We took our new trail, temporarily named "Oxford Trail", all the way up the mountain on Saturday. It is an exquisite walk! The creek was slightly less full, after a few days of sunshine, but the leaves and ferns and wild flowers were further along in their rebirthing process.







We went up through the bay laurel forest into a magical redwood glen. The big trees were probably logged 30 (or more) years ago, judging from the size of the trees there now. They grow grouped in big circles around the phantom trunk, which has long disintegrated. We stood inside those circles of trees, gazing up into the branches. The smells and sounds of a redwood glen are a hallmarks of a distinctive California experience. The trail becomes so soft underfoot, and the sweet musty air is filled with dusty motes.



Up at the top of the trail, where it seems to deadend, there is a rope swing tied to a madrone tree, tempting brave hikers to hop aboard and swing out into the redwood glen, hollering at the top of their lungs. This time, we didn't take the challenge, not wanting to fill the area with our noise or the blood incurred from any consequental injuries. There was a mushroom mural painted on the tree next to the swing, and on the hike back down, I found the real thing.

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