The Upper Main Line Y

Growing up near Philadelphia, I lived in an area called the Upper Main Line, which refers to the "Main Line" of the Pennsylvania Railroads, which ran parallel to Route 30, aka Lancaster Avenue. One of the jewels of this area was the Upper Main Line YMCA, which was built around the 1908 Cassatt Mansion.

Out for a walk one day when home last month, I decided to take the back route to the "Y." As a child, I have many happy memories of this wooded area where I attended summer camp, played Capture the Flag, and also participated in Indian Guides.



The beauty of this area still remains; it was wonderful to leisurely stroll through the paths that I had romped through some 40 years ago.



Once through the wooded area, the Cassatt Mansion becomes visible, still impressive in its ornately detailed style. The modern YMCA facilities that have been tacked on around it make me cringe, but I am still grateful that the historic Mansion has been able to survive.





I recall racing through the interior of the Mansion, whose once grand rooms were converted into classrooms.







What a change from the Southern California landscape I have become accustomed to over the last 15 years. Being completely surrounded by these majestic trees gave me a welcome feeling of peace and tranquility.



And then my allergies kicked in. Oops. Forgot about those. I guess every Eden has its drawbacks!

See more Daveland Upper Main Line photos at my main website.

The Majesty of the Redwoods

I'm not really a numbers person. Telling me that a tree is 16' in diameter and 250' in height might elicit a programmed, "Oh wow!" but there really won't be any recognition of what that actually means.

Seeing and experiencing them in person is an entirely different story. Walking through the Armstrong Woods National State Park by myself (with camera in hand, of course!) was a day that will always linger with me.



Besides the redwoods themselves, it was wonderful to be walking through a forest, experiencing a type of nature that you rarely can experience in Southern California. The way the moss covered some of the fallen trees made them appear to be alive, as if they were some previously undiscovered mysterious green creature.



At first glance, this collection of roots startled me, as I mistook it for a snake.



A cross-section of a redwood was on display, putting the age of the trees in perspective. They've witnessed a lot of history.



Guerneville may have been hot and muggy, but the canopy of trees provided cool shade.



There were lots of different hiking trails that blended in perfectly without seeming to be too invasive.



Looking up, it would be easy to get dizzy when viewing the tops of the trees.



Hiking up to the top, the trees began to thin out and the temperatures began to climb.



Still, the journey was worth every bead of sweat!



The view from the top was extraordinary, as this panoramic shot can attest to:



A splash of purple from a thistle:



A lot of interesting wildlife was spotted, including this vulture. Better keep moving!



Bambi come to life:



A jay enjoying the shade of the tree:



My three hour hike took me back to where I started. Last shot for today is a vertical panorama that shows the redwoods from the roots and up:



I feel so fortunate to have been able to experience this. City folk who have not walked through here have no idea what they're missing!

See more Armstrong Redwood photos on my Redwoods web page.