Gee those trees are big!

General Grant
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We drove down from San Francisco to Kings Canyon/Sequoia national park(s), via the highway that crosses out of Silicon valley to the flat midlands of California around Fresno, passing the San Luis resoirvoir on the way.  Dad was astounded at the California Aqueduct and the associated irrigated fruit/vegetable production areas - which stretch forever.   It all makes any irrigation scheme in Australia look like a kiddies afternoon beach project.

By the time we started to climb out of the valley, it was pretty hot, and the mountains were a distant blur.  We stopped in at a fruit stand and bought loads of fruit - apricots and plums, nectarines and peaches - all the largest, most juicy fruit you have ever seen.  Nectarins larger than the largest apples you have ever seen - just delicious, and all for scandalously low prices.

Fresh Fruit
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The first stop for the journey was at Kings Canyon NP, where we went to Grant Grove - the first Sequoia grove we were to come across.  This contains the 'General Grant' tree, which is the widest of the sequoia trees - it would take 20 people holding hands to circle the base.  Dad was pretty chuffed at seeing the largest trees on earth, as he is a bit of a tree lover (not in the greenie sense, mind you, I couldn't help but see his brain working out how many coffee tables he could get out of a Giant Sequoia)

Lodgepole Campground
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We then proceeded to our camping spot in the 'Lodgepole Pines'  campground.  It was a lovely spot, with towering trees, gentle sunlight filtering down through the trees and nice warm weather.  We cooked a meal and ate outside, toasting the successful day with cold beer and red wine over dinner.  A great day all round.