Majestic Sierra Nevada

We arrived at Buckeye Tree Lodge  at about 3.30pm after a long road trip, made easier by the use of sat-nav!

We also passed a town with the charming name of Oildale! Lots of these along the highway. I used to think those pumps were much bigger than this!

After the long road trip, all we wanted to do was relax in the pool, so we abandoned all thoughts of further exploration for a few hours. We were very happy with our choice of lodgings. Outside our bedroom was the Kaweah River, tumbling and twisting over and through giant boulders on its way down to the Kaweah Lake. We had stopped at the lake on our way up, for a picnic, but soon abandoned it when the wasps arrived to share our lunch!!

Here are a few pics of the Buckeye Tree Lodge and the views from our room:

Aidan reckons it would be hard to beat that for a garden water-feature!!
That evening we drove further up Sierra Drive, hoping to catch a sunset vista form a point called Amphitheater Point, but unfortunately we were stopped for roadworks by a red light, and after waiting 15 minutes we decided, not knowing what lay ahead, that we could be delayed by at least another 20 min on our way down (signs mean what they say over here) so we retraced our path down - ever gasping at the amazing views of the sunset across the mountains.



Moro Rock at sunset



Dinner in the Gateway Lodge conveniently located nextdoor to Buckeye, was good, (Orange Roughie fish for Aidan & baby back ribs for me) and afterwards we sat out in our garden listening to the sound of the running water, and gazing up at the stars.

Next morning (Wed) we set off on the trail of giant redwoods in the Sequoia National Park  and the Kings Canyon. Boy, what a trip! We encountered the roadworks again here and there. Although they delayed us, when we saw what they were doing to repair the precipice-like roads we couldn't complain. Think Conor Pass and multiply it by 100.
I think the pictures will explain better than I can why words like "majestic, awesome, grandeur" kept coming out of my mouth!

Eventually we reached the end of the road!!

From there on it was another short drive to Kings Canyon. Road closed!!! After all the driving, we only got a distant view:

However, after the jaw-dropping descent from 7000ft (yes!!) we had had such an amazing drive that it was only a small disappointment. Aidan was gracious about it - considering we now faced the long drive home! And at that stage we didn't know that when we got onto Route 245 we would have a 31-mile stint of the most twisty-winding roads before we realised that petrol stations were not abundant in the area.  With the red light showing, a friendly local couple directed us down the J-21 to Lemoncove. Thankfully it was downhill all the way, and only(?!!) 16 miles. The narrow little road reminded us of home - but there was no stopping to take photos till we made it to the gas station!!

See! NO GAS IN PARK means there are no petrol stations in the Sequoia National Park or Kings Canyon National Park. Yikes!!