Giant Sequoia Trees

Wed - Dec. 2nd

John's sister took us up to Sequoia National Park for the day. It is just a couple of hours from where she lives. It is the second National Park, established in 1890 after Yellowstone Park.

Once again I highly recommend dramamine for the very windy roads. We passed many miles of orange and lemon groves on the drive up.

When we got into Sequoia, we hiked up Moro Rock for the great views.

This is a view of the middle fork of the Kaweah River and the windy road we drove up on.

This was the mountain range behind us. We were very lucky to be able to go up here this time of the year. They had lots of snow last week, but it was mostly melted and the roads just had a few icy patches left on them.

Tarra walking thru an old fallen sequoia.






View of Obelisk Peak in Kings Canyon National Park.

General Sherman Tree. The Sequoias are not as tall as the redwoods we saw a few weeks ago in northern California, but they are larger in total volume because they are so much bigger around at the bottom and at the top. Just their bark is actually 12" thick.

The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree on earth by volume. Each year it gains enough wood to equal a very large tree of any other species. It is 2,200 years old.





This is us at General Grant's Grove.

This is Michigan Spring Tree that fell in 1931 because of a spring that ran under it and eroded it.

There are three priests walking thru this dead tree that probably died 100s of years ago.

There was a little snow on the ground here next to the parking lot. From here we headed down to Fresno. There were lots of vineyards along this road. The grapes here are grown for wine, juice and raisins.

I guess we were getting to be annoying quests. John's sister decided to go on a 5 day vacation to Las Vegas, so we are house sitting. I think we will be on the road again next Monday after she gets back from vacation. So probably no more pictures till then.

Over and out.

Tarra

Crystal Cathedral in L.A.

Mon - Dec. 30th

We stopped to see the Crystal Cathedral, home of Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power", before we left L.A. for home.

It's quite beautiful with the sun reflecting on it, but you know John. He said it's not actually crystal, it's only glass. Even so, architecturally speaking, it's pretty cool.

While we were in Disney, they had 4 inches of snow on the grapevine north of L.A. and more at higher elevations. I said it would it be awesome to be stranded at Disneyland because of a snow storm. Of course it was all gone by the time we left.

This is the inside with the front scenery for their Christmas Pageant which is all sold out Dec. 3rd to Jan. 3rd. John and his sister are standing up front.

There are 3,100 seats with a wing like this on each side.

The organ is at the rear.

Home Sweet Home. It's good to be back home again and even better to have family to mooch free campsites from.

The leaves are starting to fall here in Hanford and the weather is gorgeous. We are heading out for our daily hike.

Tarra

California Adventureland

Sat - Nov. 28th

This is the Hollywood Tower of Terror ride based on the movie where five people stepped into the elevator and were never heard from again. Once you get seated in the elevator, it drops several stories, several times. It
was quite a thrill and once was definitely enough.

We are in the upper right hand corner of the elevator here as it is dropping.





We rode Mickey's Big Wheel twice. The first time we chose to ride in one of swinging cars and I got quite nauseaous. The second time we chose to ride in one of the nonswinging cars. It was a great ride and we had a great view of everything all over the park.

On this ride they strapped us into seats around the tower and zipped you to the top of the tower. Then they dropped you back down part way and up and down and up and down. Another thrill I won't need to repeat. My next trip to Disneyland will involve lots of kiddie rides with my grandchildren.



Here is a picture of the roller coaster getting ready to take off. It makes several very steep drops and one upside down loop in the center where the blue circle of light is in the picture below. John always seems to be able to talk me into riding them, even though they scare me to death and I am sure I am going to have a heart attack. Boy, am I getting old!

This is a restroom that was built to look like an unside down kleenex box. We didn't even notice it when we went in, only later when we walked by it again.

The best ride in the park was Soaring California, which was like a virtual tour flying over California. We could actually smell the oranges as we flew over the orchards. It felt like our dangling feet were going to touch the tops of the trees as we skimmed over them.

We also saw several different 3-D movies that were awesome, just like we were actually part of the movie. So cool!

Thank you Kathy for including us in your 60th birthday celebration.

Party On,

Tarra

Disneyland

Fri - Nov. 27th & Sun - Nov. 29th

We stayed at a hotel right across the street from the entrance to Disneyland. This is the trolley at Main Street Disney near the entrance.

This is Walt Disney and Mickey in front of the castle.

I went to Disneyland with Goofy and his sister. I was at Disneyland for Mickey's 50th birthday and for Donald's 50th birthday.

And now I was there for Goofy's sister's 60th.

It just doesn't get any better than that!









This is the singing birds in the Enchanted Tiki Room.





These guys were having a little trouble with the rhino when we were on the jungle cruise.

This is an amazing robot named Asimo made by Honda. You can read about him at Asimo.Honda.com.

We rode this little train on the winding track of Thunder Mountain. It was a fun ride.





This was an awesome broadway type production
with New Orleans style music and costumes. It was really terrific.

This is City Hall on Main Street Disney.

I

It's a Small, Small World is one of the best rides at Disney and just beautiful when it's lit up at night.





This is the Disney Castle that you used to see on TV every Sunday night when we were kids, before the Wonderful World of Disney came on.

This is Main Street Disney as we were leaving the park at midnight Sunday night.

This is the Train Station Depot at the entrance/exit as we were leaving the park.

My advice: Wear good shoes, take dramamine and have fun! You're only as young as you act.

M-I-C, See you real soon.

K-E-Y, Why? Because we love you.

M-O-U-S-E!

Mouseketeer Tarra signing out.