Muir Woods, California

There is so much more I could show you about the days we recently spent in San Francisco, but I'll save it for a future date. Now it's time to cross over the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County, California.  I felt fortunate to have had one day that was absolutely cloudless during our five day stay in San Francisco, so that I could get these wonderful photos of the bridge. (all photos will enlarge when clicked on, and then again)

A splice of bridge cable was on display at a look out point, that has some interesting facts about it on the sign.  I overheard someone asking why the bridge is called the "Golden Gate," when it is actually orange in color, and I found the answer on this fact page about the bridge which states: "The real "Golden Gate" is the strait that the bridge spans. It was first named "Chrysopylae," meaning 'golden gate,' by Captain John C. Fremont in 1846."

We left San Francisco in the early morning, and the bridge was shrouded in fog that morning.  It was fun to drive through the fog!

We drove to the Muir Woods National Monument, which is located 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.  On January 9, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt used the powers of the Antiquities Act to create Muir Woods National Monument. William Kent, who donated the land for the monument, requested that it be named for noted conservationist John Muir.

John Muir described the majestic coast redwoods of Muir Woods this way: "This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world."

It was a cool and quiet place the morning we visited. We walked along the paths under the trees in awe of their size, age, and beauty.

They towered over us; majestic trees that have lived hundreds to thousands of years!

It can be hard to grasp their size from photos until you see how insignificant this one made me!

We took the time to walk on a 1 1/2 hour loop trail that wound up and around the park.

It allowed us to enjoy the splendor of the trees and the diversity of the insects, wildlife, flora and fauna in the forest.  It was so peaceful!

  "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

~John Muir

"Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky" ~ Kahlil Gibran

An information placard about the Kent Tree, which was once the tallest tree in the park. A storm damaged it and it ultimately fell in 2003.

The Kent Tree is now feeding the forest and the cycle will continue.

A slice of a tree that was 1,021 years old when it fell. The inscriptions show events that happened in history during different ages of the tree.

An interesting informational placard about the tree slice (double click to enlarge to read).

I felt very safe and loved in the shelter of this tree!  Muir Woods is a beautiful place to visit.

Later in the day we drove on to the vineyards of Sonoma County. Just look at all the luscious bunches of grapes waiting to be harvested, practically dripping from the bottoms of the vines!

Join me again very soon to see more about this area of the wine country in California.


I'm linking this post to Susan's "Outdoor Wednesday" on her blog A Southern Daydreamer, and Cathy's "Adventure Express" on her blog A Bit of the Blarney, and Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday Summer School --the color today is violet -- I think those luscious grapes qualify, don't you?  

Please visit all the blogs mentioned to see their contribution and links to all the blogs participating in the events!  Thanks Susan, Cathy, and Jenny!