San Francisco to Sequoia National Park

What an amazing few days we have had. We left San Francisco and drove South toward Yosemite National Park, staying three nights in the fabulous Tenaya Lodge Hotel -but the real highlight was the excitement on all our faces when we arrived to unexpected, late season snowfall. The kids were in heaven once we managed to obtain a Toboggan and some snow boots -we spent a whole day playing in the snow around the hotel and then enjoying a hot jacuzzi -both outdoor and indoor (Photo is of Gemma in bathers in the snow!).

This limited our time actually in Yosemite to one full day, which seemed more than enough for the kids, though Pete and I would love to have done some longer walks. The weather was clear, sunny and the snow just added sharpness and contrast to the most stunning scenery -mountains, amazing sheer rock walls, pounding waterfalls, and a gorgeous river in the valley in between. Saw squirrels and deer, but no bears despite many warning signs about keeping food hidden! To top off the day we ate dinner in the historic Wawona Hotel dining room, and the kids were serenaded by the piano player in the hotel lobby.

We were all a bit deflated on leaving and arriving here in the smallish farming town of Visalia -where the KOA Kampground (their spelling, not mine!) has been a big step down in ambiance and comfort level! However, we did break up the journey with a visit to the annual Clovis Rodeo which was great fun -hot, dusty and all American cowboy action. The rodeo intro ceremony mentioned servicemen, the American Eagle, freedom and the right to carry a gun in the first 30 seconds.

We spent yesterday visiting the Giant Sequoia trees in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The trees were certainly impressive - enormous and old - up to 2000 years! All set amongst more snow action. Today was the first day we have really struggled with motivating the kids to get in the car AGAIN! They have been such troopers with the travel, but frustration levels were peaking!

Our GPS took us home through the outer suburbs of Visalia. A real eye opener to see urban poverty - not the begging and homelessness of the big cities, but families sitting outside little houses that look like shipping containers. Wages in stores and restaurants seem pretty low - around $8 per hour or less. It is amazing that the service is so courteous and helpful despite all this. Our waitress last night was a single mum with 4 kids, who works the evening shift 5 nights per week. "That's a tough gig" I said, and she had no idea what I was talking about until I translated myself into English.

(On the topic of Aussie slang - I thought it was my accent, but it's my choice of phrasing that's causing my difficulties. I asked the guy in the surf shop how much it cost to hire a board for a day - not such a tricky concept I thought, as he's standing next to a huge sign that says BOARD HIRE. "Oh, you want to RENT a board!" Seems like he hires, I rent. Park volunteers were collecting donations as we entered Yosemite. "Good on you" I said. The lady burst out laughing. "Did you REALLY SAY THAT?" she laughed. Seems like that phrase is reserved for Paul Hogan.)

OK, off to Arizona! Blog soon. Hope you're all well! With love from P& F