Dec 13 2016
…To the Redwoods
The Ancient Trees
Instead of taking the left turn off the bridge which connects Highways 1 and 128, we went right, toward Anderson Valley, where the vines were sleeping their winter sleep and the surrounding hills were just beginning to turn green from their summer gold:
Our first stop was our beloved Libby’s, to pick up our last supper:
In keeping with our frequent Libby’s experience, they were sold out of our favorite al pastor, but at least they weren’t unexpectedly closed. The parking lot was so full that we had to park almost a block away, and the modest dining room was full. We sat at the bar for the last time, waiting for our orders and remembering the many happy times and delightful dinners we had had there:
Libby’s closed forever on December 10, when Libby and her husband started their well-deserved retirement. I’m glad for them, but sad for us.
With our Libby’s delicacies safely stowed, we once again turned our attention to some fun for the girls, who had been patiently waiting in the car. We made our way to Hendy Woods, a grove of old growth redwoods in the Valley. Some of the trees are more than 300 feet tall, and it is estimated that many are 1,000 years old. It has never been logged.
We headed into the woods with the curious dogs. The woods were hushed and mysterious:
There were fields of clover and fountains of ferns under the green canopy. As always when I am in the redwoods, I feel a kind of awe, and also that I would not be surprised to see a dinosaur come lumbering out of the ancient woods. Or some kind of magical creature. The trees’ presence is both peaceful and powerful.
Look up. Way up:
Some of the fallen trees’ trunks look like sculptures:
It was wonderful to walk the quiet trails with the happy dogs. The trail ended at the Navarro River, fringed with weeping willows:
As Megan observed, we are so lucky to live where we can go from the beach to the redwoods to the river, all in one day!
A YEAR AGO: A wild storm and power outages for everyone!
One Response to “…To the Redwoods”
Another beautiful ride for all your followers, magical, beautiful and very much enjoyed by all.