Explore the Redwood Coast

Explore the California Redwood Coast.
Since the early 1930's, Klamath has been the secret vacation retreat for outdoor adventurers. Find over 1200 RV and camping sites, one of the states largest river, Redwood National and State parks and miles of uncrowded beaches.

The Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) features an impressive diversity of nature. Considered as one of the most unique ecosystems on our planet where there is a serene balance between ancient coast redwood groves, gray whales, black bears, banana slugs and much more. Includes Del Norte, Jedediah Smith and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks. Visit the world famous Redwood groves containing the largest redwoods.

In the late 1800's western expansion and development threatened the continued existence of these majestic trees. By 1900 the future of old growth redwood forests was in jeopardy. Both state and federal government started to come forward to create parkland reserves to protect the trees and associated habitat in the 1920's.

Today, visitors to RNSP will find not only old-growth redwood groves but open prairie lands, two major rivers, and 37 miles (60 km) of pristine California coastline. The redwoods thrive in a temperate ecosystem and require lots of precipitation. The climate is 40 - 60 degrees year round along the wild redwood coastline.

One unique highlight is Trees of Mystery. This is an 8/10ths of a mile groomed interpretive trail through the awe-inspiring Redwoods of Northern California. Part of the trail (The Trail of Tall Tales)is devoted to the myth and mythology of Paul Bunyan, America's larger-than-life logger from the turn of the century.

The Coastal Trail runs 25 miles through the combined length of the Redwood National and State Parks. It passes through a variety of spectacular habitat including bluffs, deserted beaches, grasslands, forest covered glades. Access points include Fern Canyon, Crescent Beach and Damnation Creek. Other trails access the wild coastline and provide vistas to rock promonitories that are home to sea lion colonies and overlook whale migration routes. Some trails are suitable for horse and/or bike.

Crescent City *
Crescent City Harbor *
Klamath *
Redwood N.P. *
Six Rivers N.F. *
Smith River

Californians Take Gold in Olympics

Both the Women's and Men's USA Beach Volleyball Teams captured gold medals in the olympics this week. Both of these two-person teams orginated from California.

First the women's team of Mays and Walsh defeated the home team of China.

Secondly the men's team of Rogers - Dauhalzer defeated a very tough Brazilian team.
beach volleyballers Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers have made history by winning the men's gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. The temperature in Beijing was hitting 100 degrees on the giant outdoor thermometer and the players sweat added a lot of extra spin to the ball.

Rogers built a regulation size beach volleyball court in the backyard of his home in Solvang and is expected to be grand marshall at the town's christmas parade.

Volleyball is the second most popular sport in Brazil (after soccer) but the Brazilians lost control when 6 foot 9 inch Calhausser repeatedly blocked shot after shot at the net. While the Americans get the gold - the two Brazilian teams earn both Silver and Bronze medals.

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor won their second consecutive gold medal Thursday for women's beach volleyball by beating China's Wang Jie and Tian Jia in a driving rain storm which made for very slick ball. Volleyball is played in all weather conditions.

Sea-Life Aquarium opens in Carlsbad

I just got back from the Grand Opening of the Sea-Life Aquarium opened today on the Legland California property in Carlsbad California. It was neet to see all of the celebrities, civic leaders and executives from Legoland and Merlin Entertainment Group (the owner / operator of Legoland and Sea-Life). Actor Christian La Fuentes was their guest speaker.

Sea-Life is Merlin's Aquarium Theme Park brand from Europe where it is quite popular. This is their first such development in North America. Is is also the first Aquarium of any kind in the San Diego North County region.

The Aquarium has a lively assortment of Reef-Fish, Sharks, and Rays. Most impressive are the colorful displays of Sea-Horses and Clown Fish. Their octopus seemed unusually lively this morning - perhaps from being entertained by the new crowd.

Scattered about facility are number of children's activity stations which certainly jazzes up the place for the young guests. Children ages 2-10 form Legoland's core market group.

Upstairs is a fresh restaurant serving quality lunch fare. This happened to included some nicely grilled fish. (Boy, I hope it didn't come from one of the exhibits below.)

Coastal Commission Approves New Project

What will become the world's largest drinking water desalination project has been approved by the California State Coast Commission.

The project is slated to go into a former power plant located along the coast in Carlsbad, CA. The San Diego Region has been running short on fresh water supplies for the last decade. It is now seen as economically feasible to build their own drinking water plant.

Poseidon Resources can start construction in 2009 and fresh water should be flowing by 2011.

Fire Copter Crash near Redding

A large bright yellow Sikorsky S-61 with 13 aboard has crashed. Nine firefighters are presumed dead. The Sikorsky S-61 can transport 18 firefighters and drop up to 1,000 gallons of water via a bucket suspended from the bottom.

Four firefighters were badly burned in the crash, which took place at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday about 15 miles northwest of Junction City, west of Redding.

The firefighters were hurt when their Sikorsky S-61 helicopter crashed near the north end of the so-called Buckhorn Fire, which has burned nearly 25 square miles.

Ventura County HotSpot hits 812 Degrees

Fire experts and geologists are baffled by a geological anamoly located in Ventura County. The ground temperatures have soared to over 800 degrees and have caused a small brush fire.

The spot is located in a remote canyon a few miles north of Fillmore.
The anomaly was discovered after the land got so hot that it started a brush fire and burned three acres last month.

The area has recorded high temperatures at least five times since 1987, Allen King, a retired geologist with the U.S. Forest Service told the newspaper.

The hot spot is located in steep, rugged terrain a few miles north of the town of Fillmore on land owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and leased by Seneca Resources Corp.

Officials who are familiar with the patch of land, which is near the large Sespe Oil Field, have come up with a few theories as to why the ground soared to 812 degrees fahrenheit on August 1.

One theory is that natural hydrocarbons, such as oil or gas, are burning deep in the earth and seeping out through cracks in the area, causing the surface to rapidly heat and generate smoke.

Fire officials are taking no chances - they have cleared all brush in the area and cut fire lines surrounding the location.

For more Ventura County Adventure News - click here.

More State Paycuts

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration on Tuesday asked state Controller John Chiang to temporarily cut the pay of roughly 180,000 state employees while exempting about 50,000 workers in a patchwork of departments.

Schwarzenegger's formal pay letter moves him closer to a legal battle with Chiang, whose office said Tuesday he will defy the instructions and continue to pay full salaries to state workers.

The governor signed an executive order last week that terminated 10,133 part-time and temporary employees while banning overtime for most workers and attempting to slash salaries until a state budget is approved.

More details follow at the Sacramento Bee

Birding on LA's Ballona Creek

The LA Times has a new bird watcher:

"Scout for winged creatures along the L.A. waterway. Hikers and bikers get an eyeful: herons, egrets, pelicans. And everywhere, gulls."

"This birding hot spot is not in the Florida Everglades or a remote wilderness. It's right in Los Angeles, along Ballona Creek as it flows west toward Santa Monica Bay, emptying in the Marina del Rey area. I'm seeing all these species while standing near a Marina Freeway overpass where cars whoosh by, their occupants oblivious to nature's bounty below."

Click HERE for this new adventure report by Jane Engell.

Massive ID Theft Ring Busted in San Diego

Of the 11 suspects arrested, most were from foreign countries.

For three years, San Diego-based Secret Service agents used the Internet to communicate with thieves, part of an investigation that has led to the prosecution of what federal officials call the largest identity-theft ring ever busted.
“The investigation started here in San Diego,” local U.S. Attorney Karen Hewitt said yesterday. “It spread across the country and around the world.”
Three of those charged are U.S. citizens. The others are from Estonia, Ukraine, Belarus and China.
Officials say the full breadth of the conspiracy is staggering – more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers stolen from some of the nation's most popular retail chains.
The thieves hacked into wireless networks of retailers, including BJ's Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, Boston Market, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, Forever 21 and DSW, as well as TJX Cos., owners of Marshalls and T.J. Maxx, authorities said.

MLB Baseball Roundup

The Padres, Giants and Oakland A's are all having one of their worst seasons ever.  The only highlight of their games is when they manage to breakup the no-hitter their opponents have started for the prior six innings.

However Angels and Dodgers fans are having a blast cheering for their teams.

The Angels are currently in first place in the American League West with a 10.5 game lead over the Texas Rangers.  They are the only team in MLB to have racked 70 wins this season.  This week they host the Baltimore Orioles at home.  This weekend (Fri-Sun), they host the Yankees at home.

Buy tickets and check their upcoming game schedule Here.

The LA Dodgers are in a hard fight with the Arizona Diamondbacks, currently trailing by just two games.  Currently they are on a roadtrip in St. Louis.

Buy tickets and check their upcoming game schedule Here.

Californian Olympian - Valerie Gotay

She lasted tried to compete in the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, but just barely missed the weighin for her weight class but now Temecula resident and Judo Champion, Valerie Gotay is ready to compete in Beijing next week.

Any other Californians in the Olympics?

Being an athlete and training for the Olympics can be challenging enough.

Now, try doing it while juggling the tasks of training with those of being a mom.

Striking that balance between sport and motherhood is a reality for 17 American women competing at the 2008 Olympics.

Her story Here

Blog Launch

Welcome to the Californian Adventurer Blog where we will post daily the latest news of all fun and exciting things for California that we can find.