Drove to the Cove...

[Tomas Tierra]

We just got back from inspecting the site of the Hogfestpigapaloozacove-athon...We also managed several nights at some of Ca's finest coastal camping spots..Thought I would share a few pics and a little story with Y'all..

We split April 4th at 7am from Oxnard and pulled into Mattole Beach at 9pm...lets just say that Oxnard to Mattole (619 miles)is a hell drive and leave it at that. Had intended to stop short but most CG's in the redwoods are closed this time of year.

My Sister/brother in law met us at Mattole the next day in His Fleetwood "Baja" pop up camper..Phil was not to stoked on the mission we sent him on...the mission?? Get a full size truck and a new to you 22 foot trailer over the King Range..

Nobody at Mattole when we arrived, we got "the spot"

 

[Tomas Tierra]

I got to take a cool trip out to Cape Mendocino with a local buddy for a surf the first morn..what a scenic surf spot! We had to check in with the caretaker to get permission to cross priv. property.big fire on the beach, the whole bit.

After 4 great nights at Mattole Bch., with a side trip to Windy Pt., we headed for the family ranch in Cave Jct., OR.


Pics of Cape Mendocino

 

[Tomas Tierra]

Some shots from Mattole Beach

 

[Tomas Tierra]

more photos of Mattole..

 

[Tomas Tierra]

While at Mattole Beach I got to listen to THE NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS KICK THE **** OUT OF MICIGAN ST TO WIN THE NCAA MENS BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


GO HEELS!!!!!!!

this is a BIG DEAL to me and my family in NC.. the crap i recieved for not watching, or communicating during and after is still pouring in....they do not understand how i could be doing something more important than watching..they never will....

 

[Tomas Tierra]

We left the Ranch after an early easter egg hunt with the kids on Saturday...

We have now lost the the in laws and the limitations of the trailer...

we spent Saturday night at Golds Bluff beach in the rain.We were very comfy in the camper...not so much for all the tent campers..

Easter Sunday was off to Whitethorn and the home of the giant slobbering snuffaluopagus puppy..At this point, I have had camera failure and no pics are avail..If I can figure out how to post a you tube vid I will put up some footage of the Big Newf pup chasing me around a bush..I'm not sure if I've ever had so much fun playing with a dog!

Spent the night camped out the front of Fishermans house after an epic Easter Dinner of Rib Roast and potatoes.

I did take a few snaps with my video camera's picture mode..bad quality but here goes...

 

[Tomas Tierra]

Tried to get down to Bear Harbor the next day for some remote camping. After a brief tour of Shelter Cove and the party site, we were off to get muddy!..gate was closed at Needle Point.. could have camped there, but a little to far to the ocean, and plenty of folks around..With Usal Bch a few hours away we were outathere..

Usal here we come!!

On arrival at Usal, we got a good site and settled in for a few days..

Two pair of Elk came around the point just before sunset..Snorting and bugeling, running through the river and generally carrying on...should have been a warning sign

more poor quality shots...

 

[Tomas Tierra]

when elk attack

the next morning the dog and I were headed for the beach to check the dive condition when I guess we got into the elks bubble and they didn't dig it..

We were maybe 50 yards plus away with a river next to us.One of the cows got up reall quick and started walking towards us..I am now walking in reverse giving my dog all the hot commands...Dinner time! get the ball! where's the mouse!...nuthin, she was frozen..the elk came up for a sniff and with a lightning quick front scissor kick, the dog was in the air upside down yelping..while in the air, the elk drove her to the ground with a front down kick..the elk then reared up on it's hind legs, as if preparing for a death blow..I'm thinking "how will I bring the dead dog into camp with a 3 year old, and a nine year old waiting", "How will I dig a hole big enough through this shaley gound with my chicken **** shovel"
not so warm and fuzzy all the sudden!
To my surprise, the dog bared her teeth at the elk during this seemingly last moment!!!the 12 year old Baja bitch still has it!! She spooked the elk and it fell in the river!! The dog went running through the medow like ol' yeller..."yipe yipe yipe yipe" I found her in the bushes and carried her back to camp....unbelievably...she was only limping a bit on the left side..but scared shittless!with a big muddy hoof print on her rib cage.. After a couple of down days, she's fine..no bloody stool, no bloody urine, just a little limp..for the next three days we were on elk alert..I found them grazing on clover in dense fog,20 feet from the camper the second morning..I would go on patrol about once an hour just to make sure we knew where they were..pinned down by thousand pound animals?? Yup..I drank just about a bottle of rum that night, frazzled!

poor quality elk shot:

 

[Tomas Tierra]

After six blissfull nights at Usal, including the wifes birthday, we were on another hell drive..Usal to Oxnard is 560 miles and took about 12 hours...man I have good kids!

got home to 95 degrees on the beach for a couple of days...In march????


Have fun up there all you "Hogfesters"...Take it easy on Salty for us..he had kids all up in his stuff for a couple of days.Jon,Thanks for the Hospitality!! Great catching up on all the salty, green sea monster stories!! Give ol' Bo Bo a pat on the head for us would ya...

TT

(low gears down to the cove everyone!!!!!!!)

TT

 

[HERR42]

well we will miss you tomorrow.

glad the dog is ok.

reading about the elk attack my wife was yelling.. i told you so i told you so!!

 

[Marc]

Hey TT

Looks like you and the family had a great time. Sorry the timing was off for a hook-up, but hopefully some time in the future it will work out. I'm headed for the North Coast early tomorrow and am going to spend the night with some friends in Mendo and will hook up with Hogsters on Saturday morning. Nice Pics.

marc

 

[SunMan]

Another great, adventure filled trip amigo...great pics and story. Sure glad Pinta extracted herself from a tough situation, she's a tough ole girl!

 

[craig333]

Thanks for the trip report. My dog tends to give really large creatures a wide berth fortunately.

 

[the fisherman]

Thanks for the trip report. My dog tends to give really large creatures a wide berth fortunately.

My dog IS a really large creature, big enough to lift his leg on that elk.

 

[HERR42]

...and hit the ankle? ha ha ha ah

 

[Tomas Tierra]

I'd say closer to the knee..Bobo is a large creature..

They don't have Elk in Baja where my dog is from..she was trying real hard to pretend the cow wasn't approachinWHAM! poor little pooch.I guess it makes up for all the kicks to the ribs she didn't get growing up around Mexicans

I guess thats how they treat undocumented mexican aliens up there..

Marc, Thanks, we'll have to plan a mini-rally locally some time soon..Maybe the Topa Topa above Ojai for a couple nights..It should be open in a couple of weeks..See if we can get few of the local wtw'rs up on the ridge..Hope your road trip goes well. Watch out for the skunks! I never saw one, but man, the smell was everywhere..

the first annual "Cevichepalooza"......coming in May

TT

 

[craig333]

My dog is kinda stupid. He did attack a great dane once. Lucky for him he was leashed at the time.

He broke the leash outside once while a neighbor was walking his two pitbulls. He narrowly avoided a trip to the vet that day and seems to have learned he's no longer a young dog.

I'm sure the newfies would just swat him like a fly, but he is a male and you know what that means.

Never know. They might play and have a great time. He did great on the DV run. I just can't be sure when that might change. Wish I could find out. I'd really like to be there.

 

[mtn-high]

Watch out for the skunks! I never saw one, but man, the smell was everywhere..TT


If it's Humboldt yer talking about, dat just might >>not

 

[Tomas Tierra]

hadn't thought about that...

 

[DLN]

maybe that's due to all the skunk you've been smellin'