Death Valley NP, Porterville, Coarsegold and Sacarmento CA

Death Valley NP,  Porterville, Coarsegold California

After our short stay crossing the point of southern Nevada, we crossed over into California and proceded up CA 190 and into Death Valley National Park. This is one hot desolate place. Even in March, the temps average in the mid 70’s, with April temps in the 80’s, and after that....wait til October!!! You are located below sea level by almost 200 ft!! And talk about dry? But yet, there is lots of life lurking out there waiting for nighttime (snakes, bats, scorpions and tarantulas)  and the temps to plummet or the much sought after rains to bring their life giving moisture. Originally brought to fame by mining operations for Borax, which was used in  numerous ways ( remember Death Valley Days and  Boraxo?) Arriving during their prime season, we were fortunate enough to grab the last site in Furnace Creek Campgrounds. It was only available for one night. After checking in and setting up (dry camping, not much to do), we stopped by the Visitor Center (didn’t take the time to see the movie), got the info from a Ranger on what to do with a half day in the Park, and off we went in the Jeep. We went to a lookout point, drove back “Twenty Mule Team Canyon”, and back two other Jeep trails for several miles to get a feel for the place. Rocky, barren and tough going.

entering DVNP, you drop over 3000 ft to the valley floor

great trail to explore

drive back 20 Mule Team Canyon, Borax mounds

Furnace Creek Campground - dry camping for sure!

There was a constant 10-15 mph breeze that night, enough to sway the rig, but you can almost feel the heat being turned off when the sun sets. This makes for good sleeping. We had planned this to be just a quick stop over and so it was. But, that being said, we would definately include it as something worth seeing. Maybe spend two nights in the area (there is an Inn at Furnace Creek if you are so inclined). If you can't BYOJ they rent Jeeps next to the Visitor Center!

20 Mule Teams were for real, albeit only for a few years - iconic

wagon setup for hauling Borax out to the railhead with 20 mules!

Porterville California

Needing to cover an extra amount of miles upon leaving DVNP early Saturday morning, I spoke with a Ranger Friday evening to verify the best way to go in a motorhome. She confirmed that Garmie the RV GPS was right, don't go North on CA 190, not suitable/ outright dangerous for larger rigs!!! So....back down the  20+ miles on CA 190 and West at Death Valley Junction  to travel over to I 15 west!  We needed to do a pretty big loop around to get to our next destination above Bakersfield, Porterville, 450 miles by this route.  This included descending the famous Grapevine Hill, a long, long elevation change. Again, I was mighty glad to have the  downshift feature in our Alison Trans!We had 4 nights booked at Tule Campground on Success Lake, an Army Corps of Engineers site just East of town. With electric hookups , shower facilities and a nice layout with a reasonable drive to Sequoia NP, we were set to go. These sites are well designed, well maintained and very affordable. With our Seniors Pass giving us half off, we were looking at $15/night!! Good deal!!! Other sites that can be checked at https://www.Recreation.gov include National Forests, National Rec Areas as well as National Parks.

Cooper found the grass refreshing after months of doing without it

 Watching the weather to see if we could visit Sequoia NP, our first full day there showed snow and a high not reaching freezing. The overnight temps were down in the single digits up there in the Sierras!! However, the second day looked suitable, sunny and temps reaching the low 40's. Using the first day to do laundry and get the blog up to date for Utah and Nevada, we did routine stuff, which included a trip to the local dog park for Cooper and more so for CJ to get a chance to open it up. Weeks on end doing leash time needs a reprieve as often as possible.

Tule is upgrading sites to have more services

The next day, we headed off to Sequoia NP.  Much of the Park is at an elevation of 5-7000 ft above sea level.Again we went from shorts and t shirt weather to long pants, flannel shirts and insulated coats! There was several feet of snow greeting us after we completed the twisting 17 mile drive up through several climate zones to arrive at the giant trees. Sequoia are the largest living thing on the planet (although the coastal Redwood are slightly taller they are not as thick) To stand next to one of these giants and look up and realize their size is a humbling experience.

up at 6000' heading into the big trees

grove of the giants!

Cindy at base of Sequoia for scale

majestic!

Back in the valley, it was t shirts once again and green hillsides. We stopped at a roadside stand for oranges and apples. Freshness personified! The Ranger at Tule Campground told me that starting the next weekend after our stay, the beginning of April, weekends are pretty full and during the summer the week days as well. It is good to know the place is getting used. We would stay there again if in the area.

fresh local oranges, nuts and veggies!!

However, once again it was time to move on, this time just 180 miles North to Coarsegold CA. Not staying at State Park nor National Forrest this time, but a 4 days stay at an Escapees Campground. We had joined Escapees a few years ago for their info and travel support structure. They offer RV Bootcamps for newbies, online courses on the various RV systems and 15+ campgrounds throughout the US. This one, they call their "Crown Jewel" and it is very nice. As a member ($35/yr) we got a site in the 160 acre hillside park complete with 50 amp, water, sewer and CATV for less than most State Park prices. It was nice, definitely not a parking lot. (yes there was a dog park for CJ)

this site also had a decent view 

From there, we were less than an hours' drive to Wawona, inside Yosemite National Park and 2 hours form the main valley of Yosemite! Cindy had spent several summers as a young girl at her Dad's camper in Wawona and the place is always a favorite to visit. Located on the south Fork of the Merced River, it offers swimming holes, cool air, views of granite ridges and a quaint store for supplies and goodies of all kinds. We explored back the lane to where the campground had been located back in the 1960's, and basically found where it probably was located. Then down to the river for some rock climbing. Cooper waded right in, CJ settled for just a drink!

for tremendous beauty in one area you can't beat Yosemite!!!

general area of the campground 50 years ago!

Although not the original, it is very close to it - many memories here!

just a short walk from the store to the campground

the place just fills your senses

Cindy and Cooper check out the Merced

boulders like this are great for sunning or jumping platforms

great mountain river

The next day we did the two hour drive to enter Yosemite via the El Portal entrance on CA 140(middle one coming from the West). This route takes you along the Merced River and into the Central Valley of the Park. This is one breathtaking valley and should be on your list to enjoy. Stay in the High country at Wawona for 4-5 nights but spend one day in the main valley. You can also do the Glacier Point Hike that winds down past several waterfalls as you descend 3000' into the park from Glacier Point (note: this needs to be done after the snow is gone at the 8000' level as the road isn't opened til then). The entire time spent in the Valley (there is camping available either rental tent cabins or RV sites or a stay at one of the hotels), you will be continuously awed by the granite rising over half a mile above you....El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Liberty Cap, Nevada and Vernal Falls to name a few. Alaska is massive in its' beauty and glory, Yosemite is condensed into so much in such a relatively small area.

the main valley of Yosemite NP is a feast for the senses

Half Dome to the right

Merced River as you enter the valley

one of the platform tent cabins you can rent

Ponderosa Pine stump - note thickness of bark

Upper Yosemite Falls

Always looking up and being amazed!

This may become one of your favorites

One thing we did not do this trip was to enter the Yosemite Valley from Wawona on CA 41. This is a cliff hanging, switchback filled, no guardrails drive of numerous miles with a spectacular payoff at the end - you drive through a tunnel and are greeted with the view of the entire Yosemite Valley!!! There is a pull-off as you exit the tunnel and you will be challenged to have so much raw beauty before you at one moment anywhere else. Most of the famous Yosemite NP landmarks at visible at once. 1500 ft waterfalls, 3500 ft El Capitan, Half Dome in the distance, all will leave a lasting impression.

The drive back to Coarsegold was back out CA 140 and just West of where CA120 turns off, we spied another waterfall we weren't previously aware of...Cascade Falls. A 500 ft drop into the Merced River along the road.

500 ft  down to the Merced River - Cascade Falls

Our stay at Coarsegold was wrapping up and time to packup and move northward to Cal Expo RV area in Sacramento next to the American River. This is nicely maintained, offers full hookups on a paved lot, It is quiet and offers access to the Sacramento area sights and beyond. Not part of our original travel plan as we had spent quite a few weeks visiting Cindys sisters and dad there through the years, we decided to drop by to trip down memory lane for a few days. (also to visit an Apple store as the iPad screen was cracked). We cut over to CA 99 from Coarsegold, and 150 miles later arrived at Cal Expo. Nicely done. And the weather was great - sunny and low 70's  dropping to the mid 50's at night.

drive up the central valley of California on CA99 - flat personified

numerous poppies greeted us on our drive

Cal Expo site - quiet, clean and convenient

There was a bit of visiting Cindy's childhood spots - house, swimming pool, schools etc. Then we settled in for the night after taking CJ over to Cal Expo's Dog Park.

Sunday morning arrived clear and beautiful, perfect for the 150 mile drive down to Santa Cruz and its historic Oceanside amusement pier. This is the home of the Giant Dipper - one of the most historic roller coasters in the nation! In addition, it's located right next to the ocean - how cool is that? Built in 1924, it is still going strong. Cindy and her sisters spent many hours at this place as children with their grandmother who had a trailer nearby. Carousel rides with the grab a ring to toss, taffy being made on sight and Skeeball! We sampled them all! Sometimes you can go back.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk and the Giant Dipper

entering a place of great memories and fun!

grab the ring and throw it in the clown's mouth - simple?? NO!!

Giant Dipper info - it's an oldie but a goodie!

hours of Skeeball gets you to a higher skill level!

Later on we did the usual stuff - laundry, got the  iPad replaced ( just 9 days left on the warranty!!), rotated the tires on the Jeep and threw ball for CJ at the dog park.

never too much time spent playing ball for CJ

 This brought us to our last day in Sacramento and a trip out to Sloughhouse - where Cindy's ancestors owned property in the Gold Rush days and where they are buried in the Sloughhouse Pioneer Cemetery.

Several of Cindy's ancestors are buried here! Gold Rush era folks

We topped the visit off by going to Cheesecake Factory . (Sheldon and Co weren't there)

had a really good BBQ Burger

Other things to do in Sacramento are visit Historic Old Town Sacramento - there is a World Class Railroad Museum there (think Strasburg), ride the Jedidiah Smith Bike Trail and of course - visit Sutter's Fort! We have done these on previous trips but we did not include them this time. California Gold Country is an hour or so to the East and you can see Mark Twain's Cabin at Angles Camp where he wrote his first novel.

Time to move on again. More in a week or so


take care

Cooper and CJ