Day 226 - Tue 10 Mar 2020 - Another day at home

We stay on the campground and do the usual stuff. Nothing exciting today. We still trying to puzzle together were to go next. The cold snap is getting closer.

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 26,971km - 527h44m

Day 225 - Mon 9 Mar 2020 - Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon is another National Park right next to Sequoia. We go and explore this for a few hours and start off at the Big Stump Grove. Around 1870 some lumberjacks thought that had struck gold when the stumbled upon the giant Sequoia's. Fortunately the area received protection in 1890. The huge tree stumps are still visible like giant warts. The wood is very dense and it can take another few hundred years for them to rot away.

One particular tree called 'Mark Twain' gained international fame as it was cut down and segments of the trunk were sent to museums all over the world for display. The tree was more than 90 meters tall and 27 meters around the base. It took two men 13 days of chopping and sawing to bring the tree down!

Yes, it was quite fresh up there at 2000 meters high.

At another walk there is a display telling the story of how in 1875 parts of another tree were sent to an exhibition on the East Coast, but were refused as the recipients thought it was a hoax. They couldn't believe trees that big existed.

Further on we see another world record holder. 'General Grant' has the widest trunk which measures 12 meters in diameter. You would need a circle of 20 people to give this tree a hug. It's largest branch is a tree to itself measuring 4.5 meters in diameter. The lowest branch is 39 meters high and the whole tree is 82 meters high.

Here are some more photos to give you a sense of the scale.

Some nice scenery on the way back down.

Today: 65km - 1h18m

Total: 26,971km - 527h44m

Day 224 - Sun 8 Mar 2020 - Another day

Not much to report.

Today: 86km - 1h15m

Total: 26,906km - 526h26m

Day 223 - Sat 7 Mar 2020 - Back on the grid

We head to a campsite just outside the Sequoia National Forest to figure out where to go next. Our travel plans are completely derailed due to the Corona virus. A few more potential pet sits have cancelled their plans. This leaves us in a bit of a pickle with the cold weather.

We get back into our normal routine with schoolwork, baking, laundry, etc.

Today: 13km - 36m

Total: 26,820km - 525h11m

Day 222 - Fri 6 Mar 2020 - Relaxing

We wrap things up at the campground in the morning. Martijn manages to finally get the blog updated again.

Then we head out into the forest again. On the way we pass large orchards of oranges, pears and plums. We find a nice spot in the Sequoia Forest. There is no electricity and no internet so we entertain ourselves with reading, school work and board games. We have a lovely relaxing afternoon and evening.

Today: 42km - 1h

Total: 26,808km - 524h36m

Day 221 - Thu 5 Mar 2020 - Reset

Since our pet sits for San Francisco have been cancelled there is no more rush to head north and all of a sudden we find ourselves with 2 extra weeks. We go to a campsite for some much needed electricity, laundry and internet.

We look at the weather and campsites for a much slower way up. Our next pet sit is for March 20 near Portland in Oregon. It's quite fresh up there though...

Since it's so lovely and warm here we decide to check out a spot in the Sequoia National Forest tomorrow.

Tonight there is a special performance at our campground. The frogs are croaking so loud in the creek behind us that you can almost not hear the noise from the nearby main road... should be a fun night...

Today: 85km - 1h37m

Total: 26,765km - 523h36m

Day 220 - Wed 4 Mar 2020 - Sequoia National Park

We start the day at the Visitor Centre and learn about the climate, trees and animals in the park.

The road up and into the park is extremely windy, with many hairpin turns. At times our satnav is confused about which way we are actually driving!

There are many scenic look outs along the way. We find a rock tunnel

waterfalls

petrographs

high peaks

and finally we get to the specific sub-region where the giant Sequoia's grow. These are the '4 guards' and yes, that is our road, not a footpath.

The biggest trees are more than 2000 years old, 100 meter tall, 10 meter in diameter and weigh the same as 4 fully loaded 747 jumbo jets.

This tree is called 'General Sherman' and is the largest living thing in the world (by volume).

It's hard to see the scale of these huge trees as they are surrounded by other huge trees.

We've had both our pet sits for San Fransisco cancelled due to the Corona Virus so tomorrow we're going to have to replan our next 2 weeks.

Today: 99km - 2h52m

Total: 26,680km - 521h51m