08 May, 2006 (Monday) San Francisco

'Seeing so much natural beauty, do you think that you can become desensitised to it? Immune to that feeling of wonder and appreciation of seeing another natural phenomena, of discovering a new place undisturbed by human intervention?'

Summary: Exit San Francisco. Sausolito. Muir woods.

On our way
Leaving San Francisco we visited the little sea side village of Sausolito, a tourist favourite. It was quiet in the main market, and as we wandered the streets and piers we just enjoyed the quiet. (Picture: Sausolito wharf)

We spent 2 hours wandering the wooded depths of Muir Wood. A national park, it harbours some of the oldest redwoods in the world, comparable to Tasmania. The towering trees were amazing, but as we reached the upper edges of the walk the humid heat beat upon us. It was almost a relief to get back to the shaded paths below.

We drove into Santa Barbara in late evening, getting lost in the back streets in the dark. On first drive-through it seems like a nice kind of place. Lots of preppy looking, brand-named kids wandering down. Feels like a university town. (Picture: Muir Woods - big big trees)