We started the day with breakfast at the Sequoia Cider Mill a nice little eatery...
...and a million dollar view...
...and some nice accents...
... but Oh! the flowers were great.
We did find some ducks...
... and a great "Duck Crossing sign in the river.
"Less than 1/4 mile inside the entrance to Sequoia National Park stands a massive, hand-carved wooden sign, modeled after the face on the old Indian head nickel. This sign was created by a Civilian Conservation Corps enrollee from Arkansas in the 1930's."
A little farther up the road Sharyn took a picture of me at "Tunnel Rock"
The Kawaeh river was our companion as we drove up highway 198 "The Generals Highway"...
...falling fast through the rock and bolder riverbed...
...with beautiful Yucca...
...and Lupine ...
...and some of the most beautiful Redbud bushes and trees.
... so I got out of the car and got this shot of the road below us and talked to a man in a car with Texas plates only to find out he was from France. To my amazement the car behind him with California plates was occupied by two couples from, you guessed it, Texas and, in fact from Houston who promised they already ate their James Coney Islands.
The sights here in Sequoia National park are breath taking with deep canyons ...
... lovely and delicate waterfalls...
... but the main attraction is the Sequoia trees...
....and these massive living organisms are huge.
"The General Sherman Tree is neither the tallest known living tree on Earth nor is it the widest nor is it the oldest known living tree on Earth . With a height of 275 ft, a diameter of 25 ft, an estimated bole volume of 52,513 cu ft, and an estimated age of 2,300 – 2,700 years, it is however among the tallest, widest and longest-lived of all trees on the planet."
"The General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park is the largest (by volume) tree in the world."
I liked this nearby waterfall...
...and this tunnel carved into the trunk of a fallen giant ...
...with exposed roots...
...that were like works of art.
As we drove on to King's Canyon we had and encounter with a mother Black bear and two of her cubs. They were within 20 feet of the car and a wonderful sight, needless to say we stayed in the car.
I did get out of the car to try and get this Marmot but he was too fast and I only got the tail end of him as he ran away.
There were more giant Sequoias farther down the road...
...and more wildlife like these deer..
...and more wildflowers...
...and more Redbud trees...
... and some wonderful flowers...
...that take my eyes on a trip...
...to places I've never been...
... even some past their prime but just as interesting.
Finally when we arrived back at the Visalia KOA I stopped to take a picture of their cabins all lit up in the dark.
Quote of the Day
"I ran into the gigantic and gigantically wasteful lumbering of great Sequoias, many of whose trunks were so huge they had to be blown apart before they could be handled. I resented then, and I still resent, the practice of making vine stakes hardly bigger than walking sticks out of these greatest of living things." ~ Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the United States Forest Service (1905–1910) and the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania (1923–1927, 1931–1935). He was a Republican and Progressive.
