Stealing from a Bear

If we both die, at least we'll go together.
   Thankful for Google, we were able to identify a nearby Ranger Station on the outskirts of our friendly town Willow Creek. Unsure of what we'll find, we knew an update on nearby fires would be useful, as well as to double check road conditions. As we walked inside the cosy cabin we found an elderly gentleman in beige ranger clothing relaxed behind a desk. We exchanged greetings and his response to our, 'How are you?' was, "cloudy and a little overcast." We explained to our friend what our intention was and he gave us a well informed update on the fires including a new one that had started only that morning just North of the town. Through his report he would often pause and hold up a hand while he turned his head slightly and listened to pieces of communication passing on the radio. "We've got smoke droppers flying in." He told us, "All of our trucks are out helping out the bigger fires, so we've got nothing on hand to work on the fire that just started up this morning." As it turns out, they were flying in some help that would drop from a plane and be picked up to work on the fire.
   Following the fire update we found out that our ranger used to be a pilot and had flown to Australia a few times, he thought we were either New Zealanders or Australians, to which we said mostly Australian. After learning a lot more about each other we exchanged formal introductions, Jim was his name. Jim told us about the cruise industry in Australia, as well as migration of American supporting Vietnamese after the war. We learnt about Pilot's exchanging jokes when they would cross paths as well as most importantly, recommendations for nearby hikes and safe routes through the area. We were very grateful to Jim and told him so, and so we made our way out to Big Bird to follow his advice. As we were plotting the route on our GPS and preparing for lift off, Jim came outside to knock on our vehicle door, he had changed his mind on his recommended best hiking trail and instead offered another suggestion. We thanked him again, and took this option instead, plugged it into our system and off we went. A small town with plenty of character.
   As it turns out, the road we chose was a bumpy and dirt one. We took it a little slow and funnily enough we actually saw three parachutes drop from a plane as we made our way out of town. We passed through some changing landscapes, from dry fields into vinyards and even some dairy cows. We stopped for many pictures and one in particular along a dirt road overlooking a heritage cattle property in a dry prairie style plain. A little further we drove and a few cars would pass us, we pulled into a small rest area for a stretch of the legs. As we exited the vehicle a particularly aged gentlemen approached us, 'were you parked back at Lyon's Ranch?' he asked. Jamie responded affirmatively to which he took a moment and seemed to gaze a little beyond us before saying, "I remember Lyon's Ranch 70 years ago, I was a small boy then and we were moving sheep. There were a lot more sheep farms back then. We traded some sheep for beef. I was only a small boy." He asked where we were from and after hearing this he responded, "I knew a man once that drove from one side of Australia to the other, he said it was a long way, he hit two kangaraoo's. He said hew would never do it again. It's a big continent isn't it?" He asked. Before we could reply he said, "I suppose it's more of an island though." We agreed and he wished us well on our journey before hopping into his car.
   We continued on our way North West towards Orick. As we came to Ranger Jim's recommendation of Lady Bird Johnson Redwood Conservation Area. Here was a well prepared hike through the great Redwood trees that had been preserved from logging the last 60 years. To describe these trees is something truly mythical. We both felt like we were small creatures in an Avatar film. With the fog and mist about the temperature had dropped, the ground was soft and moist, each step a sponge under foot. The giant trees remarkable in diameter stood like towering beams reaching the clouds. Simply awe inspiring and deeply humbling to walk between. A moment both of us greatly appreciated and will live with us forever.
   We chose to have lunch at the park and prepared our regular salami, cheese and salad sandwiches from the rear of Big Bird. Once again we were approached about our vehicle, the design clearly attracting our campers. Each time we need to explain why we chose it, it's benefits and how much it cost us. We don't mind and we've definitely grown relaxed with it's design.
   By now we had made our way back towards the Pacific coastline. We had a variety of options to select for camping and decided to take a little more time out for hiking. This time we were at the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park which included a vast open plain for Elk sightings. Alas, despite the plentiful signs warning us not to approach the wild Elk, we did not see one. Overhearing a conversation at the information center, it would seem the Elk had journeyed behind the trees. We picked up further hike recommendations and made our way slightly North towards a coastal cove hike. Only a small 15minute trek down through deep forest led us to the sandy shoreline of the Pacific. Tucked around a corner we found a beautiful rocky cove that allowed for great exploring and rock collecting. This took up the remainder of our afteroon before we turned our trip back to the van into a 30minute hike up hill.
   Finally we reach our camping spot for the night, a small dirt rode with a camping pull off area enough for us to slide our Big Bird into a corner that overlooks the Pacific. Chilli Con Carne our filling meal for the night and some Blackberry foraging provided dessert. Despite Googling to ensure wild blackberries were infact edible, we chose to eat them together save one of us having to live without the other. That and they went perfectly with our cask red wine. We gave our thanks to the view and the bears for letting us take some of their berries.