Tall trees

After a wonderful night in our lighthouse we continued down the coast with stops at another couple of Pacific beaches, including one where a whale carcass had washed up.  That was a bit grisly.  So we turned our back on the ocean (the way you're advised never to do) and drove inland to Big Basin Redwoods State Park.  This was the first state park founded in the US (in 1902) and, our guide proudly told us on more than one occasion, provided the template for every other in the whole country.

The trees here are coastal redwoods, a much taller species than those at our usual haunt of Muir Woods.  They also enjoy a lot more fog and rain than up in Marin, and we wandered in drizzly conditions reminiscent of a British summer.  The drive back included some explosive travel sickness from poor Meg, which is a feature of most holidays involving small children, and everyone except your faithful blogger has fallen into bed under the combined exhaustion of fresh air and outdoor living (and some tasty NZ wine).

My gourd! Meg enjoys some pumpkins at the coastal bakery where we stopped for lunch.

As old as the trees.

The tallest living things on earth (according to the brochure).

Listening to the ranger talk.

A redwood pine cone, ironically green.

Woodland pixie.

The Father of the Forest - one of the biggies.

If you go down to the woods today.

Later, with an interesting bottle of red that Dan and Fiona gave me for my birthday.  No, it doesn't take five days to drink.