Distination: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
The 2nd of November already and we're still in California... I thought we had left the cool 30's behind us in Coeur d'Alene but we sure found them in the Yosemite Valley. I'm not sure why they call it "Valley" because it is still well over 5,000 ft. It was very cold getting out of bed this morning even if the sun was shining warm off the surrounding mountan tops. Our campground (one of the few open this time of year) still had lots of room for another rig to spend the night so we found this "almost perfect" spot. All settled in, cocktails and dinner out of the way, and a good book in hand ( that is a kindle kind of book...) and we got a knock at our door. Well we immediately thought it was the Ranger coming around to collect but no, it was this lady that was trying to tell us that we were in their campsite...they had a RESERVATION for that SPECIAL site and we would have to go looking (IN THE DARK...) for another...What ??? Well my LOVELY wife touched my back and said SORRY but we had no idea and we would GLADLY move...Isn't that nice??? After pulling up stakes we toured the campground and found one of the last ones (filled with mud and pine needles). OK, all is well this morning (except it is still cold as hell) and we're all packed up and ready to roll. It was about 70 miles to get to our next highway just east of Fresno but it was going to take about 3 hours with the winding, twisting, steep up and downs that were going to be another experience for us to remember. Our destination today is Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. If I had STUDIED the maps I would have known just what to expect of the roads to and from these National Parks, but I didn't so I "suffer" each and every turn... Yep, we had that same type of road today going up and into Sequoia-Kings Canyon. Once we got there we were completely mesmerized by the GIANT Sequoia and especially the one known as GENERAL GRANT...what an amazing tree at more than 40 feet in dia., and more than 2000 years old. After visiting the General, we drove another 28 miles down (and I mean DOWN) the Narrow Winding roads and into bowels of Kings Canyon. This is 28 miles in with the same 28 out and it is all along the cliffs of the canyon until you hit the Cedar Groves or the end of the road...amazing views of the most beautiful canyon you could ever imagine. The only thing about our travels the last 2 days through Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon is the death of so many ponderosa and sugar pines because of the "HOT" drought and the INSECTS. There must be HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of these trees that are infected and are now being cut down...NOT a pretty site and what a terrible waste.
The 2nd of November already and we're still in California... I thought we had left the cool 30's behind us in Coeur d'Alene but we sure found them in the Yosemite Valley. I'm not sure why they call it "Valley" because it is still well over 5,000 ft. It was very cold getting out of bed this morning even if the sun was shining warm off the surrounding mountan tops. Our campground (one of the few open this time of year) still had lots of room for another rig to spend the night so we found this "almost perfect" spot. All settled in, cocktails and dinner out of the way, and a good book in hand ( that is a kindle kind of book...) and we got a knock at our door. Well we immediately thought it was the Ranger coming around to collect but no, it was this lady that was trying to tell us that we were in their campsite...they had a RESERVATION for that SPECIAL site and we would have to go looking (IN THE DARK...) for another...What ??? Well my LOVELY wife touched my back and said SORRY but we had no idea and we would GLADLY move...Isn't that nice??? After pulling up stakes we toured the campground and found one of the last ones (filled with mud and pine needles). OK, all is well this morning (except it is still cold as hell) and we're all packed up and ready to roll. It was about 70 miles to get to our next highway just east of Fresno but it was going to take about 3 hours with the winding, twisting, steep up and downs that were going to be another experience for us to remember. Our destination today is Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. If I had STUDIED the maps I would have known just what to expect of the roads to and from these National Parks, but I didn't so I "suffer" each and every turn... Yep, we had that same type of road today going up and into Sequoia-Kings Canyon. Once we got there we were completely mesmerized by the GIANT Sequoia and especially the one known as GENERAL GRANT...what an amazing tree at more than 40 feet in dia., and more than 2000 years old. After visiting the General, we drove another 28 miles down (and I mean DOWN) the Narrow Winding roads and into bowels of Kings Canyon. This is 28 miles in with the same 28 out and it is all along the cliffs of the canyon until you hit the Cedar Groves or the end of the road...amazing views of the most beautiful canyon you could ever imagine. The only thing about our travels the last 2 days through Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon is the death of so many ponderosa and sugar pines because of the "HOT" drought and the INSECTS. There must be HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of these trees that are infected and are now being cut down...NOT a pretty site and what a terrible waste.
