Heading north.

We left at 07.00 and hit the road out of Sequoia National Park. This time there was no snow/sleet/rain and the views were breathtaking. Catching glimpses of....



...wild deer...



...climbing opportunities...



...more wild deer...



...and festive deer.



Stopped for breakfast at a home run diner in Three Rivers. Locals very friendly and kind. Informed us that Captain Kirk and Anjelica Houston both had places in Three River. Then Julia thought Tara Reid walked in but I don't know who Tara Reid is.



Then headed North primarily on Interstate 5.



Passed Modesto, the birth place of George Lucas, whom I believe models his image on my Uncle Graham. From the highway it looks a right dump.



Very important to travel with your Winchester at all times.



Lake Shasta.

In between bouts of driving, happily tapped away on a new script on the laptop.



Mt Shasta.

Lots of The Jam, The The, The Editors, Beck, The Clash, The Doors - alas Jimi Hendrix was banned - to keep us moving forward at a timely pace.



Homely refuge of Motel Six after traveling 800 miles.

Breaking trail.

Decided to stay an extra day, so up early and straight out skiing.



Embarked on a more serious route which required us to break trail. So for every step forward we ended up sinking two foot into the snow, within minutes thighs were screaming blue murder. Forgot how hard it is cutting a trail through snow drifts, haven't done this snow and ice climbing in Scotland and Nepal! On the odd occasion (British understatement) when we encountered a blip and landed on our asses and without the support of the skis we found ourselves sinking up to our waists in the snow.



All up hill on out, really badly marked maps....




...downhill on the return. Yeeehaaaa!



...mysterious animal tracks, thank fully no bear sightings...




...fantastic workout. Exhausted at the end.

Cross Country Skiing & big f***ing trees!

OK hired some cross country skis and headed out into the wilderness. Beautiful, skiing through the cathedral of trees - it felt Tolkeinesque with orcs moments from attacking us...



Quickly got the hang, and took a team photo to prove it....



...think the earth moved.









And as for the trees....







...kinda big.

Into the snow

Contrary to Pete's rude comment about 'man flu' I do believe that I have been struck down by a very rare airborne transmitted viral disease which may have actually wiped out a number of indigenous tribes. Crawled out of bed to move on to our next destination...



Went through Trona. A delightful little conurbation complete with belching factory and historic bungalows. Julia was tempted to pop into the local real estate offices, but alas we ran out of time.








Breakfast in Ridgecrest - again another tempting spot to buy a holiday house. Julia was bags of fun at breakfast as she picked up her e mail from Pall Mall Partners. Healthy start to the day - bacon, sausage (well lump of ground meat) two poached eggs and a stack of pancakes covered in syrup - fab and really tasty. Still can't understand how I am putting on so much weight.



It's amazing. After knowing Julia for over seven years there is still so much to find out. I never knew that Lukas habitually threw up in the car, so Jorg and Lilo never gave him milk prior to a journey. Alas this did not always solve the problem. Wow! Interesting.











Nice Mac farm! So makes you want to convert to a purely fast food diet.



Wow we saw a coyote. Really chuffed. Later found out that locals find them a pain in the ass. Nonetheless we still took a photo. Great being a tourist, sorry hardened traveller.



So entered Sequoia National Park. Outside it was pouring with rain, real miserable. Had to buy snow chains for the car. Thought it was just safety conscious park administrators. Anyway into the park heading for Wuksachi Lodge. Up a really twisty hair pinned road, thought for a moment that Julia was going to do 'a Lukas' in the car - was definitely touch and go for a while. Stopped halfway up the hill to put on the snow chains as the rain had turned to sleet and snow. Then we hit it for real. Beautiful - acres of trees covered in snow. Seems the park had been dumped on quite a lot over the last few weeks as snow drifts were deep and high.








Great hearty supper - Filet Mignon. Evening spent in front of the fire catching up with the blog.