The Tolowa Indians (and other nearby tribes) lived among the giant redwoods and clear rivers of Northern California before Jedadiah Smith came along. He became the namesake for many things Redwoods, though I doubt the local folks of the time appreciated this. The area is one of the most beautiful sets you’ll see in the world, rain or shine. Maya and I spent 3 days of almost solid rain sitting in the dark RV playing cards, reading, and eating junk food. There are no hookups in the park, so we were cold and almost bored. When it did not rain, we were out at the river’s edge looking at rocks, peering at otters through the binoculars, painting, and writing haiku:
For the Redwoods
Sun filtered by fog
alights ancient tree tops of
redwood and ceder.
Thick red bark lines up
tall to the tip, past branches
and flat green needles.
Majestic red trunks
flank Tolowa’s river where
children gather stones…
…fragments of long gone
green, orange, purple, and white
cliffs and lava rock.
Night heron suns ‘top
a crag set over bolders
and fishing waters.
Otters curl out the
cool water then dive deep and
up soon with dinner.