This week, Lauren Quinn‘s post on Cuban national heros inspired me to find this quote:
“In truth, men speak too much of danger. Let others be terrified by the natural and healthy risks of life! We shall not be frightened! Poison sumac grows in a hard-working man’s field, the serpent hisses from its hidden den, and the owl’s eye shines in the belfry, but the sun goes on lighting the sky, and truth continues marching across the earth unscathed.”
- Jose Marti
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Back in September, I chaperoned a field trip to Henry Cowell State Park. The park is located in Felton, CA in the Santa Cruz Mountains. There, you will find coast redwoods, the world’s tallest trees, and giant sequoias, the world’s most massive trees. This park doesn’t have the most famous of these trees (such as one you can drive through) or proximity to San Francisco (like Muir Woods). Because of this, there are fewer crowds which gives you a chance to really enjoy and observe the centennial and millennial giants around you.
Redwoods really are fascinating trees. They have an admirable set of survival skills that enable them to work well with the elements and protect them from their enemies… well, except for humans. By the end of the day, I was ready to throw my arms around the wise trees in adoration, and probably would have if they weren’t so big…
I liked the juxtaposition of leaves and leaf shadows.
I wish I could remember why this tree grows this way, I know there was an interesting explanation for this.
A deer.
Me posing with a giant tree. This particular tree has a fire scar. Fire can actually be good for the redwoods because it clears out trees that compete for space and enriches the soil. Mature redwood trees have a thick bark that contains tannins and helps protect them from fire.
Colorful leaves on the ground signaled that fall was approaching.
You can only see a limited portion of the tall trees and it’s interesting to think about what goes on beyond what you see.
I thought these roots of a fallen redwood tree resembled waves. Redwood tree roots are surprisingly shallow. The shallowness allows them to more easily absorb condensation from fog in California’s typically rain-free summers. For support, the roots grow out and intertwine with the roots of other redwoods so the trees can help anchor each other.
The big lump on the tree is called a burl. Inside burls are dormant buds that can grow when the original tree dies.
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The kids I work with are often full of hilarious and sometimes surprisingly insightful one liners. This week, a student said something about travel that made me smile and I knew I needed to post it here:
“I like seeing new places, it makes you feel like a new person. Travelin’ be hella cool. I been everywhere- Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Las Vegas…”
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One day during my winter break, I thought I’d tune in to the Travel Channel. What I saw disturbed me. Most Unique McDonalds followed by Extreme Pig Outs… ?!? But then came a commercial break with an announcement that a new season of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations is beginning on January 11th. A ray of hope and sunshine amidst the Travel Channel’s increasingly dismal programming. The commercial asked whether we’d see Good Tony or Bad Tony this season. I really don’t care, I’m just looking forward to Travel Channel content that is actually related to travel.
I also had the pleasure of watching Up in the Air during the holidays. Destiny was a theme that stood out to me in the film. Whether or not people are predetermined to be restless is something I’ve thought about in my last few years of traveling. It seems like travel has become something you’re supposed to get out of your system early. Go backpacking or volunteer abroad after college, then settle down. But there are those of us who just can’t stop. And some of the most amazing travelers I’ve met have been well beyond their twenties with young hearts and incredible stories acquired from decades on the go.
At a holiday party, I talked to a guy who told me he didn’t like to leave the United States because it’s too much of a hassle to travel internationally. He wasn’t referring to costs, flight delays, or the de-shoeing and de-liquiding airport security process. He was talking about how terrible it is to actually be in another country. Ludicrous. Poor guy, I looked at him like he was insane and spent 15 to 20 futile minutes trying to explain why travel is in fact wonderful. But then I thought about my own life and how others might perceive it to be lacking in stability and some of the comforts people are supposed to require more and more as they get older.
I’m definitely not extremely detached like George Clooney’s character is in Up in the Air, but I’ve realized that as far as the United States goes, my level of need for movement does not put me in the majority. I guess I can’t really fault people for not wanting to deal with certain types of adventure. When I look back at some of the mishaps and unexpected misadventures I experienced in South America, it seems kind of crazy that I wittingly put myself in a position to get into difficult unwitting situations. But often, the most curse word inducing travel moments turn out to be the most gratifying afterward.
It’s hard to describe the elation that comes from new sights and smells and sounds and conquering the challenges of travel. And how what you experience on the road permeates your life at home and allows you to find adventure and discovery around every corner. In my San Francisco life, I typically encounter people who get this or at least have a desire to know about the various cultures of the world and people beyond their immediate surroundings. It makes it easy to forget that many people want a life that’s full of what’s familiar. I can’t say that it’s right or wrong, but I don’t understand it. And some take a need for the expected along with them when they leave home, wanting a change of scenery but not a change in familiarity. Hence all-inclusive mega resorts and “travel” shows such as Most Unique McDonald’s.
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Santa Barbara and the towns that surround it are a unique part of California. The area sits on the intersection of the Central California Coast and Southern California. It contains elements of both regions and is probably as close to the stereotypical image of California as you can get. A mild climate, palm trees, beaches, surfers, hippies, scantily clad tan youth, extravagant homes, rolling hills spotted with cows and wine abound.
Many places were closed because of the holidays, but it gave us the opportunity to have a relaxing weekend full of long drives and casual strolls. We also made a little side trip to Solvang, a former Danish settlement and tourist trap about an hour away from Santa Barbara. Check out some of my pictures:
A lovely Christmas Eve sunset.
Our makeshift Christmas tree in our hotel room.
A fountain at the Santa Barbara Courthouse.
Another courthouse view.
State Street, Santa Barbara’s main drag, lit up for the holidays.
Storefront window display on State Street.
A windmill on Solvang’s main street.
A display at the Elverhøj Museum in Solvang depicts what a kitchen might have looked like when Solvang was first settled by the Danish.
Christmas tree decorations at the Elverhøj Museum.
Persimmon tree outside of the Buttonwood Winery in Solvang.
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