Jono's Travel Blog

23/09/2010 Day 23 Vancouver to Mexico

Distance Travelled: Elk Prairie CG back to Elk Prairie CG round trip 30km

Money Spent: $0

Total Distance Traveled: 1375km

Today was a bit of a relaxed leisure day; Jeff wanted to join me on the cycle trail around the redwood forests so we set off at about 9.30. The trail was 19 miles round trip and was worth every mile; the weather was gorgeous without a cloud in the sky and the scenery was spectacular.

Jeff and I cruised about all day taking out time, seeing what we wanted to along the way. At one point were we stopped for a snack we were literally surrounded by Elk, mostly females and 2 males, they were fantastic to watch as they made their calls to one another hearing some more in the distance.

We then went on a short hiking trail where we ditched the bikes and went on the short hike through Fern Gully where apparently a scene was filmed for Jurassic Park inn this location. The gully had walls 50-60 feet towering above filled with ferns not really surprising as that’s what it was named, walking though the stream that cut the gully was great but only getting my shoes more wet; honestly I haven’t had dry shoes in over a week now.

We got back to our bikes and cruised along the beach trail that may well have been an old trade route that took us through a whole lot of different terrain and scenery, every thing from beach views, sand, mud, waterfalls, more gullies and wildlife. It really was fantastic.

Yesterday I mentioned the cycle downhill through all the Redwood trees and how jaw-dropping it was and today I got to do it again its called Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway. A picture cant show how gigantic these trees are, to see them in person is the only way to truly experience this National Park and is certainly worth a look if you (whoever reads this blog) travel to this part of the world.

I picked up a big splinter of Redwood tree wood from a fallen tree on the side of the road to take with me as a souvenir, maybe it will be worth something some day as only 4% of the total tallest living things remain today.

The trail Jeff and I took today was a great little side trip from this mission down to Mexico and it certainly was much easier to cycle without all my belongings on my bike.

We managed not having to pay for the night at the campground as we just cycled in where we had left our stuff, and thinking for a day of seeing such beauty (without sounding like a tree-hugger) and not spending a cent (or a tight ass), it really was quite the day.