing'.  The sound was like nothing I've ever heard. 

This is a popular spot to hear and see grey whales and the highest chance or seeing them is in November.  We didn't use the binoculars b/c we had no change...bummer.

Here is a GIGANTIC cypress tree.  See?  I'm small compared to the tree:) 

This was in Oregon, 5 minutes from entering the border of California.

Now we're into the Redwood Forest.  Lots of clover here and Ali found a heart shaped one.

Here's one of the 'smaller' redwoods right beside the road. 

From here we crossed another covered bridge to the Howland Hill trail.  It's gravel and takes you deep into the forest.  No RV's allowed.  It was quiet and unreal to see trees that are huge, alive and 2000 years old. 

This is the Boy Scout tree stump.  Ali and Logan at the top looking like ants.

Redwood vs truck.  Redwood wins.  No contest:)

Back on the coast we couldn't resist running by the water again.  We wanted to check out a lighthouse that can only be reached when the tide is out but we were running out of time.  

One more stop at the beach at a different part further south.  Only maybe one other person and a dog was all we saw.  

The kids got quite wet before we headed inland to Redding, Cali. No more ocean for us.

Now we were off to the Lassen Volcanic State Park, east of Redding.  It was a long drive around and around the mountain. We saw some recent fire damaged trees

 

And a huge piece of lava.  Rob and Ali and Logan tried to mimic those three people on the left in the 'olden days' photo.  :)  I'd say it's a match...lol.

The 'cool' side of the volcano.  The part that blew up The kids tiny in comparison.

These lava 'mudpots' smelled NAAAASTY!  Like bathing in the rotten-ist eggs and then drinking them and then applying it like lotion.  So cool though.  They were boiling hot and everything around had turned to ash.  There were warning signs everywhere.

This little lava ash hill was spewing steam on the other side of the road.  It was super warm here:)

Had a few minutes in Target to get some snacks for the drive home.  We found some very unique helmets.  Probably for toddlers...it didn't fit her too well:)

That's it...we picked up the ducks and hit the road.  1545 km's later we were home sweet home:)