Subject: [ParanormalGhostSociety] Day 3: Our Amazing Journeys In Santa Cruz California April 23rd 2016
Date: 4/7/2017 1:20:37 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: ParanormalGhostSociety@yahoogroups.com
To: ParanormalBuffalo@yahoogroups.com, paranormalghostsociety@yahoogroups.com, ParanormalGhostSocietyConnections@yahoogroups.com, TheParanormalGhostSociety@yahoogroups.com, SupernaturalFlorida@yahoogroups.com, ParanormalCalifornia@yahoogroups.com, ParanormalNevada@yahoogroups.com, Paranormalflorida@yahoogroups.com, sierraparanormal@yahoogroups.com, PGSPhantoms@yahoogroups.com
 
We were about half way through our adventures and this time we would focus on some very intriguing sites which surround Santa Cruz. As many of you are aware Santa Cruz has allot of ghost stories and haunts. Many UFO reports come out of here and sometimes even Bigfoot since the town borders the forested mountains and rain forest.

I was very excited to hit the road with plans to visit a historic railroad, red woods preserve, covered bridge, illusionary gravity mystery spot, court of mysteries, pristine beach and a haunted cemetery my day would be full of endless adventure. Sometimes doing what I do brings out the big kid in me I want to crawl, climb, explore etc. As a matter in fact their are not to many explorers in the world that do what I do consistently. No matter how old I get you can count on me to get the job done and on this day I had a big daunting task ahead of me.

We had breakfast at the Comfort Inn on Plymouth Street in Santa Cruz also the hotel we were staying at. Its not to far from the beach but also your in the historic part of town. There was this lady who was talking to herself in the parking lot actually a big scary woman and my son was like dad she is conversing with herself. Not sure what it is lately but I tend to see allot of people talking to themselves in public. Maybe they are talking to ghosts? Maybe they are just insane!

We went into the lobby to get breakfast which btw was really bad. The sausage was not even real meat it was like soy. Everything was dry or stale! I am not one to complain but I hardly ate anything at this point. Another family was nice enough to give us there booth as it was really busy and we had nowhere to sit. The crazy lady that was outside near my jeep talking to herself now was next to me getting breakfast. She ran into me then said to me really mean excuse me so my son and I started chuckling. She was all huffing and puffing! I get so tired of people being rude to me I am probably one of the nicest guys your going to meet but if your rude to me ill put you in your place publicly and you will cry believe me you will!

Their is this Hispanic woman that also works down there cleaning the tables, stocking the breakfast items and helping people who eat breakfast here. That lady was not nice to Tammy nor was she nice to me or my son. She bitched each of us out on three separate times and we did not do anything wrong period! With the cost of this hotel you would think the staff would be nicer to their customers! Of course the Hispanic lady and the crazy lady got along great misery loves company right? Tammy told me to refrain from putting the lady in her place because she probably is also housekeeping and will go through all our belongings lol. I mean even before I could grab my OJ the lady is bitching at me to close the door on the mini fridge my hands were full WTF! Then Tammy made one small spill and the lady yelled at her! So yeah I am putting this shit in my report so other people know DO NOT stay at the Comfort Inn on Plymouth St. in Santa Cruz unless you want the bipolar maid to bitch you out for eating breakfast!

I left the hotel in quite a hurry I figured screw it I have food in the cooler and I can go out to lunch later. We were on our way into Henry Cowell Redwoods Preserve and Roaring Camp Railroad. The ride is not very far maybe six or seven miles as you began to ascend into the Santa Cruz Mountains. Its a very nice drive considering it follow a set of railroad tracks through the woods. There was this area with a valley quite scenic full of fog. Fog is not uncommon here in the early mornings just like up in Half Moon Bay. With the ocean being so close and all almost anywhere along the coast your going to find it in Cali.

I pulled up to the Redwood Preserve sad to say nobody was in the booth to take my money. I had only big bills on me so I had to go into Felton get some hot drinks to get some change to park here. When you pull up into the park pay attention there is a huge meadow to your right which in the early morning is full of deer. I seen about 35 deer grazing here and as it keeps warming up its often filled with wild flowers. I was excited to see some of the oldest trees in the world we were alas parked a matter of a few mere feet from trees over a 1000 years of age.

Henry Cowell Redwoods & Roaring Camp Railroad
Day 3

When I parked I could hear the roaring railroad which is very exciting to me because I love the forest but I also love trains. This railroad has been in operation from Felton to Santa Cruz since the 1870's. Today the camp still exist its all preserved and the railroads still run. The railroad takes lucky visitors to and from Santa Cruz Beach as it also traverses the Redwood forest. The camp is a recreation yes but many of the artifacts and remnants on site are original if you decide you wish to explore. At one time this use to be a town though the railroads remind us of that!

 Back in the 1800's two trains ran in the region one was more directed at servicing passengers while the other particularly dealt with lumber. Just hearing the steam engine or trains come through the camp excited me. You can hike in the redwoods and hear the train whistle which really brings the boy out in me lol. In my opinion this is a great place to take your family but it also be a nice place we can add on our website to inspire our dear friends who do support what we do here at PGS.

We grabbed our packs then decided to hike on the loop trail its not very long maybe a mile through the oldest part of this rainforest. Dew was on everything and even though the sun was beaming it barely reaches the forest floor. The trees here are massive the area also was home to the Sayante Tribe.

I believe the largest tree is over 1500 years of age and stands at almost 300' tall. However most of the trees are so large you can barely see the tops. Every tree along the loop trail has a story to it or at least a name. Some of them you can walk through like a tree that had its innards burnt in a fire. While other ones have holes you can crawl down into. They remind me of little elf or hobbit houses and technically you could live inside these trees. Some early pioneers would take naps or maybe stay in the trees for shelter.

I know if you visit the Fremont Tree its all hollow inside I tried to go in but it was really muddy from recent rain. I never knew that John C. Fremont in the mid 1800's camped inside the hollowed base of this tree. As some of you are aware it was Fremont who journeyed across the high sierras with Kit Carson which today is known as the Carson Pass. He was really the first European to have set his eyes on Lake Tahoe and perhaps the first white man most of the native tribes in the region ever seen. I had no idea he made it as far SW to this Coastal Redwood Forest but he did and had a love for it the same way I do too!

These trees are lucky to have survived all these years during the 1800's allot of lumbering went on and they almost met an ax. I did see very young redwoods growing its amazing how different the bark feels of these younger trees compared to the older ones. One is spongy perhaps soft while the other is extremely very course or hard. There is also an albino tree I somehow was so busy hiking around I really did not know this till I was leaving the area. But you can get a trail map at the parks welcome center and it has allot of good information in the trees found here.

They also had a cut from a very large tree at the entrance which shows the different rings and major historic events. I believe I see in the early stages of the trees growth a ring that says the birth of Christ then another one said Columbus discovers America while another one says the Civil War etc etc. At one time during the age of the dinosaurs these giant trees grew everywhere and sadly today not allot remain particularly trees that are over 1000 years of age.

Also be careful there are banana slugs in the area they are supposedly a protected species. My son and I found one on the trail. We also seen one in Half Moon Bay in a parking lot. They seem to be found up and down the California coast. The forest also has bay trees similar to the Italian bay leaf this tree produces nuts which the natives took advantage of in the area.

Some of the trees look like they are melting into one another this is because Coastal Redwoods rely on their roots intertwining with one another which provides additive support. These trees do not have massive roots actually they do not go very deep down into the soil therefore when a few trees grow together it helps secure them within the earth.

I have to say that I enjoyed this forest hike it was a beautiful morning out for a hike and we had the entire place to ourselves really minus a jogger and a few other passerby's. Honestly this place felt like something out of the movies moss growing everywhere, ivy, lush green trees and then redwoods towering over the entire trail. The fact is the forest is ancient its been here since the beginnings of man so when you hike here you can feel its age. The one thing I will say is during my time being the founder of PGS I have seen allot of big trees on my expeditions all the way from massive oaks to giant sequoias and coastal redwoods. We have to do what we can do to help preserve these trees even if its through out work!

When we came out of the forest I heard one of the trains at the roaring camp coming through. I ran with my coffee up the hill just to stand next to the train as it went past me. The passenger cars have Santa Cruz painted on the sides of them. I love old train cars we do allot of work with them as well here in our society. But to have the train roar past me as I waved to the passengers was a true honor. I had to experience it being a big train lover and all.

When I arrived people were leaving and boarding the train. If you walk deeper into the woods or where the engines park they have an area with a bunch of old remnants of the past. Their is a steam boiler, foundation, rusty equipment etc etc. I like to explore most folks at the railroad camp do not really explore beyond it but their are areas that are older then the recreated camp found here.

I like to explore I am not your typical paranormal investigator I do believe in applying urban exploration to what we do. I always have and always will that is why our group is a good fit for both ends of the spectrum because we have something for everyone whether your into history, abandoned buildings, paranormal etc etc.

The walk through Roaring Camp is rather pleasant there are allot of buildings made to look like the wild west such as a black smith, saloon, bandwagon, train station, water tower etc. Their is also a couple of cabooses on site which are worth checking out and a steam boiler that has a nice history piece. The camp is very beautiful allot of flowers grow everywhere and there was a pond nearby with allot of wildlife including a few turtles enjoying the cool mud along the shore.

The creek passes through the camp which has a small covered bridge please do check it out again with the pond nearby and open meadows there is allot of nice nature here. The camp was getting busy when I was here so I did not really take photos of the recreations sorry. I just prefer to have some serenity when I am busy exploring or trying to look for haunts.

Its a nice place allot of trees, redwoods in the distance, nature, history etc. I really give this place 5 stars I mean the park staff was very kind to me and taking a time out to fill me on local history. I mean its so relaxing I smoked my pipe in the forest and took all sorts of photos of nature. Sometimes I get pulled in other directions I may want to find Bigfoot but then a butterfly or flower sidetracks me lol.

They have two types of trains that pass through here all day long through the camp one being an old steam engine which traverses the forest the other being a newer engine probably diesal that takes you up to the beach. You have to understand that trains from Felton/California Redwoods have been taking people to and from for over a 100 years. There is allot of history here and maybe next time ill take a train when I have more time. Our trips are often loaded with events and explorations so sometimes we do not get the same leisure time as others do.

I was sad to leav be quite nice lol. I like this place wait let me rephrase I LOVE this place and its well worth the visit no matter where you are coming from its a MUST! Big Redwoods and a train that passes through them how can you beat that? Their is two different trains you take I wish I had more time but a train ride would mean id have to cancel my other adventures for the day and I wanted to see as much as I can see.

Id like to also return to this area again I found a hiking trail on the other side of the park that also has another grove of redwood trees. Near that grove is a mill site and some old limestone kilns that still can be seen today. I knew I would not have time to hike out to them as I still had plans to take my family to the beach plus I had a few other locations that we needed to visit because they are places I wanted to add to our website. Its not often I get a chance to bring our viewers so many cool places out along the Pacific Coast or for that matter in the mysterious Santa Cruz Mountains so my goal was to pack in as many locations as I could and if I return again to this place then ill bring you guys even more great stuff.

After our adventure at Roaring Camp we decided to head on off to The CapriTaurus Bigfoot Discovery Museum. When we arrived we thought they were closed which sucked but then the owner did open his doors. They are open pretty much everyday but they do not open first thing in the morning but the doors do open at 11am. If you look through the window on the side of the building their is a Bigfoot re-creation scene its pretty creepy as the big ole boy stares back at you.

Also in the front of the museum are giant wood carves of a Sasquatch family so make sure you jump on in there with them to get a photo. The museum has allot of good books, bigfoot memorabilia, plaster track casts, case files, local bigfoot history, bigfoot sighting charts, Roger Patterson and Gimlin film footage and other things you can delve into. Its not a huge place but it is a treasure trove of knowledge if you wish to delve into it. The owner was telling some Bigfoot tails when I was there to bad he was busy I really wanted to touch base with him.

Honestly, I kind of felt ignored I tried so many times to talk to him and he ignored me not even a hello. I mean honestly a friend of mine told me to visit here and talk to the owner. I may have given him something he could have added to the museum but when your simply to busy to even say hello or do not choose to talk to those donating towards your museum its kind of rude. Now granted,  I did make a donation they have a jar and you should give something since its free to visit here! I would have donated more if the curator was more social with me I was not there just to look at cast but actually talk to him and felt the museum for me was more about business then seeing a few cast since I often come across bigfoot tracks on my projects in the sierras.

Anyhow, their was a few fascinating things I found while exploring the museum the first one is the scientific breakdown of the Pattern Bigfoot Film. They also showed still footage of this creature and an enhancement. I thought they did an amazing job in further proving that the film is authentic and that this creature is real.

They also had allot of charts one had every Native American Tribe listed and next to it what each tribe called Bigfoot. Most of us know this creature as Bigfoot or Sasquatch but when you read this you will be amazed at how many different names this cryptid had. They also had a chart about the cataclysms that occurred here on earth. Allot of good information about Bigfoot migration and the land bridge during the last ice age. You can also find good information about Gigantopithecus and a skull replica of this creature.

You just have to delve into it the museum has many nice tidbits, stories and even cave drawings of this creature. The cave drawings that were etched by the natives were done in ancient times and they were recreated on some slab which next to it had info explaining them more. Everything found here is contributions from others like myself therefore the museum has allot of TLC put into it based on a collaborated effort. I even seen a bigfoot board game and hobbit skulls.

Most people walk in here for thrills but I take this kind of thing serious. I know the mom and her two kids were talking to the owner wanting to hear scary stories. Sadly they did not look that much into it and wish I had gotten to the owner first to introduce myself. I been working with Bigfoot for a countless amount of years and we have had one of the more higher success rates then any other cryptozoologist in the country as far as tracks go or encounters. My love for Bigfoot will never end this is a creature I absolutely love researching and working with. Sometimes I believe its the opposite that these creatures like to work with me since I sometimes leave them fruit.

My son really liked this for years now he has also taken an interest in Bigfoot and he does help me track this creature. My son has a good eye for finding tracks but also he has had just about as many if not more sightings then me. We both know what its like to have rocks thrown at us in broad day light by a creek and we also know what its like to be chased by one of these creatures. Therefore our visit to the museum was very sentimental for both of us!

After the museum we decided to go to Felton Covered Bridge Park. Supposedly its one of the highest covered bridges in the country. But I am not so sure there is one in PA that I did an investigation of that may have been a little higher up. Back in the day the only way to Felton would be to cross this bridge. Emigrants would come from all over and if they wanted into town you had only this bridge in or out. It was built in the 1800's and was part of the main route that crossed the San Lorenzo River for nearly 45 years before other routes were constructed.

I love this park its a happy place moms playing with there kids, flowers growing everywhere, history, green grass, trails and then you have the river. When I pulled up we walked around the bridge was closed at least for another month or two due to renovations. I guess this bridge has been damaged a few times by storms and so every so many years it goes through restoration work. Its just a nice town park my son was getting on some of the playground equipment also lol kids will be kids!

If you go under the bridge walk up to the river look to your left and you will see the foundation for a trestle probably because a lumber train use to come through here. If you drive around the other side of the river or anotherwards the other end of the bridge since right now its being renovated you can read a historic plaque. Of course you do not have to drive once the bridge is back to being opened after they patch it up then you can enjoy all of this without having to get in your vehicle. Also on the other side of the bridge there is a woodsy area with some old wooden structures probably part of the original town from old Felton.

Honestly all I can say is that these places I go are a world away from a world or perhaps worlds within themselves. You would never realize how close the ocean is or Santa Cruz just as most would have no idea that a Bigfoot Museum resides at the entrance to ancient coastal redwood forest. Just down the road is a covered bridge which probably has a few ghost stories. Allot of history resides in the area the town resides in the Santa Cruz Mountains in a redwood forest it does not get better then this!

I have to say this is a fascinating little area you have five thousand acres of redwood forest, creeks, trails and historic sites. The museum is right across from the entrance into the Henry Cowell Redwoods Park. Their is remnants of the old town of Roaring Camp. Their is also railroad trestles and two trains run through the area from Felton all the way down to Santa Cruz. Then you have this cute little cozy town of Felton which has plenty of historic sites the bridge though is its greatest gem and not far from it all the Mystery Spot. I love this area and really cant wait to put it all together on our site so people can really take in how many great things can be found here including these ancient redwoods some of the last giants standing in the world today.

We would eventually leave Felton but not to far away to what is known as The Mystery Spot. I wanted to visit here to do a story on this location. Sometimes little illusions like this make for a great story don't you agree? We were on our way towards experiencing another awesome adventure. I was excited because I seen the Mystery Spot on Supernatural one of my favorite mini series unfortunately I did not buy tickets ahead of time so lesson was learned when we arrived.
LR

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