20161003 – Bear Alert, A Close Encounter

Set off early, that’s 09:00 for us paleofolk, for our day in Kings Canyon National Park.

Watch the visitor centre film and then visit the giant General Grant Sequoia, allegedly the 2nd largest tree in the world, but then again you have to remember this is America.

Drive all the way down the canyon to the Roads End, 35 miles (1 hour) down switch backs. It is quite spectacular, more rugged and barren than Yosemite, but as the canyon was created by water erosion it’s a lot narrower than Yosemite and not as easy to see the majestic rock formations. Have a wander around the meadow and are rewarded for all our efforts with a bear siting. Yes there it is in all its glory just 10 feet away, rooting around and not bothered by the 3 or 4 orgasmic photographers. Nearly ran out of film as it poses for us all. Awesome.

Then it’s 35 miles back out of the canyon.

Then it’s a drive through more National Forest and Sequoia NP on our way to our hotel in Three Rivers.

The governors highway out of sequoia NP has to be the worst road ever for zigs, zigs and hairpins. It should be renamed the Huey & Ruth Highway, as I’m sure the lay-bys are littered with masses of congealed diced carrots as passengers part with their last meal.

It’s a hard days driving, all 8 hours of it but most of it at 30 miles an hour on switch backs.

Less said about the hotel the better. Try getting in the room. Silly me, of course the door handle has to be pushed upwards to open. This does not bode well. Very clean and comfortable, we even have a suite with a jacuzzi, but within 10 minutes I’ve fell off my surf board of life as I go into battle over the elusive high speed wireless internet. I’m more likely to find a giant tortoise in Sequoia NP than a connection in my room. Why do they taunt me so.

Subway for tea and a bottle of wine to help me regain my balance on the surfboard of life.

Up early for a mediocre breakfast. Wendy’s fell off her skateboard of life (she doesn’t swim so no surfing) as they’ve run out of tea bags. What is this country coming to. I blame Obama.

Drive back up the Huey & Ruth Highway for our day in Sequoia NP. Start off at the general Sherman Sequoia, this is the largest, allegedly. Fact check: turns out it is the largest living tree in the World by volume and is about 52,500 cubic feet (1,487 cubic meters) in volume.
Good exercise walking down and back up to the tree.

Then we head to the Lodgepole village for some lunch – someone forget our picnic.

Visit the free museum and off to Moro rock. This one you can climb up, all 350 steps. Wendy stays in the car as her knees giving her some gyp. I set off with some trepidation for the top. Get about halfway up, when the sheer drop offs get the better of me, and I wimp out. I don’t do heights. The views and the drop offs are awesome. Well worth my half hearted effort.

Drive up to the meadow for a picturesque stroll. No bears this time. Then drive through the Sequoia tree and back down the Huey and Ruth highway. It’s quite a pleasant drive when you’re not so tired and the sun’s out.

Tea consists of a Mexican take away. Whilst we’re waiting we have an enjoyable chat with one of the locals. I think he’s a it of a tree hugger, although certainly not a veggie, judging by what he’s eating, but he’s certainly well informed, even on BREXIT – which he thinks is a good thing. He claims American IQ has gone down by 20% over the past 50 years. Well that got me thinking. No way has there been such a decline but I did come across this graph which showed IQ by state. Mississippi comes out lowest, no real surprise there then, but as for Fargo and the portrayal of Minesotans as slow bouncers it turns out they’re one of the highest IQ states – see graph. Great news he informs us that Bakersfield, our next stop, is the armpit of California and Fresno is another orifice. Despite having lived here all his life he is very disparaging about California’s Central Valley and the US Government – now there’s a surprise. Once his 90 year old parents kick their clogs he’s off to New Zealand.

Take a pleasant, leisurely drive down California’s Central Valley to our next stop over, Bakersfield.

The Central Valley of California is a tourist black spot apart from the NP’s, but driving down it does evoke powerful images of Oakies escaping the dust bowls to a better land; turtles crossing roads; fruit pickers being exploited; Steinbeck country. Perhaps the illegal / un-documented Mexicans are the modern day Oakies of Steinbecks novels.

Our friend from last night was certainly right about Bakersfield. There really is nothing there. But never mind we go to Costco to try and get some Citrus Green Tea and for a bit of excitement. Fortunately our hotels excellent with great wifi so we have a leisurely day after two days of NP’s.

Why did I choose Bakersfield? We’d done the coast a few times and I’d always wanted to see the Central Valley; I’d heard of Bakersfield but hadn’t a clue about it; to break the journey up so we didn’t have to drive too far in one day.

For tea we try a new gourmet venue, Carl jars. One of the many big brand fast food chains. Burger was pretty good and service good.

Early start from Bakersfield and we drive down to Big Bear Lake. It’s a good 3 hour drive. Up through the San Bernardino mountains.

Quaint little tourist trap. Lakes not all that impressive, mainly because it’s drying up. A bit disappointing but the scenery is beautiful.

Set off down the mountains to Redlands, next to San Bernardino and by way of a change the roads closed. Of course they don’t bother to tell you this until you’ve driven 10 miles out of town. Drive back into Big Bear Lake and take the other route down the mountain. Again great scenery down a switch back road.

Get to our hotel in Redlands. By way of a change its a great comfort suite – restore my faith in Choice Hotels. I think the best rule is stick with comfort suites only in the big towns. Comfort inn and quality inn tend to be inconsistent in the smaller locations. Sleep inns can be quite good although breakfasts are a bit basic. It seems it’s all due to lack of quality control.

For tea it’s a Taco Bell at last. There’s one just opposite the hotel. It was meant to be.

Wow I didn’t realise that corporal punishment in schools was still allowed in 16 states over here. Nothing like a good flogging to instil a little discipline.

Lazy morning. We have a drive into San Bernardino. Sadly nothing much there either. Attracted to it by the mountains I suppose. Not one of my better choices.

Nip to Walmart and Best Buy. Then it should have been a 1 hour drive to our home exchange in Palm Springs for the next two weeks. Takes nearly 2 hours what with interstate roadwork and the biggest outdoor concert clogging up every road. Well I’ve certainly fell off my board trying to ride the wave of life with this lot. I’m ready to use my surf board as a lethal weapon on the paleo baby boomers who should have more sense. Our foray to the supermarket means we have to spend 35 minutes dodging gridlock.

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Then to add insult to injury we’re kept awake well after Noddy past Big Ears, with the racket from the Rolling Stones. It’s over a mile away but they’re still sharing it with us.

More on our awesome new home exchange and pictures follow on the next blog.