Calaveras Big Trees State Park

An afternoon at Big Trees

Dear Reader, 

I am happy to report that Calaveras Big Trees State Park sits a scant three miles past the town of Arnold, California and is home to two groves of Giant Sequoias. I am delighted to tell you that ample, affordable, highway-close parking makes them the most accessible in the Sierras. I am elated to let you know that being a state park translates to remarkably less crows than one might find in a national park. I am overjoyed to let you know that all it took was a mild hike in the North Grove to awaken a curiosity in me that sent me to do some research on the ancient giants.  I am disturbed to let you know that my mood shifted with just a few clicks.  I was prepared to find out how vulnerable they were at the hands of humans at first discovery.  However, I was horrified to find out how precarious the relationship remains.  Thanks to the work of the Giant Sequoias Lands Coalition and the alarm bells they have been ringing, I found out things are not so rosy in the Sierras.  Putting it as simply as possible, the Sequoias may be looking at their last few summers on planet Earth if things do not change.

As the story goes, in the spring of 1852 backwoods hunter Augustus T. Dowd stumbled into an unfamiliar part of the forest as he was chasing down a wounded grizzly bear.  Expecting to locate his quarry, he was flabbergasted to instead find himself staring down a three-hundred foot Giant Sequoia.  Keep in mind, this tree was bigger than any person of European descent had ever seen.  Also keep in mind that people of European descent have a long track record of exploiting when they should have just been admiring.  And with that, inside of a year others had learned of Mr. Dowd’s discovery and descended on the grove to do what comes natural to them.  Today, the only thing left of that tree is a mammoth stump where that glorious sequoia should be.  Mercifully, only a few others in the grove suffered the same fate before people began to see the folly of their ways.  By 1931, the groves were integrated into what is now known as Calaveras Big Trees State Park.  This has protected them from being exploited and extracted.  However, their vulnerability because of human endeavors  is far from over.    

All that’s left of the Discovery Tree

Sequoias are capable of growing and reproducing in exactly one place on planet Earth, the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas.  It’s here that they have been able to achieve the distinction of being the largest living object on the planet, capable of growing to heights of three-hundred feet with a base diameter of thirty feet.  Part of their success in achieving three-thousand year life spans is because of their ability not just to withstand the occasional, naturally occurring forest fire but actually prosper because of it.  With a bark that is dramatically thicker than ordinary trees, Sequoias are able to maintain a supply of water to their crowns in the event of a low intensity burn.  They rely on the heat produced to get them to release their seeds.  With the understory of the forest floor cleared out by the occasional blaze, seedlings can establish themselves and bring about the next generation.  To call them anything but marvels of nature would be an understatement.  

Despite their tenacity, thanks to a perfect storm of well-meaning, but naive forest management compounded with a healthy dose of science denial, they are more vulnerable today than when Augustus T. Dowd wandered into the grove.  For the past one hundred years, the commonly accepted policy was to completely extinguish forest fires.  The idea being that by stopping small fires, trees would be protected. However, this approach has led to shocking levels of excess fuels that should have burned off naturally.  Compounding that, because of a willful ignorance towards human beings' role in climate change, hotter and longer periods of drought have become far too commonplace in California.  Because of the accumulation of dry, excessive fuels when fires do start, they are now supercharged and capable of burning the sequoia’s canopies.  This is something that would never have happened with a low intensity burn.  As it stands right now, the sequoias are just a few bad wildfire seasons away from being wiped off the face of the Sierras. Think this is just another situation where your dear narrator is catastrophizing?  It’s estimated that nineteen percent of sequoias are now nothing more than memories because of the 2020 and 2021 wildfire seasons.

Thankfully, the work to preserve the remaining trees has begun.  The Giant Sequoias Lands Coalition was formed in 2021 and brings together a number of organizations at the Federal, Tribal, State, and local levels in order to help preserve this unique ecosystem.  It is because of this coalition that the alarm bells are ringing and word is getting out about the Sequoias' plight.  According to the Giant Sequoias Lands Coalition’s 2022 progress report, they report to have overseen thinning efforts and prescribed burns on 36 out of 80 groves.  In addition, they have planted almost a quarter million trees of all varieties.  Public outreach has been a goal with more than 10,000 stories in both print and digital media.  I know for a fact if it weren't for their efforts, this is one person who would have been completely ignorant of the situation and would not be repeating the message.

Jacque considering a big tree

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

1170 CA-4

Arnold, California 95223

(209) 795-2334

Interested in helping the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition in their work?  They can use your help.

This post is based on a visit on June 13, 2022

Sources

A Guide to the North Grove Trail

The Giant Sequoias Lands Coalition

Giant Sequoias Face New Threats

Giant Sequoias Face Looming Threat from Shifting Climate Change

Meet the Giant Sequoia, the ‘Super Tree’ Built to Withstand Fire

Giant Sequoias Lands Coalition Gains Momentum

Save the Giant Sequioas

How Climate Change is Now Threatening the Survival of Fire-Adaptive Sequoia Trees

Wildfire Kills Unprecedented Numbers of Large Sequioa Trees

A Progress Report for Saving the Sequioa Trees 2022

The Last Bookstore

Dear Readers, 

It was with a sense of despair that I headed out to see The Last Bookstore with my own eyes.  While I hoped that the name was just a tongue-in-cheek take on the state of brick and mortar retail establishments, it would not surprise me at all if the actual last bookstore in the world closes its doors in my lifetime.  As bleak as that thought may be, I’ve already given in to the notion that it will happen. While there are some who would say that no one reads anymore, I feel like convenience is the rocket fuel hastening the end of an era.  Thanks to Amazon and its lightning quick delivery, a physical copy of a book is only a click away.  It’s even faster if a person is using an e-reader. When that dark day comes, there will be good reason why The Last Bookstore will be the final retailer to soap its windows and thank its customers for their years of loyal patronage.

The Last Bookstore also employs the last sign painter.

Some folks think heaven may look like this place.

It has everything to do with the design the proprietors have taken with The Last Bookstore. Housed in a former bank building in downtown Los Angeles, they have integrated several features of its former self.  Laying eyes on the soaring columns and repurposed vault are reason enough to come and gander.  However, that was not what brought me in this Saturday morning.  Like most everyone else here, I had been drawn in by the book sculptures and the images I had seen online.  Flying books, a book tunnel, as well as a portal made out of books have all helped establish the store’s eternal presence on Instagram.  Without spending a dime of their marketing budget, The Last Bookstore is able to get endless advertising by people like myself taking and sharing photos.

You’ve seen the pictures before. Just not with my kids.

Book tunnel with my kids . . .

And of course, the book portal. With my kids . . .

Opportunities for selfies aside, I would consider this a first-rate bookstore.   The Last Bookstore offers up both new and used books housed in over twenty-two thousand square feet.  According to its website, that makes it the largest in California.  The inventory is spread out over two stories and into an annex next door.  Understanding that finding a proper book is a leisurely affair, interspersed throughout the store are places to sit comfortably so customers can thumb through a selection before making a purchase.  Their formula worked in my case.   After putting eyes on the book portal deep in the twists and turns of the second floor, I was left to wander through the store at my own pace.  As any mildly literate person can attest to, it’s impossible to move through stacks of books without picking up and skimming through a couple.  And with that, I was able to get the photos I was looking for and ended up leaving with a copy of Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon. 

Plenty of space to browse and diddle on phones.

Never judge a book by its cover. Unless you’re an interior designer. In that case, The Last Bookstore has you covered.

I am happy to report that I was not the only person who fell under the spell of The Last Bookstore.  Early on a Saturday morning, the place was full of the curious and those who came to browse.  The business was brisk as people chose to be here instead of lining up for brunch.  To my relief, it appears that the end of bookstores has been averted, at least for now.  

I get a little bit of nostalgia when I see people waiting on line to make a purchase.

The Last Bookstore

435 South Spring Street

Los Angeles, California 90013

213 488-0599

What does one do with an old vault?

Looking for some other unique experiences that Los Angeles has to offer? How about a ride on a funicular at Angel’s Flight? Or, what about a puppet show with The Bob Baker Marionette Theater?

This post is based on a visit made on June 4, 2022

EddieWorld

Dear Reader, 

For this latest installment of Animated Meat, I feel the need to provide a warning to travelers whose wanderings may take them through the heart of the Mojave Desert.  This entry will not serve as a reminder to prepare for the obvious threats one may encounter in a harsh and unforgiving environment.  Readers of this fair periodical are a cerebral bunch, so it’s safe to assume they have the wisdom to pack plenty of  sunblock and extra water.  Nor will this be an attempt to caution you about the poisonous snakes who call the burning wasteland home. You already know that critters such as the Western Diamond Rattlesnake just want to be left alone.  No, this dispatch is to let you know about something entirely different that has grown out a wide open stretch between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.  Hugging the shoulder of Interstate 15 sits EddieWorld, an unbelievably well appointed gas station that has something for everyone.  And if you’re not careful, it may become your family’s next great travel tradition, just as it is now ours.

Plenty of light and space. And candy. Plenty of that, too.

EddieWorld proudly distinguishes itself from the barren landscape it inhabits with a six-story ice cream hugging the side of Interstate 15.  Who wouldn’t be tempted to satisfy a sense of curiosity by using a need to refill as an excuse?  The good lord knows that I did.  Billing itself as California’s largest gas station, EddieWorld offers up twenty-six fueling islands, assuring as little delay as possible to those itching to get back on the road. However, the minds behind EddieWorld do not hang their ambitions on gasoline sales alone.  With a nod to the future, they also offer up eighteen electric vehicle charging stations.   With the most affordable fuel on the trip to Las Vegas, they have all but guaranteed I won’t stop in Barstow anymore.  But the attraction does not end there. 

I make it a habit not to take pictures in a restroom. Trust me. They’re worth the stop.

Inside, EddieWorld offers up the pinnacle of what public restrooms should be and serves as an example of how a business should treat customers.  Forget about the horrors you have experienced looking for relief at a ramshackle gas station.  Never is there a line for one shabby toilet, nor is there ever a mess to be found. With Las Vegas as the final destination for many, there must be thousands of visitors a day looking for relief.  However, these spotless restrooms belie their persistent use.   Aside from being clean, an added feature I never knew that I wanted until I arrived here are the floor-to-ceiling partitions on the stalls.  

Funko Pops would not have the empire they do without impulse buys.

Affordable gasoline and spotless facilities are only the beginning of EddieWorld’s attraction.  The variety of dining options may well be the thing that calls to your soul.  If you’re looking for something made to order, they have you covered.  As one familiar with interstate highway travel would expect, burgers and chicken tenders are available.  However, the menu is staggeringly expansive and offers everything from pizza and salads, to sushi rolls .  If the siren’s song of Sin City is too strong for you to stay and eat, plan on finding something resembling sustenance in the rows of candy and jerky before you get back on the road.

The reason why we stopped.

However, what draws us here time and again is the well-stocked selection of Beanie Boos.  If you’re uninitiated, Beanie Boos are wide eyed collectible plushies that are convenient souvenirs both in their size and their price.  At about six dollars each, a couple of these always manage to join our caravan before we head back out on the road.  Thankfully, our adventures rarely draw us north on the 15.  Considering all that EddieWorld has to offer those who frequent Las Vegas or points northward, this could get to be an expensive proposition.

EddieWorld

36017 Calico Road

Yermo, California 92398

760 441-7993

Looking for some other unique roadside attractions? Next time you’re in Oregon, head to Prehistoric Gardens. In California, take a look at Bunnyhenge.

This post is based on a visit made on July 11, 2021

One more reason to stop - Laker memorabilia

Prehistoric Gardens

Are you ready for a painfully obvious statement?  Summer vacations with one’s family are for putting troubles away and having an adventure while the weather is agreeable.  However, nothing about 2021 was normal.  With just six days into the new year, the Covid-weary world witnessed an insurrection at the United States Capitol building. Things failed to improve from there.  Two long awaited vaccines hit the market in the spring, and with them came the promise of a reopening world.  That is  until the fools who cheered on the coup attempts asserted their willful ignorance and refused to take their medicine. It seemed like our troubles were with us and multiplying faster than a barn full of feral cats.   And so it was with thoughts of the imminent collapse of the American empire in mind that I turned off the 101 and into Prehistoric Gardens, a much needed break from modernity, courtesy of the late E.V. Nelson.   

Dyatrima - Never heard of this one before Prehistoric Gardens.

He may be covered in armor, but he looks so friendly.

Who knows how long the dream had actually been with him? However, it was in 1955 that E.V. Nelson shed a successful career as an accountant and devoted himself to his passion project; building life-sized dinosaurs out of steel and concrete.  Midway between Gold Beach and Port Orford is where he bought a few acres of old growth rainforest and devoted the next thirty years bringing his creations to life. While he was no paleontologist, he was an enthusiast who based his creatures’ shapes and sizes off of fossils displayed at natural history museums.  Their bold colors were his own artistic choice.  His gift to the world were twenty-three life-sized dinosaurs placed along a gravel trail that twists and wanders among trees, mosses and ferns.  His accomplishment was no small feat considering that this microclimate receives six to ten feet of rain a year, guaranteeing whoever owns Prehistoric Gardens constant maintenance as they continue to keep Mr. Nelson’s vision exactly as it was in 1955.   

With windshield wipers tapping on a rainswept June morning, we arrived at Prehistoric Gardens and were welcomed into the parking lot by a vibrant Tyrannosaurus Rex and Brachiosaurus.  Those two beasts were exactly what my pandemic-fatigued spirit needed as my mood began to shift. Afterall, it’s hard to be glum when there are dinosaurs to behold.  My kids were in complete agreement as they piled out of the car.  Rain or not, there were prehistoric creatures waiting for us.  After paying our admission, we slipped away to a bygone era that knew nothing of man.  Armed with umbrellas and paper maps, my kids led us through the dripping wet forest as each turn revealed a carefully stationed reptile.  The only thing dividing us from the passing traffic up and down the highway was a redwood fence.  Yet, in this wonderful oasis of make-believe, we couldn’t be further from the outside world. And so, it was here the earth was repopulated with dinosaurs, thanks to the collective imagination of the late E.V. Nelson and two kids.

During the summer, Prehistoric Gardens is open from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm.  The hours vary during different seasons, so call ahead at (541) 332-4463 before making the trip.  While there is an admission, it is a fairly non-commercial affair.   There are no animatronic dinosaurs with latex skins or virtual reality experiences. The exit is next to, and not through, the gift shop.  

 Prehistoric Gardens sits along the Southern Oregon coast, waiting to welcome visitors in as they pass north or south on the 101.  

We took this one on the way in. Thanks for playing along.

Prehistoric Gardens

36848 US-101

Port Orford, Oregon 97465

(541) 332-4463

This post is based on a visit to Prehistoric Gardens on June 13, 2021

Looking for something whimsical? When in Southern California, visit the Bob Baker Marionette Theater or M and M Nursery.

Glass Beach

Dear Reader, 

I had every intention of writing a glowing review of Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California.  It’s a place so unique that I actually decided to cover it again after gushing over it once before on Animated Meat.  So, if you’d like to read an uplifting piece about one of California’s coastal wonders, I’d recommend looking at the one on California Through My Lens.  Just skip over my words and take a look at my pictures.  After that, load your kids in the car and head two hours north of San Francisco to take a look at it yourself.  

I’ll see you all over at the Prehistoric Garden entry.

Peace and love to you all, 

Ed

* * *

You’re still there?  You’ve been warned.  What follows is your constant companion venting his spleen, making several heroic leaps in logic, and a little bit of catastrophizing after a very raw year in isolation.  The target of the rant is a variety of the population who has been holding America back for far too long.  Here goes:

Like many of you, we spent the majority of 2020 and the first half of 2021 staying socially distanced and in our own bubbles.  We had drive-through birthdays for the kids.  We checked in with loved ones through Zoom calls.  We wore masks when it was time to leave the silo.  In other words, we made sacrifices.  Why? Despite our faults and flaws it was because we’re raising our kids to be considerate and to think about others.  The best way for us to help the overburdened healthcare workers was to keep ourselves out of the hospital.

As history will evidence, part of the reason why all of us were stuck in one place for so long is because the selfish people of the world didn’t see it the same way.  They couldn’t be inconvenienced by the truth and refused to follow simple guidelines.  As a result, the pandemic wore on as it wore all of us down.

Which brings us to June of 2021.  Freshly vaccinated and ready to ease back into the world, we decided to drive north and take the kids to have some experiences they missed out on for over a year.  That brought us to Fort Bragg and the marvelous Glass Beach.

When I was planning the trip, I envisioned my kids’ delight at seeing the stony shore littered with ground down pieces of colored glass.  I dreamt of them making memories of the tide pools embedded with ceramic spark plugs and glass resistors.   After a long, hard year of isolation, they’d get a chance to witness the tide pools, seeing the anemones, holding just as fast to the rocks as the persistent pieces of a Buick.  

I’m happy to say that it’s something that they got to experience it and I hope other people get a chance to do as well.

The beach is filled with the curious.  They’ve come to see anomalies, maybe to take a picture with a handful of a beach like none other.  They leave what they’ve found for others to enjoy after a few posts on Instagram.  They aren’t the threat.  They have a sense of stewardship about the place and leave it as they found it.

The problem is the collectors.  Despite the signs, despite the countless others doing the right thing, there they are.  They sit on the shore shuffling through the glass.  When they find something that passes their standards, they throw it in a bucket and take it home.  Maybe it gets worked into a piece of jewelry or a mosaic. More than likely, it gets forgotten about and ends up sitting in the garage with all the other forgotten souvenirs.  Seeing them go about their business as brazenly as they do is like a kick to the ribs.  Glass Beach is one step closer to becoming Used to be Covered with Glass Beach with every bucketful.  It’s a selfish act that robs future people.

Are the people who refused to think about others during the pandemic the same ones who go and collect glass?  There is no way to be certain.  However, I can’t help but think that both groups of people approach life with the same level of selfishness.  They don’t care about you or I.  They put themselves and their own interests first and the hell with everyone else.

Glass Beach

Elm Street & Old Haul Road

Fort Bragg, California 95437

Looking for somewhere to eat in Fort Bragg? I can’t say enough wonderful things about Princess Seafood. Looking for other adventures while it town? Head on over to the Skunk Train Railbikes. Interested in other attractions made from junk? When in Riverside, visit Tito’s Tacos.

This post is based on a visit to Glass Beach on June 13, 2021.