I'll go first. If I happen to get hurt and become a vegetable, PULL THE PLUG! Even if I recover, my standard of living will not be what I would want, so celebrate the life I have lived and let me go. Next, I definitely want to be cremated. If you must have a showing, I want there to lots of food, drinks and music, like a party. I want you to celebrate the "dash" not the years on the tombstone.
Fred also wants to be cremated. He wants the party. At the party he wants food and drink but most of all he wants GOOD music to be played. He is working on the playlist. As of now he knows he wants lots of Megadeth and Fade to Black by Metallica.
Don't worry we don't think we are going to die, well, at least Fred doesn't. I just keep thinking that after 4100 miles on a bike with another 3200 miles to go, if I happen to get blown off the bridge in California or blown over through all those Western states we have to go through AGAIN!!! Or if I fall off and crash some other way, I want everybody to know my wishes. Just remember pull the plug and celebrate the dash with a party! No tears!! LOL!!! I'm serious and now it's in writing with Fred as my witness.
Ok, with that thought, we are off to see the largest Redwood trees we can find.
Fred with the new "fly shooter"
Oh I don't want to have to pull the trigger!!!
We had to stop at the shoe store to get Fred new insoles for his shoes because one flew away at Mt. Rushmore campground when he left them out to dry
Welcoming us to the California State Park
We stopped at the visitor center to buy a map and use the facilities
The rings on trees tell you how old they are BUT the SIZE of the rings tell you even MORE!
I guess size does matter. LOL
The smaller the ring means cold winter or dry summer
The larger the rings means warm winter, wet summer and lots of growth taking place
These are all the creatures we MAY see in the forest
Slugs, yellowjackets, woodpecker, newt, winter wren, orchard, sorrel, millipede, centipede and much more
Lots of different trails to take
We are taking the Pioneer Nature Trail to the Picnic Area then the Discovery Trail back
Redwood Trees are the TALLEST living things on this planet
AKA: Sequoia sempervirens
Holy Moly! They are tremendous
The Native Americans lived in harmony with the Redwoods. They build shelter with the bark, used the trunks to make canoes and shredded the bark to make fancy skirts and baskets
Look at how big the base of the tree is. It would take at least 9 of me to hug this tree
We can't get over how tall they are
In the 19th century with the goldrush, loggers began cutting down these beautiful giants at an alarming rate, threatening their survival
In 1901 California began to Redwood groves
They are immense!
Look at the size of this trunk!
The California Laurel in open sunny locations, can grow up to 120 feet. It rarely reaches this height in the Redwood groves due to the reduced sunlight under the thick redwood canopy.
The native americans used the leaves for rheumatism, as a disinfectant and to get rid of fleas!
Who needs all that poison we use nowadays.
The sunlight seeping through the tops of the trees
A timeline depicting the age of the tree.
It appears it fell over after the earthquake in San Francisco in 1906
Fred is studying all about it
Ask him anything, he's an expert now
The germination rate of redwoods seeds is very low because it's hard for them to penetrate the thick layer of decomposing plant material
NO FEAR!!! The Redwoods are still HERE
When a redwood is damaged by fire, wind or an axe, it dies and falls over, the roots send out sprouts around the stump forming a new group of Redwoods in the shape of a "Fairy Ring"
So, when one dies, it sprouts many new ones.
Nature is truly amazing!
You can clearly see this regeneration.
Here a Redwood fell over and we could see their are 5 new trees that have grown around the "parent" tree. It's so apparent!
The number of animals you will find in a mature Redwood Forest is small due to the lack of food
This tree has damage due to the fires.
What's inside?
New roots to help support the tree from falling over
These trees will actually grow thicker on the sides to give it more support
This is damage from a fire
Redwood Sorrell, aka oxalis. They look like clovers
In the spring, the oxalis produce a five petal flower with a delicate rose or violet color.
The oxalis are very fragile. You can see where hikers have gone off the path and destroyed them
It's so obvious after reading about it
The roots do not grow deep into the ground, no more than 12 feet, but they grow over 150 feet from the base interlocking with the roots of neighboring trees to provide strength and stability each other.
These trees need the fog of San Francisco to survive
On foggy days, so about 360 days of the year LOL, the water drips off the Redwood branches and collects in the layer of decomposed matter called duff, which covers the forest floor. The roots absorb this water and transport it
The trunks decompose very slowly over many decades, continually adding organic matter to the soil.
Look at how the roots grow over each other
Stability and support
Did you see the size of those FEET as well :-)
Damaged trees from the fire
Clearly fire damage. The trees will regenerate
This tree although it has come to its death will create a lot of life
Look at the hole
Now look at the way the new trees grew in the shape of the fairy ring
Can you find the bird?
It's a winter wren
The Douglas Fir can grow up to 10 feet in diameter and 300 feet high
The needles of this tree spiral around like a bottle brush
Bracken Fern grows to height of over 3 feet
These ferns have been used as a source of medicine in many parts of the world
Redwood Burls support an ecosystem. It provides nutrition and a home for ferns, poison oak, mosses, small shrubs and small trees. Winter rains make the garden lush and green.
Most mature trees in the reserve show evidence of having been burned. The last wildfire occurred in 1923 believed to be caused by humans. Redwoods have remarkable fire resistant qualities and most are able to survive fires. Their thick fibrous bark keeps all but the best fire from penetrating the tree. When a fire does reach the core, it creates a cavity referred to as a "goose pen"
The tree then adapts to its hollowed trunk by strengthening its base on either side of the cavity to provide additional stability.
They are unbelievable!!!
We can't get over the size of these amazing beasts
Here's a "goose pen" caused by a fire
Natives used the Sword Fern to line pit ovens, on drying racks and as a base for flooring and bedding
Here's a Sword Fern named for the shape that takes place at its pinnae which resembles the hilt of a sword
A baby Redwood
How cute when they are so young :-)
They grow up to be so tall
This will become the Fife Creek
I can't imagine how violent the waters run in this reserve
We stopped for lunch at the picnic area
Look behind Fred, you can clearly see the "fairy circle" that as occurred due to one Redwood dying
These are BIG BEAUTIFUL trees
I stopped to take a rest.
In a healthy tree, buds form within the burls and remain dominant. However, if a redwood is damaged by fire, flood, earthquake or logging, the buds will sprout. The bases of many damaged Redwoods have numerous shoots sprouting upward. In this way, the Redwoods can grow TWO trunks on the same tree which adds to the resiliency as a species
This Redwood has been nicknamed the "icicle tree" because the burls that previously grew were long and pendulous resembling icicles.
SADLY, vandals have removed most of these or burl poachers cut them and sell them as is or make them into furniture.
It's unbelievable what people will do for money! These can be as valuable as elephant tusks
You are so lazy! You still haven't taken down your christmas icicles yet!
Look at the size of this tree trunk! I'm maybe 6'2'' with my arm raised and I'm no where near touching it
Fairy circle!
They are so social
Look at the size of this "goose pen" and I'm not referring to Fred.
Ha ha ha
And the tree has still grown over 200 feet!
Does this give a good perspective of the size of these beasts?
They are amazing
Can you find the inch worm?
How about now?
Ok, smarty pants......here it is
Fred caressing a baby Redwood. It's going to grow big and strong with his support
The bark is really cool looking and possesses such amazing qualities withstanding mother nature
Colonel Armstrong
A baby Redwood.
One last fern.
What can we say about the Armstrong State Park. WOW! We were shocked beyond our expectations. It's one thing to see these incredible trees on TV or in pictures and to hear people describe them,
BUT
to see them in person and learn about how they withstand so much abuse from mother nature yet when they die, they create more life. It's amazing and beautiful.
You have to see these trees in person to truly appreciate their beauty.
We got back fairly early. It was nice to have a relaxing, early day. I searched for yoga studios in the area and I found one 10 minutes away!
I went to the 6:30pm class with Jamie who taught her last class tonight. She is moving to Australia.
I have to say that I REALLY miss my yogies back home. The energy you bring to the class and the instructors we have are ABSOLUTELY the BEST!!!
We are leaving Petaluma, CA tomorrow morning. We will be stopping at the Jelly Belly factory.
Oh boy! We are in trouble!
I LOVE jelly belly's especially bubble gum and cotton candy
Fred loves so many he can't think of ONE favorite.
We'll keep you posted of our travels back "EAST"
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