Roadside Stops and Attraction

Our plan was to stop at anything interesting. And stop we did....often. Time wasn't a factor at all. We weren't in a hurry to get to Eureka. For us, it's just the place where we would sleep. Our main goal was to enjoy the Avenue of the Giants. Get out and walk under the trees, feel and smell and see and photograph.

We stopped at the LIVING CHIMNEY TREE which as the name says is a living redwood tree that was hollowed out (by fire it seems) inside, the bottom is even cemented and you can look up to see the rays of the sun. This is a free attraction.

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You can see that they even installed a red door, to make it appear like a "home". Maybe a hobbit can live here. Or an ewok, after all around these parts is where they film one of those Star Wars movie.

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Looking up, craning neck.

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You see that it's still living.

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The numbers about Chimney Tree.

The one thing that I was truly looking for was to drive through a tree. I've seen the postcards, I've seen the photos and I want to drive through a living tree too. Thee are a few of them around these parts. There is one in Leggett, but we didn't take the exit to Leggett and opted to stay on the Avenue of the Giants. Thankfully, we found another one nearby.

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The Drive Through Tree in Myers Flat is located along the Avenue of the Giants. For $6 you get to drive through a paved passage through the tree. I noticed some steel cables anchoring the slightly leaning live tree.
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The experience of driving through was fleeting, there was somebody behind us waiting for their turn. On the drive out, we saw that they have tree houses made of redwood trunks. What a bonus for us. We grabbed this chance to stay longer and check out the two tree houses, take photos, and also to stretch out a little before we get cooped up inside the car again.

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Inside the bigger house, they carved a bookcase with books in the interior trunk.

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Familiar sighting around these parts are wood carvings.

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One of the many stops we made to take photos, of us and of course the trees.

When we thought we were done with sightseeing and on the way straight to Eureka, we passed by CONFUSION HILL. Hubby immediately took a U turn. We were all "treed" out by this time and were all unwilling to stop again. But he persisted and said we were on a roadtrip and this is our chance to check out this place. We may never pass this way again. Carpe Diem!

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Confusion Hill is this place's version to Santa Cruz's Mystery Spot. We were there just to look. We all had experienced Mystery Spot.

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I think they were closed when we were there. The attraction that is, but the gift shop was definitely open.

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We were a day early for the start of the train ride. I have taken a train ride through the redwoods, in Santa Cruz, and that experience is amazing as well.

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The shoe house.
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This wood carving is amazing. Info on pic below.
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The sign says: This one-of-a-kind carving was created from a dead redwood tree. A complex of scaffolding was built around it. Then it took one man 3 months with a chainsaw to carve it. It is 44" tall including the sign. There are many taller totem poles, but they were cut down and carved, then set back upright. So this is the world's tallest free-standing redwood chainsaw carving.

We used the facilities here and also browsed their merchandise. I came out with a little souvenir too.

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Found it very interesting to see roadway sighting of a police car, that looked like it was abandoned roadside.

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When we thought we were done again, we passed by what looks like a gift shop/visitor center. This is where I took this photo - SOOC. You cannot imagine how verdant it is. It's this green. Well, they have lots of rain here. As a matter of fact, the drizzle was our constant companion on this day.

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We found out here that they have auto tour. I did not inquire about it, we were actually at the end of the 31 miles, so no use for us.

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I had to photograph the French broom blooms. I remember them fondly from our Oregon road trip in May a few years ago. It was like deja vu. Roadside filled with redwoods and interspersed with yellow French broom.

....to be continued...

Comments

  1. nice tree...it must be both hollow and hallowed :P

    if it's in PH people will say it's haunted :P

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  2. i looooove the bookshelf. can i stay there? haha!

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  3. Wow such an informative post on redwood trees. It reminds me of those old talking trees (I forgot what they are called!) in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Very interesting!

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  4. The chimney tree is incredible, i pondered on the measurements and they are really giants. I wonder how many giants can stand inside it!

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  5. Who knew such a place could be packed full of just about everything! I sure love the tour because who knows if I'll ever see it all with my own eyes!

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