October 14 - The Cathedral of Giants

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This day we left the trailer behind, and drove 10 or so miles North to Prairie Creek State Park, to walk among the giant old-growth redwoods living in this area.  Jody and I both feel that there is something magical, powerful, and spiritual about a forest full of ancient and gigantic trees; it is like being among silent but still-living gods from an earlier age.

From the Prairie Creek ranger station, we obtained a trail map, and after a bit of deliberation we opted for a hike into Fern Valley.  

Below are Jody and I next to one of the larger trees, near the trailhead.  Photo by Jordan.

Once we got under the forest canopy, it was very quiet, and much darker.  The denseness of the forest dampened most sounds.  All that we could hear for much of the walk was our own traveling noises, and the distant thunderous crashing of the surf.

A break in the canopy allowed light to pour in from time to time.  We stopped and gawked every time, and took many pictures.

The was a very wet forest.  Decay and dampness were everywhere -- and so were the mushrooms.  Here is a sampling of the more vivid and interesting specimens we came across on our walk.

Another attempt to capture the grandeur and immensity of these trees.

In the blurry shot below, you can see Jody and Jordan across a small valley.  The trees continued upwards for 4 times the height you can see here.

We walked in about 5 miles.  We had thought we would walk all the way to the ocean, but it was getting late, we were getting tired, and we had no water with us.  Contentedly, we walked back the way we had come -- which looked completely different from the other direction.  All beautiful.

October 15 to 20 - Carl and Sherry