Thursday, October 11, 2012

a postcard to you

hello from northern california! we have been traveling to celebrate this


we visited an ancient bristlecone pine forest in the white mountains of california



pinus longaeva, the oldest known tree species in the world. there is a tree living here that is nearly five thousand years old




i made a friend with this bristlecone. although there was a light dusting of snow on the ground, when i sat at these roots, to knit a while, i felt warmth. this tree was vibrating, it was. like prue in wildwood, i felt i might  hear it speak


knit love


celebrating




mr. and mrs.


these are the female flowers called catkins, or cones



and these are male


a magical place, this ancient forest. the snow began to melt and we had to be on our way


someone else we saw on white mountain


the long road back down. in the far distance is the sierra nevada mountain range, we're headed there next


we drove the tioga pass through yosemite...to...


san francisco




where we found a vacancy on lombard street. after a walk in the rain and a late dinner, we fell asleep to the sounds of the city


this morning we left via


the golden gate bridge



we stopped in stintson beach, marin county, for breakfast


it was blustery cold out, so we sat near the stove. lovely husband, warm food, latte, crackling fire and knitting = bliss


continuing north, we went to the windiest place on the pacific coast, point reyes


and climbed three hundred and something stairs down to see the point reyes lighthouse



here it is, point reyes lighthouse, built in 1870. it really was windy, and spectacular, and i think our favorite lighthouse in california


there were over three hundred steps to climb back up, i only have two hundred and eighty more to go


the windiest place creates bendy trees


and further north, after being charmed by every small town (population 300 or under, or much less) along the way, we saw another lighthouse, point arena



and finally, we've arrived!


mendocino, very grateful and happy to be here.
xxx lori


35 comments:

  1. So lovely! Happy anniversary <3
    One of my oldest friends lives in SF, and one of the dearest people I met during our time in Singapore now lives in Marin County, so I long to go back to the Bay Area one day. Sigh.

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  2. thanks for the postcard Lori and happy happy anniversary...wow it only seems like a second ago when you were celebrating your last one...time flies so fast.

    There are so many beautiful things to take in, the bark of the tree, the lovely old light house...sierra nevada...and we can see the reindeer in your knitting now...


    ...hope you both enjoy the rest of your trip.
    deb

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  3. Happy Anniversary Lori!!!!
    The places you've visited are beautiful!! Thank you for the postcard
    xxx Alessandra

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  4. Lori, over the years i've so much loved visiting your blog now and again. :-)

    each visit is a new experience, i leave full of the wonder of life, yes its a vicarious experience, but i am SO appreciative. thank you, and your family so much. thank you.

    as always your images, their sequence and your narrative add up to a feeling of being along for the ride. :-) yay!
    ..
    .ero
    .

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  5. oh. how rude of me, Happy Anniversary!

    ..
    .ero
    .

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  6. Absolutely gorgeous photos as always, and your knitting looks beautiful. Happy Anniversary!

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  7. WOW! I wish I could stowaway in your trunk! You've convinced me (no arm twisting required) that hubby and I have to make a trip to California. those ancient trees are breathtaking - sacred. And most importantly, happy anniversary to you and Chuck. It appears to be a union of hearts. : )

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  8. Happy Anniversary Lori and Chuck. What a romantic get away! Those trees are stunning.
    Enjoy the rest of your trip.

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  9. thanks for the postcard! you take us along with you with your great photographs!
    happy anniversary!!

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  10. I thought this was your anniversary month, happy anniversary to you and your Chuck!
    It looks like you both are having a fantastic time and seeing such amazing sites.
    I am speechless about those trees in your top photos and can not wait to show Mike, they really are something. Have a fun and safe time Lori.

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  11. It looks like you are having a spectacular time! Those trees were just stunning!

    Happy anniversary to you! We celebrate ours on halloween. (:

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  12. Those trees are spectacular! I love the photo of the trees hugging the road, very poetic! Happy anniversary and many many more :)

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  13. Happy Anniversary!!! What a spectacular place to visit, the trees are just stunning!

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  14. Our best ever holiday was driving from San Fran down to LA - so seeing this (in reverse) has many good memories. Yosemite was awesome :0

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  15. You go on the most fabulous adventures! Your pictures are stunning as always and I'm glad to see you knitting so much. I still can't make out what kind of animals are going to appear.

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  16. Happy Anniversary!
    What a wonderful trip, thanks for sharing such great photos.

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  17. stunning. those bristle cone pine tree pictures are just breath taking. the kids and i were just learning about them. thank you so much.

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  18. dear lori, happy anniversary to you and your husband!
    your pictures makes me want to go to california even more each time i look at your blog!
    funny enough we where talking about it some time ago,that we want to visit the west coast of the usa some day - just have to save some money first;-)
    I really enjoy your blog!
    karin-ida

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  19. Oh, Lori, first...what a lovely couple you make. And thanks for sharing that moment ~ a beautiful glimpse into your special day! You know I cycled the Pacific coastline so some of those photos were really a visit to my trip, thank you. But who on earth beat you to your first destination to paint all those lovely trees for you? Unbelievable...a new destination at the top of my list! What a travel blog this is, plus knitting...wonderful (just like you)!
    xo Jules

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  20. as always, your photos leave me breathless! happy anniversary!!! wonderful trip.

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  21. What a beautiful way to celebrate your love. Happy anniversary!

    Can I say you look so beautiful sitting under that tree.. (and I loved seeing that little video of your wedding)

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  22. Happy anniversary ! We visited all the same beautiful places twice when we were visiting Ida, so I really want to go there again even though Ida is living in Denmark now.

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  23. Happy Anniversary Lori & Chuck ♥
    Point Reyes Lighthouse looks gorgeous! My husband & I have a "thing" for lighthouses too :-) & spent a day along the shores of Georgian Bay & Lake Huron lighthouse watching. We also share the same Anniversary date ♥ we're celebrating our 29th on the 29th xo

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  24. i love how you two celebrate!

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  25. Aww happy anniversary you two. What a lovely way to celebrate. Your journeys are so special. Just love reading about them xxx

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  26. We are travelling right now, too! ♥ Canada...and also had a bit of snow today, the first we've seen in months!!! I hope next year when we visit California we will go to Yosemite and the Point Reyes lighthouse....I love those bendy trees.

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  27. What a way to celebrate, beautiful. Enjoy! Happy Anniversary.

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  28. Oo I love those bendy trees!

    Happy anniversary to you and Chuck!

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  29. We did that drive when we lived in California back in the 80s--so long ago and I wish I was in the backseat of your car on your trip. I'm longing for a good trip after seeing your photos, but alas, it will have to wait until spring. I am heading to Ohio to see my grandson on the 30th and then onto the east coast to see my granddaughter for a few days which will get me through the winter until we can take some real time:-D

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  30. Congratulations to both of you, and thanks for giving us a peek at your lovely trip. The bristlecone pines are gorgeous!

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  31. Oh my God. The most beautiful tree ever. I am so envious. I also want to sit under that tree and knit :)

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  32. Wow what a nice trip you have laid out to celebrate :)
    Wonderful pictures of wonderful places
    happy anniversary and have a great weekend :)

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  33. Congratulations! You had a wonderful trip; thank you for sharing it with us! Most beautiful photos and places! That is a macic tree! First photo is like an oil painting! x Teje

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  34. I am enthralled and enchanted and out of breath. And I didn't even climb thirty stories. The twisty, stripey bark is incredible! And your knitting is gorgeous!

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  35. That pine tree, I want to touch it. To gaze at it. To share secrets with it. Such a magnificent being it is. And the bendy trees, well they just look like a fun lot to be around!

    So beautiful, Lori.

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xoxo lori