From the Redwood Forest...

I had the same song stuck in my head for most of yesterday.   It was Woody Guthrie’s This Land is Your Land.    Pretty much everyone in America knows that song.   A lot of people only know a little bit of it though.   It’s actually quite long.   My favorite verse goes like this…

As I went walking I saw a sign there

And on the sign it said “No Trespassing”

But on the other side it didn’t say nothing

That side was made for you and me

                In any case, the reason that it was stuck in my head was because I spent about 2.5 hours yesterday in the Redwood Forest.   You can take a 30 mile scenic bypass off Hwy 101 called “The Avenue of the Giants.”  It is awesome.   There are trees there that are so big it humbles you.   The most mature trees are as much as 2000 years old.   Just consider what was going on when those trees were seedlings.   Rome was in charge of Europe.   Jesus had only recently ascended into heaven.  Mayan civilization was booming.   The Native Americans were healthy and hadn’t even considered building a casino yet.   These trees are old.   It’s enough to turn you into a conservationist. 

                I made a couple of stops along the road to wander through the woods and to visit the Interpretive Center.   I read all about the 1964 flood that wiped out all of the towns along the Eel River.   I learned about the oldest and tallest redwoods.   I learned that the effort to conserve them started before 1920.  The Redwood Forest is indeed an awesome place.   Make sure you see it.