As many of you know by now, I take a picture of Anna's Teddy on every National Park sign. There wasn't a sign for Sequoia & King's Canyon! I inquired of this anomaly and was told that the sign had been taken down and was in the shop for repairs. So there will be no picture of the 'cute one' with the sign. Sequoia National Park is named for the giant old trees that grow there. The Sequoia tree grows up to 311 feet in height! Yup, hard to even see the top of the tree withou

Pinnacles was originally a volcano and believe it or not, started out in the Los Angeles area. But the tectonic plates carried it to its present day location. Who knows maybe millions of years from now it will be in Oregon? The San Andreas Fault lies directly to the east of the campground and visitor center, which is a little creepy when you are exploring the rare talus caves that are found in Pinnacles. Talus caves aren't true caves like Carlsbad Cavern and Mammoth Cave,

What a great day in Hot Springs, Arkansas! I had been contacted by Joy Scott, who lost her beloved husband to NET cancer not long ago. She made me feel welcome in Hot Springs before I even got there! She took me out to dinner the night before and I was heartbroken to hear her husband's story. Mayor McCabe also contacted me and asked if I needed anything at all and that he would be there that morning. He is a member of the local running club, The Spa Pacers, and said many

Like Dry Tortuga National Park, the Channel Islands can only be reached by boat. There had been some very unpleasant seas the day before and the boat didn't leave the safety of Ventura Harbor; but bright and early Friday morning the boat left with a full load of people anxious to get to the islands. Pretty flowers at the dock. The seas were bouncy, but not unpleasant as the skipper made his way to Santa Cruz Island. As we saw Anacapa Island off to the south we knew we would