As we settle in to our new routine here in Florida we have decided that weekly field trips will be added to Dylan's home school routine. Our first official field trip was to Fort Pickens, a historic fort on the the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Construction began on the fort in 1828 and it remained in operation until 1947 to protect the mouth of Pensacola. Fort Pickens was one of 4 forts built in the area at that time, all within a few miles of each other. Although the fort did not see much action it was heavily involved in the Civil War. The fort is open to public exploration through a self guided, online tour explaining life in this fort when it was active. We were fortunate enough to be there during one of the canon demonstrations. At one time this fort had over 200 active canons used for protection. The ranger let us know that 70% of the fort is untouched while about 30% has been restored.
One of the lovely things about this area is that not only is this a fantastic old fort with hours of exploration through old tunnels and passages, but it is also a National Seashore with miles of gorgeous sandy shores for play. Although we did not have time to play on the beaches while we were there, we did come back the next week to explore the beaches. With a campground that offers overnight accommodations this park offers family friendly activities for an entire weekend.
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An unplanned side trip brought us to the Capulin Volcano National Monument, a unique little National Park in eastern New Mexico. Driving through the grasslands, we noticed numerous hills popping up, just as we noticed the sign for this National Monument - of course we had to stop. The park visitor's center was at the base of the cinder cone and a narrow road took us to the top of the rim to look into this 60,000 year-old volcano. The views looking out from the rim were spectacular to see over the grasslands bespeckled with old cinder cones. The geology of this area is fascinating. Oh, and Miss Dylan became a Jr Ranger once more.
After saying goodbye to friends in Seattle we decided to brave the interior and head into the mountains. We knew that the wildfires were running rampant but it was quite shocking to see the effect they had on all of the areas. Apparently, the smoke that was affecting the Rainier area was coming all the way from British Columbia. We later found out that the BC smoke was making it all the way to Newfoundland.
We decided to visit the Sunrise Visitor Center as it was the most easily accessible from the Seattle area and we weren't disappointed. The visitor center road took us up the side of a mountain to a vista that looks upon Mount Rainier itself. We drove through meadows of wildflowers and through many tight curves as we made our way to the top. This area had a historic hotel, lovely old visitor's center, and many hikes which provided majestic views of this incredible mountain. Although the smoke was thick and we were not able to have a clear view, the majesty showed through the haze. With the air quality being as poor as it was, we chose a short hike that took us through the fields of wildflowers and also gave us lovely vistas of the mountain. Dylan worked hard on her junior ranger workbook while we hiked and explored the visitors center. She also participated in a water color workshop with a ranger and created a beautiful rainbow print. Our time on this mountain provided many thought patterns for me. I marveled at the strength of those people who have taken the time an energy to summit its peak. I also looked at the habitat that this area provided and became sad at the state of the wildfires in the area. I also felt very, very small as I realized that this mountain was formed through volcanic activity and realized that if she decided to become active again, her destruction would be so great that I would be just a speck along its path. From rain forests to waterfalls, from mountains to ocean, the Olympic National Park has so much to offer. Having explored it for 3 days, we would have gladly stayed longer. We saw millipedes, more banana slugs, rabbits, and a dead whale that washed up on the beach The smell on said beach was not the most agreeable but the colors on the rotting carcass were surprisingly beautiful.
One thing we were told to check out was the Kaloloch Cave Tree. Down near the campground, a trail leads to the beach where the bank have washed away yet this evergreen (possibly western hemlock) tree remains alive and vibrant. This harsh condition has now created a cave below the root ball of this tree. The ranger of the area asked us not to climb on, hang from, or build fires underneath the root ball. We were saddened, but not shocked, that she had to say this. As one of the nations newer National Parks, the Lewis and Clark National Park was a bit of a mystery as we were making our plans for the area. It wasn't until we were near Fort Stevens (a state park in northern Oregon) that we were able to find some solid information about the park. The park has one main area outside of Astoria, Oregon but it also encompasses 7 other areas or state parks which were significant sites for the Lewis and Clark party. We had the chance to visit the main park, where they have reconstructed Fort Clatsop on the space they believe was the original location, as well as 3 other areas that had significance to the party. Fort Clatsop is the spot where they arrived and spent a winter while developing relations with the natives of the area. The Lewis and Clark party had traveled through Utah, so we were exposed to parts of their adventure but visiting this park inspired me to beef up on my knowledge of their entire adventure.
Two weeks ago Carolyn called the Out'n'About Treesort in Southern Oregon to see if they had any openings; as who wouldn't want to sleep in a treehouse? She was told that they had been fully booked through the summer. The concept of a tree resort was incredibly appealing and because it was on our route to Crater Lake, we decided to check it out. When we arrived, we were informed that there had been a cancellation for the next two nights. Although unplanned, we decided to splurge and take this opportunity for this unique experience.
The treehouses are gorgeously built in a variety of styles, sizes, and heights. We were given the first treehouse built on the property, the seed that sprouted the resort. Although we didn't take advantage of the numerous activities at the resort (zip lines through the canopy, horseback rides, giant "Tarzan" swing) we enjoyed the free rope swing, the stream-fed natural swimming pool, communal kitchen, communal fire pit, the outdoor pool table, basketball hoop, blackberry picking, closet full of family games, and the delicious homemade breakfast every morning. We highly recommend this resort. Check on rates and accommodations at their website or call them at 541-592-2208 As a side excursion, we took a day to visit Crater Lake. This incredibly unique National Park is definitely worth taking the time to visit. We only stayed for about two hours and found that sufficient to do all that we desired in the Park. The stories are incredible, the vistas even more so, and the unique clarity and colors of the lake are breathtaking. There are hiking opportunities as well as a boat tour to wizard island. Because of wildfires in the area and smoke creeping in for the afternoon, we decided not to embark on these opportunities. No adventure to Northern California is complete without a tour of the Giant Redwood Trees. One can only look up for so long without getting a terribly sore neck. These towering trees have a way of connecting to your spirit and soul. They make you recognize how vast is the universe as well as how insignificant is our time on this planet. We enjoyed two and a half full days of exploring these forests and shorelines that they border. These trees grow to over 300 feet in height and some of the larger circumferences being over 50 feet. They can also live over 2000 years. We found that there are two very distinct feels to the area. The first being the commercial/tourist-trap aspect with a focus on finding Sasquatch, taking pictures with over sized statues, creating "natural" wonders in the trees (like the drive-thru trees and Mystery Forest), and gift shops galore. We got sucked in by on the outer perimeters of the commercialism as we wanted the experience of driving through a tree. The second, and in our opinion the most rewarding, is the natural wonder of this incredible and ancient ecosystem. While standing within the forest, we could actually feel its power and majesty.
When you think about this area, you generally think about the interior of the forest but we also took the opportunity to explore the gorgeous beaches and seaside towns. Not least of which is the fishing village of Trinidad and the state beach therein. We all felt a special connection to this quaint little town. A must-see for anyone visiting this part of California. We were also very blessed to connect with some friends from Utah who offered us a hot meal, a shower, excellent company, great conversations, and a morning spent beach combing in Crescent City. We are very grateful to the Halvorsen family for their hospitality. Amidst the desert sage and rabbit brush in the high mountains lies the "Ghost Town of the Wild West". Frozen in time, Bodie State Historic Park preserves the lives of those who rushed to the west looking for gold. During it's heyday from 1877 to 1888, Bodie was home to more than 10,000 residents. Five percent of the buildings (about 110 building) remain in a state of arrested decay. The one-mile long main street housed 65 saloons at its peak, a red-light district, and even a small Chinatown.
We were impressed by the authenticity of this ghost town. We have been to so many in our travels, most either a few structural ruins or made into a tourist trap. This was an incredible example of how hard the mining life must have been, and how fleeting the time. By 1910 the population dwindled to less then 700 people and by the 1940's only a care taker for the are remained. It became a national historic site and state park in 1962. We saw so many examples of life that seemingly came to a standstill. A pool table just after a game played, a schoolhouse with lessons still on the chalkboard, a pressure cooker in the hotel kitchen, numerous toys that have been worn down from many children's hands. We did not take the opportunity to tour the stamp mill, however, we wish we had. From highway 395, you have to drive 10 miles east on a paved road then 3 miles on a dirt road. Admission is charged per vehicle occupant and they sell a self-guided tour booklet for $2. This was definitely worth the diversion from our course and we would recommend it to anyone interested in life during the mining gold rush. Devils Postpile NM is an incredible example of columnar jointing. This geologic formation was created when one hundred thousand years ago, lava flowed through the valley and settled like a pool. As the lava cooled, it shrank and the basalt cracked in 120 degree angles. Several thousand years later, a glacier flowed along the top uncovering the formation and smoothing the tops of the columns. A majority of which are six sided. Dylan became a jr ranger at the monument
July 9th - Joshua Tree National Park. We entered Joshua Tree at the southern Cottonwood entrance and drove all the way through the park, stopping at many of the incredible vistas. To say that you are in the middle of the desert-no-where is an understatement - it is extremely hot, extremely dry, extremely barren...yet incredibly gorgeous. It is almost mind blowing that anything survives out in this harsh harsh environment. As you drive through the first 45 minutes through the southern end of the park you question how this ended up as a national park - then you reach the spectacular Joshua Tree forests and incredible boulders - and you no longer question why.
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April 2019
AuthorCarolyn and Will Bollwerk share their adventures with their 5 year-old daughter, Dylan. |