Just spent a delightful week road tripping in Central California. Drove I-80 across Nevada the first day.
Dinner in Lincoln California with my niece Molly, husband Austin and cute daughter Lesa. They are hoping to adopt again, so keep them in mind.
Sunday morning stop at Gridley Cemetery. My great grandfather Chester Southworth is buried on the south side. I didn't know where his grave was located, so I just started walking. Found it in the first side section I explored.
Chester with his wife Agnes Caldwell and their first daughter Margaret Ann. They had 13 children. My grandmother Veara Southworth Fife was the 13th.
The family was from Brigham but were sent to colonize the Bear Lake Valley (Veara was born in Dingle south of Montpelier) and then Raymond, Alberta Canada. From their Chester went on what Agnes called a "wild goose chase" to join with hundreds of other Mormons who were leaving Idaho and Utah for the greener pastures of the Sacramento Valley. Soon Gridley boasted the largest LDS Church house west of Utah. In all of these settlements, Chester was known for his singing and theatrics. He put on shows to raise money for church organs. One year after arriving he Gridley he dropped dead in his yard from a heart attack leaving Agnes and teenage Veara to bury Chester and to close up their unsuccessful venture and then move back to Brigham City.
I left a decoration of cedar cones.
Chester and one of his 13 children.
Walnut orchard across the street from the cemetery.
Rice farming in the Sacramento Valley. Looks like southeast Asia.
Next morning I visited the famed Glass Beach. Sadly, it was a very high tide.
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park
Climbed the tower. The original light house was destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake.
Point Reyes National Seashore.
Used the East Entrance for my first time visit to Pinnacles National Park.
Parked in Bear Gulch. Hiked a loop up aptly named Condor Gulch (saw the condors on the upper portion of this section) Trail to the High Peaks Trail which is indeed steep and narrow.
A sunny snake in the middle of the trail. A good Omen?
So exciting to see three magnificent California Condors soaring above.
Check out my Instagram for a video of the three condors flying. https://www.instagram.com/p/DCmuqx0sm2E/
Not a condor.
Snake at the end of the trail too. I was pleasantly surprised with Pinnacles. Loved the wildlife and the unique, beautiful geologic formations. And the 5 1/2 mile loop was just right.
Next day, I explored more of Sequoia National Park. We had visited as a family a few years ago and I really liked it. I liked it enough to even buy tire chains (conveniently offered for sale in several stores inThree Rivers--but there was a no return policy knowing that if the chains were not needed people would want their money back) which are required to be carried in cars entering the park this time of year.
Big Tree Trail
Sunset Rock Trail with recent fire scars.
Bear Hill Trail
General Grant Tree trails
Out the window while driving south in the San Juaquin Valley. I opted to skip Yosemite and Tahoe given the heavy rain and snow in the north and instead went the southern route with a side trip to Death Valley.
This huge valley feeds much of America.
Death Valley National Park. Just the right temperature. I entered from the east side this time.
The Twenty Mule Team side road was a fun drive.
