Tuesday, May 5, 2015
It is Cinco de Mayo and we are going to celebrate it by going to Sequoia National Park. We got up about 6:15 am an left by 7:30 am. We knew we had an hour drive before we actually reach the park. We drove through many fields of various crops. We saw several road side stands selling strawberries, blueberries and cherries in addition to the oranges and various nuts. We passed all the stands first thing in the morning. We did not see any stands on the way home. Tomorrow we will probably try to find some stands and get some fresh fruit.
On our way, we drove through various kinds of crops. It was interesting to see orchards planted to the base of the foothills.
We came upon this sign and felt we were getting close. Per the weather reports it is supposed to snow this coming Thursday in both Yosemite and Sequoias & Kings Canyon National Parks.
This picture is just as we are getting ready to enter the foothills. We are headed to the Foothills Visitors Center which is the first visitor center in the park.
Before we reached the Foothills Visitors Center, we saw a sign for Lake Kaweah so turned in. I'm glad we did. Isn't it beautiful! It was a pretty large lake as you can see. This lake was created by a dam. You can just see it on the left back side of the picture.
The road followed along side of the lake. This is towards the middle of the lake.
Here we are where Kaweah River comes into the lake. The whole drive along Lake Kaweah was beautiful!!!
I have a thing about flowers. I have no idea what kind of tree this is, but the flowers are really unusual so had to have a picture. This tree was just beside the Kaweah River at the Pumpkin Hollow Bridge. See below.
This identifies the Pumpkin Hollow Bridge built in 1922.
Here is the Pumpkin Hollow Bridge. Pretty! The river is flowing strong here. Tic took several pictures but I'm only putting the bridge and the one below.
Can you see the porch on the left side of the picture. There is a restaurant that overlooks the river and the porch is part of the restaurant.
I'm not actually standing under this rock, because after all, I am in California where the ground is prone to shaking.
This is still the Kaweah River. We saw this only because we decided to pull over at a small pull-out we saw. What a blessing!!!
At the same spot as the picture above, Tic saw this part of the mountain where it looked like part of it had a landslide.
We pulled over many times before we got to the sequoias. At this spot I liked the flowering yucca. Tic was able to include Moro Rock in the background.
On our route, I pulled to the side of the road and had Tic take a picture of this flower. We had the T-tops off the Jeep, so Tic stood on the seat and took the photo. According to my research, this is a type of dogwood found in the Sequoia National Forest.
We finally started seeing sequoias. Tic is looking up this tree. Awesome!
I am standing next to 2 different trees, a sequoia behind me and a ponderosa pine on the right side of the picture.
Tic took a vertical panoramic of this tree in order to get the whole tree.
See me standing at the base of this sequoia? Look at the picture below. I'm still standing in the same spot at the base of the tree.
Can you see me? Gives a little perspective.
Here we are at another overlook of the river. Not sure if it is the same river or not, but still beautiful!
Can you see the two people standing near the base of the sequoia in the center of this picture?
We saw these 2 sequoias next to the road. I was standing on the opposite side of the road and still could not get all of the base of both trees.
Walking through a forest of these giants is a spiritual event.
More awesome trees. These 2 sequoias in the middle are call the Twins.
In this picture, Tic is obviously looking up the Twins.
Tic is stretching is arms and can't even get close to touching the Twins. Doesn't he look small? He loves looking small.
He says he is humbled.
Notice the sequoia in the center of the picture. It appears to have a single base and 3 trunks as it goes up. Also the General Sherman tree is just left of center. This picture shows more of the tree than the closeup we also took. The impressive thing about this tree is by volume, it is the largest known living tree.
I know this may not be easy to read, but it has some fascinating information.
Now we are on State Highway 180. This lodge actually has rooms available and a restaurant. It has beautiful views.
This is taken from the parking lot at the Wuksachi Lodge. Yes some of the mountains have snow on them. It is supposed to snow in the mountains again day after tomorrow.
Now we are in an area where there are upheavals of huge rocks.
This is the entrance a a very secluded resort. If you want to get away from everything come here.
This pond is by the resort. The road on the left leads to the lodge. If you click on the picture and enlarge it you will be able to see chairs on the shore and possibly the floating dock in the middle of the pond. The road leading here is narrow and bumpy. This is very secluded and beautiful!
This is a view from a pullout on our way down the mountain. Gorgeous!!!
Here is another pullout. Look at these massive rocks.
We are looking for "The Stump". We found The Stump picnic area.
There was this sign to follow a trail on the other side of the road. We thought this trail might lead us to The Stump.
This is the tunnel to go to the other side of the road. It looks more like a drainage pipe if you ask me.
Once on the other side of the road Tic saw this huge stump, but it is not THE Stump.
Another 300 yards and Tic saw this stump. Again not The Stump. Guess we will have to find The Stump tomorrow.
As we headed down to the foothills on the other side of the park we were amazed at the dryness after seeing so much water in the mountains. The hillsides are brown all over except for a few trees.
Here is another example of the brown hillsides. California's drought is very serious. This hillside should be green this time of year.
We are headed home. Tomorrow we will come back and drive through Kings Canyon. And find the STUMP!
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