Covering the Bald Hills with OLLI

On Saturday, June 19, 2010, we joined some 30 OLLI members who signed up for a field trip in to the Bald Hills area of the Redwood National Park. This Humboldt County area is reputed to have sweeping vistas of grassland accented by oak and fir forests forming the ridgeline above the famed Redwood Creek. Leaders of this trek were Jerry and Gisela Rohde and Jim Wheeler (no relation) of the National Parks. Their research, knowledge and expertise greatly added to the learning experience of the day.
Clicking on the title above will take you to a Picasa Album of 22 more photos of our day.




We were welcomed by Judith Wilson, the current resident and owner of this once noted stage stop and sheep ranch: the Tomlinson Ranch. This relatively recent refugee of city life, is enjoying living her dream of peace, hard work and satisfying lifestyle at the remote hillside.




At the Lyon Home Place there was a lovely sheep barn whose stout construction, geometric angles, and shadows with certain slants of light have lots of tales to tell. Throughout the tour we were treated to stories of the lives of these pioneer families and their relationship with the first people as well as the hardships and benefits of the land.