150 Miles into the 300 mile drive from Jeddiah Smith Redwood Park to Sonoma lies the Avenue of Giants, described as "This world-famous scenic drive is an alternate 31 mile country road which parallels and intersects highway 101 with its 51,222 acres of maginficent redwood groves".This sounds a good place to break up the drive.
Founders Grove
Founders grove has a short half mile walk around some of the biggest trees in the park. The Founders Tree was dedicated to those who led the drive to establish the “Save-the-Redwoods League”.
Parts of this place are like a tree grave yard, with many trees ending their long life on the forest floor. The roots inparticular are spectacular.
The Dyerville Giant was recognized as the “Champion” Coast Redwood as certified by the American Forestry Association until it fell on March 24, 1991. Its final height has been estimated at 375 feet. That is 200 feet taller than Niagara Falls or comparable to a 30-story building. It is also 17 feet in diameter and 52 feet in circumference. It probably weighs over 1,000,000 pounds, more than a jumbo jet.
Somewhere at the end you can see Leanne.
Chandelier Drive Through Tree
Within Avenue of Giants you can actually drive though a tree, the hole was cut in the 1930s clearly before the Save the Redwoods League was established. For a small price of $5 you can take a photo of your car in a tree.
At this stage im pretty worried about damaging the hire car!
With the pitstop completed its time to get back in the car, in 3 or 4 hours we will be in Sonoma, the heart of Californian wine country.