“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.” — Kahhil Gibran
Looking up through the redwoods. — Photo by scrubhiker/flickr/cc
Fallen Memories
I remember driving across Route 66 in the early 1950s in a brand new Oldsmobile that my uncle pushed to go 100 mph across the little-traveled desert scenery. I was along for the ride – from Texas to California – as baby-sitter for my baby cousin. I was about 12, and it was my first road trip.
sequoia Tunnel Tree
The trip expanded my wanderlust from a dream to a passion that is still pricking at my footsteps. The destination for that long ago journey was Sequoia National Park, and when we reached it, one of the things we did was drive through the Sequoia Tunnel Tree. It was an awesome experience, although I later learned that someday such carnage against the tree would shorten its life span.
And it did.
That huge old Sequoia, which fascinated me over 60 years ago, was toppled Sunday during a storm. The tree was estimated to have been about 1,000 years old when the tunnel was carved through it 130 years ago, an action taken to attract tourists. And, while the tree lasted longer than expected after it was wounded, the life span of a redwood can top 3,000 years.
On reading about the Tunnel Tree’s downfall, I felt as if I, and the world, had lost a part of its soul, but my mind’s eye suddenly focused on all the redwoods I’ve encountered in my lifetime. My insatiable wanderlust has taken me among these California monuments to Mother Nature many times, each time making me more thankful for life.
And the aftermath.
The linking of the redwoods’ roots, which spread out instead of going deep, speak to me of community, of support for one another that we humans should emulate.
I’m not sure I have ever felt more peaceful than when I hiked among the redwoods.. I feel grieved about the death of the Sequoia Tunnel Tree, but at the same time thankful that the downfall brought memories of my walks among the redwoods to mind. I especially remember the day, when I couldn’t get a good photo of the trees because they were too large. Instead, I simply lay down on the forest floor and looked up through the canopy of about a dozen of Mother Nature’s giants.
I felt small, but connected to the planet. It’s a good memory.
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Bean Pat: Forest Garden http://tinyurl.com/z9egrkv Following the winter sun.
Pat Bean's blog 
Pat, I join you in deep sadness for the loss of this beautiful tree, and all of the other trees felled before their time on account of human foolishness. Beyond their beauty, they are the lungs of our planet. They feed and shelter such diverse life. But mostly, great old trees such as these remind us of the grand sweep of time- that they have seniority on the planet. They are our elders, our ancestors in a way; and our heartfelt response to them should be love. I am happy knowing you have spent time among them. ❤ ❤ ❤ WG
Thank you woodlandgnome. You expressed some of my thoughts beautifully.
Tunnel tree!!? Wow. That’s something I see for the first time. Except Scooby Doo!
Let’s hope, Pat, that nature will – in the end – triumph over human foolishness,
Pit
Ditto what you said Pit.
Wow, that tree was beautiful, sad that it could not have lived for the hundreds upon hundreds of years that could have been possible. Just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Real Neat Blog Award (details on my site)!! I love the topics that you post about and you’re site has a wonderful layout!! Thanks 🙂