We went to the Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve today outside of Guerneville, California. This was another grove saved from the ax by Colonel Armstrong. It is a bit more civilized than the other groves we have been visiting. It had fences along the sides of the trail. But more wonderful huge trees. There were a couple other people, but mostly we had the trees to ourselves. John with the Parson Jones tree. Parson Jones was also instrumental in saving these trees. It is 310 feet high, 13.8 feet in diameter and estimated 1,300 years old. The middle tree is called the Icicle tree. The burls on the redwoods will sprout new shoots if the tree is damaged. This trees just started growing. It also looks like they are burned. The last tree is the Colonel Armstrong tree. It is 308 feet tall, 14.6 feet in diameter and estimated at 1,400 years old.
John standing in front of a cross section of a redwood. The markers show when certain events happened in reference to the tree. The top marker is 1861 the Civil War, some others 1776 the declaration of Independence, 1620 Pilgrims arriving at Plymouth Rock, 1579 Drake lands in California, 1530 Copernicus teaches that the planets orbit the sun, all the way to 936 the tree was born. This is a young tree barely over 1,000 years old.The age of these trees is mind boggling. The bus at the Parkers Resort in Guerneville, California. We are the only people here tonight.
The basket is coming along. We woke up the fog this am, but it burnt off for a really pretty 59 degree sunny day.
From Goat Rock overlook of the mouth of the Russian river entering the ocean. A pair of bald eagles on the beach and we talked to this kayaker guy when he was putting in. He has an inflatable boat just like mine. Danger this is one of the most deadly beaches in California!
We arrive at the beach where the Birds was filmed to a huge flock of seagulls flying at us. Cliffs and sea stacks.
My darling husband walked behind the sign that says Danger, steep cliffs, stay back. John lounging on the steps to Shell Beach watching the sunset right above a rock that says I love John Moran on it. Arch rock, the beach in thousands of tiny polished stones. Movie poster for the Birds. They have a Hitchcock festival every year in Bodega Bay.A sign in the bathroom says not to flush the usual things but also don't flush old phones, junk mail, your ex's sweater, Hopes and dreams or goldfish. A t-shirt that says Bodega Bay, home of the birds.
Rugged rocks and another arch rock. The trail goes along the edge of this really steep high cliff at Bodega Head.
John once again standing on the edge of a dangerous, steep cliffs, stay back places. Looking down the steep cliff to the ocean from Bodega Head.
Purple flowers, yellow mustard, wind blown tree and ice plant blossom. Looking north east up the edge of Bodega head.
The Hole in the Head is a 100 deep hole dug by Pacific Power and Light on Bodega Head when they were going to put a nuclear reactor for power here. The project was stopped 4 years after they started it by concerned citizens. The hole sits right on the San Andreas Fault. It is now filled with water by a spring. Orange flower, dandelion, beach deer and a piece of driftwood on the beach.
Boats in the Bodega bay marina. Looking north.
Looking south. Big wave break. The waves here are enormous.
Wave and seagull, waves and a towering rock in the setting sun.
More waves and and the sunset on Shell beach.
On the way home we stopped at the Stumptown Brewery for dinner. John with his Dirty Rat IPA.
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