King's Canyon and More

We left Mendocino on September 10, 2019, on our trailer trip to the southern Sierras--King's Canyon and Sequoia National Parks-- followed by a cross-state trip to Paso Robles.  The first stop was just east of Lodi at an RV park, chosen for its location to set us up for the drive on September 11th down HWY 99 to Fresno then east into the National Park.  It was hot in Lodi but we managed to have
"operator error" on our first attempt to start the A/C--it was a busy time, and we gave up as it wasn't that hot in the shade.  Tomorrow, I plan to read the manual, although we won't be able to use the A/C while dry camping with no electrical hookup.

On the map, the journey looked relatively easy.  Certainly the trip down HWY 99 was straightforward, and the trailer traveled well being pulled by the Jeep.  Then, the eastward journey began on HWY 180.  The first thing that happened is that we ran out of city and services before we had an opportunity to fill up with gasoline. The 180 Highway system seemed fairly new.  So, we made a short westward turn, and retraced about five miles to head for the nearest service station, the gas gauge being down to 1/8th of a tank and mileage pulling a trailer being dreadful.  As we drove west, and stopped at a traffic light, a woman pulled up next to us, gestured to roll down my window and told me that my trailer door was open!  Well, we had certainly locked it, so somehow it had torqued open.  It slammed shut as pulled forward from the signal stop, and didn't open again.  When I checked it at the service station where we filled up, the door was securely fastened shut.  Puzzlement.

As it was a little after noon, we pulled over on a wide country lane spot where it would be easy to turn around, and got set to have lunch.  Upon unlocking and opening our door, I noticed that it was sprung --  that is, the spring latch that routinely helped close the trailer door seemed missing, and the door just swung easily to-and-fro.  But it still closed, still locked, so no repairs at Camping World seemed warranted.

After lunch, we continued on our way eastward, and continued, and continued.  What had seemed short on a map, was quite lengthy in reality as the road was  narrow and exceptionally windy, and speed had to be around 25-30 MPH in most locations.  Sheer drop offs were present as we gained elevation and headed into King's Canyon.  It took  us three more hours to go a map smidgeon distance, but we eventually reached Moraine campground, which is quite lovely, and set up camp in Moraine #104, which is similar to the view of the campground in this generic online picture.  

Over a quick dinner of hot dogs, we decided that we might have to re-think our planned excursions.  We mapped out some possible day trips with just the Jeep for the next few days.

After a wonderful breakfast of French toast and ham, and just a few wasps, we started the next day (Friday) with traveling east along The South Fork of the Kings River to  Roaring Falls and ultimately the end of the road.  Roaring Falls was lively and indeed roaring:

Further east was Zumwalt Meadow which had a loop trail, but one segment of the loop was closed due to flooding. You could look across the meadow, which was lovely, but it was too soggy to pass through. 

Cars aplenty were parked at the Road's End, as back-packing into the King's Canyon wildness area is popular.

We wanted to check in again with Laura, but have had absolutely no cell service since starting into the Sierras.  The nearby Cedar Grove Visitor's Center (Visitor's Room is a better word, as it was less than 10x10 in size) had a pay telephone so we called Laura, was sent to voicemail and left a message that we were well.

We did scope out the Cedar Grove lodge and market (showers!), and then continued west down the highway to Grizzly Falls and lunched on our staple lunch of crackers, salami and cheese.  There were loads of buzzing wasps, so we ate hurriedly (me more hurriedly because I had a sudden nosebleed and retreated to the wasp-free car to recover).  After the wasps and the minor medical issue, we felt we deserved a treat, and so treated ourselves to Hagendaas ice creams back at the market, then home to camp, where we dug out the bug jackets and treated them with DEET. Where is Laura and her wonderful bug tent when we need her?

We eat well camping, and dined that night on my garlic-and-onion chicken Alfredo over noodles, and Liz's great salad.  The camp stove is a great Coleman three burner affair.  All cooking materials, stove, trash, wash tubs, etc, have to be stored in the bear-secure metal lockers located at each campsite before turning in for the night.

Saturday revealed that more people come up for the weekend, and traffic was quite a bit busier as we headed along the sheer canyon of the King's River through marble outcrops and exquisitely twisted rock formations. 

 But the drive is not one to do daily, so we have decided that this is the first trip we will make here, and will see as all that we can of Kings Canyon, so that the next trip (either with trailer or by staying at lodges) will allow us to see the north part and south part of Sequoia NP as two more trips.

We stopped at Hume Lake (two more pay phone calls to Laura--left messages), and dropped down to the main KC visitor's center, then returned to camp. 

Sunday started as an overcast day--whispy clouds gathering into periodic thickness that blocked the sun.  We set out the solar panels for charging Kindles and kept the trailer panel rotated toward the vague sunlight.  By 11:00 am, the trailer battery had charged to full strength again, recovering from the 1/3 down of the early morning. The folding panels of solar charger for the kindle struggled as the sun faded, and trees, rocks, and figures lost their shadows, only to suddenly regain a blurred darkness that sharpened into crisp shadow as the sun emerged, then seconds later faded back to diffused shadowless light.  It is muggy, and perhaps we will have a thunder shower.

Today we explored our campground and the closed group camp immediately adjacent and west of us.  The group camp is really nice, and has BBQ and cook areas suitable for groups from 10 to 30, depending on which site is selected.

On Tuesday, we headed out early with the trailer, ending up in Visalia, at a familiar KOA--people are very nice, and the little campground is perfect for showers and laundry.  Tomorrow, we are off toward Paso Robles.