Our California Adventure Day 5, Mini Road Trip, Sequoia National Park, Bear, and a Pay Phone

This is one of my favorite pictures from this trip. I love the light and Warren next to this big tree.

Day five started out with the sound of our alarms going off. We had made it to bed about midnight and needed to get up about six so we could pack up and start our five hour drive to Sequoia. We got all packed up and ready to leave by about 7 am. It was easy because we had packed most everything the night before. We were driving to Sequoia and hoping to get a campsite at their first come first serve campsites. There are a few of those sites at some of the lower campsites. We made really good time driving and only had to stop once for gas, a bathroom break, and to make some lunch all in the same stop in Bakersfield. With this trip we got to see a different side of California than we had seen before. We we were able to drive through the area where most of our food, well at least fruit comes from. We saw all sorts of fruit trees, it was pretty cool, and really dry. The temperature also just kept rising. The closer we got to the park the drier it became. I was starting to get really worried about what the park would look like when we got there, because everything I was seeing was nothing that I had imagined. Even Zack was saying this is not what I remember Sequoia looking like. I was afraid that because of the drought that something really bad had happened to those poor trees and we had just driven five hours out of our way to see this beautiful park and it wasn't going to be beautiful or anything like what I had seen in pictures. Well we finally reached the gates around 1 pm and waited in line for a long time. We got to the gate and it was 103 degrees, ohhh it was warm, and all the campgrounds said they were full. Yay!! or not, we decided to go  in and see if maybe someone had just checked out and we could check in. Well we continued to drive into the park, and the temperature continued to rise to 106 and all the campsites were full. We then decided to drive out of the park and check to see if the town nearby, Three Rivers, had any rooms available in any hotel. We found three rooms available in the town but were not wanting  to spend $200 a night to stay at a Comfort Inn. At this  point we decided to go back into the park because we had a seven day pass and try to see what we could for a few hours then get an early start home. The problem was we had no cell service at all, none in the park, not in Three Rivers, and in fact we couldn't remember the last time we had cell service. We had no way of letting Zack's sister Jessica know what are plans were, or find out where they were, and where they were going to stay. Looking back I should have gotten more information from them before we left but I didn't realize we would be without cell service and it was our come what may portion of our trip. So we drove back into the park and this time at the entrance gate it was 107 degrees. OHH it had gotten hotter. We kept driving and it just got hotter, it got up to 109 degrees. I was dreading  hiking in that weather, and so glad that we didn't get a campsite because camping in 109 degree weather would have been miserable. We drove up a really windy road and Warren woke up right in the middle of it and told us his stomach hurt....not a good sign.... there was no where to stop, literally and we just had to keep driving, it was not safe. Poor kid threw up in the car, and we pulled  over and he got out to get some fresh air and looked at the magnificent trees around us. We had climbed to an elevation about 6000 feet at this point and it was 20 degrees cooler outside, so enjoyable to be in the 80's again. When Warren was feeling a little better we got back in the car and started our drive to see the really big trees. I was so excited to see these beautiful, amazing, living things, and to feel a difference in the temperature, and even smell the difference in the air. It was so green, and felt really magical. The light coming in through the trees was awesome and made for some cool shots. We got to see the Giant Tree Museum, walk though some really big trees, drive through Tunnel Log and see a black bear while there, see the Tough Twins, and General Sherman the largest tree in the world. We were humbled and amazed by these trees. Zack and I were talking about how amazing it is that these trees were alive when Christ was born!!! We also were amazed at the trees themselves and how they protect themselves from so many things that could damage and kill the trees. These trees are a natural wonder that's for sure. We did make a little detour while in the park to find a pay phone and call Jessica. Luckily she was still within cell phone range and we got to talk to her. It was funny to see Zack using a pay phone, I think the last time I used a pay phone was in junior high. I tried to get a picture but I don't think I got one. We really enjoyed our few hours in Sequoia and it would be nice to go back and hike a little more and not have as many worries about where we are going to stay or should we leave so Warren can say bye to his cousins before driving home. We would also like to drive into the King's Canyon portion of the park but that would have been a 4 hour round trip drive and that's about how much time we had in the park all together. We were so glad that we drove through the Tunnel Log a few times because one of the times we saw a black bear run across the road in front of us. Then a group of foreign tourists pulled over and immediately jump out of their cars and started to follow the bear. I love seeing animals in nature but I don't want to follow a bear, I was actually recording this, unfortunately I didn't get any pictures or video of the bear because we didn't follow it. Then while were were walking near General Sherman some people told us that if we followed one of the side trails we would see some bears. I thought no thank you, we already saw one and I don't want to be on an open trail and come across a bear.

The light streaming through the trees was breath taking.

Poor Warren, getting car sick we got some motion sickness meds for the drive back down but we all still got a little sick.

Zack can reach the top of the Tunnel Log.

Me not so much.

And, we can't  quite reach across Tunnel Log either.

Starting the trail to see General Sherman.

We met a nice British Family who tried to get Warren to smile and even look at the camera but he was over pictures.

Warren got to climb in, on, and all around a fallen tree. This spot was super kid friendly and perfect for our boy to get some energy out.

General Sherman in the background.

Even at General Sherman with lots of people around Warren did not want to turn for the camera. People were trying so hard to get his attention, they even yelled hey a bear, but he was having no part of it.

More of General Sherman, such an amazing tree.

Look at how big the trunk is.

It's so hard to keep these big trees in place.

It was dusk as we were driving down and the sunset was gorgeous.

The views in Sequoia did not disappoint. 

 

 

It was a great few hours in Sequoia National Park. It would be a fun place to visit again when we weren't so rushed. Even when we made it down to Jessica's hotel at 9 pm it was still at least 90 degrees outside. Such a difference than what we had been used to by the beach with all the ocean breezes. We ended up loving our time here among the big trees, in all their splendor. We were so glad that we could bring home a bit of the National Park with us in the form of a baby Sequoia Tree!!!!  We were able to purchase one that is between 1 and 3 years old and is 4 inches tall. We brought it home with us and and bought a big pot and planted it. We are excited to see it grow and one day to plant it in our own home. Until then we will bring it with us wherever we may end up.

Preparing the roots to be planted.

My boys with our baby Sequoia.

Those roots will someday hold a tree firmly in the ground to with stand many storms and trials. Isn't that so much like our testimony, it starts when we are so small, it starts out so small then it will help us in the storms of life if we nurture it, protect it, and help it grow in good soil.

So tiny now but who knows what it will be in another 20 years. 

Our California Vacation was one for the books. It was full of so many memories, so many fun times. We were so sad to see it end but so glad to be home Sunday. We drove straight through Friday night, stopping on the side of the road to sleep and once again Zack was a trooper and drove most of the way. We  stopped in Baker since it was almost 10 years to the day when we broke down and found the hotel we stayed in boarded up, it was so nice to leave that city after only a pit stop. But after  so many  hours on the road we crashed at Zack's parents house then made our way home Sunday and slept some more. So long SoCal you were so good to us and we can't wait for our  next visit, hopefully it will it will involve a visit to that magical place, Disneyland.

Spring Break Mini Vacation

With Zack going to school his spring break and my spring break have never fallen at the same time, except when we were both students and I worked at the bank, but then he was working for the school district and we both had to take time off work to hang out anyway. But I digress.....  Our spring breaks once again did not line up but we each took the Friday of the other person's spring break off to hang out together and have family time. For the last weekend of my spring break which was the first weekend in April, which  also happens to be General Conference for my church and this year happened to include my birthday, we rented a cabin with Zack's parents and a few siblings in Star Valley Wyoming. The setting was gorgeous and we had a nice time relaxing and doing whatever we wanted. We left after Zack got out of class Friday and took our time making our way to Star Valley, Wyoming. The drive is so relaxing and beautiful. We were the first to get to the cabin and explored the area, set up our stuff and then played some card games on the wrap around porch while Warren played with a cat that was outside.

Friday evening was spent talking, playing games and just hanging out. Saturday we drove into Jackson Hole and wandered around  window shopping, shopping, more window shopping and then had lunch at a pizza place. We then decided we were going to go check out a park I had seen online while everyone else drove into Teton National Park. Warren loved the climbing park we went to, Phil Baux Park. He had a blast climbing, playing, and running around. Zack and I loved watching him climb and watching other people climb as well. Saturday night the adults went out and we celebrated by birthday which was the next day. We went to Dad's Bar and Steakhouse, it has awesome reviews online, and it was yummy. A hole in the wall place but so good. If we go back we will know that there is a separate entrance for the restaurant. I had a steak marinated in hot sauce, for someone who loves spice, it was a good marinade. After dinner Zack had his mom try and find somewhere that was still open that had ice cream, we forget stores close early in small towns,  but she found some ice cream at the gas station and we came back and had ice cream with the kids. Sunday morning we packed up said goodbye and all went our separate ways. We choose to drive though Soda Springs and show Warren some geysers, the carbonated water, and park I played at when I was young. My dad would often drive to or  home from Yellowstone through Soda Springs and we would stop and take a break, play on the playground, watch the geyser and maybe drink carbonated water. It was fun to pass on some of my memories from my childhood to my own child.

My boys at the antler arch in Jackson Hole.

My little family at the arch.

These cousins are so cute together and they are so good to Warren. He loves them and so do we.

Mommy and Warren having lunch at the pizza place. 

Rocking climbing at Phil Baux Park

Almost to the top.

Climbing with Daddy.  Oh and the lady in the back was there with her husband who was practicing. He would climb along the bottom, all around the base without touching the ground.

We made it to the top!

This was the view from the cabin we rented. GORGEOUS! The sunsets were amazing. We took a few walks in the evenings to soak in all the beauty. I even went running on my birthday and thought I could run if this was my view. It  was exhilarating to run in the crisp mountain air with no one around and to run on dirt roads was awesome.

Me and my eternal sweetheart enjoying the sunset. The view of the stars was describable. With little or no light pollution you could see so many stars! AHHH to live there!

 Soda Spings

We couldn't have timed arriving to see the geyser any better. We arrived started walking up and it started to go off. The information about the geyser is very fascinating. From what Zack read this geyser was messing up Old Faithful somehow so now it is regulated to only go off once every hour. There is much more to the history but too much to write here. I love seeing Warren so intrigued!

The geyser was actually really impressive and you aren't that far from it and can walk all the way around it.

Hooper Springs, it has carbonated water. We had Warren try some without telling him what it was, he did not like it. I tried it again because I had forgotten how much I disliked it (the last time I drank it I was a kid) and quickly remembered why Warren was spitting it out. There is a video I just can't upload it.