Redwood Love
Posted on | May 25, 2013 | 2 Comments
Oh my friends, we had such a magical trip to the redwoods for my birthday at the beginning of this month. I had grand plans to share photos with you earlier but as soon as we got back we both jumped back into work, and then this week Hazel has been cutting four teeth (canines & molars, oww!) and she also has a pretty bad cold, which of course I caught. We are officially on the mend now, however. Hooray!
The weekend started off with a four hour drive to our destination - Jedidiah Smith National Forest in Northern California. We stayed with friends that live on the bank of the Smith River, and from their doorstep to the redwoods are just a few miles away.
Day 1 we got there in the late afternoon and it was an unseasonable 90 degrees outside, so all of us headed to the river to have a fire and roast some weenies on the beach. It was my birthday that day, and I was so full of joy and feeling so loved.
Day 2 we hiked to some of the largest redwoods, or so our tour guide (aka our buddy!) said. They were a bit off the beaten track and I wish the first photo below did it justice. Later that afternoon we headed to another friends house, they live 'off the grid' on the Smith River. We lounged on the beach most of the day, then ended the evening with brick fired pizza and home made ice cream by lantern. Another successful day!
Day three we were supposed to go home but we decided to stay just one more day. We woke that morning and went to stout grove, just the three of us. I'm not sure why but it was one of my favorite parts of the trip! Hazel hiked further than I've ever seen her hike before, and she was so in awe of all of the trees, pointing at each and every redwood.
Later that afternoon it rained, but we didn't let that stop us from doing one more hike.
Day 4 we headed home, but not before hitting up the beach! Brad went ocean fishing with his buddy that am and they caught a salmon, which we happily took home with us. I'm pretty sure the beach was Hazel's favorite part of the trip - she was sooo giddy, laughing and running on the sand! I think she loved the fact that she could run and if she fell it didn't hurt?
She found a hot wheel (above), which absolutely made her afternoon!
I will be surprised if anyone got to the end of this, and thank you if you did! Definitely put the redwoods on your bucket list if you haven't already.
...
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."
~John Muir
Comments
- April
- I am a RN & natural momma in the Pacific Northwest, married to a beautiful man I adore. Nature is my niche, animals get me. I read and I write, I hike and I love photography. Welcomed our daughter Hazel Annan earthside in February 2012 after three years of infertility & our second miracle daughter Juniper Louise in April 2014.
May 26, 2013 at 1:58 PM
Gorgeous photos! Looks like you had an amazing trip!!
May 27, 2013 at 5:05 PM
Looks like an amazing Birthday! we went there for our 10th wedding anniversary ( and that is where baby Nalah came from ;) It is so magical there I can't wait to go back. I love all of your pictures! Your Birthday cake was absolutely adorable, what great friends you have.