Yodelayheehoo

A couple weeks ago we were able to escape from the city and go up to Mineral King at the southern end of Sequoia National Park. We had thought that it would only take 4 hours to get there, but it took 6! Also, we learned that the clutch on the car needed to be replaced by driving steep mountain roads for a few hours.

On the way up the single lane road we crossed a few old bridges.This one crosses the Kaweah River and was built in 1923.

Our campsite was at Cold Springs, an old mining area at ~7000ft. Here is some moss on a tree.

When we arrived at the campground, all the sites were taken, except the walk-in ones.  This means we had to carry our stuff ~1/4 mile, which wasn't fun. 

Right next to our camp was Mosquito Creek.  It was appropriately named and we got many bug bites, despite bug spray and candles.

Greg set off cataloging the plant life. 

And here is some more moss on a tree. Not much of that in AZ.

Here is a pretty flower next to the Upper Kaweah River, next to our camp.  Our tent was on a hill overlooking the confluence of Mosquito Creek and the river.

At the end of the first day we were kind of disappointed in the bugs, the difficulty in setting up camp, and the bad clutch on the car. But it was nice to sleep with the running water and crickets nearby.

The next day we drove around the corner and found a few deer. 

And the vast Mineral King Valley. It was like we were in the Alps, with the peaks at 14000ft.

Walt Disney tried to turn this valley into a world renowned skiing area, but was blocked by environmentalists.  Yay! 

Greg found a moth. 

Janet found a creek. 

We both found some yellow flowers (and then decided we need a book that identifies the plants that we come across).  Mostly because we were sure we had walked through several patches of poison oak.

Finally we looked at some flowers, an old cabin that was built ~100 years ago, and then made the 6 hour drive back. The clutch survived, but we had it replaced right when we got back. It was a long trip for 1 night, and next time we will get there earlier and stay longer...maybe next summer.

Hawaii Revisited by Greg

My work took me back to Hawaii for 2 nights of observing on the Keck II telescope. I was able to confirm a few low-mass brown dwarfs (mass greater than planets, less than stars) and came across a previously unknown galaxy!

The view from my room of the head quarters with the mountain in the background.

Closeup of the mountain. My telescope was the one in the middle.

Right when I landed I went for lunch in Kona and had a calamari sandwich with fries and a Coke.

Then I went to Mau'umae Beach where I swam with a sea turtle.

I visited a number of small historical towns. Here I stopped at Mr. Ed's bakery for a coconut turnover.

I photographed a lot of flowers.

And relaxed at the 420 ft. Akaka Falls.

Explored a state park that was located along the coast, under a highway bridge, where this stream meets the Ocean.

Took in the views at Laupahoehoe Point, where in 1946 a tsunami hit and washed away a school house with 20 children and 4 teachers.

Finally I drove the the view point at Waipio Valley, but didn't make the hike down.

For dinner I had a BBQ chicken sandwich with coleslaw and an onion ring on a hawaiian roll.

On my way back to the airport I visited a coffee plantation, which had great coffee and lots of farm animals.

Cat sleeping in the company store.

Roasted coffee cooling before being bagged.