This morning we head to the beach at low tide so that we can find and observe ocean creatures in the tide pools. As we get to the beach it is very foggy. In fact, most mornings have been foggy here. It adds to the mystic allure, but does not provide great views. We begin to climb out on the rocks. I am surprised about the number of sea creatures. We counted over 50 starfish alone. This is a hazardous little adventure many of these rocks are very slippery, and many of the rocks have very sharp sea barnacles. This inhibits hand holds and Amber gets one as a splinter. I guess she wanted to take a bit of the ocean home as part of her. Again, since both Eli and Josh love to climb, they had a ball exploring, finding sea creatures and traversing the rocks.
After a picnic in the Redwoods, we head back to the house and rest. This trip may have worn out my family. I think Eli, Josh, and to some degree Amber, are done hiking. However, there is one last trail, I want to hike, Lady Bird Johnson Grove. Josh and I continually refer to this trail as the Larry Bird trail. Of course, I need to do the Larry Bird trail being from Indiana. It’s another beautiful hike through the Redwoods. Amber and I left Josh and Eli back at the house. They wanted to rest. It’s different hiking with just Amber. Josh wants to push the pace and Eli can be all over the place. Now, I get to just hike.
Even as our dinners have been good, they have not been close to where we are staying. Thus, tonight we need to find something close by and here the options are slim. We find a Pizza truck, that turns out to be really good. They have a wood burning stove in the trailer which cannot be good for their health.

This evening, around 8:00 pm, we left to get ice cream (of course. We had a lot of ice cream on the trip. I think we averaged ice cream every other day), and then drive to the prairie for Elk viewing. Since the first 24 hours here, we have not seen any Elk. Amber still wants to get a good picture. We drive past the prairie with no Elk present and begin to drive again through the Redwoods. I stop at a trailhead as the sun is beginning to set and walk a bit in, marveling again at the beauty and heights of these trees. A thought pops into my mind. I am not ready to go home. Tomorrow, we go to Alcatraz. The next day we fly home, and I am not ready. This trip has been long. We have had our moments, struggles, tension, needed time apart, but it has all been wonderful family time in the beauty of God’s creation. A tear comes to my eye as I hear Josh yell for Big Foot off in the distance.
On the way back through the prairie, Amber gets her picture of the Elk.