Of midgets and giants...

The rains subsided just in time for a day back in time.
We took the road out to the farthest post west of Sooke known as Port Renfrew.
A drive across the lovely Gordon river (not to be confused with Jordan river close by)

This wooden bridge, feeling a little suspect...we try not to think of the heavier logging trucks which still use it as well and take a deep breath for the crossing...

Our destination has been nick named Avatar Grove.
The trail, marked only by some coloured flag tape on the side of the road, took us into the mossy woods.
Miners claims mark some of the trails, for there's still gold to be found in them thar hills...

Have you ever wondered what lies deep in the forests of Vancouver Island?
Bears, cougars, elk...the 4 legged giants of the woods.
Voles, mice, winter wrens...the tiny ones in the moss.
And then there they stand!

The giants of the plant kingdom.

And there we stand...midgets beneath their girth...

These trees are from an ancient time...
Survived for almost a thousand years...

Unlike the minuscule life at my feet which only lives for a few days.

Through the Spanish moss we traipse in awe of the quiet beauty these woods possess.

...and secrets of hundreds of years of life on earth.

Other strange growth creeps along the ground...

Then, as if saving itself for us...the last tree at the end of the trail...

A cedar who's belt would be 34 feet in diameter.

Giving us glimpses of where the elves and fairies live...

How can you not feel good sitting under this monster?

On a sad note, these trees are targeted to be cut down.
The logging company has already been in to mark them as well as to mark where the roads will go to bring in the trucks to haul them away.
I can't even describe my disbelief that this can happen in this day and age.
If one were to find, say, an ancient Egyptian tablet, or perhaps some dinosaur bones, this would be news.
It would be something to be saved and treasured.
So why are these trees any different?
In fact they are the lungs of the earth.
They are keeping this sick planet going.
If you want to know more and to help by signing a petition, go here...
After our walk with the Big ones, we went down to the beach at Port Renfrew...

This wild, west coast beach is always strewn with leftovers from the logging industry...

you can walk up and down for hours on the sandy beach...

Find a little shelter from the wind to have some lunch...

There are a dozen or so of these made by campers and hikers of the West Coast Trail.

It was our shack for the remainder of the day...

Reflecting on what we had been witness to...

Hoping that the voice of reason will save these giants...