Among Giants

 Standing in the quiet of the old growth redwood forest is a spiritual experience.  There is a moss and lichen softened hush and then you hear the living breathing sound quietly of the forest.  The movement of the snake, a brown creeper chirping in the canopy, a gentle creak when the wind moves a tree too close to another, a ground squirrel stirring.

The redwood trunks can be massive and they can grow 300 feet and live up to 2000 years.  They often clone themselves using burls and so one root ball/lower trunk can eventuate into numerous trees.  Fallen trees are far 'taller' sideways than my 6 feet 2 inches.  They host whole villages of other life including lichen, moss, other trees, birds, reptiles such as lizards, salamanders, frogs, ferns, flowers.  A fallen tree can 'nurse' with its decaying wood, a hemlock tree.  When the sequoia is finally decayed, the hemlock looks like it is standing up on its roots with open space where the nurse tree once existed. 

I visited the "Grove of Titans" and Stout Grove nearby my campsite at Panther Flats.  I hadn't exactly planned ahead to see these specific wonders, but was reviewing my RV Life Trip Wizard App and another camper user recommended these.  The late afternoon shadows contributed to the ambience. 

Being among the Redwoods is great for the soul.  Not so great for Starlink, however.  So for the first time, I had to deploy my "mobile unit" in order to work.  It was a great trial since it was only a 6 hour day on a Friday.  I had purchased an Ecoflow Delta 2 power station when I was near Paulsbo fur just such an occasion.  With it I could move to the more open day use area of Panther Flats along the crystalline Smith River to power my computer, monitor, and starlink.  I have a chair and table but used a picnic table.  I also have a portable screened pop up in case I need shade, but the tree above the picnic table sufficed. My Teams background looked artificial!

Mobile Office

The Smith River provided a bubbling accompaniment, and later allowed for some casting (still can't call it fishing!). I was joined by Watersnake (Narodia per Google) who swam over and sunned itself while I sipped coffee.  

Narodia joined me for sun and admiring the crystal clear Smith River.

The next morning, Campers from next door celebrating Mindy's 47th birthday and needing my space for parking cars gently asked me when I was planning to leave, which was in about 45 minutes.  They explained they were going to float the Smith River.  I asked for details and whether my kayak could handle it and poof, I had my plans for the day!  They offered to ferry me from the take out point at 'Society Hole' to the launch at 'Myrtle Beach' and mentioned people are friendly to hitchhikers holding up a paddle in the area.  When they didn't show for a longer while than I expected I found a nice young couple willing to take me three miles up to Myrtle beach. I later ran into the group who apologized for being so late. 

I can't emphasize how clear the water of the Smith river is!  In parts it is more than 12 or 15 feet dep and one can see straight to the bottom.  Though the birthday lady Mindy stated her friends were going on a 'float', she didn't mention there were a few mild to moderate rapids to be negotiated.  The first was right away and my kayak was quickly filled with 3 or 4 gallons of water.  Fortunately, I had the sense to put my phone and wallet in a  zip lock bag, which I tucked into the front of my life vest.  

The river was a dream.  There were a few shallows I had to walk and I had to dump rapids water a few times.  Once, I bent too far over and once in the kayak noticed my phone was no longer there!  Yikes!  I looked ahead and saw something floating on the surface of the river:  my bag with phone and wallet!  I caught up with them and better secured it from then on!

There were quiet areas and a few beautiful homes along the banks.  I saw no fish but they were probably hiding among the huge boulders and rocks and it was a bit early for the annual salmon run.  

After a few hours, I arrived at the stone beach where I had left my Airstream, changed from wet clothes, and off to the next campground, very satisfied about a great day on the river!

Launching on the Smith

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