On to the Sequoias

The days seem to pass so fast as do my thoughts.  With constant new sights, people and experiences, I find myself continually “writing” blogs in my head.  The magic of the different flowers on each hike.  The marvel of the natural wonders of the landscape and geology we view.  The joy of new relationships with people of all ages and walks of life.  How do I move through all of these experiences and not write full chapters every few days?!

I laugh as I write and realize that I nearly missed two days in my rush to get you to the Sequoias!  A quick recount has us parting ways with Jack and Marcia with intentions of skipping the parks in California due to complications driving our coach on the mountain roads and gaining access to them in the still early season.  We headed out the back exit of Death Valley with our new itinerary  An impromptu stop at the Indian Wells Brewery where our path was due to head northward away from the parks ended up being a chance opportunity to meet up with Jack and Marcia one last time as they turned the other direction. 

Indian Wells was completely fun!  Sharing our Holy City wares with their brew-master, we had a great time tasting their creations and enjoying their fun brewery.  With time for further conversation with our new friends and a little more research, we found a way to make the lower California parks work and changed our course yet again!  Onward to Sequoia with Jack and Marcia once again in tandem!

We spent the night near Bakersfield, CA at a county park where J&M pulled in after us having stopped for fuel along the way.  We knew something was wrong when their rig sounded like they were dragging tin cans behind them.  While they waited for emergency repair, we made the best of the situation and had a happy hour – or two.  The next morning, the repairman finally arrived and it ended up they had a bent axle that would need a replacement.

Without an end time in sight, we sadly left our friends with their broken axle behind yet again and worked our way through California traffic and up the foothills to a steep curvy climb into Kings Canyon National Park later in the day.  We luckily found a campsite and got settled before dark with enough firewood gathered to have our first campfire – YES!  With the temp dropping fast to the 40 degree low for the night, our fire kept us toasty until we headed for our pile of blankets.

The next morning, we wasted no time and hit the nearby trail to see our first Sequoia.  I was completely unprepared for what we saw.  Towering giants, these sturdy and powerful beings are nothing short of breathtaking.  Standing as tall as 280 feet, with circumferences of 105+ feet, it takes 20 adults with arms extended to reach around the trunk!  If the granddaddies (think 1500-3000 years!) were “empty”, they would hold 37 million ping pong balls!  Taking pictures is difficult as a lens can barely take in the expanse.  (the top of the 1/3 of the tree is cut off on the picture here !)

We spent the balance of the day driving through the spectacular

scenery of Kings Canyon and Sequoia parks.  Driving the twisting mountain roads required 30 miles an hour for the 27 miles to the Giant Forest Museum, the General Sherman tree, sighting 2 brown bears in the meadow and an all around great day of nature exploring.

To add to all the fun, we heard from Jack and Marcia who were repaired and moving again and were joining us for the night on their way to Yosemite for their Mother’s Day meet up with their kids.   After leaving their camper south of the park, they drove in with their truck late in the afternoon.  We wiled the remainder of the day away with apps, dinner and dessert ala Laurie and deer grazing in the meadow behind us then topped off the night with another roaring fire.

The night was a cold 30 something degrees but was cozy with extra bodies aboard and we were all amazingly comfortable!   Rising around 630, we had a warm breakfast and were out to get some exercise and natural inspiration hiking the General Grant tree and another Sequoia forest trail.  Without any change in the wonder of these magnificent trees, we wandered enjoying the birds and their song, the spring colors and wildflowers and the sun shining through the massive height of the trees.  With what we knew would be our final goodbye, we then parted ways for truly different paths. 

On the road again and headed for Yosemite tomorrow, I know for sure we made the right choice in coming around the Sierras to the parks and I can’t wait to see what else is in store.  Can it really keep getting better?!