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.

Sorry to have left you all hanging once we returned from our “Hilton Head” trip the end of October.  We were sooooo happy to be ‘home’ in our NEW home in Scottsdale – the blog took a back seat.  We purchased the home in the early part of the year – moved in, unpacked, hung pictures – and after TWO weeks we were off on our five month adventure in Magic.  We had spent so little time in the new place, when we returned we had no idea where we put anything!!  It didn’t take long to reacquaint ourselves and to prepare for company!!

Thanksgiving brought daughter Heather and granddaughter Haley for a visit.  There was the Phoenix Zoo, parks – and cousins Haley and Deme got to enjoy each other – 

Christmas followed very quickly and we had the family for both Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner for our first year in our new home.

We also made a quick trip to Lemoore, CA for an early Christmas with Heather, Shannon and Haley – including a day trip to Sequoia NP.

This is a VERY belated Happy New Year to all from our new home in the desert –

They provided a great afternoon – as did their parents.  But, as soon as we said good bye to them we were headed West.  It took 6 weeks to get to Hilton Head and only 5 days to get home to Scottsdale.  Of course, along the way we had some more of those ‘interesting’ parking places for the night – a police station, oil fields and a casino –

We arrived home safe and sound ready to spend at least a few days in our new Scottsdale townhome – which we were very impressed with when we got here (didn’t remember what all we had done to it – and were very pleased!!!).  Magic, too, performed well and provided a VERY nice home from May – October.

Shall now see what the Holidays provide.

Happy Happies to you all – Our Love and Hugs – Elizabeth & Gary