Tonelli's Travels

We spent three slow, wonder-filled days at The Redwoods. A partnership between the state of California and the national parks, there are several sections to enjoy the coastal redwoods. A taste of the ocean and the forest. 

We slept in our first morning after a long day of driving and a late arrival. When I saw 7:44 on my phone, I couldn’t believe it. So late! Well, at least for us. We’ve been getting up at 6:00 or 6:30. So anything after 7AM feels like a treat. 

We had a slow morning before heading out to enjoy the sunshine and towering trees. The park ranger recommended the Knapp Trail to the Cathedral of Trees, which is exactly what we did. I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet the trail was (after the bus load of campers went by) and was able to wander peacefully among the giants. The redwoods are so tall, so straight, so wide. They tower above us at 200 or more feet tall. It’s amazing I didn’t walk into anything, or trip, my head back and eyes admiring skyward most of the time. 

The trees grow beautiful red bark, thick and cross crossing up the trunks. An excess of tanin in the wood gives them their special color. It also makes them fire resistant, which is part of why they can grow so tall. The tallest is 370 feet tall – the same height as a 37 story building. It’s taller than the Statue of Liberty. They are just so magnificent. 

I climbed in and out of snags, under  fallen trees, and around groves. It was beautiful to witness new life growing out of nurse logs, the forest always giving back to its home.  We saw Big Tree (aren’t they all big?) and Corkscrew tree. Each one was just a magnificent as the last. 

That evening I went to a ranger talk all about salamanders. I also received a tsunami alert due to an earthquake in Alaska. That was a first! And quite jarring. Luckily we were a safe distance from the beach and, even better, the impact ended up being less than anticipated. Phew. Grateful we don’t have those in Vermont!

The following day I adjusted plans to stay away from the coastline and enjoyed a quiet day at the campground. We could hike right from the spot, which meant no driving for a few days. What a nice break!

My mom and I took out cameras and wandered the nature trail while my dad went for a bike ride. We went slow, taking our time to marvel at the little things. We ended up finding six banana slugs and seeing three deer! Of course there were more epic trees, many growing in groves. Coastal redwoods are magnificent also in that they send out shoots to make more trees when they are damaged. Sometimes you’ll see seven or more trees all together, all emanating from the same parent tree. They also create reiterations of themselves up high when a limb breaks off or is touched by fire. They are so resilient. 

That afternoon I got my daily dose of Vitamin D, did laundry in the bucket, and picked blackberries with my dad. I filled a whole container, they were so plentiful. 

Our final day in the park, we drove to a few different areas to explore. We first hiked to Trillium Falls, a small but lovely waterfall. We found our largest banana slug yet and were able to quietly admire the trees. Our second stop was the Lady Bird Johnson grove, a steep, windy drive up into the forest. It was more crowded here, but still lovely. 

A layer of mist and fog crept in from the ocean, giving the forest a magical feel. The redwoods seemed even more majestic. I kept wandering what was happening in their treetops, way up high in the canopy. A whole forest of activity happens up there, plants and animals that may never know the forest floor. Blueberry bushes growing on the thick debris collected on the tree limbs, birds building nests, flying squirrels jumping around, salamanders meandering. A whole other world happens way up there. 

Our last stop of the day was the coast. But before we could get there, we had to admire the elk grazing downtown! They just milled about like they owned the place! After that entertainment, we watched our park video at the visitor center and took a short jaunt on the beach. The fog rolled across the hills and the waves crashed on the shore. Of course we collected some rocks and admire the flowers. As we left, the blue sky started to reveal itself. 

Back at the campground that evening, we witnessed a herd of male elk in the field. My mom spied their huge antler racks poking above the grasses. They stared back, stood on occasion, and moseyed to a new spot to feast every now and then. They are majestic creatures. 

It was a full and rewarding trip to The Redwoods. Grateful to walk amongst the history and nature.