Sunday 22nd October
We woke to another sunny day and after breakfast we started out shortly after 11am for the drive down ro Kernville. We stopped to use the facilities at the Giant Forest Museum/Visitors' Centre and had intended to drive back up to Moro Rock and climb the 300 steps to the summit but we had forgotten it was Sunday and everywhere was very crowded so we decided to give it a miss, especially as we had had such magnificent views from Pamoramic Point yesterday. Also because it was Sunday work was suspended on the General's Highway and instead of the two hour delay we had five minutes! I wish I could say this was good planning on my part but it was just how it fell out. The Highway was quite spectacular and had a maximum speed limit of 25 mph (15 through the roadworks) which was quite generous given the twists and turns of the road! Part way down we stopped at Hospital Rock which was an ancient Native American site. In 1860, Hale Tharp and his brother-in-law, John Swanson, were exploring the Giant Forest when Swanson sustained an injury to his leg. Swanson was transported to the locale where the injury was treated by local Indians. Hale Tharp gave the spot its name after a second similar incident. In 1873, James Everton recovered from a gunshot wound at the site. He had been injured by a shotgun snare set to trap bear. There were also pictographs on the side of the rock from the native American tribes who lived here long before the white settlers.
Once down on the plains the scenery changed again and we drove through miles and miles of fruit trees (I recognised oranges but not sure what the others were). Gradually the hills started to roll back in covered with dried golden yellow grass, rocks and occasional trees and we started to climb back up into the mountains. There was yet more amazing scenery as we dropped down to Lake Isobella and then along the Kern River to Kernville where we stay the night. A very well equipped unit with settee, cooker and fridge but no coffee for the coffee maker - so it is as well we had some in our bag!
we had a wnder along the river and went to Cheryl's Diner for dinner. The food was very good and a fraction of the cost in Yosemite and Kings Canyon!
We woke to another sunny day and after breakfast we started out shortly after 11am for the drive down ro Kernville. We stopped to use the facilities at the Giant Forest Museum/Visitors' Centre and had intended to drive back up to Moro Rock and climb the 300 steps to the summit but we had forgotten it was Sunday and everywhere was very crowded so we decided to give it a miss, especially as we had had such magnificent views from Pamoramic Point yesterday. Also because it was Sunday work was suspended on the General's Highway and instead of the two hour delay we had five minutes! I wish I could say this was good planning on my part but it was just how it fell out. The Highway was quite spectacular and had a maximum speed limit of 25 mph (15 through the roadworks) which was quite generous given the twists and turns of the road! Part way down we stopped at Hospital Rock which was an ancient Native American site. In 1860, Hale Tharp and his brother-in-law, John Swanson, were exploring the Giant Forest when Swanson sustained an injury to his leg. Swanson was transported to the locale where the injury was treated by local Indians. Hale Tharp gave the spot its name after a second similar incident. In 1873, James Everton recovered from a gunshot wound at the site. He had been injured by a shotgun snare set to trap bear. There were also pictographs on the side of the rock from the native American tribes who lived here long before the white settlers.
Once down on the plains the scenery changed again and we drove through miles and miles of fruit trees (I recognised oranges but not sure what the others were). Gradually the hills started to roll back in covered with dried golden yellow grass, rocks and occasional trees and we started to climb back up into the mountains. There was yet more amazing scenery as we dropped down to Lake Isobella and then along the Kern River to Kernville where we stay the night. A very well equipped unit with settee, cooker and fridge but no coffee for the coffee maker - so it is as well we had some in our bag!
we had a wnder along the river and went to Cheryl's Diner for dinner. The food was very good and a fraction of the cost in Yosemite and Kings Canyon!
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