Saturday 11 August 2018

We have decided to try out the shuttle system today. After our potato cake breakfast we drive to Grant Village on a hunt for half and half (we ran out this morning) and to get to good cell reception so I can call Dad. The little market here has only milk and artificial creamer. O and I come up with a brilliant substitution. We will buy coffee chocolate chip ice cream. It will melt in our little fridge, but it might make really tasty coffee in the morning. That job done (sort of) I call Dad. It sounds like he has the broken air conditioner problem at home under control. The old one is temporarily patched up and a new one is on order.

Back at camp we pack our small daypack with water, guide book and maps and bring along binoculars and camera. A comfortable little shuttle arrives at the campground soon after we get to the shuttle stop. This shuttle takes us back to Lodgepole Village where we get ice cream for a lunch snack and then catch the next shuttle to the Forest Museum. From here we have a bit of a wait for the next bus to Moro Rock, one of the “must see” attractions at Sequoia. There is a long line and the first shuttle fills by the time we get to the front of the line. We are the first to board the next bus which fills again with the people behind us. O and I hear Spanish, German, Korean and French as we ride but very little English. The national parks are very popular with international tourists. Our busload arrives at Moro Rock, a small granite dome. In 1931 a stairway was carved into the granite and handrails were added where necessary. It’s a steep but short climb up about 350 steps. The view from the top is impressive, even in the smoky haze. To the east is the spine of the Sierra Nevada. To the south we can see the winding road we drove up two days ago. Once we get our fill of the view, O and I descend. We can see rain clouds to the east and there are rumbles of thunder. An exposed rock dome is not a good place to be if there is lightning nearby.

At the base of Moro Rock we wait in another line for the bus back to the Forest Museum. Unfortunately, we are running out of time. The museum visit will have to wait for another day. From the museum we catch a shuttle to the Sherman Tree. A short paved walk leads to a view of the largest tree on earth. It is not the tallest tree, but in volume and mass it exceeds all others. This tree is 2200 years old! In a long winding line near the sign that says “General Sherman” people wait patiently, cameras in hand, for their photo op. The General is more popular than Santa! A ranger stands nearby to answer questions and maintain order.

From General Sherman it is back to Lodgepole Village where we finally find half and half. (We’ll still try the ice cream in the morning.) Then we wait in yet another line to board the purple shuttle back to camp. My conclusion: the shuttles work, but if you really want to have hiking time, choose another means of transportation!