Crescent City

Crescent City is a small town in California, just a few miles south the border with Oregon. We stayed 10 days there for choice and circumstance.

At a first glance, the city didn’t seem to have much to offer. But at the end of our stay, we had accomplished a lot. From there we visited the Redwood National Park, with its incredible 300ft tall trees. We also drove back to Oregon to go down under, visiting one of the few marble caves in the US. As small as it is, the city has a huge Wal Mart store, which Adriana and Raquel visited twice to restock Pesto’s fridge, freezer and pantry. The long stay, coupled with some rainy days, allowed us to press on with homeschooling as well.

The fact that they have a brand new, well fitted marina just added to the comfort factor and may have encouraged us to stay a little longer while waiting for a large swell to subside outside of the breakwater.

I will let the pictures below tell the rest of the story.

Pesto tied at the transient dock at the excellent Crescent City Harbor District Marina

We were also honored by the visit of Adagio's cat - Zappa — We were honored by the visit of Adagio’s cat – Zappa

The beautiful drive to the Redwoods Forest

Right upon arrival to the park, the kids were thrilled with these huge statues of Paul Banyan an his pet ox Babe — Right upon arrival to the park, the kids were thrilled with these huge statues of the lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his pet ox Babe

The statue was manned by someone remotely who would chat to the kids via loudspeakers inside Paul Bunyan's mouth. The kids spent a long time talking nonsense to him. On the way back, we also bought them a couple of books about Paul's tales. — The statue was manned by someone remotely who would chat to the kids via loudspeakers inside Paul Bunyan’s mouth. The kids spent a long time talking nonsense to him. On the way back, we also bought them a couple of books about Paul’s tales.

But what is really fascinating in this park are the trees from which it borrows its name. The Redwoods are huge, centenary trees, some of which towering 300ft above ground. They are said to be the tallest in the world.

I told the kids there were ewoks in the forest (those cute little bears that appear on some of the Star Wars movies), and they spent some time looking for the creatures in between the trees. Raquel swears she saw three or four specimens

And while the Star Wars frenzy was still on, we staged a Jedi match with our hiking sticks, right there, in the middle of the woods. At that stage, if there were any ewok near us, it would have fled to security in the depth of the forest. — And while the Star Wars frenzy was still on, we staged a Jedi match with our hiking sticks, right there, in the middle of the woods. At that stage, if there were any ewok near us, it would have fled to safety in the depth of the forest.

There were a few of these large wood sculptures made with chainsaw

I think Raquel's expression on this picture best describes how enjoyable this day was — I think Raquel’s expression on this picture best describes how enjoyable this day was

We went to a beach nearby to watch the strength of the sea from the safety of terra firma

I wonder what was going through Paulo's mind at that moment — I wonder what was going through Paulo’s mind at that moment

A couple days later we went to another national park, this time in Oregon. — A couple days later we went to another national park, this time in Oregon

The attraction there was under the ground. A whole 220 ft of it. We timed this visit with a geology topic on the kids’ science class, so that they could see first hand the different types of rocks and soil.

The cave is mostly inside marble stone formations. Its beauty augmented by the expert guidance of the ranger who took us inside it

At the exit, an unmistakable reminder that autumn HAS arrived

Then the weather improved a bit and I took a walk to the beach to check in the sea state

To my amazement, there were some people surfing on these fridge-cold waters

I was also amused by these Capt'n America look-alikes. Go figure — I was also amused by these Capt’n America look-alikes. Go figure

On the way back, the now-typical "industrial-chic" beauty of the Marina, which includes a Fish Processing Plant ... — On the way back, the now-typical “industrial-chic” beauty of the Marina, which includes a Fish Processing Plant …

... a fresh seafood outlet ... — … a fresh seafood outlet …

... and, obviously, a hair salon (really?) — … and, obviously, a hair salon (really?)

One of the many seaworthy fishing boats in the harbor taking a well-deserved rest before reporting back to duty any time soon

The US Coast Guard boat at the ready — A US Coast Guard boat at the ready

Back at Pesto, the skateboards have proven time and again a very versatile tool to increase the kids' tolerance to walking longer distances with us — Back at Pesto, the skateboards have proven time and again a very versatile tool to increase the kids’ tolerance to walking longer distances with us

Inside Pesto, Adriana employed creativity to keep homeschooling going during the rainy days. That included music classes and origami — Inside, Adriana employed creativity to keep homeschooling going during the rainy days. The origami made during the Arts class later served to decorate Pesto’s main cabin

I will wrap up with a few shots I took just after editing this post for the first time. The weather was improving, but a patch of fog set in during the night and persisted through the morning 24hrs prior to our departure. It was predicted in the forecast, still, fog always brings a certain element of anxiety with it. Thankfully there was no forecast prediction of fog for our intended time of departure.

I was going to bed after editing this post when I saw a thick layer of fog entering the marina. I rushed outside in my PJs to take pictures.

The fog persisted into the morning - forecast saying it should dissipate before noon — The fog persisted into the morning – forecast saying it should dissipate before noon

We kept watching the weather for a proper window to depart. And if conditions don’t change from the forecast, by the time this post is published we shall be sailing steadily toward Eureka, our last stop before San Francisco. Have a great Sunday !

3 Replies to “Crescent City”

Marie Hruby-Frake says:

September 30, 2014 at 7:57 pm

I love reading your blog! I am traveling along vicariously. What an adventure.
jon says:

October 1, 2014 at 12:24 pm

Hello Pesto and crew, welcome (by now) to Humboldt Bay and Eureka. It was Akimbo’s only stop between Seattle and San Francisco in 2009, and my son graduated from Humboldt State U. I write to you from back home in Seattle. Once that first fall storm cleared, we departed Coos Bay at the end of the ebb Friday morning…arrived Moss Landing, Monterey Bay late afternoon Monday. Some storm, some motoring, and some glorious sailing that keeps me coming back for more. A little of everything. And good crew. Someone said something like, “You can’t love only the part of sailing you enjoy, you have to love all of it…or none of it.” A lot like life, eh? Such is love. Enjoy and appreciate, and know you are not alone on your voyage – a lot of us are with you.
Alex says:

October 2, 2014 at 8:44 pm

Hi Jon … sounds like you had a great passage!
From the little we have done so far, the impression I have is that passages is the kind of thing you question while you are doing it, and get itching to go again as soon as the dock lines have dried up around the mooring cleats.
We are now preparing to leave to SF. Will depart some time between tomorrow and Saturday – our longest passage so far :-0 and we are looking forward to it.
We shall be there for the following 10-15 days. Do let us know if you go that direction.
Cheers!

I

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3 Replies to “Crescent City”