The main event was a picnic and steam train ride at Roaring Camp in Felton. We ate the picnic with sandwiches from Gayle's Bakery, and played while waiting for our ride. There were so many of us that we received a special welcome and our own car. The train went through the redwoods and sequoias of their 160-acre park. The tree in the middle of the last picture was 300 feet tall, the tallest in the park. Don told us that redwood was the most expensive lumber, and the train conductor pointed out a single tree worth $3M! The total value of the lumber on their land was estimated at $1B.
We stopped half-way to see some ancient trees. Gettting there required the train to go up a hill and then backwards at full steam to reach a plateau. One area was called The Cathedral. The Grandmother tree was more than 2000 years old. In her 800s she gave birth to the ring of trees that surrounded her roots after she was gone, and her children gave birth to another generation of sapplings in an outer concentric circle.
It was a relaxing trip, if a bit chilly. We huddled together for warmth and hide and seek. Since none of the NorCals had taken jobs at Dot Coms, they were still employed and had to return to jobs after the train ride.
