Muir Woods

The whole time we were at Dillon Beach, I noticed these "Tsunami Evacuation Route" signs.  I thought they were interesting so I had to get a picture on our morning walk the last day there.

Each early morning as Titus and I would walk around the hillside at Dillon Beach, I was amazed at the beauty, and at the variety of plants that seemed to grow spontaneously everywhere.

The colors of the rocky shoreline seemed particularly vivid in the early morning light.  I don't think I could ever get tired of the mesmerizing music of the ocean.

Isaac and Reece were playing outside as we packed up to leave the beach house.  Isaac shouted, "Mom, look!" and Reece chided him, "Don't tell her to come over here!  She will find our secret castle!"

Our whole crew.

Goodbye beach house.

After a windy (as in twisty-turny, not wind blowing.  How do you spell that?) ride down California's famous coastal Highway One, (and passing hundreds, literally hundreds, of Corvettes,) we arrived at Muir Woods.

Our first stop was the ranger station where we picked up Junior Ranger Handbooks so the kids could certify and earn their badges.

We learned to count the rings on the giant trees to determine their age.  These trees are thousands of years old, which is both fascinating and hard me for to really comprehend.

Reece was cracking me up in her snow boots.

Our next-to-first stop was the bathroom, outside of which were these bears carved from the famous trees.

Isaac thought it was a bucking bear.

We love this family.  They are so much fun to be around.  Our kids simply adore their kids.  They are so generous and hospitable.  We can't wait to see them again!

Isaac: "Mom!  Let's get a picture!"

I have been wanting to visit the famous Redwood Forest since I was a little girl.

After visiting Muir Woods, I want to see other forests along the coast.

Levi does not stop talking about this awesome dude.

It is difficult to describe the size of these monster trees.  They are simply enormous.

At several points, you can't even see all the way to the top.

We watched this river otter hunt under the rocks in the stream. 

Best buddies.

We stopped for the Forest Ranger Talk.  I was just chillin when I realized that some of the things she was teaching were pretty amazing.  I pulled out my phone and tried to take notes.  There is some very significant symbolism to be found in these amazing trees.

Titus the Crazy had eaten a beach full of sand a few days earlier.  In Muir Woods he kept eating the wood.  Not licking or tasting the wood, eating it, as in biting  it, chewing it, and swallowing it.  We kept him in the backpack (thanks McKinley fam!) as long as we could, but whenever he was loose, he was finding wood to snack on.

My favorite place? With these guys.

When we made our way back to the Ranger Station, the kids turned in their Junior Ranger workbooks.  They each had to answer some questions about what they learned in the forest.

Then they raised their right hands and were sworn in as official Junior Rangers.  Their badges are made from fallen redwood trees.

Our family loved Muir Woods.  Uncle Brian even bought us two sequoia saplings to bring home and plant in Utah. (just think! In 3000 years they will be HUGE!)  This world we live in is simply amazing! (Note: Titus is technically in this family photo although he cannot be seen.  He was in the backpack on my back, but remained hidden because of the way we were bending over.  Sorry dude!)

After we left Dillon Beach and Muir Woods, we headed back inland to Brian and Rachel's house looking forward to Sunday, a day of rest.