Founders Grove - Avenue of the Giants, California

When visiting Northern California, be sure to drive along the Avenue of the Giants. Make note of Founders Grove, an old-growth grove where 2,500-year-old trees tower over you at ridiculous heights. The fallen trees are just as amazing. Everything is so gigantic you'll feel like a tiny ant, running around taking photos. It gets dark in the late afternoon in the fall, so use a flash. Good luck.

 

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, California

If you appreciate truly ancient, bizarrely beautiful trees, make a point of visiting the Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountain range of the Eastern Sierras. These dense, tough trees can live thousands of years. The oldest recorded tree nearby is over 5,000 years old. That's one tree; 5,000+ years old. Some are only 4,000+ years old and there's plenty of middle-aged centuries-old trees as well. Our trip covered more in full, here.

Devil's Postpile and Rainbow Falls - Mammoth Lakes, California

Be sure to visit these two natural wonders. Rainbow Falls contains an actual rainbow within its waters. Devil's Postpile National Monument is one of the largest columnar basalt formation in the world. More about this trip, including bristlecone pines—the oldest living organisms on the planet—on the blog, here. (Bristlecone pine post coming soon.)

Lassen Volcanic National Park - Lakes and Sky

A couple shots of some of the lakes you can drive and hike to in Lassen Park.

Shadow Lake (a couple hundred steps away from Terrace Lake)

Summit Lake in the rain - you can drive right up to it

The Cafe at Mineral Lodge in tiny Mineral, California

Nice people, good eats, vintage pinball

Burney & McCloud Falls, California

Burney Falls is the 129-foot-high result of multiple outlets of year-round 42-degree spring water, bursting forth from under the Earth's crust for our edification. A spectacular experience!

First glimpse before descending into the cool valley.

The road to Burney Falls is paved with many stones.

Well worth a visit.

Nearby McCloud Falls has three levels of falls and good swimming. Easy access, either by walking or driving to the three conveniently located parking lots for all three falls. The trail is an easy uphill slope along the river. But watch out for bees. One stung me on the lip, which was weird. Perhaps it was a wasp. Anyway, it was aggressive, and helped me build some character.

Zoom-in San Francisco

View from the Oakland Firestorm Memorial. San Francisco looks otherworldly in the haze and fog.

Lan Su Chinese Garden - Portland, Oregon

I take my son to the Lan Su Garden
on a city block in Portland
we frame our views
through multiple windows
watery leafy bridges surround
mountains the size of my son
this doesn't have to be here, I think
yet here it is


Poem #15 - NaPoWriMo

The Snow King

the Snow King emerged
from his homeland, cold and gray
I discovered him
sitting at my friend's table
sunlight lighting up his face



This is my first tanka. Here's a good review of Amelia Fielden's book of tankas, Baubles, Bangles & Beads.

Poem #12 - NaPoWriMo

Driving by Oregon's Tiny Towns

We drove by Merrill,
  missing the potato festival
not knowing it's the birthplace
  of Scrooge McDuck

We drove by Chiloquin
  home of the longest miniature
railway system in the world
  with trains to straddle and ride

We drove by Butteville
  now considered a ghost town
though it once had a ferry
  and nearly 300 people live there

We drove by Rivergrove
  which we didn't realize
was a town, with its subtle signage
  and unfinished subdivision


Poem #8 - NaPoWriMo

Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

Falling water
hurtles down
like weighty wind
shooshing and
vooming
sending weather
all around
It is happening
always happening
It is happening
right now

Poem #6 - NaPoWriMo