15th Day - day 15 (for english scroll down)

Another early morning... fueled up and equipped with coffee, we headed towards Sequoia National Park. First, we drove through massive orange plantations as far as the eye could see. Then, we zigzagged our way up to an altitude of over 2000 meters. Water stops at regular intervals were meant to calm down overheated engines! It was a good thing we got up early... After 2 hours, we reached the General Sherman Tree - the largest living organism in the world. The tree has a circumference of over 13 meters at the base and reaches a height of 84 meters. But the many other sequoia trees were just as impressive! After that, we continued for some snapshots at the auto log (in the past, cars used to drive on it), then at the tunnel log - we drove underneath it, and finally at the Tharps log, where settlers once sought shelter in the hollow created by a fire. Lastly, I climbed up the Mono Rock on my own, as Zoë decided not to. After that, we descended the big mountain again and our accommodation was already waiting for us right after leaving the park. It was beautifully located next to a river where we spent hours cooling off in the soothing and refreshing water.

Again, an early bird day... with plenty of fuel and coffee, we started to head towards Sequoia Park. We passed by some massive orange plantations - as far as the eye could reach! Thereafter, we drove in never-ending curves up to 2000 meters above sea level. There were water stops at regular intervals to cool down the motor!! Good thing we left early morning... After 2 hours drive, we arrived at General Sherman tree, the biggest living organism on this earth. The tree has a circumference of 13 meters close to the ground and is 84 meters tall, reaching the sky! But all the other sequoia trees nearby did not look any smaller though. Then we proceeded to take some snapshots of the auto log (in earlier days, cars drove over it!), then at the tunnel log where we drove underneath, then at the Tharps log which became hollow after a fire and settlers used it as a shelter and finally at the Mono Rock, which I climbed up on my own, as Zoë decided not to. Thereafter, we drove down that big mountain again and as soon as we exited the park, our lodge was right there. Beautifully situated next to a river, we spent hours in the refreshing and invigorating water - what a bliss!