California Day 7 & 8: Accidents, Peanuts & Napa

On Friday we had grand plans to check out Muir Woods and Point Reyes but on the way for breakfast burritos I severely sprained my ankle and was out of commission for the day. So on my last day of the California trip we decided to keep it light and head towards the Napa area.


Our first stop was to the Charles Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. If you're a fan of the Peanuts comics you will enjoy strolling through the originals, learning the history of Charles Schulz, and also seeing some interesting tribute art like the piece below by a Japanese artist that uses Peanuts comics to portray this classic Lucy/Charlie Brown scene.

It was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed strolling about the property and taking in all the sights. I was disappointed in my lack of complete mobility but at least we were out of the house and having fun. Though I will admit that being stuck in the bed all day was made a lot better by my gracious host who cooked me home-made soup and arepas. No matter what your injury, that will always make it better!

After the museum we headed towards the hockey rink and gift shop area. I never knew that Schulz was such an admirer of ice skating. It's quite clear in the comics but I never would've guessed that he would have a private rink, which he made very public for everyone to use.

As a kid growing up Snoopy was my favorite cartoon character. I often thought we would be great friends since we shared a strong urge to drink root beer, play all types of sports, and like little feathered animals.

I would've loved to have seen Muir Woods or had the chance to bird Point Reyes but under the circumstances this was a great way to spend my last day in California. I owe it to Geraldine for being very patient with my slow limping and hobbling about.

Next we headed to wine country and took the side roads from Santa Rosa towards Napa. The rolling hills of grape vineyards were perfect to behold on such a bright blue-sky day.

Cows littered the landscape and they were beautiful with their spots and patterns. I have a strong like of cows and as I've stated in the blog before, they always remind me of childhood. In some ways I suppose this was a running theme of the day, comics to cows.

Upon arriving at Napa we soon learned that a Blues, BBQ, and Brews Festival was going on. I didn't think I would be in the heart of wine country with a beer festival taking place but I couldn't complain. The music was nice, the beer sampling was enjoyable and I even had a glass of white wine called Más, which I enjoyed.

We ended the day going back to San Francisco and having dinner in the Castro. It was a bittersweet end of an excellent trip. I was sad to say goodbye to a good friend and I didn't want the adventure to be over. Of course the good news is that this weekend Geraldine and I will be back in action exploring the North Carolina mountains with my mom. I'm excited to see fall colors, Asheville, and of course I am looking forward to spending time with two of my favorite people in the world.

California Day 6: Chinatown and Japantown

Dim Sum for breakfast.

Interesting fruits and vegetables in the market.

Driving downtown, literally.


Tea in Chinatown.


Tea house in Chinatown. I loved the presentation and the tea was delicious.


We spent some time walking around Chinatown taking in the sights and smells.


Next we cruised over to Japantown where we found these darling figurines.


We ended the night with a toast of a very special Venezuelan rum.

California Day 5: Moro Rock and General Sherman Tree

After the Grove of the Giants we headed to Moro Rock. We took our time climbing up and up and up the many stone steps until we finally reached the peak. Moro Rock is a large granite dome located in the center of Sequoia National Park. It sits at a elevation of 6,725 feet and has a 400-step stairway cut into the rock. It's a steep climb but managable for anyone that is willing to tackle the heights. The guardrails are ample and there are plenty of spots to stop and rest if needed.

From the top you have an amazing aerial view of the park. Looking towards the east you can see the peaks that make out the Great Western Divide (seen above) and looking to the west you can see the Middle Fork Canyon (seen below) which is almost as deep as the Grand Canyon.

After leaving Moro Rock we stopped at the Parker Group, a beautiful stand of sequoias named for the Parker family. These were some of the prettiest trees in the park and Geraldine and took our time weaving in and out of the stand.

Next we took a drive through the Tunnel Log. The 275 ft. tree fell from natural causes in 1937 and the following year a crew cut an 8 by 17 ft. tunnel through the center, making the road passable again.

Next we only had one more important stop before heading back to our campsite and that was to pay a visit to the largest tree on Earth, the General Sherman Tree. This giant sequoia has a height of 275 ft. and a volume of 52,513 cu. ft which makes it the largest known non-colonial tree by volume. The tree is believed to be between 2,300 and 2,700 years old.

When you're walking around all these groves and stands it's hard to pinpoint which tree is bigger than the rest. I loved seeing the General Sherman Tree but I must admit that I didn't find it was any bigger than some of the others we had seen. Regardless it was nice to see and I even digibinned a view of the top of the tree. You will notice that it's been struck by lightning and no longer growing taller, only wider.

After hiking and looking upwards all day at large trees we decided to end the day with a dip in Hume Lake. This a small little lake found in the eastern part of Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park. It was busy with children laughing and swimming. We retreated to the quiet areas of the waterfall and managed to keep busy with our wading.

It was the end to a perfect day and exactly the kind of adventure I wanted from my vacation. Nothing could be better than checking out the largest organisms on Earth and then retreating to the cool waters of a lake.

California Day 5: Grove of the Giants

If you ever have a chance to see the giant sequoias then you must head to the Grove of the Giants in Sequoia National Park. It's hard to imagine that at one time this meadow was a bubbling little village with houses pocking the landscape around the giant trees. Now the path circles the meadow but the houses and residences of days of old have been removed leaving a large grove of natural beauty.

Geraldine and I took a spin around the loop trail and enjoyed the morning solitude. Only a handful of people walked by giving us the illusion that we were alone with the trees.

This grove is home to some of the largest trees in the whole world. And though I stopped at every angle to snap photos, I still walked away feeling like I didn't capture the grandeur of this stand of trees. Each tree had a different personality, a different shape, a different character. And each of them were special to me in some way, even the ones that had fallen and served as reminders that the circle of life continues.

Any time I meet a new species of plant or tree I am often found touching the surface and feeling the texture. Sequoias have magnificent bark and the sound of the wood seems so hollow that it's hard to imagine that something so fragile to the touch could be standing so large. Often the bark is littered with lichens of every color and shape. I loved the contrast of grees, grays, and oranges.

We were very lucky to have perfect weather. A bright blue sky peaked behind the standing giants as we made our way around the loop.

The sun draped around the canopy and streaked down to the meadow floor. The green meadow was alive with many wildflowers and small shrubs.

This is a very short trail to walk and I recommend it to everyone that happens near the park. Take a stroll, take your time, and soak in the beauty. The Giant Sequoias are something that must be cherished and protected for generations to come.

Tomorrow I'll share with you some photos of Moro Rock and the largest tree on Earth!

California Bears!

I would love to tell you the harrowing escape that Geraldine and I made while camping. How bears raided our campsite and we were soon yelling warnings towards these large mammals to keep them at bay but nothing like this even remotely happened. The closest bear I came to (that I know about) during the trip occurred when I saw this bear crossing sign. Now I will admit to you that I was very scared to camp in bear territory and those bear canisters at our campsite didn't relieve my fear but encouraged it. I guess I rather camp where the bobcats and alligators roam than where bears live.

California Day 4: TREES!

The General Grant Tree stands behind me in that photo above. It's hard to capture the grand scale of a tree like a Sequoia and certainly standing near one doesn't do justice to its height and weight but trust me, these are trees that you must see in your lifetime. They are large, gorgeous wild things and they are older than you can imagine, General Grant is close to 2,000 years old.

I loved the fire damage and how each tree is tattooed with some mark of history. At the Grant Gove you can't walk up to the trees as they are protected by a fence. Nevertheless, you can go down a number of trails if you are inclined to put your arm around a large living organism. In case you're keeping score the General Grant Tree is the second largest tree in the world.


I stood inside the trunks of dead Sequoias and hugged the bark of the living. I can't even tell you how happy I was to see my first ever Sequoias. I love trees and last summer I was able to see my first Redwoods. This summer I conquered the similiar species that calls the higher elevations of California home. The Sequoia forests are definitely different from Coastal Redwoods. I like the Redwoods better somehow...maybe it's the damp, cool, humid forest. But don't get me wrong, the Sequoias did not disappoint. I found them completely fascinationg.

An old house still stands in the Grant Grove, all that is left of a time long ago. It's hard to imagine lumbermen and families living in these forests. And then later troops that were first stationed to protect the newly acquired national forest land. I loved walking around the trees and reading their names and thinking how people a hundred years ago must have lived around such beauty.

Sequoias are so large that's it's a feat to be able to get a whole tree, trunk to crown, into the picture. I had to find trees farther away and near cleared out parking lot areas to fully get a profile.

Below is a tree that housed horses like a stable and before that was shelter. Even in death, the tree has continued to live in people's lives. Now visitors to the Grant Grove can walk through the heart of the tree that connects two paths.

After wandering around the Grant Grove we headed down an offshooting nature trail. The trail started at the far end of the parking lot and afforded us great views of the Sequoia grove.

We didn't follow the blazes for long before we found a nice mix of birds. Chickadees and Wilson's Warblers delighted us before we decided to head back and think about dinner plans.

We took the path back to our campsite. Along the way we found another new mammal for the list, a Lodgepole Chipmunk. I love chipmunks and I feel like I can watch them for hours. Maybe it's because I grew up in the Southeast where such little rodents do not dwell.

Geraldine and I took frequent stops. We soaked in the big trees and enjoyed the smell of the forest. I found a perfect fire poking stick and we had a lovely stroll back to our home for the night.

When we returned a deer was occupying our campsite. By the time I got my camera out I only managed to catch the tail before it slipped behind the bushes.

Beautiful evening sunrays sprinkled across the campground. We came ill prepared and forgot to bring dinner so we headed to the grocery store at the visitor's center and rustled up some food.

We feasted on Soysage and Mac&Cheese. To top it all off we had a Half Dome "Half-Weizen," which is a half German style Hefeweizen and half California Pale Ale combination made by Sequoia Brewing Company. It was a lovely dinner and it was made only better by our lovely campfire.

Tomorrow we will venture to the Sequoias National Park and see the largest tree on earth!