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September 25th 2006:


Tolowa

A beautiful sunset on the Pacific ocean seen from our hotel room
Our last day in Oregon was nothing short of a race for the California border! We entered California with high hopes of finding great spots to sleep amongst the Red woods... but night came faster than we expected, leaving us still homeless and quite a way away from the nearest campsite. Luck however decided to smile upon us as a small truck stopped in front of us and the man inside offered us shelter for the night.

The hotel
He lead us to an Indian reserve where we met the kindest people imaginable. They gave us five stars tent accommodations underneath the giant Redwoods. The same trees they are valiantly defending from their neighbors who want to cut them down and build condos.

Happy, the chief of the tribe explained to us that his ancestors bought this land some 100 years ago and that he was currently celebrating his 50th anniversary. The land had thus been his for half a century.

In the morning, we were awakened with the mouth-watering aroma of fried potatoes and fresh salsa. You can't possibly imagine the bliss of waking up to a warm breakfast without needing to freeze for 15 minutes to get breakfast ready on a stove. Also, we got a guided tour of the land. Before leaving though, we were entrusted with a mission. Haissa gave us two necklaces to wear that proudly announce that we are friends of the Tolowa tribe in the Redwoods. Also, we were given a pendent to trade with another tribe further down south. The beads were made from the earth where the Tolowa lived over a 100 years ago until a large massacre occurred, which his grandmother barely survived. The red beads represent the blood of the Indians that were killed and the white beads represent the bones.

Our communal potluck at the hotel with Takuya, Ryan and Joey
At this very moment we are in a hotel for the night amongst the giant Sequoia of the Redwoods… In a couple of hours we will be surrounded by the Redwoods…I'll show you pictures soon enough.