Humboldt County, CA

As we were leaving Crater Lake, a mama black bear and her two cubs ran in front of our car. It was an incredible moment, though we’re so glad they didn’t cross a moment later, as we may have hit them.

It was a full day of good and bad. Right after we entered California, we got pulled over. Niall wasn’t speeding, but we got a speeding ticket. What a bummer. 

Even so, one of my favorite spots on this trip was northern California.

The Pacific ocean took my breath away.

There was not only the great ocean, there were the great trees.

It was an honor to walk among these ancient giants.

 

 

There was a man playing a flute, thinking he was alone among the redwoods. It was such a mystical place, the music fit perfectly. I’m so glad we heard it.

These trees have such a strong will to survive, living for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years. The ones that fall sprout burls, producing new trees. They also provide homes for many little creatures and plants. Such beauty - the life down there is a totally different world than the life in the higher levels. Each level has its own vibrant  world.

 

  

These trees invite hugging. We all had to do it. You get a real sense of how small you are in this place, as well as how connected everything is – I loved it.

Both Niall and I loved the show The World of David the Gnome when we were children. Deep in the Redwoods is where we expected him to appear, popping out from behind a tree, on top of Swift the Fox’s back.