After homeschooling this morning, we walked 1.5 miles from the Casino into Trinidad, California.  We visited the Humboldt State University Marine Lab, which has some exhibit space as well as touch tanks out back:

They have aquariums indoors as well:

Afterwards we hiked out onto Trinidad Head, which gave us great views of both the harbor and the ocean:

It’s a cute little town:

The trail had shrubs growing all the way over the top in places:

Before heading home, we stopped on the beach for a bit:

We peeked in the tiny Trinidad Library and picked up some produce at the grocery store before walking back to the RV.  We’re staying another night at the Casino tonight.

Today we headed south out of Crescet City on US 101.  We visited the main visitor center for the park, as well as the trail that leads to the “Big Tree”.  This tree was saved from being cut down so its stump could be used as a dance floor:

Our son climbed a redwood fragment:

Tonight we’re parked at the Cher-Ae Heights Casino a bit south of Trinidad, California.  We will be here for a few days focusing on homeschooling before heading south once again.

  See the trip map for today’s drive and our current location.

After homeschool, we wandered down to the beach again.

Yup, still foggy:

The kids finished their boat:

A sandy garden:

Contemplating the rage of the sea:

Our daughter charges at the waves:

In our afternoon home school session, our son started his microscopy unit:

Tomorrow we get to see if this RV still rolls, we’ve been here for nearly a week!

Today was “build a tower” day.  My father did it with us when we were kids, so I figure it’s my turn.  We had plenty of driftwood to pick from in the next beach over:

We each grabbed one of the four main poles and dragged them back to our beach:

Binding the main poles together:

Adding the floor supports:

Installing the floor:

Tying down the floor:

I figured I should test it before letting the kids up:

Come on up kids!

Trish gave it a try too:

Our daughter practices her whittling:

We found an elephant seal shoulder blade and forearm.  Leatherman is pictured for scale:

And a pretty big banana slug too:

The kids bolstered a fort someone else had built and left:

They decided to turn it into a seafood restaurant:

Here I am sampling the fare:

The last few days have been pretty oppressive with the fog reducing visibility to 150 feet or so:

Hunting starfish:

We found a silver dollar-sized jellyfish:

One last tower shot:

Trish finished her beautiful beach rock collages:

If we don’t leave here soon, we will never go.