RTK4740
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My favorite place on the earth is a redwood forest. I visit northern California regularly to say hello to them. To sit under them. To talk to them and more importantly, to listen.
Apr 23, 2025 2:20 AM
RTK4740
1070010
274
6
My favorite place on the earth is a redwood forest. I visit northern California regularly to say hello to them. To sit under them. To talk to them and more importantly, to listen.
VinnyVeritas
Definitely a psychological & spiritual "re-set" in the middle of a unmolested forest. I hope everyone gets that experience at least once and hopefully as often as we all need it.
drduffer
There’s a song from a movie in the late 50s or early 60s that became slightly popular called, “I Talk to the Trees”.
It was sung, surprisingly, by Clint Eastwood. It’s on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/nn8YubD01sk?si=In1qKE2nGnCia1Ak
whooshby
I tried to see them when I was in San Francisco but all the parking lots were full.
OldSchoolHippie1
I can almost smell them! Fantastic! Grew up near Yosemite!!!
321plum
Why did this make me well up a little bit? Probably stress along with pretty much a complete lack of tremendous beauty in my life. Thank you. +1
RTK4740
I wish beauty into your life.
VinnyVeritas
Definitely a psychological & spiritual "re-set" in the middle of a unmolested forest. I hope everyone gets that experience at least once and hopefully as often as we all need it.
Snuggelapolous
I live amongst the redwoods. I'm not a religious or even spiritual person but there is something about these trees. It's as if they have souls. They are truly amazing.
RTK4740
You know, I've been thinking lately how you and I should get married and how I should come live with you. I think it's finally time we did this.
And yes, for me it's spiritual. No exact spirituality, nothing overt. But yes, it's churchlike. But it's the only church I'd willingly join.
Snuggelapolous
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1OXoyYXRqN3piM3B1eWxrNXVnYnZkZjR4NTcwN3ZobGZqN2lqYWpwYSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/rbHLJEBxp0Of9a6w1B/200w.webp
ruferto
if one of those fell on you in the woods, would you feel it?
RTK4740
Nobody would hear me scream because I'd be crushed instantly and flattened so thoroughly my voice box would just be a voice square.
cantcomplain
my sibs and I scattered our parents' ashes in Armstrong Woods state park. They both loved the redwoods and it seemed fitting. we camped at one of the car camping sites nearby and made a weekend of it. good memories for a somber event, tho it was some time after they both had passed so we could enjoy the moments rather than suffer the raw grief. would recommend.
RTK4740
I love Armstrong Woods. Next time I'm there, I'll think of your parents with me on a walk.
cantcomplain
thanks man, that's super kind.
smorsdoeuvres
It is a dream of mine to see the redwoods one day
Thank you for sharing
putcleverusernamehere
Hurry. Nuff said
nation543
You know, at some point it really just comes down to a matter of the cost of food, fuel, and time. You know where they are, and you can Google it to find out how long it'll take to get there; it'll show you how many miles, so if you know your car's mpg then you can calculate how much per tank, and how many refills. Find that monetary target and plan the time off from work.
Unless you're in the UK or something, in which case, I got nothin.
smorsdoeuvres
Yup. Money & time have been the biggest hurdles so far. I’m mid 40s with 2 young kids & I’m hoping to get us all there soon. Thanks for laying down the strategy- I’m already there & we even bought a RV; it just went straight into the shop & we are having to pursue lemon laws. So yeah, money, time & 3,000 miles of travel each way & I’m still not quite there yet. Not for lack of effort tho. Still got my eyes on the prize. I want my littles to see more of the world if it’s the last thing I do
RTK4740
I love parents who want amazing things for their littles.
nation543
Awesome, right on dude. Sounds like you're on track.
socraticmeathead
Literally on my way there tomorrow. Can't wait.
RTK4740
Oh wow. I'm jealous. My hope for you is some lovely silence among the trees. Which forest?
socraticmeathead
Long multi-day driving tour from San Fran up to Cresent City and back. Pretty much Muir to Redwoods National Park.
RTK4740
Might I suggest Montgomery Woods? It's a gorgeous 28 mile drive in from the coast, so not convenient. But it's in the middle of nowhere. And it's so quiet. So quiet. Worth it.
socraticmeathead
I'll certainly look into it, thank you!
Snuggelapolous
Can confirm Montgomery Woods it absolutely amazing. Highly recommend and it's the best time of year to visit.
Don't take Hwy1 north of fort bragg to get back on the 101. It will take forever. It's still a bit of a side trek but I recommend taking the 128 from Cloverdale to Mendo and then the 1 upto south Fort Bragg. Then turn right onto hwy 20 to get back to the 101 and Montgomery is on the way. Lots of wildflowers right now!
Northwindlowlander
I live in Scotland, and a historical quirk means that Scotland has some of the oldest giant and coast redwoods anywhere in the world outside of America- a bunch of the first ever seeds and seedlings to arrive in the old world came here. There was a huge trend for landowners and estate owners to plant newly imported species from around the world, a "conifer craze", and also huge curiosity of what might work for the modern forestry industry (also invented in Scotland)
Northwindlowlander
William Lobb basically raced back to the UK to bring the first ever redwoods here, with others soon after, the first seeds were worth more than gold. Instantly everyone wanted a redwood (and also lodgepoles, dougies, monkeypuzzles, allsorts), and every tree planter wanted some. Imagine being Fred the Gardener, weeding the rose beds, suddenly his lordship comes by with a parcel from Veitches and says "Right Fred, plant these carefully, they'll live for a thousand years and grow 300 feet tall"
Northwindlowlander
So Fred did... And the thing is, trees last a long time but rich families and stately homes don't always, especially with world wars. So all over the UK, there's bits of park or woodland which used to be someone's mansion, the house is gone, the family's gone but the trees outlived them. My university was built on the site of an abandoned estate just like this, and when I worked there literally outside my office window was one of the day one plantings of the giant redwoods in europe.
Northwindlowlander
(it's not very big, even by UK redwood standarsd, the soil and climate isn't quite right, but it's still bloody massive. So I came to love these things, and I've seen loads of them around the UK, I get like some people get in church around them... but I've never seen the real thing. Our biggest one is only about 200 feet tall and the absolute oldest is about 175 years. Some day I'll get out and see the real thing and I suspect my brain will explode.
Snuggelapolous
I am so excited to hear you have some redwoods in the UK and so passionate about them! Sadly, most of the "old growth" redwoods in California are now gone with the exception of a few protected parks or land owners who care. Luckily, "second growth" (areas that were heavily logged but have regrown) are coming back and logging is MUCH more regulated. Even smaller trees are super impressive. I love them.
Northwindlowlander
On the same line, there's a forest in the west of Scotland called Kilmun, which is, well, unusual. After world war 1, the UK's strategic planners saw a need for more homegrown timber crops, but also there were a huge number of "new", untested tree species. So they took this uninteresting hill in the middle of nowhere, and planted it out with blocks of every different species they could get their hands on, to see what would thrive in our weather and what could work for forestry
RTK4740
Thank you for this fascinating history! Wow!
CocaineAndSelfPleasure
It’s really surreal to be in some of the groves in California. Maybe, if rationality ever becomes a thing in this country again, you can come visit.