Outing #8: Calaveras Big Trees!

I had fun celebrating my birthday at Calaveras Big Trees!

We rented this cabin in the woods very near the park entrance.

I got to have a yummy birthday dinner eating outside at an Italian restaurant with trees all around.

One night we went to the Scenic Overlook for an astronomy program.

They are getting fancier...

...with a lecture through computer before it got dark.

We could see Saturn and eventually several constellations but the moon was just too bright

Another day we spent an afternoon at Beaver Creek.  

We were the only people there most of the time.

One day we decided to divide and conquer.

Grandpa went on a guided hike of the South Grove. 

It took 3 1/2 hours with the guide named Dan!

There are about 100 redwoods in the North Grove, but over 1,000 in the South Grove.

Dan took some pictures of Grandpa:

He learned a lot and was able to share it with me.

For instance that pile of white stuff is dropped one tiny piece at a time by one ant.

They climb into the tree and basically hollow it out to build ant nests.

Grandpa saw them climbing in and he could even see individual ants dropping little specks of sawdust.

The striations on this bark were made by bears

looking for ants to eat.

Meanwhile I was doing my own hiking including a trip to 

Big Trees Market for some essentials!

And then a walk through the North Grove.

Top of the tree:

Bottom of the tree:

I just took in all of the beauty!

As you can see there were not many people there, but I did come across at least two groups who had never seen the redwoods before.  It was fun hearing them exclaim and be astonished!

My favorite bench:

A couple of new things.  

They have placed this cut out of the stump from the fallen 

Pioneer Cabin tree near the North Grove.

Our family walked through it many times but it fell in 2017.

This was an interesting explanation that includes a ring from 899 AD and an injury in 

1529 AD.  The tree was estimated to be 1,233 years old when it fell.

And there were a lot of workers from Cal Fire making sure the trees are ready

 in case of wildfires.

Birthdays can be fun even when you are getting older!

This and That in August 2023, Part 1!

Lots going on in August!  So we will do the month in two parts.

Melanchuks took a family trip to Fort Bragg before Kathryn leaves for college.

They loved Glass Beach and searching in tide pools and playing at the beach.

On their way home they made a detour to drive the Avenue of the Giants (probably my favorite drive!)

Joshershons had a fun get away at a cabin above Park City:

Photography by Katie!

Meanwhile, Emma was purchasing a car and accepted an additional job as a Kindergarten Aide at Wasatch Elementary school across from the BYU campus.

John and Aubrey went backpacking to Wall Lake.

View from their campsite!

Camille is so creative!  She watches YouTube videos and learned how to make these dinosaurs and this octopus that turns from happy to sad.

The first in our family to start school:

Sarah (11th) and Camille (8th)

David (9th) and Joshua (11th)

Nathaniel (4th)!

Caleb is growing and getting cuter!

Sister McClellan says the work is hard but joy comes from doing the work!

Also, be careful when you microwave honey!

Elder Harrison finished up in his area and is now Zone Leader in South Odgen which includes the Ogden YSA 1st stake--Weber State campus and the Weber Heights stake.

Grandpa looking good in his new Hawaii T-shirt!

Stay tuned for more fun in August and find out which state has the world's largest ball of twine!