Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Across the Siskiyou and Into Oregon
Today was a travel day on the freeway from Madera, California, to Grants Pass, Oregon. For most of the day we were driving through central California where much of the produce in our country is grown. The weather was sunny and pleasant, mostly around 70 degrees. At one of the rest stops there were lovely trees planted which I believe are olive trees.
After we went through Redding, we drove through the Shasta-Trinity Recreation Area. We crossed a portion of Shasta Lake. The scenery photos were taken through the window, so there is some glare, and those out the windshield have a few bug spots.
The trees changed to predominantly pine trees. As we got closer to the Mt. Shasta area the skies clouded over, it cooled off, and began to sprinkle a bit. That meant no mountain photos.
As we crossed the highest point we ran into some fog.
Although it blocked the views, it had a beauty of its own.
I was reminded of another trip we made across the same pass at the beginning of February several years ago. We had been to a car auction in Phoenix and Marty made only one bid on a car, but that was enough. He was the new owner of a 1966 Mustang. Well, we had flown to Arizona, but now we had a new car that we needed to get back home. We decided to drive it back to Seattle and store it there until we could get it back to Alaska. However, when we got to Yreka, there had been a great deal of snow and a semi had overturned blocking the roadway. So we waited at Yreka half the day until the road could be cleared and they allowed traffic to go across the pass. We had to purchase chains as they were required. So we headed out, and chained up when we got to the chaining-up area. Many, many semis had also been held up as this is a well-traveled road for the big rigs. There we were, one of the few cars going over the pass, in our little blue Mustang, surrounded on all sides by semi trucks.
It was quite an adventure. Today the road was clear with only a light rain and we were in our Ford 350 crew cab pickup. It was perhaps a bit anticlimactic in comparison, but I was quite happy to have an uneventful trip over the pass. Tomorrow we are on to Mt. Vernon to my son Brian's house.
After we went through Redding, we drove through the Shasta-Trinity Recreation Area. We crossed a portion of Shasta Lake. The scenery photos were taken through the window, so there is some glare, and those out the windshield have a few bug spots. 
The trees changed to predominantly pine trees. As we got closer to the Mt. Shasta area the skies clouded over, it cooled off, and began to sprinkle a bit. That meant no mountain photos.
As we crossed the highest point we ran into some fog.
Although it blocked the views, it had a beauty of its own.
I was reminded of another trip we made across the same pass at the beginning of February several years ago. We had been to a car auction in Phoenix and Marty made only one bid on a car, but that was enough. He was the new owner of a 1966 Mustang. Well, we had flown to Arizona, but now we had a new car that we needed to get back home. We decided to drive it back to Seattle and store it there until we could get it back to Alaska. However, when we got to Yreka, there had been a great deal of snow and a semi had overturned blocking the roadway. So we waited at Yreka half the day until the road could be cleared and they allowed traffic to go across the pass. We had to purchase chains as they were required. So we headed out, and chained up when we got to the chaining-up area. Many, many semis had also been held up as this is a well-traveled road for the big rigs. There we were, one of the few cars going over the pass, in our little blue Mustang, surrounded on all sides by semi trucks.
It was quite an adventure. Today the road was clear with only a light rain and we were in our Ford 350 crew cab pickup. It was perhaps a bit anticlimactic in comparison, but I was quite happy to have an uneventful trip over the pass. Tomorrow we are on to Mt. Vernon to my son Brian's house.Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sequoia National Park
We traveled today from the Mojave Desert into the San Joaquin Valley. When we drove into Bakersfield, we began seeing orange groves and grape vines. We saw acre after acre of orange trees, as well as other citrus trees, olive trees, and palm trees. The weather was sunny and a comfortable 60 degrees. We then drove up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains into Sequoia National Park.
As we drove into the park, the narrow and curvy road rose to over 7000 feet. One of the landmarks is Moro Rock.
From Amphitheater Point you have a stunning view. The drive was gorgeous, but just a little difficult for a person such as myself who has a problem with heights.
After the climb to 6500 feet, we finally reached the growth of sequoia trees. Sequoias grow naturally only on the west slope of California's Sierra Nevada range. The giant sequoia has a massive trunk, huge stout branches, and cinnamon-colored bark. The taller and more slender redwood tree grows in a narrow strip along the Pacific Coast. The sequoia grows to 311 feet, 3200 years old, and 40 feet in diameter at the base. The redwood grows to 367 feet, 2,000 years old, and 22 feet in diameter at the base. The tree below is the Sentinel Tree.
The General Sherman tree is the largest tree in the world. There are taller trees, and trees that are bigger around, but the General Sherman tree has the most wood. The top of the tree is dead but it continues to grow in volume. Marty and I are standing in front of it in the photo below.
It is an awesome sight, and I was not able to get the whole of the tree in one photo.
To reach the tree we walked down a .4 mile trail that dropped 200 feet. Going down was much easier than coming back up. It was a bit brisk at 29 degrees but by the time we finished the climb I was quite warm.
Along the walk we saw several tree squirrels and chipmunks.
As you drive out of the park you see mainly pine trees. The descent on the north side into Fresno is an easier drive, with a wider less curvy road that runs through the trees with only a few areas with sheer drop-offs.
I was even able to let go my tight grip on the arm rest!
As we drove into the park, the narrow and curvy road rose to over 7000 feet. One of the landmarks is Moro Rock.
From Amphitheater Point you have a stunning view. The drive was gorgeous, but just a little difficult for a person such as myself who has a problem with heights.
After the climb to 6500 feet, we finally reached the growth of sequoia trees. Sequoias grow naturally only on the west slope of California's Sierra Nevada range. The giant sequoia has a massive trunk, huge stout branches, and cinnamon-colored bark. The taller and more slender redwood tree grows in a narrow strip along the Pacific Coast. The sequoia grows to 311 feet, 3200 years old, and 40 feet in diameter at the base. The redwood grows to 367 feet, 2,000 years old, and 22 feet in diameter at the base. The tree below is the Sentinel Tree.
The General Sherman tree is the largest tree in the world. There are taller trees, and trees that are bigger around, but the General Sherman tree has the most wood. The top of the tree is dead but it continues to grow in volume. Marty and I are standing in front of it in the photo below.
It is an awesome sight, and I was not able to get the whole of the tree in one photo.
To reach the tree we walked down a .4 mile trail that dropped 200 feet. Going down was much easier than coming back up. It was a bit brisk at 29 degrees but by the time we finished the climb I was quite warm.
Along the walk we saw several tree squirrels and chipmunks.
As you drive out of the park you see mainly pine trees. The descent on the north side into Fresno is an easier drive, with a wider less curvy road that runs through the trees with only a few areas with sheer drop-offs. 
I was even able to let go my tight grip on the arm rest!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)