Unfortunately, the canyon was hot (down to 4,000’ and in the 90’s!!) after getting used to the 70’s at 7,000’ – so we scratched the long hike we were going to do in the canyon for a ‘reading day’ at Magic.  What a nice relaxing, quiet day – eat, read, eat, read and eat some more.  Speaking of s’mores – we have a new ‘do’;-)  Instead of using the Hershey bar – replace it with a Reese’s peanut butter cup – UM-UM-UM!!!!

Our last day in the NP’s we did manage to get our sorry butts up and do one final hike – Redwood Canyon.  Here we were walking among the Giants in the largest sequoia grove in the world.  Again, pictures can not do justice to the magical feeling that envelops you as you walk through these guys.  It is pure majesty –

After one last sunset from our campground, it is time for us to say farewell to these wonderful National Parks. 

If you have a National Park anywhere close – get out and visit!!  Support them, as they are ours to enjoy for VERY little.

Sorry to go – Elizabeth & Gary with long faces;-(

It is hard to believe that something so large and grand could come from something so small –

This tree is so special that President Coolidge proclaimed it to be the Nation’s Christmas Tree in 1926 and President Eisenhower designated it as a National Shrine in 1956 – the only living memorial to those who have given their lives for their country.

Time for some more cardio – so we were off to Little Baldy.  Only a 4 mile roundtriper, but with a 700’ vertical climb.  Again, views were pretty spectacular, but being on top of Little Baldy was NOT nearly as scary as being on top of Moro Rock.

Our day was completed by a ranger talk from John Muir.  OK – not the real one but a ranger that did a pretty good job of giving Muir’s life story and his importance to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP’s. 

Upon returning to Magic after the talk we found NO power.  We learned that running the generator for only an hour during the day did NOT charge the batteries enough.  Luckily the refrig and freezer were cold enough to last through the night until quiet hours were over and the generator could be turned back on.  It did prove to be a restless night for G, though, not knowing if all would be OK until morning.  All is well now and the generator is charging as E is writing and posting;-)

Perhaps a drive into Cedar Grove is in store for today – Relieved E & G

The adventure of getting there, as always, was half the fun.  And today’s ‘getting there’ was filled with events – – –

As one approaches Moro Rock it is quite daunting – standing almost 7,000’ above the valley floor it resembles an enormous 1,000’ egg standing on end on the rim of the Marble Fork Canyon.  Nearly 400 steps take you up 300’ in .3 mile.  The entire walk is on the rock itself with continual views in all directions – the Great Western Divide, the Middle Fork Canyon, Generals Highway (which we have been traveling daily), more wild flowers and an array of lizards.  Even E’s knees shook in spots on this one – but there were plenty of rest spots including a great spot for our lunch break.

After almost a week in the Valley, we decided we would like to try staying in the park at the entrance to Kings Canyon.  So – Magic was packed up and filled to the brim with water, batteries charged and all waste tanks dumped to nothing, as we would be dry camping (no hookups) for the next 5 days in the park campground.  It is all worth it – as check out Magic’s new parking spot;-)  No one around us and views in every direction –

From early on there were continuous views of the Watchtower rising 1,600 feet above – a massive piece of rock –

Then – the Tokopah Falls came into view cascading more than 100 feet down the steep headwalls of the valley.  Our destination became our lunch spot.

On the return to the car, a stop was in order for our dessert.   E could NOT resist the temptation of checking the water temp any longer –

There were also adventures waiting to be had upon our return to the Bus.  There were sand castles to be made, ducks to watch and more rope swinging.  E could get Haley to jump rocks at the creek – but, swinging on the rope over the river was out of the question;-(

Have to go get some sleep as there are more hikes tomorrow!!  E & G ready to go;-)

After the wonderful family events of a wedding and a graduation – we were off to “camp”.  Or as Tiffin likes to say – “roughing it smoothly”. 

Sequoia NP is a favorite of ours, although we have only ‘visited’ in the snow – even though one trip was mid-April.  So, this trip is a whole new experience – as EVERYTHING was open!!  This provided toooo many choices.  Elizabeth FINALLY got to experience the many places closed due to snow in prior trips and Gary got to relive the family camping trips of his youth;-)

Not only do we like the NP, but we also love the camping spot we have found here (our third stay).  Kaweah RV Resort provides a beautiful, relaxing ‘home’ on the river.  

After one day of setting up, revisiting the local hardware store (which we love) and chilling around the campsite, it was time to begin our adventures.  The first day brought a drive to the Mineral King area (closed due to snow on prior trips), which was added to the NP in 1978.  It was named in the 1870s by gold prospectors, who gained little more than unfulfilled dreams here.   Gary gained lots of fond memories here camping at the Atwell Mill campground with his parents and brother in his younger days.

Day 2 – a VERY busy day!  After a stop at the Visitor Center to purchase tickets for the Crystal Cave tour, we were off to the cave (closed due to snow on prior trips).  The drive there is the same as all the drives in the park – on a narrow, steep, winding, beautiful road where the speed limit is 25-35 mph and going 25 miles, therefore, takes an hour.  One just slows down and enjoys all there is to see – which is MUCH!!  Upon arrival at the tour entrance, we ate our packed lunch so we were ‘charged up’ for the hike in and out.  Our post-tour snacks were then placed in our backpack and stowed in the bear boxes to be sure the bears didn’t get our snacks;-)   Then we were off on the beautiful ½ mile hike to the entrance of the cave – waterfalls and all –

A real treat awaited us at the cave entrance.  There had been a power failure (bears/animals ‘disturbed’ electrical cables which could not be repaired until after the long Memorial Day weekend).  SO – the tour turned into a flashlight tour.  A completely different experience and LOTS of FUN!!  Crystal Cave is also different in that it is marble instead of the usual limestone.  Therefore, it really is “Crystal” in appearance.

On the Congress Trail (named for the institution that gave legal protection to the sequoias – AND closed due to snow on prior trips) one sees “The President” tree, “The Senate” stand of trees and “The House“ stand of trees.  It really is awe-inspiring to walk among these Giants –

And – the day was done.  Time to return to Magic for that good old-fashioned Memorial Day weekend BBQ of hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob followed by root beer floats;-)  What a day!

Roughin’ it Smoothly – Elizabeth & Gary

With the wedding and the weekend over it was time for us to head north a couple of hours for another happy event – this time with the Dickey family.   After many starts and stops over the years, daughter Heather finally obtained that allusive college diploma with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services.  Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at the NAS Lemoore Station Theater there was MUCH Pomp and Circumstance as Heather marched down the aisle, received the diploma AND paaarrrrtied on!!

We all just had too much fun helping Heather celebrate.  Now we are off to Sequoia National Park for some outdoor exercise –

See you on the trails in a couple of days – E & G

While the wedding party was off taking pictures, the guests were having a few cocktails and taking their own pictures!  The entire attending Biaett clan was NOT to be outdone —-

This wonderful evening was capped off with a lovely dinner and dancing;-) 

One more event before we all headed home – breakfast at Paula’s Pancake House on Saturday morning.  Even the younger (or at least more energetic) crowd, who were celebrating until the wee hours of the morning, managed to make it.   After breakfast Galadriel, Jeff and Graysen left in their decorated mini-van;-)

Even with all these planned activities we managed to have a few ‘cocktail hours’ at the Bus with Mom, Barb, Dodge and Jeanie – a couple rounds of golf – sightseeing around the area – and dinner at a couple of the “Sideways” restaurants;-)

(BTW – for those at this wedding, you MUST rent/download/get a copy of Sideways and watch it!!  We did this last night and had a blast seeing all the places we just ‘visited’ in the movie.  LOTS OF FUN;-) )

Galadriel and Jeff – we wish you the best for a long, happy, healthy life.  AND, thank you for providing the ‘excuse’ for the family to get together.  Everything was wonderful – THANK YOU WITH LOTS OF LOVE –

April reminded us how beautiful the desert can be – especially at the Desert Botanical Gardens when all the cactus are in bloom and the butterflies are abundant.

Even on the golf course all the cactus are in bloom, many of the ‘snow birds’ have gone home and the rates are beginning to go down.  What more can we ask for?

More new events for us – niece Deme has become quite involved in volleyball.  We have followed her to tournaments around the state, but April took us to a regional tournament in Anaheim, CA where her team took second in their ‘pool’ and put them into the single elimination playoff rounds (won first match but lost second).  Three days of volleyball is a LOT of volleyball – BUT, a lot of fun;-)

Think we were tired at the end of this week????  Get prepared because in a couple of weeks we leave Scottsdale for the summer.  But, one last event before we pack up Magic and hit the road – Mother’s Day.  Deme was in charge of a wonderful brunch at our house –

AND THEN – SPRING BREAK WITH NIECE DEME AND GRANDDAUGHTER HALEY – IN THE BUS;-)!!!!!!  We left on Monday morning with Deme in tow.  A lunch stop at the London Bridge broke up the day.  Tuesday we all arrived in Lemoore, CA to pick up Haley.  But first, Shannon gave us a tour of the hangars and the jets getting ready to go out on a ship;-)  Early Wednesday Magic took the four of us to Monterey – and lots of adventures there.   We found seals, the beach, the Monterey Aquarium, parks, ice cream and general FUN in Magic.  Friday it was time to head back to Lemoore – and I think perhaps we even wore the girls out!!    

During these first couple of months of 2013, we also got to celebrate Deme’s birthday – along with sister Barb’s and Mother Dorthy’s.