HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! better late than never..
To my sweet FRIENDS AND FAMILY,,,
this is your formal update to tell you that I AM ALIVE AND WELL, and I miss you all a whole lot. I've been on my journey for THREE MONTHS now- time is flying by for sure. I have ((slightly)) settled down in the northern part of the California coast. Really appreciating how AMAZING the ocean is!! I have been exploring all that i can find : New (happy) trails, new rivers, and new beaches! My brain has been visually stimulated from the moment i got here. I live just a couple-minute drive both from the Redwoods and the Pacific Ocean-- not to mention only a few miles from town, where i am in a sea of dreadlocks : ) Last week marked my very first thanksgiving away from home, It was weird to be so far from my normal family gathering, but also so refreshing that i have people all the way across the country that make me feel at home. I found a scribble the other day in my travel journal "When you find yourself in the thick of it, help yourself to a bit of what is all around you". The Beatles said it perfectly. I sing these lyrics often, they pop in my head cliffside of the ocean, and through the forest; Nature is what keeps me going wherever i am. I learn about new animals and plants and most of all about myself. It is something to be shared and sometimes something to appreciate alone. In all my travels i have seen so many breathtaking views. I wanted to show all of you some of the postcard worthy pictures of recent adventures. and ofcourse show off some BIRD PHOTOS!!
this is your formal update to tell you that I AM ALIVE AND WELL, and I miss you all a whole lot. I've been on my journey for THREE MONTHS now- time is flying by for sure. I have ((slightly)) settled down in the northern part of the California coast. Really appreciating how AMAZING the ocean is!! I have been exploring all that i can find : New (happy) trails, new rivers, and new beaches! My brain has been visually stimulated from the moment i got here. I live just a couple-minute drive both from the Redwoods and the Pacific Ocean-- not to mention only a few miles from town, where i am in a sea of dreadlocks : ) Last week marked my very first thanksgiving away from home, It was weird to be so far from my normal family gathering, but also so refreshing that i have people all the way across the country that make me feel at home. I found a scribble the other day in my travel journal "When you find yourself in the thick of it, help yourself to a bit of what is all around you". The Beatles said it perfectly. I sing these lyrics often, they pop in my head cliffside of the ocean, and through the forest; Nature is what keeps me going wherever i am. I learn about new animals and plants and most of all about myself. It is something to be shared and sometimes something to appreciate alone. In all my travels i have seen so many breathtaking views. I wanted to show all of you some of the postcard worthy pictures of recent adventures. and ofcourse show off some BIRD PHOTOS!!
MENDOCINO!
My Aunt Carol took me to the town of MENDOCINO. for some beautiful views and ocean exploration! We went for a canoe up Big River where we passed a SEAL!!! and also found this floating shack ((possibly my prince charming's home)) where we could hear the faint music of his guitar for the majority of our trip. It was cool, quiet, and peaceful on the river with the occasional sound of the seaweed brushing the bottom of our boat. We enjoyed lovely meals and stopped at cute little gift shops, a great girls weekend!
^The garden for an ALL ORGANIC RESTAURANT- called "RAVEN" ((for scale note tiny white gardeners hat in top right))
ARCATA MARSH
Made my way North and took a visit to the marsh and wildlife sanctuary in Arcata, CA. Right on the coast; it has fresh water marshes as well as brackish marshes with the bay behind you. Beautiful shorebirds everywhere you look when tide is out. Various bird sounds coming from all directions. Once tide starts coming back in all the birds flock to shallow water and the sea looks like a silver lake.
American Avocet
Exploring the Redwoods.
Upon arriving i learned i had a wonderful Redwood Groves within minutes and went to scope them out the very next day. It was then i found myself at part of Humbolt Redwoods State Park. The park is actually spread through several groves over about 60 miles. Multiple spots that you can choose a path to wind through beautiful, mossy branches as these trees tower over you. They are so tall that the critters that occupy them are hard to be seen. You can hear them though, little pitter pattering, and hopping from tree to tree having no idea how high they really are.
HUMBOLT REDWOODS STATE PARK (HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY)^
PATRICKS POINT ^ AVENUE OF THE GIANTS ^ AVENUE OF THE GIANTS ^ REDWOODS NATIONAL FORREST -- FERN CANYONThe drive up the mountain to the hiking area is half of the beauty. I had arrived in the day while fog was filling the forrest. Ferns grow up the fourty foot walls that surround this river valley, hence the name FERN CANYON. The hike itself is teeder toddering back and forth across the river on fallen logs; although the water is not deep. The elk roam free here, wandering on the beach and into the forrest. Did i mention JURRASIC PARK : THE LOST WORLD was filmed here???!?!?!??! |
And various adventures at the OCEAN!
Living so close to the Pacific Ocean- there is an endless amount of adventures to find. Every few miles up the coast there are beaches, and they all are unique in one way or another. I appreciate being close to such a magical body of water. The noise of the waves alone get my adrenalin pumping. These views are usually accessed from trails that zig zag down the side of land leading up to the ocean. In some areas the beach is surrounded by sand dunes and grassy hills for miles, in others you walk down a paths through thick forrest and shrubbery. It's quite the huff and puff getting back up the hill, but man it is worth it! While walking the beaches i find seashells and sand dollars. Also moonstone, jade, and agate are all stones that wash up on shore. My collection of natural trinkets sure is growing!
CLAM BEACH
TRINIDAD
TRINIDAD BEACH
SOMOA
SOMOA
MANILLA
Patricks Point
AGATE BEACH
BIRDS BIRDS BIRDS!!!!
With all the places i go, my life list of birds is growing rapidly. I get so happy finding new species, and learning more about thier characteristics- so i can identify them better in the future. Birds are everywhere; in the sky, on the ground, and on the sea. There is a bird for every territory. I get better as i learn more and more, and i definitely have learned to pay attention more. Here are just a few of my bird discoveries.
Golden-Crowned Sparrow
Steller's Jay
Western Grebe
House Finch
Red Shouldered Hawk
Cormorants
Acorn Woodpecker
White-Tailed Kite
Elegant Terns
Light Western Red Tail Hawk and Dark Morph Western Red Tail Hawk
The homecoming...
And for all of you that think California stole me for good...i am coming home! I have started to think about my trip back east, and i plan on beating the Easter Bunny to Babcia's house. I definitely enjoy everything im experiencing out here and i feel incredibly lucky, but there's nothing like your family. Looking forward to living close and spending more time with everyone this spring. Until then i will continue to explore every place i can find and take a million pictures. Also, since i won't be home for Christmas im gladly taking names for PEN PALS! send me an address! I think about all of you and often find myself telling stories about the ones i love! so lets keep in contact!
"So many books that I didn't read,
But there's so much air I chose to breathe.
How about the colors that I've seen?
So I'll leave these pages in the trees."
But there's so much air I chose to breathe.
How about the colors that I've seen?
So I'll leave these pages in the trees."