Tuesday, May 23, 2023

May 17, Sequoia National Park

 

We want to get an early start today so we can get a hike in before the heat of the day.  Rather than cook a big breakfast and then clean up from it, we decide to run into town and get breakfast there.  What? The power is out all through the valley and has been since midnight????  Well, we drive on to another little town and find a place with power.  It is at a small airport for private planes.  Tasty and very local. 

 

Our hike today is again about 3-4 miles and starts at the Hospital picnic area. We walk along the closed road to one of the closed campgrounds.  We’re following the river upstream.  After about 2 miles, we get to the closed campground.  Sure looks fine to us and we don’t understand why it’s closed.  The path narrows once we’ve passed the campground. We go about another mile and catch up with the river.  There is a pedestrian bridge which we cross.  Wow that’s a powerful, fast-moving river!  I can certainly see why there are frequent signs warning people of the drowning danger.  Of course, I think anyone would have to be really stupid to think they could go too near the river.  We walk a little past the bridge and find some big rocks to sit on next to the river.  The spray from the waterfall is totally refreshing!  The way back to the car is much easier as it is almost entirely downhill. 














We end up eating our lunch at the campsite.  I find two trees where I can hang my hammock.  Naptime! 



One of the other campers tells us that behind site number 16, there is a path down to the river that isn’t too steep.  (There are 3 different rivers that come together in this area.  The one by our campsite isn’t the one that we hiked along earlier today).  There is an area of backwater where it is actually safe to wade a little bit.  The temperature next to the river is a good 10 degrees cooler than at the campsite.  We hang there for quite awhile.  The other camper comes back with her husband and their 2 dogs.  The dogs are having a blast in the water.  I know they have to be hot too. 

Another nap in the hammock.  Camping life is tough……

Thunder!  A few drops of rain.  I get the hammock down and put away.  We batten down the hatches around camp.  Wind is picking up.  Well, that’s about it.  Never materialized into much but it did really bring the temperature down which was nice.

Threat of rain is gone so we make our dinner of raspberry porkchops, rice, Caesar Salad and watermelon for dessert. 

 

My computer screen is the only light around and the gnats are drawn to it.  I think it’s time for bed.

 

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