December 4, 2018 Ukiah, California

Mid 50's, cloudy and a bit windy.

We went to Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve an old growth, never been logged redwood grove. It is way out of the way and we only saw one other person, and only in the parking lot. The trail followed Montgomery creek  through 5 groves.

Lichen on one of the trees, skinny, lush Montgomery creek, and mossy logs. John at the bottom of a huge tree. There was a forest fire here 5 years ago. The redwoods don't burn, their bark is fire resistant. The forest floor repopulated starting with ferns and is completely recovered  now.  

Two species of ferns grow to 5 and half feet tall here.  A couple of huge tree trunks, both of these trees are still living.  

A couple more burned trunks, trees still alive. Mushrooms, roots and redwood needles in a small pond, a rough skinned newt, it's underside and feet are orange to warn predators that it is toxic. Some steps and a style over the fence at the hot spring. 

This bridge is built on a huge dead redwood. In the wet season this are is a marsh. John is near the end of the bridge photographing this ancient tree. John inside another fire damaged tree.  

This area are the tallest , largest trees in the park, some of the tallest in the world. The world record tallest tree was here, but the wind topped it and it is shorter now. John at a pond by tangled roots and an uprooted redwood.  

A couple of roots from fallen redwoods. Redwood roots across the trail.  

We also went to Vichy Springs today.The historic plaque at the springs. The resort was established in 1854 and is one of the oldest continuously operating hot springs resorts in California. These are  naturally carbonated champagne baths. The water is fizzy and  covers your body in a layer of bubbles.  We were the only ones there, we had private springs. These cement tubs were built in 1860. The colors are mineral deposits. You remove the pipe from the head end and place is as a plug at the foot end and water bubbles into the tub, flowing through and out a high drain hole. You just lay in them a fizz. John is in the third one down. My tub full and flowing.  

There are also indoor tubs. And some Beauty springs that come from a different spring with more boron and are excellent for your skin. John in one of the indoor beauty springs getting beautiful and laying in the outdoor fizzy spring. Very relaxing. The rest of the resort has been remodeled and modernized.