Among Giants and Wildflowers — Sequoia National Park, CA
The sequoia trees are masterpieces of texture, having experienced life on Earth for over 2,000 years. Some have endured fire, yet they still stand tall, telling a story of resilience.
Wow. Wow. And wow again.
I just finished a week of an extraordinary meditation retreat, where we were encouraged to keep our phones away—so I did. That also means I took a break from keeping you posted on my travels.
I will write a full post about this profound experience soon. For now, my heart is filled with profound love.
But first, I still have a few posts to catch up on…
It is a quiet morning at the campground. I set my alarm for 5:30, but I am awake before it goes off, excited to start my day. I make my bed and jump into the driver’s seat. One of the things I love about having my home with me is the flexibility it gives me.
I plan to drive to the General Sherman Tree parking lot and take the time to get ready for the day. I have a 45-minute drive up the mountain ahead of me.
I make one fantastic stop at Moro Rock. I did not realize that my wake-up remedy this morning would be a stairmaster climb. Oh wow, what an amazing view that I have all to myself!
Yep, that is undoubtedly a big tree! General Sherman is the largest known tree in the world by volume. The redwoods on the northern California coast are the tallest trees in the world. Good to know :) In both cases, I feel like an ant standing next to them.
I feel that the best way for me to experience Sequoia National Park is to hike among the giants. I choose the Sherman Tree, Congress Trail, Trail of the Sequoias, and Tharp’s Log Loop. The loop is about 7 miles, but somehow, like with every hike, I end up showing at least a mile more than I anticipated. (That hike at the end shows 9 miles on my AllTrails app.)
For many years, I enjoyed my work as a faux finisher. I loved creating textures for my clients’ walls, but my most satisfying technique was when I worked with plaster and could feel the movement in the texture. So yes, I am very much fascinated by texture in nature.
The sequoia trees are masterpieces of texture, having experienced life on Earth for over 2,000 years. Some have endured fire, yet they still stand tall, telling a story of resilience.
One of the trees has a small sign next to it, “The Room Tree,” so I enter. Now that is a fantastic space! My imagination goes into full speed, designing my home in California.
No matter how much research you do about a place, it is only when you get to experience it that you truly understand what you have read. I knew I would be driving on a windy road, but I was not expecting such a long and exhausting drive that demands constant focus just to make sure I do not miss a turn. I am sure my car's brake system is screaming. This is for sure the longest and windiest road I have ever experienced.
The early morning sun gently nudges me to get up. I cherish easy, slow mornings. My plan today is to hike to Marble Falls. I do not need to drive, as the parking lot is conveniently located near my campsite.
By the time I am ready to hit the trail (9:30 am), some gray clouds gently cover the sun. I am not complaining, as it is already too hot for me. AllTrails informs me that the trail is about 6.3 miles long (again, my end result shows almost 8 miles) and marked as Moderate — I would agree with that.
The narrow trail hugs the edge of the cliffs all the way to the falls. I am not thrilled about that, so I keep my eyes glued to the ground. The trail is beautifully lined with wildflowers — yellow, purple, white, pink, and lavender. It is by far the most wildflowers I have ever seen on a single hike. There is no silence here, as the sounds of countless birds fill the air. Just bliss!
As I climb in elevation, the vegetation changes — and so do the size of the lizards. The tail end of a slithering snake lets me know he is part of the party, which is good to know.
I often stop to smell the flowers and soak in the beautiful views.
Wow! What a massive, powerful waterfall. It cascades on so many levels and at different flows. This hike is worth every step to experience such beauty. It is hard to believe that these waterfalls dry up in the summer.
By the time I return to my campsite, all I want is a shower.
Remember, I shared that everything takes longer now in my life. Thankfully, this time I remembered to heat some water on my stove and pour it into my faucet. I set up my shower tent and got everything ready. Forty-five minutes later, I am finally prepared to shower. Unfortunately, I have to rush, as a bee keeps flying around me. I have never been stung by a bee, and I would really rather not find out right now if I am allergic.
Those two rushed minutes bring so much pleasure. Now it is time to set up my hammock and relax until dinner.
As always, I enjoy talking with fellow travelers about their journeys and sharing stories. My neighbors, Joanne and John from Florida, were no exception. We had such a pleasant conversation. We all agreed it would be wonderful if our paths crossed again, as it has luckily happened with other new friends I have met on the open road.
