As we prepared ourselves for our trip through California, we've been turning to a 1970 Sunset book called Redwood Country and the Big Trees of the Sierra. It may surprise some folks, but the details haven't changed much in 39 years. The Save-the-Redwoods League began their tireless efforts in 1918. Raising millions of dollars, these three men bought dwindling Redwood forests and turned them over to the state. They aquired old growth stands along the highways and also those ancient giants that were in the path of lumbering operations. Most of the infrastructure for preserving these national treasures was in place by 1969. On our motorcycle trip today, we discovered that the four northern state parks lie within the Redwood National Park. That is a most uncommon situation. Even more uncommon is the practice of charging no admission fee to visit those "parks within a park." What a gift to the people!
Another special treat today was our visit to Trinidad State Beach. From a bluff we were spell-bound by a cluster of 40 foot fishing boats on their moorings. Of course they were all facing into the onshore wind...just like those in our beloved harbors back in Maine. We made our way ever-so-carefully down the 150+ slickery wooden steps to the shore. As we strolled along taking pictures through the fog, we startled a Canada goose and her many goslings and off they scurried. It was just us, the geese and the waves trying to roll up under our feet.
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