#Carbon Canyon Regional Park

[dkt5d]

Labor Day visit to Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Brea CA Sept. 4 2023. Redwood Grove in SoCal.

[plethoraworldatlas]

Conservation groups filed objections this week to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposed final management plan for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests in western Colorado. The plan would allow commercial logging on more than 772,000 acres of public lands, including mature and old-growth trees — a 66% increase from the current forest plan.

“A sizeable area of our beloved forests could be sacrificed to commercial logging at the expense of our already dwindling wilderness areas, wildlife habitat and recreation,” said Chad Reich with High Country Conservation Advocates. “Outdoor recreation is a far larger economic driver for our communities than the local timber industry that benefits from cutting these forests. The Forest Service would’ve known that if it had conducted an economic analysis, as required by law.”

Under the proposed plan mature and old-growth forests, which store massive amounts of carbon, could be commercially logged. Forest managers would not be required to identify and protect old-growth and mature trees. Steep slopes across the forests, including Upper Taylor Canyon and Slate River Valley, could also be logged despite the high risk of severe erosion and threats to water quality.

“The proposed plan directly violates federal policy on protecting mature and old-growth trees as a cornerstone of U.S. climate action,” said Alison Gallensky, conservation geographer with Rocky Mountain Wild. “The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests boast the highest carbon sequestration capacity of any national forest in the Rocky Mountain region. Despite this the Forest Service has failed to ensure these vital carbon sinks aren’t logged and sold.”

Objections also challenged the Forest Service’s failure to take urgently needed climate action by prohibiting new coal leasing in the plan.

...

The Forest Service recommended adding only 46,200 acres of new wilderness area in the final plan. The community’s conservation proposal had called for more than 324,000 acres of new wilderness lands. In addition, the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative offered a broadly supported proposal for new wilderness and special management areas in Gunnison County that was mostly excluded.

...

“Community members proposed special management area designations to protect pristine forestlands in the North Fork Valley from logging and oil and gas drilling,” said Peter Hart, legal director at Wilderness Workshop. “The Forest Service ignored those proposals and chose not to protect those areas in the new plan.”

The groups also raised concerns about the plan’s failure to address the myriad needs of plants and animals that depend on the forests.

“Over 20 years ago Colorado Parks and Wildlife reintroduced Canada lynx to the San Juan Mountains,” said Rocky Smith, a long-time forest management analyst. “This is a great source of pride for wildlife lovers in this state. Lynx are federally threatened and depend on mature forests with large trees. This plan allows for logging that could easily degrade or destroy much of the best habitat for lynx and their main prey, snowshoe hares, and undermine Colorado’s hard work to reestablish and maintain a viable lynx population.”

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests also provide habitat for the iconic bighorn sheep and lesser-known species like the Grand Junction milkvetch and the Tundra buttercup. These species, among others, need special designation the Forest Service grants to plants and animals when there is concern about their ability to survive in the area. Many struggling plants and animals were left off the list in the proposed final plan.

“Without the species of conservation concern designation the Forest Service has no obligation to make sure the plants and animals continue to exist locally,” said Chris Krupp, public lands attorney with WildEarth Guardians. “In many cases, the agency decided not to designate wildlife, plants or fish merely because it had no data on their population trends. Without species of conservation concern designation, the number of bighorn sheep in GMUG could dwindle down to almost nothing and the agency wouldn’t have to do anything about it.”

[bustraveladventures101]

The Ultimate Guide to Affordable Bus, Scenic, and Convenient Travel

Bus travel in the USA is an underrated gem. Whether you're a budget-conscious traveler, someone who enjoys the scenic route, or simply looking for a convenient way to explore the country, buses offer a unique and accessible way to see America. This guide will cover everything you need to know about traveling by bus across the USA, including the best routes, tips for comfort, and why this mode of transportation is gaining popularity.

1. Why Choose Bus Travel?

Affordability: Trailways buses are one of the most cost-effective ways to travel, often costing a fraction of what you’d pay for a flight or train ticket.

Scenic Routes: Unlike air travel, bus routes allow you to see the landscape up close. You can witness the changing terrain, from bustling cities to rural countryside, all from your window seat.

Convenience: With numerous stations across the country, bus travel offers flexibility in scheduling and destinations. You can often find a bus station in towns where airports are absent.

Eco-Friendly: Buses have a smaller carbon footprint compared to planes and cars, making them a greener choice for the environmentally conscious traveler.

2. Top Scenic Bus Routes in the USA

Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1, California): Travel along one of the most famous scenic drives in the world. This route offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, cliffs, and beaches.

The Adirondack Route (New York to Montreal): This route takes you through the stunning landscapes of Upstate New York, offering views of the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondack Mountains.

Route 66 (Chicago to Los Angeles): Travel along the historic Route 66, where you’ll experience classic Americana, small towns, and vintage roadside attractions.

The Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina to Tennessee): This route offers incredible views of one of America’s most visited national parks, with lush forests and mist-covered peaks.

3. Planning Your Bus Journey

Choosing the Right Bus Company: Research and compare companies like Trailways, Greyhound, Megabus, and regional operators. Consider factors such as comfort, onboard amenities, pricing, and customer reviews.

Booking Tickets: Many bus companies offer online booking, which is often cheaper than purchasing tickets at the station. Look for discounts, promotions, and loyalty programs.

Packing Essentials: Pack light but bring essentials for a comfortable journey—snacks, water, a neck pillow, entertainment (books, movies, music), and a blanket or sweater for temperature changes.

4. Tips for a Comfortable Bus Ride

Choosing Your Seat: Opt for a window seat to enjoy the views and have something to lean against if you plan to sleep. Sitting near the front can offer a smoother ride.

Stretching and Moving: On long rides, take advantage of stops to stretch your legs. Some buses also have room to stand or walk a bit in the aisle.

Entertainment and Connectivity: Many buses offer Wi-Fi and power outlets, so bring devices to keep yourself entertained. Don’t forget headphones!

Staying Safe and Secure: Keep your valuables in a small bag that you can keep with you at all times. Be mindful of your surroundings, especially at night or during stops.

5. Exploring Bus Travel Destinations

Major Cities: Bus travel is ideal for visiting cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami. These cities have extensive bus networks that connect to various neighborhoods and nearby attractions.

National Parks: Many bus routes take you close to national parks such as Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite. Consider combining bus travel with short hikes or local tours.

Hidden Gems: Explore less-known destinations like Asheville, NC, Sedona, AZ, and Santa Fe, NM. These places offer unique cultural experiences, outdoor activities, and stunning natural beauty.

6. The Future of Bus Travel in the USA

Technological Advancements: With the rise of electric buses, smart ticketing, and real-time tracking, bus travel is becoming more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Increased Popularity: As people seek more sustainable and budget-friendly travel options, bus travel is expected to grow, with more routes and better services.

Customized Experiences: Some companies are now offering luxury bus services with reclining seats, onboard meals, and even private cabins for an upgraded experience.

Bus travel across the USA is more than just a means to get from point A to point B; it’s an experience in itself. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or someone looking to try something new, the bus offers a way to see the country in all its diversity from the comfort of your seat. So pack your bags, choose your route, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey across the United States.

[drainageteam1001]

Top 5 Astonishing Places Changed Forever by Erosion's Power

The erosion of soil and rock is a natural process that occurs on Earth’s surface. Erosion removes and transports soil, sand and other materials from one location and deposits them in another.

To reduce erosion, plant vegetation that provides roots and cover to protect the soil from rainfall and wind. Plants also add nutrients to the soil and increase its strength.

Soil Erosion

Soil erosion happens when bare soil is exposed to intense winds, hard rains, and flowing water. It is especially pronounced on sloped terrain. Erosion accelerates when the land is less vegetated, as is the case with deserts and many cultivated areas where crops are grown year round.

Tilling (plowing) and overgrazing farm animals also leave soils devoid of ground-covering plants that slow water flows and protect the soil. The resulting soils are more susceptible to erosion by wind and water, as well as more quickly degraded by climate change.

Unmitigated soil erosion decreases the quality of soil ecosystems and reduces the amount of arable land that can be used to grow food crops. It is a global problem that has contributed to hunger and is a major contributor to climate change.

It contributes to pollution and sedimentation in rivers, streams, and lakes that can reduce fish populations. It also makes floods worse. It also lowers the ability of soils to absorb carbon dioxide, which increases the overall level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It is a huge global challenge that can only be addressed through better and more sustainable land management practices. It takes time to rebuild and restore eroded soils, but it is possible.

Water Erosion

Water erosion is the displacement of soil particles by water, which can be caused by rainfall, melted snow, flowing rivers, or the freeze/thaw cycles. It plays a major role in the loss of topsoil—the vital layer that holds the majority of a soil’s nutrients and microorganisms.

Water can erode land in a variety of ways, including stream bank erosion and gully erosion. Stream bank erosion occurs when a river eats away at its banks over time, creating a V-shaped valley. Gullies form when water erodes the sides and bottom of a depression on a slope, eventually filling it with debris that is then carried downstream. The Fish River Canyon in Namibia is an example of valley erosion that took millions of years to occur.

Erosion is accelerated by many natural factors, but human activity can also make it happen more quickly. For example, when trees are cut down for agriculture or development and their roots wash away, the land becomes more vulnerable to erosion. Similarly, plowing up grasses and using fertilizers can also contribute to soil degradation.

Some places are more prone to erosion than others, depending on the type of terrain, climate, and vegetation. Regions with sloping landscapes are usually more affected by erosion than flat areas. And, rocks that are soft or made of a material that dissolves easily in water wear down more slowly than hard, resistant materials.

Wind Erosion

Wind erosion is one of the most serious natural processes affecting drylands. Wind erosion destroys soil by blowing it away and carrying it to new locations.

This process also can damage surrounding vegetation and exposes the surface of rocks to weathering. Wind erosion can also carry pollutants into the air, such as sand and dust. It also carries disease-causing organisms, such as those that cause alfalfa leaf spot and common blight of beans.

Aeolian erosion can create amazing landforms and create a variety of different environmental conditions. It can create desert dunes that rise to more than 100 meters (3,300 feet). It also erodes and polishes the rock layers of the Badain Jaran section of the Gobi Desert in China, giving them the appearance of a "desert varnish." Wind erosion is responsible for the eroded shapes that give Arches National Park in Utah its name. It's also responsible for the eroded sandstone arches that make up the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park in Australia.

The most important factor in wind erosion is soil type and climatic conditions. The more sandy the soil, the more vulnerable it is to wind erosion. A study by Savic [10] investigated the vulnerability of a part of AP Vojvodina to eolian erosion and found that the region was highly sensitive. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that overgrazing, a common practice in agriculture, further increases erosion rates.

Ice Erosion

Glacier erosion sculpts the landscape, forming unique shapes such as fjords and U-shaped valleys. These eroded features provide valuable clues about the Earth's past climate conditions and can help us understand how to prepare for and adapt to climate change today.

Physical erosion is often slowed by the presence of plants. Roots of these plants stick to soil and rock particles, preventing them from being carried away by rain or wind. The friction between rocks as they collide also causes erosion, as does the action of glacial ice against bedrock. The resulting process, called bioerosion, can produce cracks and crevices in the surface of the rocks.

Glacial erosion, on the other hand, can be very rapid and is largely caused by the motion of the glacier itself. Two important processes of glacial erosion are plucking and abrasion. The motion of the glacier against the rocks of a mountain can cause them to be worn away, and these eroded bits are then spat out into the meltwater streams that form glaciers.

The rapid erosion of mountains and coastlines by melting glaciers can create massive debris flows, known as mass wasting events. This can cause landslides and other disasters that may threaten lives and property. A better understanding of the relationship between geological hazards and climatic changes is essential to developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.

[fairfieldmarketreports]

Middle East Bicycle Market Size and Share 2021-2026

The Middle East bicycle market is poised for significant growth in the coming years, fueled by increasing environmental consciousness and a growing preference for healthier lifestyles. According to a recent market analysis, the global bicycle market, including the Middle East region, is projected to reach a value of US$100.8 billion by 2026, with a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7% between 2021 and 2026.

Access Full Report: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/bicycle-market  

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases has prompted people in the Middle East to embrace bicycles as a means of maintaining good health. Additionally, growing traffic congestion and limited parking spaces, especially in metropolitan areas, have led individuals to opt for bicycles as a convenient and eco-friendly mode of transportation. The increasing concerns surrounding carbon emissions and vehicular pollution have also prompted governments across the region to undertake initiatives aimed at reducing environmental footprints, further driving the demand for bicycles.

Improved material science technology has revolutionized the bicycle industry, enabling the production of ultra-lightweight bicycles. Advanced manufacturing methodologies and the utilization of new materials have resulted in the creation of bicycles that are both light and sturdy. These technological advancements have particularly influenced the production of sports and mountain bicycles, providing cyclists with top-notch performance and durability. Notable examples include the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX, which weighs a mere 6.7 kg and has gained recognition in prestigious races like the Tour de France.

While the Middle East presents significant opportunities for the bicycle market, there are challenges to overcome. Unsupportive regulations surrounding electric bicycles (e-bikes) pose a hindrance to their sales. Varying government laws and terminologies pertaining to bicycles impact the market demand. For instance, certain countries have strict regulations and classifications for e-bikes, restricting their speed and motor power. Such regulations may hinder the adoption of e-bikes in the region.

However, the Middle East region also holds promise for e-bike growth, given the increasing focus on cycling infrastructure development and the rise of green mobility alternatives. Governments and organizations are actively investing in the establishment of dedicated bike paths and lanes, which will contribute to the overall growth of the bicycle market.

In the Middle East, as in other parts of the world, Europe has emerged as a leading market for e-bikes. Countries such as Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands boast well-developed cycling infrastructure and supportive government regulations, including subsidies for e-bike adoption. The Asian Pacific region, on the other hand, is witnessing a surge in electric bicycle sales, driven by low manufacturing costs and the expansion of production facilities.

As the global economy navigates the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the bicycle market, like other industries, faces uncertainties in the second half of the year. The virus and its impact on production, demand, and supply chains are expected to temporarily hinder market growth. However, the long-term prospects for the Middle East bicycle market remain optimistic.

Key players in the global bicycle market, including Accell Group, Dorel Industries Inc., Giant Bicycles, Merida Industry Co., Ltd, and Trek Bicycle Corporation, are competing fiercely to capture market share. They are focusing on interoperability integration, anticipating it to be the upcoming trend in the industry.

With the Middle East region embracing bicycles as a sustainable mode of transportation and a means to foster a healthier lifestyle, the market is set to witness remarkable growth. As governments continue to invest in cycling infrastructure and promote environmental consciousness, the Middle East bicycle market is poised to contribute significantly to the global industry's success.

Web: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/Email: sales@fairfieldmarketresearch.com

[myfeeds]

Frenchman mountain dolostone: 500 million-year-old grand canyon rock layer finally gets a name

In a new report published this spring in the Geological Society of America journal Geosphere, a UNLV-led research team outlines how it identified and bestowed a moniker upon a previously unexplored 500 million-year-old Grand Canyon formation: The Frenchman Mountain Dolostone. The newly named rock layer has lain hidden in plain sight throughout the Grand Canyon for millennia, but — until now — geologists had not named it or studied it in detail. The UNLV research team named it the Frenchman Mountain Dolostone (FMD) — after a similarly named mountain that lies adjacent to Las Vegas, Nevada. That’s where the FMD is thickest, most complete, and most accessible for study. Through scientific detective work, the researchers were able to narrow down the age of this stratigraphic interval and its relationship to strata in the Grand Canyon. “For decades, geologists were unable to precisely correlate the succession of strata at Frenchman Mountain with those in the Grand Canyon, in part because Frenchman Mountain was tectonically displaced about 40 miles to the west since the rocks were deposited,” said lead author Steve Rowland, an emeritus professor of geology at UNLV and paleontologist at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. “Establishing detailed descriptions and thickness measurements of the strata at Frenchman Mountain and also in the Grand Canyon has finally allowed us to solve this problem.” The FMD is over 1,200 feet thick at Frenchman Mountain, Rowland said, but it thins dramatically toward the east. The portions exposed within the Grand Canyon range in thickness from nearly 400 feet near the “West Rim” Skywalk to less than 100 feet in Marble Canyon, in the eastern part of Grand Canyon National Park. In 1945, geologist Edwin McKee distinguished — but did not formally name — the cliff-forming interval of rocks that occur just above the well-known Muav Formation. The FMD contains no fossils, so McKee was unsure of its age. Rowland’s team used a relatively new technique to determine the FMD’s age — subtle differences in the ratio of stable isotopes of carbon. Fluctuations in the ratios of these isotopes occurred at the same time all over the Earth as the layers were deposited. The researchers compared fluctuations in the Frenchman Mountain strata with those identified in precisely dated rock layers elsewhere in the world. The results indicate that the newly named formation was deposited over an interval of 7.3 million years, during the Cambrian Period, between 502.8 million and 495.5 million years ago. The FMD is the first new formation to be named in the canyon since 1985 when the Surprise Canyon Formation was named. It is also the first rock layer exposed in the Grand Canyon to be named for a location outside the Grand Canyon region. In addition to Rowland, the research team included former UNLV graduate student Slava Korolev, Denver Museum of Nature and Science geologist James Hagadorn, and UNLV mathematics professor Kaushik Ghosh.

[rnewspost]

Missing California man found dead after going for hike at Carbon Canyon Regional Park, authorities say

Missing California man found dead after going for hike at Carbon Canyon Regional Park, authorities say

A California hiker reported missing on Friday has been found dead after he failed to return from Carbon Canyon Regional Park, authorities said. Jeffrey Paul Morton, 63, was located Saturday afternoon and authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.  Morton was reported missing after he left his home in Yorba Linda around 2:30 a.m. on…

[denverworksheet]

Crews search for missing Orange County hiker

Search for missing hiker continues for second day in Orange County near Carbon Canyon Regional Park, according to Orange County Sheriff's Office.

from California https://ift.tt/Ci8fzR6

[dreamersphotographyla]

50% Savage. 50% Sweetness. In frame: @anihuasca #trickortreat #goodiebag #bunnygirl #outsidephotoshoot #halloweenspirit (at Carbon Canyon Regional Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkThx-DJtz-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[beeple-juice]

Kinda proud of these photos I took today

[claurels]

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

[that-much-further-west]

Mid-spring in southern California!

(Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Orange County, CA - 4/16/2022)

[earthstory]

Band-e Amir National Park In 2009, this site was declared the first protected National Park in the nation of Afghanistan. Found west of Kabul on the edge of the Hindu Kush mountain range, this set of brilliantly blue lakes owes its origin to geologic processes over the past 500 million years.

There are no highly-detailed geologic maps of this area due to ongoing conflict in the region, but general maps show that the surrounding rocks are lightly metamorphosed, Paleozoic aged sedimentary rocks – the same sort of rocks found in mountains all over this area. Hundreds of millions of years ago, the area between the supercontinent Gondwana and the continental slivers that would come together to make Asia was dominated by a tongue of the ocean known as the Tethys Seaway. The tropical edges of that seaway became places where thick sequences of limestone were deposited, creating rocks found today throughout southern and southeast Asia. About 60 million years ago, India began colliding with Asia, eventually pushing the ancient sedimentary rocks up into the mountains seen here. The forces of erosion then began to work, cutting canyons like this one into the ancient sediments. The last ingredient in these lakes is travertine, a form of calcium carbonate. As groundwater flowed through the ancient limestones, some of it dissolved. In the ground, a balance between the surrounding rocks and the chemistry of the water is maintained, but if the water moves out of the ground that balance is offset. These limestones have been fractured as a result of the mountain building, creating paths that water can flow through to create springs. When the water exits the ground from those springs, it enters the lake and the chemistry changes, causing the calcium carbonate to precipitate as travertine. This travertine has created dams that separate the six lakes and hold the water calm in these spots. Apparently this calm is occasionally disturbed as the local population uses the ample supply of grenades that have gone into Afghanistan in recent decades to fish, exploding them underwater and then gathering the fish killed by the shock. -JBB Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Afghanistan%27s_Grand_Canyon.jpg Reference: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/38311/band-e-amir-national-park-afghanistan http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8013017.stm

[secoyahmedicine]

Redwoods Poetry

I went to the Redwoods in Carbon Canyon Regional Park and was filled with rhymes.  The poems came, and I often didn’t even know where they were going until I’d written them all down.  Apologies for the lousy punctuation, I wrote it as I heard it, and haven’t edited it.

#1 Wind blows And throws Shadows From the trees Onto my knees Where before Only the core Of the trunk had I noticed. The branches play And the needles sway; I’m forced to smile At the shapes on the wood piles Beneath my feet That feel Mother’s heartbeat She inhales My exhales Drinking my poison I no longer feel frozen In fear of a past That no longer casts Such a large shadow on my life. The fire Is higher Within this planet I hadn’t Realized was so old. Perspective shifts I realize my gifts Aren’t for me alone So I go home To where the real me Sleeps. Wake up Good luck On a mission With permission To reveal Instead of conceal And fly Instead of hide Reach new heights Realizing my plights Were just branches On a tree That was me. A tree only dies There are no lies That’s why we can see All that they’ll be As they become What no one Else can decide Or inscribe, Totally free. Under attack There is no lack Of opposing forces Like horses Pulling away Where?  No one can say We don’t ask the right questions About our destination So we’ll never know Where we’ll go Until we get there It’s only fair. This wisdom comes at an age We can never gauge How long we’ll stay So we slay Al the demons we can With our bare hands We walk And we talk Because wind is not meant to stay In one place For too long. It’ll be gone For it would be wrong To tame a creature With such wild features Giving us all hope That even without soap We can wash All the ash From the fire As we tire From the fight We live As we give All that we have Making a salve To heal What we feel. Out of control In total Darkness with a light So bright At the end of a tunnel We squeeze through like a funnel Only to find A kind Of darkness That offers escape From the hate Of a world full of lessons Which lessens Our ignorance Of our insignificance And meaningfulness That transcends mindfulness Into a realm Where at the helm Is a being beyond comprehension That exists in a place of perpetual suspension Where it is only Black that fully Envelops and surrounds With deprivation of sounds You have found peace. For only when good and evil end Can we send What defends A way of life Full of strife To begin Again anew. In the beginning There is no finding For all is where You dare To display It cannot stray You know Where it goes Because you dreamed The light that gleams Where it is seen And who can enjoy Its coy And playful nature Which is greater Than anything you’ve known before. When the rules Aren’t cruel Because you designed And assigned Them that way We can say That life is a curve And justice has been served. The old creeps in So the new gives in To begin again What is familiar to us Until we trust We can do What we need to For us to survive And thrive Having brought Change that was bought With the blood, sweat, and tears Of our fears Of what we endured That couldn’t be cured Giving way to compassion That through our passion To love we finally find A sign That we have made A grave That we can be proud Of the crowd That celebrates our Every hour On the earth That gave birth To the final dream of our own truth That blew On a wind That was never Meant to be forever. The leaves blow The cold knows Where the heat greets We meet With causes unknown But at least we’ve grown To recognize How trees mesmerize Our eyes To the top of the tree Where I find simply, me.

#2 Unashamed And untamed I dream for Those who came before. My hair in a dance As I glance Toward the new wind Who is a friend To my skin. I let my hair grow Long again, because I know It will never become A weapon for someone To use against me In a tiny Box turned office. A little girl Unsure of the world Looking for answers From a man who instead is a cancer To her fine soul Her breath in a bowl Full of poison. She destroys Him at last from her mind Which ripples through the shrine That should have been her body. The crows Caw what they know In a language I learn So I can earn My place among the many faces Of my ancestors Who were resistors To the square Hole it is unfair To force our round Beings through without a sound Of complaint For the senseless hate We perceive for trying to liberate A society With no propriety For anything past the 5 Senses:  touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight. Interpreted by a mind Given to use to form ego Wherever we go To experience the wonder As we plunder Through a world full Of beings who see our soul and say null And void. This world destroyed The unbridled Potential I idled Toward as a child. With such little value I place on people who see you Without knowing What you’re showing Is a pain beckoning Beyond reckoning. I know I am better off Away from people who scoff At someone whose art Is to see with the eyes of her heart. The wisdom we share Is for people who care Enough to perpetuate Instead of retaliate Against a path Where you may crash Into your own knowing Like a car when it’s snowing, Because you insisted And persisted To keep using, Sometimes abusing, The eyes That lie In your skull Where your skillful mind Has been designed To overlook What it took In without meaning to. It is between the lines Where we find The treasures Of forever.

[ahermitswanderings]

Taken at Carbon Canyon Regional Park, California.

I had no idea before visiting this park, that we could see coastal redwoods without having to travel up North (8+ hours drive away). This redwood grove was so magical... and hidden (just how I like it). It was a great trip because we had a -lot- of rainfall compared to prior seasons and the grassy hills were looking lush and full and so green... it was a very blessed little walk. But then we saw these trees and were surprised they were so tall compared to the others near it.

Once we made it inside the grove... the trees were so dense and it was silent for a moment and then the wind blew...and we heard the trees' branches knocking against each other like a windchime. It was like the trees were talking directly to us.