November.
Where to go?
We hopped in Zoom-Zoom and took off over 299, up-and-down shifting through Trinity County to the coast. Once we hit the 101 we turned North, up into the Redwoods.
It was foggy as we headed up and over the serpentine pass into Weaverville. But we kept the top down, after all that's what a Miata is about. Seat heater turned up, warm air blasting into the cockpit; still I was surprised that Gail was so warm. Warm enough to ride along barefoot, hair blowing in the breeze. Me: well I am always warm.
We blasted along, in and out of fog as we made our way through the mountains, then down to Arcata where we picked up 101 north towards Crescent City.
We slowed down as we entered the Redwoods, pulling off onto the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway (north of Orick, south of Klamath). We craned our necks looking up at the trees along the road, and thinking how cool it is to have no car roof blocking the view. We took a long time to cruise the parkway, pulling over here and there to look around, before heading back south towards Trinidad.
The elk were out in several large herds, one had four massive bulls. Other places the blacktail deer were grazing, alongside the solitary bull elk.
We arrived at our lodging for the night, the quaint Sea Cliff Motel. It is a warm and comfortable rustic place tucked back in the trees about two miles north of Trinidad. It does not have the sea view, but on this foggy evening I was glad I had not paid the extra money for a B&B with fog view, saving the money for a nice dinner out instead. We dropped our bags and headed into Trinidad to see what we could of the sunset and town.
Since it was our anniversary, we had a reservation at the well rated Moonstone Grill. It is a ways south of town on the old Coastal Road, a bumpy dirt and paved, one lane falling off the cliff winding adventure of a road. I wish I could report a fantastic meal, but it was just good. The special Lobster Wontons were wonderful, the Scallops Rockefeller just OK. My main meal of Rare Tuna was disappointing, but Gail's Pork Loin Chop was delicious.
Next morning we had a fun breakfast people watching the locals at Beachcomber Cafe, later a hot cup of clam chowder at the Trinidad Bay Eatery, always a good bet for solid food.
We came home through Ferndale, looking at the old Victorian houses, before winding up and over Highway 36 by Fortuna. This road is even more twisty than 299, but none of the traffic and a section of redwoods to boot. All in all it was an easy, two day loop drive through some beautiful areas.