Forest giants

So there is something about the Pacific coast of north America that makes it uniquely suited to conifers it seems. Anywhere you go on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevadas, there are conifers... and lots of conifers... and gigantic conifers.

Nowhere is this more apparent than at Sequoia National Park where one can walk between Giant Redwoods, the largest trees on earth. The redwood, however, is but one species that grows in a forest of giants and there are some gargantuan Sugar Pines, Red Firs and Ponderosa Pines to name some.

It's a wonderland in which to walk around and the constant smell of Firs, Pines, Spruces and specifically Incence Cedars is delightful. Eventually though, your visit will culminate in a view of the General Sherman tree, a singular behemoth in the middle of the Giant Forest. This tree towers 84m above the forest floor but, more impressively, boasts a trunk diameter of 7.7m. Such a height multiplied by such a cross section makes it the largest known tree, and indeed, the largest known living organism on the planet.

I've tried photographing it from the base, I've tried photographing it from some distance away along the slope. I've tried panoramic composites but no picture really captures the colossal size of this tree.

Enjoying some fusion cuisine in San Francisco with Becky

Once we had our fill and washed the grime of Las Vegas out of our hair with some wholesome foresty goodness, we headed back to San Francisco to close the loop. We arrived here yesterday afternoon and managed to meet up with Becky, a good friend of ours who used to live in San Francisco and happens to be here now for a friend's wedding. Excellent timing! She took us around the streets of her old neighbourhood and we had some great food which we would never have known to order if we were alone. What a splendid way to close the loop and bring the trip to a close.

Right now we're busy packing our bags and getting everything airline-proof so I really shouldn't be sitting here writing up blog entries.

Signing off for now.