Big Trees, Big Balls and not-so-big Grindstones

I went up to Vancouver, B.C., last week for work. On the way back I took a bit of a side trip to see the Redwoods. You really have no concept of how freakin' big and massive these trees are until you see them in person. Hearing statistics that they are 25 feet in diameter or 360 feet tall really doesn't sink in until you are standing at the base of one, straining your head back just to see the top. It's quite humbling to be dwarfed by these amazing trees.



While driving through the Coastal Redwoods I happened upon a tourist trap complete with a Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox statues. I remember seeing the Paul Bunyon statue in Bimidji, Minnesota when I was a kid, but this one seemed better. This Paul has a hairy chest with REAL hair!

And get a load of the size of Babe's balls. You really have no concept of how freakin' big and massive these balls are until you see them in person. Hearing statistics that they are 2.5 feet in diameter or weigh 360 pounds really doesn't sink in until you are standing under them. straining your head back just to see the top. It's quite humbling to be dwarfed by these amazing balls.
And to continue my visual journey of really big things seen on my trip I'm including what was labled as the "largest grindstone in the world." This item was found near Redding, CA, across the street from a McDonald's. Now, for size comparison you can see a telephone booth behind the stone. There was nothing on or near the stone giving it's dimensions, weight or what it was used for. It did have the marks of something having been honed or sharpened on it though. It's kinda big, but really not that impressive. I just can't but help to think that there has to be larger grindstones in the world.