Kings Canyon National Park

6-6-13

We drove from Yosemite to Squaw Valley, CA,---not the well know ski resort, but a small town close to the entrance to Kings Canyon National Park. We pulled into the motel around 11:00 AM where I had a little mishap pulling into the parking area behind the building. I forgot you have to watch BOTH sides as you maneuver around a building.

Yup, I felt as dejected as I look.



This darn corner just jumped out to get me.



After we got settled in at the motel and unloaded the motorcycle it was noon before we got to Kings Canyon N/P.





In the visitor center it was mentioned that the sequoia tree can get to over 40 feet in diameter.



We happened to get lucky as a Park Ranger, Frank, was going to start a tour when we showed up at Grant’s Grove. He was born and raised in the area and retired after 38 years as an American History teacher. Frank gave an outstanding informative narrative as we hiked along the trail.



This fallen tree was actually hollow through most of the tree and had been used by two brothers as a home for a couple of years before they built a home, or should I say a better structure.





The small sequoia tree behind me was planted in 1949, so that makes it 3 years younger than me.  It takes approximately 600 years for a sequoia tree to reach a maximum height of approximately 311 feet and then the club-shaped trunk will continue to expand up to a known diameter of about 40 feet.  These giant trees reproduce from a seed the size of an oat flake from a cone the size of a chicken egg. Fire is required for the seed to be released from the cone.  Ranger Frank said that only about one in a million sequoia seedlings lives to maturity.



Centennial stump.





This picture shows how a sequoia tree splits when it hits the ground. It’s weakness for use as lumber is one of the reasons that saved it from being cut into extinction. They found the only good use was for shingles, fence posts and grape vine stakes. It was said we still have over 90% of the old growth sequoia trees in contrast to only about 4% of the old growth coastal redwood trees which produce solid long-lasting lumber.



The General Grant Tree’s massive trunk makes it the third-largest tree in the world, by volume. It’s base is 40 feet in diameter. Even given its size it is not nearly the oldest. In fact, it is 1,500 years younger than the oldest known sequoia.  It is nearly impossible to photograph the entire tree from top to bottom.





This is a burn scar is on the back side of the Grant Tree.



One needs to stand amongst these trees to really appreciate their size.



From Grant Grove we drove to the end of the 30 mile road in Kings Canyon.
Here are a few pictures as we are headed into the actual canyon portion of the park .  The upper reaches of the gorge show the U-shaped characteristic of Ice Age glacial gouging while the V-shape continues to be carved by water.



Along the way we saw many blooming yuccas in an area called Yucca Point.  The plants were at least 10 feet high.









This is the South Fork of Kings River for which the canyon is named.



Until next time,

Dave and Sandy

Yosemite National Park.

6-5-2013

This morning we headed into Yosemite National Park from the east via Tioga Pass (elevation 9,945).



This couple is going to see the country the best way... in the open where these two can see more and smell more, which is good until you pass a dead skunk in the road or pass a Nebraska feed lot.





We just had to stop for the next two pictures.





Entering Yosemite National Park and the Tioga Pass at the same location.





I think this road is built on good bed rock.



Half Dome in Yosemite.



This is El Capitan, one of the iconic Yosemite landmarks. It’s shear face attracts rock climbers from all over the word. Most experienced climbers take a couple days to reach the summit while the less experienced can take up to a couple weeks. On June 17^th 2012 two climbers climbed the nearly vertical, 2,900 foot precipice in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 46 seconds, nearly 13 minutes faster than the previous record set two years ago.



A panoramic view of El Capitan with the waterfall.



This is a picture of both the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.



Until next time,

Dave and Sandy

Day two and three of our California trip.

6-3-13 thru 6-4-13

While driving through Wyoming we came to a place called Independence Rock. Approximately 400,000 emigrants passed by this rock on the Oregon Trail in the 1840’s thru the 1860’s. This marked the halfway point of their 2000 mile journey and their goal was to be here around the Fourth of July, thus the name Independence Rock,  to ensure their passage over the western mountain ranges before winter set in.



Independence Rock.



It was a tradition for the pioneers to inscribe the rock face, unfortunately, this tradition continues to modern day.



And, of course, there were many who started the trip but never got to see their dream come true.



While walking around the rock we startled this antelope who would move to the left out of our view then come back out to look at us.



As we were leaving Salt Lake City we took this  picture for our friend John to let him know there is still going to be a supply of salt for his next meal.



Will we ever make to the end of this straight away?



The Sierra Nevada mountain range as we approach Lee Vining, CA.



Until next time,

Dave and Sandy

More changes in our lives and the start of our California trip.

5-10-13 to 6-2-13

We made a decision on our trip home in April to sell our Lazy Daze and order a new Lazy Daze with a lighter interior wood.  Deb and Karl (friends of Jane and Ron in Arizona) came to look at our motorhome while we were in Cave Creek, AZ to look at a newer model because they were interested in buying a new one.  Well, when they found out we were sellling ours, they contacted us and decided to buy ours.  We were kind of sad to see the Lazy Daze leave. But we are looking forward to the new Lazy Daze (mid January).  Karl and Deb flew to MN in May to pick it up and drive it back to AZ.
 




This is our last picture of our motorhome, but I’m sure we will see it again in the future. Safe travels Karl and Deb.



Sandy’s mother had her 85th birthday on the 17th of May, so we went out to celebrate with them.  We took this family picture after the church services on Sunday with the flowers in her honor.



We had a very late Spring with lots of rain this year.  The lilacs across the street from us were so beautiful and were a welcome sight from all the dreary weather.







On 6-2-13 we headed out for a three-week trip to California. I’m taking my Honda trike to Lake Shasta, CA to have a custom seat installed.  The first night we made it as far as Hot Springs, SD. That was a total of 657 miles today. This trip will not be as much fun as normal because we are driving the truck and pulling a motorcycle trailer.  We’d much rather be travelling in our motorhome, but we’ll still be able to travel to some beautiful areas of the country again.



That is what we get for selling the Lazy Daze before the new Lazy Daze is ready for pick-up (middle of January). I did tell sandy that I could toss a couple of army cots it the trailer along with a camp stove and cooler and we would be all set. Needless to say she was a little testy with that suggestion so it’s motels for this trip.

Till next time,

Dave and Sandy