Our last full day in the USA with Guy and Donna. The morning was spent packing - trying to get everything back in the suitcases - why do we travel with so much stuff? After a bite of lunch, Guy took us in his truck to Armstrong Woods near Guerneville - about 45 minutes up the road from Occidental.
This wild life area was donated by the Armstrong family to the state early in the 20th century as an unspoilt area of protected redwoods. This is a lovely area of rolling hills and deep woods and on a sunny afternoon - as it was that day - difficult to choose somewhere better.
Guy drove us up a very narrow track that wound up & up ending in a spectacular view across Sonoma County where we sat in the sun & generally chilled. It was glorious. We eventually drove back down into the Forest to see the Colonel Armstrong Tree. This enormous Redwood is more than 1500 years old. Some of the Redwoods further north in California date back to the time the Pyramids were built. No wonder the Americans use the word 'awesome' so much. These lofty giants have to be seen to be believed.
We decided to eat out as it was our last evening and went to a good restaurant we knew of in the village of Graton which is near Forestville. We had a superb meal and all ate too much!