5/15/2009 Trees of Mystery

Today we went to the local attraction called "Trees of Mystery". Want to guess what trees they are talking about? I didn't think so.

Before we left I snapped some pictures from our rig. Here the fog is coming up the river.

...and the view from the other side. I have not seen this flag any other way than straight out like this, but it doesn't seem that windy so I'm wondering if there is wire or something attached to it to make it stand out. Don't get me wrong, there is a breeze but I didn't think it was this strong. Maybe the flag is just a really light nylon and it doesn't take much to make it move.

There aren't very many in this park this time of year. From what the owner told me, once Memorial Day gets here, they are packed all the time. There is salmon in the river and the fisherman come in droves. In addition this is a Coast to Coast Park and about 600 families call this park their "home park". I'm glad we're here when we are although Bob would have loved fishing for salmon here.

Our site, taken as we are pulling up the road out of the campground.

We didn't have to travel far to get to the place we wanted to see today, maybe 5 miles. If that.

THIS is what met us in the parking lot. I imagine we'll find the connection to this attraction once we get inside. Or do I just not see it? Are you all saying, "What do you mean you'll find out inside...its Paul Bunyon for heaven's sake,,,duh!"

This carving stands 99.2 feet tall and weighs 30,000 pounds. His chest is 66 feet around and his waist measures 52 feet. His boots are 10 feet high and the axe 27 feet long. Big. Very Big!

We went inside to check out the good sized gift shop. Nothing really different about it than any other gift shop except everything here was all things redwood. And Paul Bunyon.

There was a comprehensive museum in the back that depicted the Indians from the area but it was requested, very nicely thank you, that pictures not be taken.

This may be hard for you too see but I'm going to do my best to explain it to you. This next picture is of a tree called World's Largest Family Tree. There are twelve individual living trees here but only one trunk. Sounds confusing doesn't it? Look for branches (actually tree trunks) that are standing upright rather than sideways like a regular branch.

Here's a picture of one individual tree within the family tree. There are twelve of these.

Next we came to the .....

I wonder why they call it this????

This one might be harder yet to explain. I'll do my best. There are two trees. Two root systems, intertwined. One tree grows vertically in a normal fashion the other horizontally. Look at the fence in the picture below. Just above it you can see a "log" that is covered in moss. Then you see a large "branch" going across the walkway. THAT is the horizontal tree! Strange isn't it?

This next one is called....

This fallen log has been determined to be 3000 years old. It is still in good shape, not rotting, just laying there.

Bob checking out the root.

Look how tall these bad boys are! Up, up, and UP!

Now here's another strange one. Two actual right angles in this tree. Look in the center of the picture. See where I'm pointing?

This next picture is the Cathedral Tree. Many couples get married in front of this tree.

Where the wedding guests would sit.

The Brotherhood Tree.

Yep, that's a big tree too!

Dew drops caught in a web.

This sign was in front of a small stand of young trees.

We came upon the Candelabra Tree. I think it is self explanatory.

I found the Paul Bunyon connection! There are carved panels throughout one section showing his life from the time he was a baby. Here are just a few of them.

Of course when Paul Bunyon goes fishing he uses a tree for a rod and catches a whale!

Paul's dog...Digger.

Here's a carved squirrel.

Pooped Logger

This next picture is a slab of tree trunk. The following picture after that shows a close up of the timeline that was put in place to give its age. Amazing. Simply amazing. Are you seeing how big this slab is?

I stand at eye level with the sign that says Crusades.

While here we also took a ride on a gondola up through the trees but we saw nothing but tree tops so I didn't take any pictures. It was grand for us to see but it would really have lost something through pictures.

This was our day here in the Trees of Mystery exhibit.

On the way home I took a picture of this bear. There is a sculpture like this on each end and each side of this bridge.

See that 5th wheel in the middle of the picture? That's US!

Another day in our life.