Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park are two different parks on the same road so we added two parks to our list over Thursday and Friday. 

The trees are magnificent.  They are present in Yosemite, but to see so many of them together is amazing.  As a tree lover from way back when my brother and I planted our first acorn and it grew to a large oak in my parent’s yard, I was mesmerized by the height, width and number of them.  I am looking forward to Joshua Tree later in the month, I have never seen a Joshua Tree. 

When we arrived, Jerry was still feeling a bit sick.   Since we were staying in the park campground and our space was open, we pulled in and Jerry took a rest for a few hours.   I was able to walk to the Visitor Center and take my time through the displays and learned so much about sequoias that I am now happy to share with you!   In the late 1800’s before the park was formed, many of the giant trees were cut down.  Some of the harvested tree areas are showing new growth, but since the ones cut down were at least 500 years old, we won’t see the restored forest.  In 1893, they cut down a 3,200-year-old tree that was shipped in pieces to the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. 

 

I learned about how these trees have evolved to be fire resistant because of a two-foot-thick bark, but need the heat of forest fires to release their seeds from their cones.  The fires also clear the ground of other trees making room for the seeds to grow.   We saw trees with huge bases that split into two trees higher up. 

We saw the General Sherman tree (2,200 years old, 275 feet high and 106 feet in diameter) and the General Grant tree (1,700 years old,  268 feet tall and 33 feet in diameter).  Both are massive and pictures do not give an accurate impression.   We even walked through a fallen hollowed out tree.  The diameter was taller than me!  No stooping required.

The campground was so peaceful and right when it was getting dark, a deer came up to our RV to munch on nearby trees.  We did not see a bear, but the signs of bears were everywhere (poop, see the book I would have bought for my 6-year-old grandson, except his mother would not have appreciated it). 

Along with a less steep, sharp turns drive and smaller crowds the park was so much fun. 

When we left, we came to a lake in Bakersfield, CA.  It is very crowded here and every time I look around, I think I am in Florida.   It looks so much like Florida.  There are the craziest squirrels here.   When I first walked Ernie, I saw all these holes in the ground and was afraid it was snakes.   I was afraid of a snake, turning my ankle in a hole and Ernie sticking his nose in them.  Good news is they are not snake holes since there are literally hundreds of them.  The squirrels are burying food in them.  I guess in the north squirrels do not bury food, or at least I have never seen them do it, since the ground is often covered with snow.   There are a lot of squirrels near my house that build nests in the trees and I see them going back and forth around now presumably squirreling away food.   The nest is also where the babies are born and each year there is at least one poor unfortunate baby who falls out the 30 so feet or maybe they are thrown out by the mother if she has had enough. 

This stop was just a lay over to catch our breath and relax.   It is very hot here so we had our awning out most of the day.  This afternoon while I was knitting, I heard a noise.  It sounded like something hitting the side of the RV.   I looked around and did not see anything.  A few minutes later I noticed one side of the awning was lower than the other.  The plate that holds the awning to the RV separated from the RV.   Jerry called an RV repairman to come out and he will be here at 6 am tomorrow.  We have never had so much trouble on a trip!  For those of you at home keeping score; 1. Broken windshield wipers, 2. Broken radio, 3. Tire disaster/scare on passenger back in Columbia River Gorge, OR, 4. Tire off the rim passenger front in Chico, CA and now the awning.   This is the third RV Mobile Repairman we have used.   These are more repairs than rainy days!  I think that should have been the contest.  Here are a few other things that have happened during the trip we will take care of ourselves, shade in the back came off the frame, window crank stripped, two cabinets came loose and needed screws and glue, chair lever that moves seat back position came off on the driver’s seat, main exit door latch that locks the RV won’t line up.

After our 6 am service call, wish us luck, we are going for 4 days further south to a lake to put us in striking distance of LA for Thursday.  Then on to Joshua Tree.  We are half way through the trip and before we know it, we will be back in the snow.