Redwoods are not the biggest or the oldest but everywhere you go the Americans will have you believe that there is something record breaking about their surrounding. Like the worlds largest sea cave that we visited for a pricely $12. There were plently of picture of sea lions (do you know what the difference is between seals & sea lions?) in the cave and they were quick to tell you the sea lions would not be in the cave. But everyone headed on down there to find the biggest sea cave - no sea lions and a lot of disappointment. Because we were sceptical CT stayed in the car and when we came up he had found all the sea lions 1/2 mile up the coast bobbing around in the water!

Anyway back to the Redwoods - not the biggest or the tallest or the oldest - but pretty amazing nevertheless. We spent 2 days climbing and walking around them - great fun. They survive for so long because the bark is so thick and they become immune to forrest fire because they are so big. Many had burnt up the middle but were still standing because they sprount new trees that use the existing root system, or they grow new trees around in a circle with the oldest tree dormant in the middle.

We had been looking forward to the California coast being warm and lazy, but arrived from 2 miles inland where it was sunny to find fog, low cloud, mist and precipitation. We pitched under trees (as we were in the forrest) and found that the tent already wet did not dry for 2 days. Eventually CT mopped it dry with kitchen roll and we took down the inners to see if we could wash them (previously referred to as the caves!)