Patrick's Point

Patrick’s Point State Park-Thursday, May 31st-As always, it took longer to get here today than we planned.  This park was highly rated but so glad that we stayed an extra night in Fort Bragg and only stayed here one.   The weather was foggy, they were blacktopping the road around the campsites, the beach access was closed and we couldn’t see the ocean.  However, we were able to drive a few miles down the road to access the Agate Beach.   Looking for the agate rocks was something Janae and Stefan wanted to do.  I thought it would be easy to find these treasures but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack for Mark and me.  We didn’t find any.  However, Janae and Stefan did quite well and found many.  Stefan especially had a keen eye and would just walk and say oh, here is one, oh, here is another one.   These rocks are semi-precious stones and are quite lovely.  They are white,  clear with cracks on them.  We got home late and had a very late dinner.  It stays lighter longer here and we are getting in the bad habit of Janae and Stefan getting to bed at ten o’clock.   You know it’s bad when your kids ask if they can go to bed.

Scouting for agates

We enjoyed visiting the Sumeg Indian Village at Patrick's Point the next morning.  The entrance door was a small circle so the women could poke fire sticks from the inside to ward off intruders.  Notice the plank siding.  Redwood splits very easily and they would use chisels from elk antlers to split the fallen trees.

Going into the sweat house

Notice the heart and kidneys and lungs.  Canaoes were considered living spirits and great care was taken in their making. No one would work on a canoe if they were upset or not in a good place.

Writing in journals on the way to the Redwoods