Bummer!
We awoke and turned on the news to check on weather, etc. Seems there was a fire behind Half Dome and the authorities were shutting down areas around the sight. We decided to forgo Yosemite as the smoke was obscuring parts of the park we wanted to visit, the falls were normally drying up at this time of year, and the path of the fire was uncertain. Damn.
Just outside our balcony window, the local wildlife came to pay a visit.
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| Two of four deer outside our room. |
We drove to the Sequoia National Forest and discovered (for ourselves) an absolute jewel!! Actually Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park are joined. From the west side, we entered the Kings Canyon, northern park. We drove the road known as the "Generals Highway", named for the gigantic Sequoia trees.
The world largest tree, the General Sherman, is located in Sequoia. There are other trees that are taller and have a bigger circumference but the 'General' contains the largest wood content, 52,000 cubic feet.
We stopped to see the tree and had our socks knocked off!
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| After ants |
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| Tore the tree apart looking for more |
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| Hung around, not caring for close human visitors |
The General Sherman is on the edge of the "Giant Forest", hundreds of acres of towering Sequoia trees. John Muir named the forest while he was exploring the area.
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| One. Big. Damn. Tree..... |
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| 52,000 cubic feet of wood |
We left and drove to Moro Rock, a granite dome rock perched out into the surrounding mountain valleys. We both climbed the stairs built by CCC workers in the 1930's (Lee to the top and Toni almost to the top) to see the views. Spectacular!
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| 400+ steps and walkways to the top |
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| Road to the park |
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| Look to the West from the top |
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| Ham it up, bozo......You made the top. Big deal....... |
The roads into and out of the combined parks are extremely twisting and narrow. There were signs proclaiming the entire roadway was being redone and to expect delays of up to 30 minutes. We had two short stops and yes, the roads were originally paved over indian trails.
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| A short delay. |
Once out of the park, we headed a short distance to
another Best Western, this one in Exeter, Ca. Again, a good hotel. This franchise seems to have their stuff together.
Tomorrow......on to Vegas! Gonna stay two nights, tour Hoover Dam and take in a Vegas show.
Stay tuned. More will be revealed. :))
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