Major Magnificence
A merged clump of redwoods in California, USA
We got a chance to go down CA199 and visit the redwood cathedrals in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. We were blessed with one sunny day amidst a week of atmospheric river rain, and it was glorious. The shed pine needles cushion your steps, and the light peeks through in misty rays, highlighting textural burls and rugged bark channels on the thick trunks. There is a mixed sorrow in contemplating these pillars of slow life—awe at their longevity, yet such guilty sorrow in realizing how much humans have devastated their communities.
Mushrooms aplenty, although mostly wet mysteries to me; but no birdsound, except for the occasional raven’s stuttering screech. The sun grew more golden as it went down, and we hurried to reach the trailhead before the giant trees swallowed up the rest of the light. Such calm dreams that night, rocked by the water and knocking wire sounds against the masts in the harbor.