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.”
Monday, October 1, 2007
Crusade 12 - Crush
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5 comments:
grace - you got in under the wire! thanks for sharing your crush. i have never witnesses a redwood forest. i cam imagine how stunning it must be to stand beneath in their shade. great picture of you giving us the perspective of their size. amazing!
OMG girl... I totally agree with you that these trees are amazing! CA is one spot I have NOT been to, but this is on my to do list! I have a major crush on trees and ran out of time to blog it... WAS thrilled to come here and dream. !!! WOW, where'd you go??? You look like an ant under that redwood... Thanks for the post & glimpse into your world.
Grace, your photos are just beautiful. You are right, these trees are truly awe-inspiring. Thanks for sharing the poem, too -- really illustrates how long these trees have been around.
Bonnie
Glad I could share something that is so meaningful to me with you folks.
Michelle - thanks for stopping by, standing amongst the redwoods is something that should be experienced by all if (possible)in my opinion. It is one of the most amazing places on earth.
Monica - I have always had a 'thing' for trees. I have so many photos of trees. I can't resist a perfect Oak, and I found many in CA
Bonnie - glad you enjoyed the photos. The trees are truly majestic!
Been there and done that - all of it really. I was born in Fortuna and have lived near Sacramento most of my life. We have gone back and forth through the redwoods several times a year for the past 40 years to see relatives. This poem and the post-card it came on, have been a treasured keepsake of mine since I was about 14. I just dug it out to use at my mom's funeral - she has been like the mighty redwoods to our whole family. I wondered what the internet had about it and here I am. There was not even an internet when I bought the post-card. Anyway, thank you for your beautiful pictures they touched me just like a little trip home. Dawn
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