For four years on our travels we have seen all sorts of animals, except bear. Well now we have seen bears.
On Tuesday we drove up to the Zumwalt Meadows, a very pretty area at the head of the KIngs Canyon. On the way I saw what I thought was a tree stump about 10 yards in from the road, but it moved! So I slammed on the brakes, reversed up and there was a large brown bear, although it was actually a Black Bear. It was moving quite slowly through the tress at the side of the road, we were able to follow it in the car (going backwards), as we followed it if moved further into the woods and eventually we lost sight of it, though we did get some photos of it. We were very excited by this.
Next day we drove down to Azalea Campground to be nearer the really big trees of Seaquoia National Park. On the Thursday we drove deep into the park to visit the largest known tree in the world. A sequoia called General Sherman, siad to be more than 2500 years old! There are several asphalted paths which lead to the giant tree, as we walked along one path to the tree a bear came out of the woods, right acros the path in front of us and then back into the woods. Even though they seem to move quite slowly they do cover a lot of ground quickly, too quickly for my liking, stil I always made sure that sally was between me and the bear. They say that the best protection against attack by bear is not to be able to run fast, just faster than the person you are with!
Trip 9 - California Dreamin'
On this trip we set out to immerse ourselves in the culture and the nature of California. To discover its textures and see some of its natural wonders. We discover that California is very big. It is not a state that you can just pass through, it is, more than any other place we have visited, more like another country. It is a land dominated by mountains, the spaces between and like nowhere else, water.
Our start in the heavily populated area to the East of Los Angeles, known as the Inland Empire, is crowded into the lowlands surrounded by magnificent mountains. The feeling is of a cauldron which is trying to boil over the mountains to the fresh air of the rest of the state.
To the South is a band of Desert, which is the buffer to Mexico, which we did not explore on this trip.
We travelled North through the mountains (everywhere in California you can see mountains) to the desert, and on again to the huge Central Valley, mile after mile of intensive agriculture. Culture here is dominated by food, flatness, low income and trying to impact on the 'sameness' of the flat lands through music and festival. It is the communication and administrative corridor that links all other areas of California.
To the East is the huge mountain chain of the Sierra Nevada which clearly demonstrates the magnificence of the natural world, both in its geology and nature, reflected in the pysche and pride of most Californians. It is Eldorado, dominated by Gold!
To the West of the Central Valley are the coastal mountains, San Francisco and the magnificent coast. More isolated cultures, from mixed resources, communities seperated by mountains.
To the North of the Central Valley more mountains and a culture which looks more North towards Oregon than South to Sacremento.
This blog details our journey through California, where we pick and choose, or just scratch the surface, of this diverse and beautiful state.
Our start in the heavily populated area to the East of Los Angeles, known as the Inland Empire, is crowded into the lowlands surrounded by magnificent mountains. The feeling is of a cauldron which is trying to boil over the mountains to the fresh air of the rest of the state.
To the South is a band of Desert, which is the buffer to Mexico, which we did not explore on this trip.
We travelled North through the mountains (everywhere in California you can see mountains) to the desert, and on again to the huge Central Valley, mile after mile of intensive agriculture. Culture here is dominated by food, flatness, low income and trying to impact on the 'sameness' of the flat lands through music and festival. It is the communication and administrative corridor that links all other areas of California.
To the East is the huge mountain chain of the Sierra Nevada which clearly demonstrates the magnificence of the natural world, both in its geology and nature, reflected in the pysche and pride of most Californians. It is Eldorado, dominated by Gold!
To the West of the Central Valley are the coastal mountains, San Francisco and the magnificent coast. More isolated cultures, from mixed resources, communities seperated by mountains.
To the North of the Central Valley more mountains and a culture which looks more North towards Oregon than South to Sacremento.
This blog details our journey through California, where we pick and choose, or just scratch the surface, of this diverse and beautiful state.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
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