Tidbits of life in Indiana: October 2007

I just found out about this yesterday and have thought of little since. I have several 'crushes', but for the sake of time (and what little is left of my sanity) I've narrowed it down to one.

I had two running neck and neck, but after careful consideration (and the fact that I could gather these photos quickly), Volunteer Travel came in second to my number one ...CRUSH on Redwood Trees.

As a young girl - it was my favorite vacation with my parents, driving up the coast of California and camping in the redwood forests.

I have been back many times to various places within the Redwoods, from the Giant Sequoia's further inland to the breathtaking Coastal Redwoods along the Northern California coast.

One of my favorite drives is up/down the Redwood Highway.

Traveling to/through the Redwoods for me is truly a spiritual experience.

Here is a poem written about the Redwoods by Joseph B. Strauss, Chief Engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge...

"The Redwoods"

Here, sown by the Creator's hand,
In serried ranks, the Redwoods stand;
No other clime is honored so,
No other lands their glory know.

The greatest of Earth's living forms,
Tall conquerors that laugh at storms;
Their challenge still unanswered rings,
Through fifty centuries of kings.

The nations that with them were young,
Rich empires, with their forts far-flung,
Lie buried now - their splendor gone;
But these proud monarchs still live on.

So shall they live, when ends our day,
When our crude citadels decay;
For brief the years allotted man,
But infinite perennials' span.

This is their temple, vaulted high,
And here we pause with reverent eye,
With silent tongue and awe-struck soul;
For here we sense life's proper goal;

To be like these, straight, true and fine,
To make our world, like theirs, a shrine;
Sink down, oh traveler, on your knees,
God stands before you in these trees.”