Happy New Year

 12/31- Scotia CA

   We started the day out in the fog. It might have been better if it had stayed foggy at least for the beginning of the day. As we drove along on this twisting mountain road we found that we were in a different climate. Gone was the semi-arid desert of yesterday. Once we climbed over the pass the climate became very wet. The trees were covered with lichens and moss. I mean all the branches were covered with this pale green lichen. It was almost the same as Spanish moss. It was almost like they had leaves. 

    We dipped down into some of these deep river valleys which were so dark it was a wonder the sun shone at all. The redwoods just blocked out all the light. Amazingly we saw people living in these deep dark hollows. That’s where the fog would have been nice because where there were people there was junk. There was a couple mile stretch that had more junk cars and trash than most dumps. Still it was amazing to see someone eking out an existence, in what could only generously be described as a house, that was chiseled out of the side of a mountain. Usually the house was between the road and the mountain or the river and the road and they all came with the requisite junk piled in the yard. 

   We eventually turned onto the “Avenue of the Giants”. This is a 30 mile scenic road that goes through the heart of one of the few virgin redwood forests. Pictures just don’t do these trees justice. They are just mammoth. It is very humbling to be in the presence of such a huge individual that is 2000 years old. Interestingly they do not have large root systems. Instead they intertwine their roots with other trees and hang on together. 

   We stopped and hiked at a couple of different spots and it felt good being in the presence of these ancient beings. We finally made it to our campsite which was pretty much in the middle of an old forest. The redwoods had been logged out of here but were growing back out of the stumps of the old ones. 

   Just a note to let you know we both made it to midnight-EST. Probably first time in years that we made it. 

Happy New Year !!🎊 

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