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2nd July, 2009 Visalia, California.
Sequoia National Park today, off early for the 57 mile run to the park. At about the 40 mile mark you enter the park, pay the fee $25 US (which of course we don't have to as we purchased a Parks pass all those months ago) and head up an 8% incline. Climbs about 5500 ft in 17 miles, the road has numerous 10mph hairpins and speed limit is 25mph, BUT nice road and great views. This is the home of the Giant Sequoia trees and first stop was the "Giant Forest" where we viewed numerous huge trees (and believe me they are huge). At Beetle Rock we saw one tree that has lost its top to lightning but the base is still 700 tonnes. A walk out to Sunset Point, great views down the valley, but not that far across the plains as the pollution from down below sweeps up the valleys and there is a haze.
Onto Sherman Tree, the largest in the park, this tree is 2200 years old, its largest branch is 7 ft in diameter, its base is 36ft in diameter, height 311 ft, so one big tree.
Again these
trees, like the Redwoods don't have a tap root, they are shallow rooted so to get to this size and age there has to be a certain amount of luck, they are susceptible to high winds and lightning but not disease or fire, as their bark can be up to 24 inches thick and is like armour.
The National Parks Board look after their Parks pretty well and the roads and paths are in pretty good condition, always lots of Rangers around and very informative.
Back down the mountain for a late lunch, nice lunch and entertainment as well, the hostess was a character and spent most of her time chatting up the cook, she was loud so all could hear, so we joined in.
Another slightly warmish day, 103F on the way home although around 80 up in the Forest.
Stopped at Lake Kaweah on the way home - have a look at the number of houseboats awaiting their owners for the weekend - would have been real nice out there in this heat.
Great day, Independence holiday tomorrow.
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2nd July, 2009. Visalia, California 005
