after walking for a bit, we encountered a lookout-ledge-thingie overlooking a ravine with a little water stream down it. here is some of the pretty foliage (and jenny's head):
and here is cute jenny standing against the rails there:
soon, this is what we saw to our left as we hiked along the trail:
this is jenny feelin' the love with a gigantic rock:
incidentally, she ROCKS! (...ok, i'm aware of my cheesiness)
and here is my favorite one. we stopped and sat on a boulder for a while and talked and took in the scenery. at one point, i took a picture of our feet against the spectacular verdant background:
oh, i mean actually i took that when we were floating around in the air above the valley. well, we certainly wanted to, at least...
the observations:
acoustics of the forest and how very quiet it is there... falcons circling and soaring... the sound of thousands of leaves rustling together in the gentle breeze... the undulating layers of miles of hills, untouched as if we were looking accross the valley 500 years ago... madrone branches look like poured milk, look like skin... manzanita bark looks like blood flowing down an arm... smooth, beautiful wood... late afternoon sun pouring through the leaves of the trees like liquid gold... the eerie red fire glow of the setting sun upon the woods... oh, and when skipping it is impossible not to giggle.
jenny's the best company. it was all quite lovely.