Trees and Seas

     After our long travel day it seemed like a good idea to take things a little slower on our first full day on the left coast.  We had every intention of doing so until we got up but an urge to see and do something outside prevailed.
     First stop, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park just up the road from Santa Cruz. This 4,650 acre park features old and second growth redwoods flanking the San Lorenzo River. The park's 40 acre old growth stand of redwoods, named "Redwood Grove"(nothing like using obvious names), was saved from logging by the fact that in 1867 a man by the name of Joseph Welch built a vacation resort called "Big Trees Grove"(so much naming creativity).  A very gentle trail loops for almost a mile through these century old trees.

     One of the most famous trees in the grove is the Fremont Tree.  The story goes that in 1846 when General John C. Fremont's expedition to "survey" California was in the area, he spent a night in a burned-out hollow redwood tree.  When he returned to the area in 1888, he was asked if he slept inside the tree.  He responded saying, "It makes a great story, let it stand".  Many of the trees have been burned-out but continue to thrive as they grow out from each others trunks and share a common root system.  Thus even though the center may be burned-out but the tree is still able to survive.

     In addition to hiking the Redwood Loop Trail we combined a number of trails to hike a 3 mile loop to an observation point.  Unfortunately a low marine layer of morning fog prevented us from seeing the ocean.  We did however find a beautiful grove of trees know as Cathedral Redwoods. Here a circle of redwoods come together to leave only a small opening to the sky.  A great spot to just sit and meditate(or have your picture taken).

     Having sampled the redwoods in the morning, we went back to the ocean in the afternoon.  The marine layer had mostly burned off by the time we got to Ano Nuevo State Park(www.anonuevo.org).  The central attraction of this state park is the large colony of northern elephant seals that call the beaches their home.  The elephant seal population had been reduced to a mere 200 by 1892 by vigorous hunting.  There blubber produce oil. Interestingly enough the Mexican government was the first to protect the species.  They were introduced to Ano Nuevo in 1955 and have thrived there since.

      When we were there, the juvenile seals(ages 1 to 5) were in residence.  The adults show up in December to mate and give birth.  The elephant seals spend most of their lives at sea and come to land to molt, mate and give birth.  It was quite a sight.

      It was about a 5 mile round trip to the beach to see the seals through the dunes and along the shore cliffs.  It many ways it was our toughest hike in that it was mostly through loose sand.  There were some great views on the way to take your mind off aching legs.

     Off shore is an island which housed a fog whistle and a five story lighthouse.  An automatic light was installed in 1948 and the island was closed to the public.  In 1958 it was acquired by the state and is now a bird sanctuary.  In addition to the birds, a large population of harbor seals and sea otters have taken up residence.