It includes a bit of steep climb but the view is worth it

The community of Coarsegold CA has a Tarantula Festival! We will miss it though…so sad!?  It isn’t until late October.   Apparently it is tarantula mating season.  I learn something every day.

They are out and about in camp (Potwisha). A little girl in the next site over found a “huge” tarantula last evening hanging out on the stoop of the ladies room.  Nice.

The groves in Yosemite are lovely but are completely dwarfed by those here at Sequoia.  Together, The Giant Forest and Redwood Mountain Groves are home of 24,600 Sequoia trees over a foot in diameter (over 100 yrs old).  General Sherman is the largest living thing in the world.

Back in the Giant Forest grove, away from the paved trails is a peaceful place.  Silent except the soft swish of wind in the towering boughs, the sharp tap-tap of woodpeckers drilling holes to hide their cash or chipping their way to bugs, the dull thud of sequoia cones falling against the stately trunks as squirrels cut them loose to stash for winter.  Walk a bit.  It is worth the effort.

A good looking buck trotted across a forest meadow. Reports are that that black bear make this their home, not today apparently.  Maybe tomorrow.

We twisted down out of the Yosemite sierras and out into the broad valley toward Fresno.

Vineyards, orchards and nut groves line the road now. Along the way we traded forest fire smoke haze for dust that completely obscures the mountain ranges to the east and west.  Dirt devils swirl in the fields and anywhere farm equipment is at work just looks like a great ball of dust moving across the fields.  A bit of rain would go a long way here too.

The National Parks are a couple thousand feet higher in elevation than the valley. The sky is clear and views fantastic…..I know that but Kent was white knuckled on the steering wheel again.  189 into the Park is curly and steep.  Tomorrow we explore.

We are heading south anyway so it’s not a problem for us. Scorched mountainsides and smoldering patches are visible from our vantage point along 41 on our drive out.  We will be glad to hear that it’s been contained.

We made it to every part of the park; front country that is. There is a LOT of wilderness area still awaiting us.  Got in some pretty strenuous hiking and a bit of contemplative, relaxing strolling.  Experienced the no-frills dry camping and some “fancy” dining.  Saw the impact of sustained drought and the ensuing fires.  Saw the resilience of nature in not-long-ago burn areas carpeted with new seedlings.  Saw climbers’ lights at night, those folks are crazy dangling there in thin air.  During the ranger talk up on Glacier Point we learned about a 92 year evening tradition, firefall.  A burning campfire was pushed off the point after dark so the valley guests could witness the spectacle of embers cascading off the cliff.  “fire fall” was not a particularly National Park-like thing.   There were environmental concerns and crowd behavior issues so it came to an end about 40 years ago.  Some of the more senior guests still ask about the “fire fall”.   It must have been spectacular.

I am sure we were a bit scruffy looking after a day of hiking but the folks in the dining room at the Wawona Inn didn’t seem to mind. We got a wonderful corner window table with quite a view and the service was just right; not too hovery but attentive.

I ventured a bit out of my comfort zone: Curry-Carrot bisque followed by pan seared sea bass with wonderfully garlicky olive tapenade (yes, I enjoyed olives…not typically my favorite condiment) served with a rich cheesy, smoky polenta (yes, I enjoyed grits) and steamed veggies (they included parsnips which they could have left out for me).  It was a delightful meal.

Kent went for a house specialty, pot roast.  The meat was wonderfully seasoned and the veggies slightly “dressed up” versions of those you’d find in a roaster at home.  Savory biscuits complimented it all nicely.  I’d say he wasn’t disappointed.