Today we are heading south on CA-41S to CA-180E, the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to follow it all the way into Kings Canyon National Park. From there it is a short trip further south on CA-198S, the Generals Highway into Sequoia National Park. Somehow, co-mingled with these two parks is the Sequoia National Monument, but we never did find passport stamps for the monument. We expected it to be a long day, but it turned out to be even more fun that we expected. Both of these parks are not particularly popular, so the crowds were significantly smaller than Yosemite had yesterday.
     As we headed south on CA-41, our beautiful mountain town of Oakhurst gave way to the flat barren plains of Fresno . Mostly it was just dead grass about as far as you could see, with a few fruit tree orchards wherever there was irrigation. It was also very flat with no mountains to be seen until we took the turn east onto CA180 at Fresno. Within about 10 miles, the mountains reappeared in all there splendor. CA-180 turned out to live up to its scenic name, the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. The mountains god very big quickly as out elevation rose from less that 1000 ft to over 7000 ft and then up and down between 5000 ft and 7000 ft a few times over the next 60 miles to the Kings Canyon Visitors Center.
     It took us a while to understand these two parks, but the Big Stump Entrance on CA-180 covers entrance into both parks. Even though you get to Kings Canyon first, Kings Canyon National Park is split into 2 sections. The part we visited is called Grant Village, and contains the Grants Grove of Sequoia Trees, and one of the largest and oldest sequoias called the General Grant. From what we have learned about Redwoods and Sequoias, they are different species of Giant Trees . The redwoods are taller, and get their width or diameter, from sharing a root structure with a bunch of trees. The Sequoias are much redder, shorter than redwoods but are much wider and are singular trees. The Sequoias we saw at Grants Grove were huge, but unfortunately, unlike Redwood National Park, the Kings Canyon National Park trails all had fences around the Sequoias so you couldn't really get close to them.
     We watched the film at the Visitors Center about Kings Canyon National Park, and explored what we could in the Grants Village section. Just east of Grants Village, CA-180 intersects with CA-198. If you follow CA-180E, it will drop from the 6000 ft elevation of Grants village to the valley floor in Kings Canyon. CA-180E ends abruptly at a place called, cleverly enough, Roads End. From there, the trail heads to the High Sierra begin. While this part of Kings Canyon looked beautiful, we just didn't have the time to make this trip today, so we opted instead to take the CA-198 branch south into Sequoia National Park . It was about 27 miles down CA-198 to the Visitors Center in Sequoia National Park.
     CA-198 is called the Generals Highway, and the scenery was beautiful along the way with a few scenic overlooks along the way. But most of the sequoia forest was in the valley below, so there weren't that many near the road. When we reached the Sequoia Visitors Center, the ranger recommended we visit the General Sherman, the biggest Sequoia in the park, and that we visit Moro Rock. There is also a Crystal Cave in Sequoia, but it takes about a 3-hour commitment between the drive to the cave, and the time to take the tour. We've seen a bunch of caves on this trip, so we thought the time was better spent with the rangers suggestions. Our National Park book also made the same suggestions, and to make sure not to miss Moro Rock.
     Even though the General Sherman Tree is fairly close to the street, the only nearby parking is very limited and is for handicapped only. We had to drive up the mountain to the other parking lot, and quickly found out where the crowds were . We didn't mind, as we were looking to do a little hiking, and the General Sherman was in a larger grove of giant trees, with trails all around. So we hiked around some of the other trees until we finally got to the General Sherman. It has to be the largest tree I have ever seen. The diameter is over 40 ft, and there is a poster with a Model T next to it, and it dwarfs the car. There was actually a line of people to take there picture in front of the General, and they were all in good spirits. People would take pictures of each other, and then pass their camera to the next person in line so they could get a picture of both of them together. We did the same thing, and passed the camera behind us to get our picture taken. The trip back to the bike was much more difficult, as it was all uphill, and the General Sherman is in the part of the park that is over 7000 ft. So we took our time and made it back. Some people would make the walk downhill to see the General, and then take the shuttle back up the hill to their car . We needed the steps.
     Next stop was the infamous Moro Rock, but on the way, we spotted a grove of unprotected Sequoias with a turn-out nearby. So we stopped the bike and did a little hiking into the grove. This gave us the opportunity to get right up to the trees without fencing and take pictures. They look even bigger when you are standing right next to them!
     So we followed the road signs to Moro Rock, the last one directing us to a very steep, twisty, and narrow road, that in some spots there was only room for one car, or one car and a motorcycle, so it was no problem for us. When we reached the top, we got out the camera and headed for the trail. It turns out that Moro Rock is a summit rock. There are a series of 350 steps leading to the top, and a summit view. Some of the stairs are on the outside, some are inside cracks in the rock, and others are just cut into the stone itself. When you reach the top there is a narrow walkway out to the edge, with nothing but a handrail on both sides . I say this like I know, but I have only seen pictures.
     Once I started the ascent, and saw what it would involve, I knew my fear of heights would never let me make it very far up. Luckily Jody has no such fear, and was only too happy to make the trek all the way to the top to take pictures. And they came out great! While Jody was taking pictures, I wandered over to a bench and sat down talking to an older couple there. They were from St Louis and had made the climb before, but were waiting for friends to come back down. They thought Jody might get mad at me for making her do all the climbing, but I assured them that Jody would be having a blast. And sure enough, when Jody finally came down, she was all excited and animated about what she had seen. When the older guy asked if she had taken pictures of the steps, and she said no, she ran back up to take some more pictures!
     It was getting to be around 4:00 and we knew we were a couple of hours away from the hotel, so we decided it was time to head back . The motorcycle ride back on CA-198 and CA-180 was awesome. It had been a beautiful day, and the weather had been from the mid-70's to the mid-80's depending on the elevation. When we made the final descent on CA-180 towards Fresno, and came out of the mountains, the temperature began to rise. By the time we got below 1000 ft, the temperature hit 102 degrees! It was hot all the way back to Oakhurst. Once we reached the mountains of Oakhurst, the temperature dropped back to a more reasonable 92 degrees.
     Since it was about 6:40 when we got back to town, we decided that we should eat before heading back to the hotel. Tonight was Barbeque, and there is a place in town called Iron Horse BBQ, and the smoker is out front and is in the shape of a railroad steam engine. The pulled pork was delicious! Speaking of steam trains, we have a steam train ride in the morning before we head to Seaside, CA back on coast highway. It should be an easy ride over, and Thursday we resume ou ride down the California coast on CA-1.

274.6 miles today
12,164.0 miles total

4.413 gallons today
289.354 gallons total