TRAIL OF 100 GIANTS, GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT, CALIFORNIA

Giant Sequoias grow only on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California. The groves are scattered over a narrow 260-mile belt 15 miles wide between the elevations of 5,000 – 7,500 feet.

We spent a glorious day driving up the pretty canyon to one of the premier groves of giant sequoias. The grove showcases monarchs estimated to be up to 1,500 years old. There were hardly any visitors and we enjoyed getting up close and personal with some of the largest living beings on the planet!

Roy thought we had been here before and sure enough back in 2010 we travelled the same road as today – I had vague memories – good job I keep a diary!

Incense Cedar on left and Giant Sequoia on right. A competition - symbiotic relationship neither species benefits from the relationship. In time the sequoia will totally enwrap the cedar.

                                            OH THESE TREES ARE JUST TOO TALL FOR ME!

 Two giant sequoias had grown together through time and fell Sept 30 2011 around 11-30am. They probably fell because they were leaning to the SW, over saturation of the soil and old age. The trees were about 282ft tall. It was filmed on Youtube by German tourist. These roots make Roy look tiny.

                                                THE FALLEN SEQUOIA OF 2011

                              A magnificent Giant Sequoia with a beautiful Fir standing in front.

                                                    YOU JUST GOTTA HUG A TREE!

 Bench formed - probably caused by a upper branch falling and striking the base many years ago. Tree responded by forming scar tissue.

                                 Three Giant Sequoias trunks have grown together - The Sentinels

                Two Giant Sequoias have grown together forming what looks like two elephants feet.

                                                                      PROCLAMATION TREE

LAKE ISABELLA TO KERNVILLE CALIFORNIA

 

LAKE ISABELLA

OUR CAMPSITE IN SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST

KERN RIVER ALONG EDGE OF OUR SITE

BUD TIME

Short drive today past the ever shrinking Lake Isabella, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains – this is a beautiful area but lack of water has put many campgrounds out of business. We chose to camp in one of the many Sequoia National Forest sites just outside Kernville in the Upper Kern Canyon, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the River Kern meandering along our site. We're here for three nights.Today has been about 37oC/99oF but as we are at 2800 ft, we are hoping the evenings will cool off as we are on a generator site with water and vault toilets only – all mod cons! For those of you who are unfamiliar with vault toilets, they are quite scary in my opinion – perched precariously over this dark gaping hole, wondering what on earth could be lurking down there, is not conducive to good bowel habits!

GETTING OVER THE STREAM

Mad dogs and Englishmen.....and Roy and Anne....go out in the midday sun!

We had a 4 mile hike along the Kern River following the Whiskey Flat trail – hiking in 38oC is not ideal but we needed some exercise and it was an easy trail with an idyllic lunch spot in the shade by the river. The lady in the Chamber of Commerce in Kernville told Roy they have not had any decent amounts of rain for the last 4 years! Can you imagine no rain in England?

For our friends Terry & Sally - she also said “Hoppalong Cassidy”, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and “Border Patrol” had been filmed here – anyone remember these?

WHISKEY FLAT TRAIL

LUNCH TIME ON WHISKEY FLAT TRAIL

 HUNDREDS OF COULTER PINE CONES - ROY SAYS I CAN'T BRING ANY MORE HOME - I DO HAVE ONE!

I LOVE PINE CONES!

DEATH VALLEY DASH

We have visited Death Valley about three times before so we passed through without visiting the usual stops, we did have a walk to Zabriskie Point, they have now built a posh path. There were lots of visitors, we were not the only ones braving 44oC/110oF. 
For those who don't know Death Valley is the hottest place on earth it holds the world record for hottest air temperature  134oF/57oC. It is the driest place in the USA and has the lowest point in the USA at 282ft below sea level.

As we left we came across a lone coyote dicing with death on the road, hoping someone would feed it - poor thing looked so thin.

The drive over Townes Pass seemed endless, we had to stop at the top as poor Dodge got a tad warm! We had lunch while she cooled down!

We were heading to Lake Isabella, we got to where it should be, but there was no lake, the lady at the campground said because there was no snow on Mount Whitney last winter, the lake was only 5% full. We will try to find the 5% tomorrow!

ZABRISKIE POINT

FURNACE CREEK

ZABRISKIE POINT

OUR RIG AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PATH TO ZABRISKIE POINT

NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO TAKE A SELFIE - CAMERA BALANCED ON A ROCK!

HUNGRY COYOTE

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

IT'S FINAL.... THE START OF OUR FINAL U.S.A. ADVENTURE

LAST TIME OUT OF STORAGE

Here we go again back to the USA, flew into Las Vegas on Wednesday and spent a night in a motel before picking up our rig on Thursday. I've already shed tears, firstly when watching the Bellagio fountains for the last time and then saying goodbye to Larry and Peggy who have stored our rig many times and been such a help. 

What a wonderful truck we have, the Dodge started first time after standing for 9 months in the hot desert atmosphere. The trailer has shed some of its beading, its cracked with the heat but easy to replace, no livestock inside - phew!! It was 41oC/106oF when we arrived.
We camped a night at Lake Mead RV Village, the plan had been to stop at the usual place next door which is a National Parks site but they don't have electric so we opted for the luxury of air con and wifi and TV! Today we also had the added extra of 34mph HOT winds!

CHILLAXING AT LAKE MEAD

We are not hanging around here, its unbearable, it was not in the plan to be here in August but has been good to experience it. Having said that, we are moving west towards the coast through Death Valley! Are we crazy?  Spent the evening at Nevada Treasure RV Resort at Pahrump - we seem to be the only ones here, the snowbirds might come here for the winter but no one comes for the summer - except us of course! 
Enjoyed a refreshing swim  in the pool at the site - then back for a Bud!
Heading for Lake Isabella in California tomorrow through the Valley of Death!