Whales and Paul Bunyan

From Redwoods, we started our drive north to Oregon and Crater Lake. However, we had a few minor detours on the way.  The first was stopping at the Klamath River where a grey whale and her calf have been spending the summer!  I guess this is fairly rare (last time was 17 years ago or so) and we were anxious to see a whale up close. 

We did get to see them, however, it was a little disappointing since where they have been spending their time is near a steep, brushy cliff so from up high there, you really couldn't see them. A few of us did climb down the bank a little way to snap some photos, but the kids couldn't see much which was sad.
 

There was a ranger there though who was telling us about them and she had some models of the whales to show the kids which was cool.

From there, we continued our trek but had another stop to make at.... The Trees of Mystery! We'd seen an ad on our drive for this place and Anita was dying to go. So, we figured why not?  Any place with a huge Paul Bunyan statue has go to be a great place, right?

That's me and the kids by the statue (which talks to you by the way). Babe, the blue ox, was also there, just not in the picture.

The Trees of Mystery is a gondola ride up the side of the mountain, through the redwoods to a top lookout. However, you have to take a bit of a hike up to the gondola and along the way are some really neat redwoods.

This redwoods actually has multiple trees growing off of it... it's called the family tree.

Here Bryce and I (and Caitlin) are in front of a great group of cathedral trees. Lots of people apparently get married right here!

Group picture near one of the biggest redwoods we've seen.

On the gondola ride! Evan LOVED it.

Picture at the top where you could see down both sides of this ridge and also to the ocean.

Here's the gondola we rode in

Matilda and Daniel enjoying the ride

One more shot of the kids. Both loved it and Evan was so sad to get off.  Great idea to stop Anita! It was a fun side trip that I think we all enjoyed.

Off to Crater Lake!