20070207 From the Redwoods, and the Kent Tree, to Point Reyes

We have learnt that the Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world. They can have a height of ca. 100 mtrs. We are in one of the best places to see Redwoods. And what do we read? That the tallest tree over here is (or at least was, until 1981) a Douglas Fir. We do not especially hate Douglas Firs, of course. But do we love them?

Well, Mr. William Kent, who donated much of the land on which Muir Woods was based, loved one three in the reserve most of all: it was later called the “Kent Tree”, and this tree was a Douglas Fir.

It used to be the tallest tree in Muir Woods until El Niño took its top in the winter of 1981/82. In January 2003 a fissure appeared at the foot of the Kent Tree. That crack grew until, on the evening of March 18, 2003 at 08:28 pm the tree crashed to the ground. It took some other trees with it, in its fall. And it will be left there, how it tumbled. The pathway along it had to be relocated.
One can still imagine how large the tree has been, when standing next to the stem. see picture wv 20070209 065.jpg (apologizes for the bad light conditions in the rain).

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Heading for Point Reyes we make a mistake. We continue on the road to Muir Beach and then back on the SH1 to the north. But after climbing and winding through dense fog on a road that gets quieter and quieter as we continue, a police-officer blocks our way. He tells us the road is closed further up. So we have to get back to Muir Woods and take the “panoramic road”. Darkness is rapidly falling. Fog is dense in some places and there's a lot of traffic on the road. This is not funny. But finally we reach Stinson Beach. From there on our map shows a straight road northwards (SH1). But the road keeps winding until the point where we have to get off. The last 6 miles to the Point Reyes Hostel are of good quality and without any other traffic. We arrive in total darkness at about 07:00 pm. Brad welcomes us.

There's only one other visitor. So I sleep with one fellow in the 10 person men's bunkroom and wv sleeps in the female bunkroom all alone.