MacKerricher (4)

This is why we camp so much. Having an entire week to explore somewhere different always leads to new discoveries and a taste of that extended camping rhythm. We spent five nights in this park, just outside of Fort Bragg, and the only hard part was wrapping it up to head home.

We found different things to do each day, including a continuation of both the Fern Valley, and the Pygmy Forest themes. If you drive just a bit south, you can park at the trailhead of Jug Handle State Natural Reserve and take a five mile round trip hike called the “Ecological Staircase.” The first part takes you right under Highway 1 and down a steep flight of wooden stairs down to a creek. You climb back up the other side and continue inland, rising gently until you come to a series of plateaus. Each terrace has its own unique ecology. The last step on the trail contains a Pygmy Forest, with Bonzai looking ancient trees. If you have time and energy after that, you can go the extra short descent down to a beautiful cove beach, under the shadow of the highway.

We spent another day just biking around together. There are miles of bike trails along the coast and through the outskirts of Fort Bragg. After we had gone to the end of the trail, we headed into town for some window shopping and ice cream at Cowlicks. Between Mocha Almond Fudge and Black Forest, with Bing cherries and fudgy chocolate chunks, I can’t say which was my favorite. Richard sampled the Mushroom ice cream and said it was not bad, and definitely not mushroomy. Richard got a flat, but was able to get right into Fort Bragg Cyclery where they fixed him up quick.

And on Thanksgiving Day, we went just a bit further south and hiked another Fern Valley trail in Russian Gulch State Park. We hiked a full loop up to the Fern Canyon Waterfall. Both Fern Valleys we have hiked so far have been incredibly beautiful. This one didn’t have any bridges out, so you can do the whole trail. The trails were a bit wider and the only dodgy part was coming down a steep passage to get to the bottom of the falls.

As we have been away from home, we heard tell that we finally got a nice solid front pathway and stairs put in. I had told Jesse, the concrete guy, that I wanted something that looked very natural, and yet totally safe. Somehow he managed to make sense of my insane requests and came up with an entryway that is both beautiful, and not deadly. The steps on the trail were what I had in mind, but that’s why you pay professionals to do things sanely. Anyway, we loved the hike and I love our stairs.

For our last full day, we hiked along Ten Mile Beach skirting Inglenook Fen. This is the only remaining coastal fen in California, and is undergoing major habitat restoration. There are signs posted everywhere, even painted on the path, that no dogs are allowed in this area. Nevertheless, people walk right past those with their dogs, and we are always rather confused. There were some good explanations posted for how dogs negatively impact fragile wildlife, but that doesn’t seem to deter lots of people. It also seems to be a completely unenforced rule.

On a serious note, we discovered a newish looking speed boat, completely destroyed and upside down on the beach. That turned out to be from an accident the week before. Two people lost their lives after their boat capsized in the waves. Later that day, we saw an emergency rescue operation, as crews tried to save a man and an unknown number of family members whose boat had also capsized just off shore. These events are common in these little norther coastal towns. Whether unsuspecting tourists, or seasoned mariners who figured they could handle the waves, dozens of people lose their lives to the ocean every year. It was sobering and sad, and a good reminder to never underestimate water.

Another Thanksgiving trip, another year to be extremely grateful to be able to get out there. It will be nice to eventually have a nice home to come home to, but nothing will replace the thrill of traveling in our own little 90 sq ft traveling mansion. We do so love our Dory time.

Total miles from Van Damme: 18.6, 13.9 mpg, 35 min. Site 72. No hookups, no solar. Better cell for ATT than Verizon, but pretty good 5g for ATT. Good dump, but water is on the wrong side, so you have to do a turn around maneuver in the dump loop. Generators allowed.