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| Sequoia National Park |
| Wednesday, July 10, 2013 |
I wanted to capture some of the highlights of the trip -
- The day we reached Three Rivers, we went to Slick Rock Recreation Area by the river Kaweah. We found a private cozy spot, scrambled down the rocks onto the river. The water was awesome since it was 108F outside! BSK and RT (the 1.5 yr old) had super fun. RT is a water boy, loved facing the mild currents of the water, while BSK was content standing in the water dipping down to collect sand and stones. BSK does not like water, not sure why. We thought our trip began with a bang.
- The next day we drove to Sequoia National Park, extreme winding roads. We stopped at Tunnel Rock which was a huge horizontal rock on top of two rocks. RT's dad was the adventurous kind and immediately climbed a rather delicate stretch with RT. We took pictures around the rock but it struck us to climb to the top of the rock only when we saw another couple on top. It was team work climbing to the top, with BSK, taking turns lifting her up, a little scary. But what is life without a little thrill? Again we thought this was the highlight of our trip.
- But the trip was only getting better. We spotted a BEAR! Right on the road! How lucky is BSK to spot a bear so young! She said " Bear patha bayama irukku" :--) I scrambled to get the camera to take a picture. I was sleeping until DH called out, so I took a very delirious picture.
- Since we spent so much time at the tunnel rock it was almost 11 when we reached the Giant Forest Museum. And the parking lot was completely full! That was our first bummer. We planned to park our car and take the shuttle to Moro Rock but that didnt happen. So we ditched the plan and had lunch at a nearby picnic area. Through out the trip RT and BSK bonded so well, it was heart warming to see. BSK wouldnt mind sharing her ball and other things albeit a little reluctantly. Afte r some goofing around climbing on rocks and trees and eating puliotharai and lemon rice with chips we left to our next destination.
- We drove to General Sherman Tree parking. And walked the .4mi downhill to the actual tree. It was HUGE! 2200 years old! It was actually alive when Jesus was roaming the earth! Some perspective! We heard a ranger talk about Sequoia trees and it was interesting to say the least.
- We did a short 2mi hike along Congress Trail. BSK walked quite a bit. She would stop mid way to explore the trail, step on stuff, pick up stuff. Too cute. There was a fire on a lone tree in the area and saw some firemen. Interesting. They were very friendly though, helped us with a detour to finish our hike without having to pass the tree on fire. Walking under the canopy of large sequoia s was dwarfing ;--)
- Came the our cabin, had chappathis and chicken for dinner while the kids had idlis(!!). The friend we went with actually made a full fledged cooking for her son in the morning. BSK tagged along. I usually try to make simple but hopefully healthy meals. Rice/dhal/veggies, salt and ghee. Zucchini is always a success with BSK and that is what she had for lunch that day. Retired a little early.
- The next day we decided to get ready by 8:30. The previous day it was 9:30 when we started. Because we wanted to get parking at the Museum to hike up Moro Rock. So friend R got up at 5:30!! to cook food for her son. I wanted to make pasta for BSK. Easy lunch that she would eat without fussing. I consider myself an early riser, wake up at 6:30, but 5:30 while on vacation was too much!
- We parked our car and caught the shuttle to Moro Rock. This was another highlight of our trip. It was a 0.6mi round trip hike. Really short. Rising about 300ft. Very safe. Even with toddlers. With excellent views. BSK wanted to walk the steps, she walked quite a bit before she got tired and slept off right as we headed back. I was reminded of Angel's Landing every bit of the way. If not for the bars and rocks for safety this was similar to Angel's Landing.
- We got back took the shuttle back to the Museum, picked a nice shady place under a huge sequoia for lunch. BSK wouldnt eat, we had to hide our chips and drinks from the kids. It was super funny. But BSK discovered her rock climbing skills then. She would climb on a small rock, hands down, and slowly get up and have this beaming smile of accomplishment, like she has conquered a mountain. She would get down and do it all over again. She gets obsessive about things I have noticed, Will do the same thing over and over again until she masters it. She loved to take out the trash, so we made her take out the lunch trash.
- We took the next shuttle to Lodgepole Campground. On the way I spotted a BEAR! Wow, I was in the end of the bus and I am happy to report I spotted it first! I was browsing the scenary, taking it all in, I loved every bit of the forest, the lush green, the trees, the widing roads and from nowhere the bear popped up in my vision! It was superb! We reached Lodgepole Campground. Our goal was to do a 3.5mi hike up to Topokah Falls. It was super hot. And pushing the stroller was not so easy. Midway we ditched our stroller in the corner and carried the kids. The trail was along Kaweak River, or stream may be, and we saw a lot of people in the water, and it looked extremely inviting. There were camps all over, by the river, it was beautiful. I had tried to get an RV spot here but obviously it was full for July 4th long weekend.
- We talked to the hikers returning from the falls and they said there was not much water it was almost trickling, which discouraged us from going all the way to the falls. Plus it was getting late too we had to catch our shuttle back to the museum before 6. So we decided to get down on to the stream, get the kids in the swim suits and spend some time in the water. But unfortunately the water was a bit too cold. We spent some time splashing water, while friend R got a manicure done on the rocks ;--)
- DH had brought a box of grapes in his backpack and we decided we should finish them off no matter what, and we sat and ate them while the swim clothes dried on the rocks. I have to say manuvering between the rocks with the kids was a challenge but interesting. One slip or one wrong step could have proved fatal but nothing happened. These were not made places for hanging out, we just picked a spot and made our way, found it pretty adventurous.
- We walked back picked our stroller and then I noticed BSk didnt have sunscreen on after her time in the water. I could see her skin on her legs get darker, she was wearing shorts.
- We got back home and BSK threw up at the end of the winding drive, which I drove, because I didnt want to sit nauseated at the back. And in the cabin, BSK was running around when she bumped into the edge of a table and screamed bloody murder. The injury was very close to her eye, it chilled me. Thankfully it was not too bad. We iced it and calmed her. Took it easy rest of the evening. We had planned to go to the Slick Rock area again but ditched it.
- That night as I put BSK to sleep I just loved the snuggle time with her. SHe was talking so much, about the happenings of the day, the bear, the water, RT, hiking, mountains. It was an emotional moment for me. Once she slept off, we decided since it is the last day of our trip we should spend the night up atleast until midnight. And we ended up chatting about all things under the sun. India trip, first times in US, travel, hikes, Grand Canyon, Half Dome, Yosemite, driving. DH is a natural humorist, can make you laugh. R was laughing so much she said she hasnt laughed so much in a long time. And she said she understood how I fell for DH. :--))
- We packed our stuff the next day and got back home at around 5 in the evening.
- While going to the park, actually 580 was blocked all laned due to an accident and that was the only way to get to 99. But A, RT's dad knew a side road to bypass just the accident stretch, and we drove amidst windmills, along Patterson Ranch Road a scenic route. Not sure what we would have done had we been alone, would have been stuck in the traffic and reached our destination late.
- While returning also we picked an 84 detour to escape the 580-680 traffic again thanks to RT's dad.
OVerall it was an amazing trip for such a short notice plan with 1-2year olds. They had lot of fun that was the whole highlight. By the end of the trip, BSK knew she was called Akka by RT. So cute. BSK already an Akka! They would share and shake hands and give hi-fis. RT would imitate what BSK did and sometimes BSK would imitate his blabbers. Too cute for words. I hope to cherish and remember these days for a long time to come. And tell BSK she actually saw a real bear in the wild when she was 2 years old how lucky was she! And she was carried on top of rocks and saw the oldest living thing on Earth when she was barely 2 years old.
Will try to get some pictures uploaded. Have a lot more to write about too! |
posted by SK @ 11:06 PM  |
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