Earth Day in the Redwoods

After leaving Monterey, I encountered still hot, high temperatures around San Franscisco. I also recieved a call from a friend who would be in the city the next day! So I headed across the Golden Gate bridge and stayed at a hostel just north of the city in the park area. It was nice - but the quietest hostel I've ever been in!! They get lots of families and groups - there was a grroup of eighth graders from a school in Northern California who were biking the coastline! Pretty cool. Saw an amazing sunset over the water and wild Calla lilies growing along the shoreline!

The next morning I headed into San Franscisco, a driving adventure all of its own. Managed to park and explore the farmer's market down at the port (really neat, like how shopping used to be with different vendors for fruits, herbs, vegetables, meat, pastries, etc.), then headed on the trolley to Pier 39 to watch the sea lions. Unfortnately, my phone, which has been acting up for most of the trip, went off at this point. So looking for my friend became like searching for a needle in a haystack. Driven by the heat, I gave up, frustrated, and hit the road again, headed north. About two hours outside of the city the phone started to work again - spurradictally - so I was able to let my friend know I was neither robbed nor abducted by aliens. But sadly, no rendevous.

I headed all the way north, almost to the Oregon border, and stopped at Jeremiah Smith State Park - in the middle of the redwoods. I love the smell of the redwoods. It was a beautiful state park and I'd love to return and explore some of the trails. Each campsite was nestled in amongst some trees, with a good amount of space between campsites. The campground hosts were nice and friendly, and there was flush toilets and water! There were coin operated showers too, but I choose to be dirty instead.

So I woke up this moring to the redwoods, which I hugged, in honor of Earth Day. Then convinced my mom to make her kindergarten class hug trees today too and discuss recycling and stewardship. :)