Day 6.

Early start to begin our journey to the Redwoods. While looking at her National Park Companion guide, Lily found the Oregon Caves National monument, and so glad she did. The road was straight up and windy, not for those with motion sickness. We made it up, checked in and went on the cave tour. We were educated about white nose syndrome that is plaguing the bats. Apparently if you have been to a cave east of the Rockies, you carry a fungus on clothes, shoes, camera, that may kill the bats. We went on a mile hike up and down, 500 stairs, and 1 mile. This is a very unique cave of Marble, much of it is still active and growing. The tour was very strenuous and challenging, with small corridors, slick walkways, and uneven hand cut stairs. But the adventure proved to be awe inspiring, mysterious, and majestic. The natural lighting showed the beauty of the stone and demonstrated the forces of time, and nature.  We enjoyed yet another road side lunch thanks to prep and the road trip meal document. This time we had Caprese tortellini stack. Mmm. After the long road down, in Cave Junction, Or we came to The Great Car World Park. If you have ever been to the Renaissance Festival in Larkspur, Co, and attended Endangered Cat Show, this is the home of those cats. This facility works like a zoo, specializing in breeding and educating to save certain species of endangered cats. Lily learned that the species Amur Leopard only has 23 in the wild. Mason learned the smaller the cat the more aggressive they are. And Servals are the third fastest cat in the world. We watched Sugar and Spice the white  tigers swim in their new pond, Sugar slashed and tried to bite the water. Spice was chatty and chuffing expressing playful behavior with the handler. We were introduced to Shaka (shaw-ka) a 20 year old male Lion, he was asked to "be strong" and roared so loudly that everyone jumped, shrieked, and the lady behind me yelled "Oh Sh*t!" Then Shaka went back to sleep like the king of the jungle should in 90 degree weather. We ventured down to the beach to find our camping spot. We settled in Del Norte coast Redwoods National and State Park. We set up camp with the Lovebird, made dinner, and took in the whole experience. We attended a ranger presentation to find out more about our area. The portion we are in is considered new growth Redwood forest, only 100 years old due to logging in the 1920s. The Redwoods have the capacity to connect to each other, and grow other trees off their branches. When cut down the reseeded themselves in groups called fairy circles or Cathedral trees where they were very close together. We learned there are entire eco systems in these giants in which some species live that do not ever touch or see the ground. Such creatures as the Tree Vole, Wandering Salamander, and Marbeled Murrelet. The area and the State Parks are making an effort to educate and conserve this species making it a "crumb free zone." Fyi. The tallest Redwood is 380 ft. We had a canopy covered evening in a wild and wonderful surrounding with only a glimpse of stars. It seemed that the world under the Redwoods was full of Fraggles, unicorns, and of course Banana slugs.