Bigfoots and Redwoods, 2006
by Chuck Easton
Everyone told me it would be crazy to drive for 12 hours or more just to run 10 kilometers, but lucky for me I didn't listen too closely. I first found out about the Avenue of the Giants run looking around on the internet: the idea of seeing the redwoods again after many years sounded great. I live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. It was a few years ago when I looked at the date for the run- it conflicted with a community orchestra concert, a group in which I play string bass. Then, in 2006, they changed our spring concert date, making it possible for me to get to northern California the weekend of the run. Not too long ago I got a DVD of the famous Patterson/Gimlin footage of a Sasquatch (Bigfoot), the film that sparks controversy and debate to this day (it was filmed in 1967 up the Bluff Creek drainage) from the "it's definitely real" to "that's a guy in a monkey suit". I realized after looking through maps that I could not only go right by Bluff Creek, but could stop at the Bigfoot museum in Willow Creek. This was all too good to pass up! I hardboiled a ozen eggs, baked a loaf of bread in the bread machine and grabbed a jar of peanut butter. Starting Friday morning (against my wife's better judgment), I drove for ten hours down I-5 then into the Klamath River valley on highway 96, where I pulled off at a river access spot for kayakers and set up the tent. I'd never been on this road so I had a nice time sight-seeing, perfecting my drive-by photography, thoroughly enjoying the ride down the mostly deserted road. There's a certain mystique to the northern California country for me. On Saturday I continued on through Ishi country, down the Klamath, then up the Trinity, then down to Redwood creek. I did stop at the Bigfoot museum long enough to view various footprints, photos, news clippings, etc. and came away with a Bigfoot T-shirt. I hit the coast and headed south to Avenue of the Giants. The first big trees took my breath away, they were more spectacular than I remembered. I picked up my pre-race stuff then went to Myers flat campground, marveling at the trees. Sunday morning I got up pretty early and got stuck in the traffic jam north of the starting area. I felt a pang of regret as the full marathon took off- maybe I should train for that some day. Around 8 kilometers during the 10 K I realized the total foolishness of such a thought. The weather was perfect, it was wonderful running through the big trees, I came across the line tired but feeling great. After basking in post race glory for a bit I headed north, making a few photo stops and had a really good beer at the Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka. The plan now was to head all the way up the Oregon coast, another area I hadn't seen in years. This also exceeded my expectations. I was revitalized by a free shower at the Humbug mountain campground, and was ready to drive some more. The sun started sinking, and the clouds started gathering as I headed north. Finally close to midnight I pulled over at a rest stop north of Lincoln city, Oregon and called my wife, Autumn on the cell phone she had loaned me. (A reminder- be careful of those roaming charges!). She encouraged me to stop and sleep a bit, so I rolled out my bag and pad and stretched out. About an hour and a half later, I was awakened by a plink, plink, plink, sound. Rain. I got up and hit the road. From this time (around 1:30 AM) until morning I drove through occasional rain then stopped to snooze in the car a number of imes. When it got light I was a ways north of Astoria , Oregon and back in Washington state. I drove in my driveway in late morning, took a two-hour nap, then headed out to teach my Monday students. It looks like the 2007 spring concert is again on a different weekend- see you at the Lost Coast Brewery after the race on Sunday. (Scroll down to see four pics.)