Day 19   Yosemite 6/15/15

Magnificent splendor, a shrine to nature, a national treasure

My cousin David and his family: wife Joan,son Alex, Daughter Lidia with her boyfriend, Jestin, live in Clovis a  short drive to Yosemite.

We spent a wonderful day here. 

As a child, my family and I camped here for a week, a highlight of my life. 

I was not more than 10 but the beauty greatly impressed me.

                           

One of Yosemite's greatest splendors is it's waterfalls. 
 I remember their flowing magnificence, now reduced to windblown wisps. 
At this point, they must be dry.  
The ranger said there were only a few weeks of flow left.
My most impressive memory was that of the Yosemite Firefall.  
(not my photo)

Burning embers were spilled from the top of Glacier Point 
to the valley 3,000 ft below.  
This summertime spectacular began in 1872 and ended in 1968. 
 Because it is not a natural event, it was suspended. 
 A good idea. but I feel fortunate I was able to see it.
 We are all fortunate in America that these parks were set aside for all to enjoy!  

 Day 18    Ukiah, CA

Aunt Tish and Uncle Dave

 They are as sweet as the smiles on their faces.

She is the last surviving sibling of 6.

Orphaned when Mom was 13 and Tish was 8, they were raised by their older brother Dan, (a walking encyclopedia; should have been on Jeopardy.)

Married for 63 years, they have never had a fight,

not even a cross word.  This could be documented.

Their home is filled with photos from the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem,

Believed to be the burial site of Jesus and where the stone was rolled away.

Dard was Chaplain of the Garden Tomb for 5 years.

His oldest daughter, Sarah, was born while they were in Israel.

                               The Garden Tomb is a green oasis, 

                           hidden behind walls in a dusty, diverse city; 

                                  a serene island in a raging sea.

It's interesting that my flash is in the entrance to the tomb, especially when you hear the story I have to tell about Aunt Tish's experience there.

She is the most devout Christian alive, I believe.

A dream trip to The Holy Land was planned.  Before they left, a tumor was discovered on her breast.  She was advised to cancel her trip, but refused.

When she entered the tomb, by herself, she said she was filled with light,

 like nothing she had ever experienced before. Indescribable. Profound.

When she returned home, there was no trace of the tumor.

This IS actually documented.

Day 17   Redwood National Park  June 13  Humboldt, CA

Avenue of the Giants.

On the road from Eureka to Ukiah from my cousin's to her parents.

I made the 3 hour trip almost double,

taking the scenic route and stopping whenever I could to appreciate breathtaking the majesty of these giants.  Photos cannot do them justice.  They are too tall to shoot the entire tree. 

Entrance to Bilbo Baggin's Place below?

New life growing from an old stump.

 Cross section of a tree, showing it's age and the impact from it's environment.

 Sapphire, the Subaru, drives through a tree.

Perfect fit. We went somewhere like this as children.  I think it was Sequoia National Park. Our big yellow Mercury station wagon couldn't fit  through. 

 We camped across country as kids,

 stopping at whatever National Park we could.

This was an amazing time.  No crowds or traffic. No reservations needed.  Even at that age, I felt very fortunate to have this experience.  It gave me an appreciation for nature and gratitude for those who had the foresight to designate these national treasures as parks. 

Day 16, June 12, 2015 Eureka CA

Trinidad State Beach in Eureka with my cousin Nanci.  

We haven't seen each other in over 20, maybe 30 years but it was so comfortable and familiar. Time mattered not. Her mother and mine were sisters.  She usually brings her 4 dogs here, but we left them behind  since we were going to lunch after.

Making an 11:11 pinkie wish.

 A tradition with me. My birthday is 11/22.

I thought I made it up but it turns out to be a bit of a phenomenon.  

For me, though, I make a wish.  If anyone else is around, I make them hook pinkies and make a wish, a positive thought, a blessing.

Hey, it can't hurt. Nanci had said she wanted to participate in that with me when I came to visit,

so we did!  Yay.

Saving a Dragonfly

Spotting her struggling in the sand, surrounded by sea foam

 we gently picked her up. Letting her dry a bit in the air, we let her go, 

only to watch her fall.

 After several attempts, I noticed that there was some debris, like a string fragment, stuck to her tail. You can see it in the photo. Carefully, I removed it.  My long fingernails come in handy sometimes.  This time, holding her to the wind, she flew away.  It was such an uplifting experience; hopeful, like one can make a difference, however small. There is power in little things.

Moments fleeting on transparent wings.

Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse

  This is a replica of the original, which was first lighted on Dec 1, 1871.

On Dec 31, 1914, a wave, said to be "one of the most unusual sea actions of all times." shot up the the 175 ft seaward face of the Head, taking with it the lives of  7, 15, 17 and 28 year old boys.  The first 3 keepers died while in service.

The present operating lighthouse cannot be seen from here and is automated and unmanned.

  

A view of the beautiful bay, on the other side of the point, or head,

 from the beach.

The photo below was hanging in the women's room of our restaurant.

To me, it looks like the Endeavor, Captain Cook's first ship. No one in the restaurant could confirm it, but some said that they believed it was the re-creation of the original.  That  re-creation of the Endeavor sailed in to Kealakekua Bay in 2000.  Our Hawaiian church, Kahikolu, welcomed the crew and local dignitaries with a ceremony, everyone in authentic costumes,  and our choir sang.  We had the best Hawaiian choir in the islands at that time.

Can anyone out there confirm this ship?

My friends on the Big Island?

Captain Cook fans?