The Redwoods

Today Basil and Kathleen and I drove over the hill to Felton and Henry Cowell State Park. (I have been  there many times with my boys over the years). 

Deer on Meadow Trai

Matt and Basil 

There were lots of deer. I thought we wouldn't see any because Oliver the pit bull was with us but there they were.  Lots and lots of them.  We went on two different trails, we only saw the deer on the Meadow Trail.  The Redwood Grove Trail has too many people and not as much grass.

Kathleen at the Opening

On the Redwood Grove Trail we passed the Fremont Tree.  There is a plaque.  Kathleen crawled inside it, to where he slept. that night. In addition to being a famous California explorer,  John Fremont bears the distinction of being the first U.S. army general to free slaves during the Civil War.

A strange thing we saw on the Redwood Grove Trail is that the park administration changed the bronze labels on the big giant slice of redwood tree at the trailhead.   It has some new labels (the founding of an Aztec city) but is missing a lot of others, such as the tree sprouting during the reign of Emperor Justinian,  which I mentioned seeing in 2008.  It is very strange.

After the two trails we went to our favorite grocery store.  It merged with a larger grocery store chain a few years ago but the owners didn't like the direction of the new larger market.  They were were bringing in a lot more factory made food and losing the connection to local farmers.  So the owners of the original New Leaf Market stores in Felton and Boulder Creek pulled out of the company.  Sadly, they had lost the right to use the name.  Now they are called Wild Roots Market.  It's as good as ever.  I got some fennel, carrots, and cheese to take home and prepare for lunch.

After saying midday prayers, Basil helped me cook lunch.  Then we worked in the garden.  While I turned the compost piles he planted carrot tops in a big wash tub full of soil.  Sadly, the sunflowers I transplanted last week did not survive.