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Today is Stormy Cloud’s 6th birthday … she is so excited … she keeps telling me how much she grew (during the night I guess) from when she was 5 yesterday till today when she is 6!!!! She has picked the pink shirts for us to wear today …

We started the day with cake and the happy birthday song … not a lot of good photos because we roughed it again last night … we are in a State Park (and woke up to wonderful views) but we didn’t have any hook-ups .. so no showers … everyone looks pretty “sad” …

That reminds me … I need to update you on the previous night’s happenings …. we left Sequoia … via the Kings Canyon route … we saw lots of cool views from the overlooks on our way out …. we headed toward Oakhurst … towards a campground I had found online … well … we drove thru and the Captain said he “wasn’t feeling it” and decided to push on towards Yosemite …. so after many hours of driving and looking .. we ended up at a State Park about a mile from Yosemite … we got the only campsite left …. and I was very tired and not very interested at this point … the Dutchman almost didn’t fit into the spot … and it took a little maneuvering and help from some guy who showed up to help us … probably should mention that it was after midnight by this time … and our old squeaky camper was making a great deal of racket “busting-up” into the campground …. looking back it was quiet comical … but at the time … I was half asleep and fighting this crazy cold that the Captain and I have acquired …. so … I was just happy that we had stopped and everyone could go to sleep …. it was such a crazy ride that we didn’t even get dinner … and at mid-night they were all so tired … and I was exhausted … I told them they would just have to wait till the morning …

Then I found out that Jamie had passed on the first campground (which was full hook ups and wifi for $35) and now we were paying $20 for this one … oh my! They didn’t even have showers or water or electric!!!! … so I really had no way of cooking dinner anyway …. we needed to conserve our battery so we would be able to crank in the morning …. oh! I should mention the generator has pooped on us … not a big deal … we try not to use it to save on gas … it will crank but then turns off … I think if we really need .. the Captain could fix it .. just haven’t needed it enough to take the time to worry with it …

BUT … when we woke and the morning and saw the beautiful creek out the back window … the kids were ecstatic …. of course .. I gave them bird baths and got them dressed thinking we would head straight to Yosemite … but they wanted to play in the creek …. and who could be so thoughtless … and especially on such a big adventure … these are the things/times that the memories are made … so … we they switched into their bathing suits and headed back down to the creek … the water was freezing … the coldest yet … but the kids just had to splash around for a bit … we had our own little swimming hole but no one was brave enough to dive in … just too cold … we have some cute photos ….. there was a small stream flowing out of the creek … so we made a little dam with the kids … so they could see how the water backed up … we had the most beautiful creek front campsite that I saw on my strolls around the campground that morning …. God is so good .. he is constantly taking care of us … even in the little things …. the $20 and no hook-ups was totally worth it … I love water …. so the creek made up for it all … we always seem to be where we need to be and at just the right time …. guess that must just be a coincidence and all this beauty around me must just be the Big Bang and evolution … NOT!!!!!

After our time at the creek, we headed toward Yosemite …. even though we were only 1 mile from the gate … it was 16 mile to the first visitors center … on very curvy roads … with a 31 ft RV …. it took at least an hour to make it to the Yosemite Valley …. we did get to stop at some very cool places along the way …

We were not able to do as much at Yosemite as I would have liked … one problem was the traffic and parking … the other was dragging four kids … and the biggest was the size of the park … Yosemite is huge … also … there are LOTS of people here … sooo busy … people were actually pushing in the lines to get on the shuttles … the drivers are always saying “no pushing” or “no entering thru the back doors” ….. crazy!!! … I love how all the foreigners pretend they don’t understand english so they can cut in line or break the rules …. when you know they spoke English just a few minutes before the bus arrived … it’s like being in Disney World ….  but here is was were able to do:

* Bridalveil Falls …. about 0.5 hike … very pretty
* Yosemite Visitors Center … we just took a quick stroll thru .. they have some cook exhibits …
* Lower Yosemite Falls … we spent most of our time here … playing in the water at the foot of the falls … the water was cold but the rocks were HOT … I laid on a rock at the base of the falls … staring up at the beautiful scenery … I was in awe … its was amazing … everything was just soooo pretty .. i wanted to cry … oh! I did cry when I saw the Grand Canyon .. I was so excited to finally see it!!! But this was break-taking also …. shear cliff faces with rock-clibers … water falling down for 100s of feet .. blue sky with white fluffy clouds …
* We took the El Capitan Shuttle Tour … lots of great views and super nice bus
* Got off the shuttle to swim at the El Capitan Picnic Area … Fantastic … mountains towering on all sides … beautiful clear water … we picked a spot with not many people around and just chilled out for a bit … the kids played in the water … always their favorite things to do
*We stopped at the Yosemite Village Store to get hiking medallions (so glad we did because it doesn’t like like we are going back) … Stormy Cloud got a mama & baby raccoon … and Dance Mermaid got a cute Yosemite charm bracelet (very cute and now she can add charms from other places)

I should also mention that the pink shirts were a HUGE hit in Yosemite … the bus drivers loved them and when we would get on a different shuttle/bus they would say … “oh, there you are .. the pink family” … and things like … “and there’s a US map on the back”  … we are started to get recognized from park to park …  (I’ll also be adding a note to Sequoia post)!!! … I would hear people say … “welearnaswego.com … we should check that out” … or “hey. take a picture of that family … they are all dressed alike” …. or …. “that’s a great idea … I should dress mine alike”  …. how funny!!!

Then, we decided to call it an early day and find a nearby campground so we could come back tomorrow ….

We searched and searched on our way out …. most of the campground near or at Yosemite do not have any hook-ups … no electric or water … so … we wanted something a little more so we could recharge all these electronics … and get showers …. Jamie and I both wanted to steam open our sinuses (still fighting these colds) … I found a few places on the internet (once we could get signal) but they were all full … then I came across a really cool site called 49′s RV …. Jamie called and the guys was super nice over the phone … we decided to head that way … the GPS said 45 minutes …. it ended up taking us over 3 hours … it was a long slow trek down the mountain … and the Captain was exhausted .. his back and arms were hurting by the time we got to some flat land … and said he was not going back up in the morning … so … it’s a good thing we got our souvenirs before we left …

This is what’s really hard for me … not getting to do everything!!! I really struggle with wanting to do it all!!! ….. SO … I’m having to learn to be content and happy with what we are getting to do/see/experience …. Yosemite was so awesome … I would love to spend a week there … BUT … not this time …

The guy at the campground met us … and helped us get set-up … super nice … he said he knew that we were tired and traveling with 4 kids was great (he had 4 also) …. and not to worry about the details … just get into a spot and rest and he would see us in the morning …

So … Another wonderful adventure and now …. I will see you guys in the morning … off to bed!!!

Ok … I’m sure my family is ecstatic … I have lost my voice … with all the talking … laughing … yelling … coughing … it’s gone … really .. completely gone ….

It has been another wonderful day … we headed to Sequoia NP this morning …. and spent all day there … we never made it over to Kings Canyon,

As typical of our adventure, we found out at the end of the day … that we were not allowed to drive the RV up the south entrance to the visitors center … it was hilarious … the Captain had specifically asked when we came thru the gates … about the shuttle and was it ok to drive the RV … the guy at the gate was super nice … and explained that it was a 16 mile up hill climb but the RV could go … just take it nice and slow … he also said it was really curvy … and just don’t get in a hurry … well … that was the understatement of the year!!!! .. the road was crazy … I thought we would crash or go over the edge for sure …

So … when it was time to leave … we were worried about the long trek out of the park to the north (because the shorter south end had taken so long and had been so difficult) … so we started inquiring about the best way to get back down the mountain … come to find out … north was the only option we had … not allowed to go out south … and like I said before .. shouldn’t have been allowed to drive in the south entrance … but this is us … and we do Learn As We Go … so … lesson learned … peeps … don’t try to drive your RV in the south entrance of Sequoia NP … unless it’s less than 22 ft (that’s the official rule)!!!!!

So … back to our day …

At the first visitors center, Jessie and I got our hiking medallions and I acquired about our JR Ranger Workbooks … not much there … so we headed up to the Giant Forest Museum (elevation around 6200 feet) …. there we talked to the ranger about what we needed to complete to get their badges and what were good hikes/areas/lookouts to take the kids ….

Well … with 6 of us … and 2 guys being much younger than the rest …. we were able to get a fair amount done in Sequoia … of course … not as much as I would like or could do on my own …. but … this is a family adventure ….

We first hiked the Big Tree Trail …. very cool … lots of BIG trees … lots of fallen trees … lots of trees that have been on fire … and the highlight of our hike was the brown bear in the meadow ….

Next … we rode the shuttle down to the Sherman Tree …. we tried to hike the trail … but a lady coming down the trail said it was very steep and she thought it was a bad idea with the little guys … so we regrouped and headed back to the visitors venter to catch the shuttle … only a 0.2 mile hike to the General Sherman Tree from the shuttle drop off … woohooo … I like that distance!!! (only because Story CLoud was complaining … and rather loudly .. and constantly … that her knees were hurting)

WOW!!! Big tree … here is how they explained it …. to get an idea of how tall it is …. compare a 6 ft man to a mouse …. now replace the man with the tree … and the mouse with a 6ft man …. pretty big right … but the height is not all … the General Sherman Tree is that largest living specimen in the WORLD!!!! That’s right … a single trunk tree … whose VOLUME is the largest on earth … they date it at 2200 years old … pretty cool … right??

*** Forgot to add this in the first post …. as we were taking photos at Sherman Tree … a lady came up to us … and said she saw us in the Grand Canyon … how funny is that!!! She said we were wearing our blue shirts … which made me wonder if she saw us somewhere else and at the Grand Canyon …. anyway … she homeschools also .. 19 years … they were going from park to park also but staying in hotels … how funny!!! The shirts have many purposes!!

Next … we rode the shuttle up to Lodge Pole (elevation around 6700 feet)… the visitor center there was closing … and the staff (the first I have encountered on this trip) was not interested in helping answer questions … they just wanted to close up shop … there was a gift shop there as well … so we headed there to see what interesting things they had …. and of course, we collect a few items …

I got a new coffee mug … the first I have bought on this trip … I generally by a souvenir coffee mug when we go somewhere … they had a really cute mug for $4 so I got it … still trying to watch the spending since this is such a big trip … but I know I will use my mug … I still use the one we got in Washington DC, Chicago, and the many I have from Florida …

Jessie … and his craziness … bought candy bars and beef jerky …. because I was not paying those crazy prices for junk food … he was in full teenager-silly-push-your-buttons mode today … but we also had many good laughs today as well … he really is a funny kids … just needs to learn when to stay quiet

Bailey bought a Giant Sequoia seedling … with a lifetime replacement guarantee … she wants to grow her own … and pass it down to her kids …. that child is always thinking and planning … and she always makes really good purchases …

Stormy Cloud picked out all kids of stuff … but as soon as she found out how much it was … and that she had to spend her money … she put it back and moved on ….

OH MY!!! One of my most exciting finds was for Sea Monkey today at the gift shop … we have been looking for him a fishing vest … Wal*Mart doesn’t carry them and most places wanted $30 to $50 for one … so … you know me …I hadn’t bought one yet …. well .. there was one from Sequoia NP in the gift shop… I thought that was the perfect b-day present for him … It was more than it would have been at Wal*Mart (about $35) but it’s a great souvenir for my little man …. I can’t wait for him to get to wear is tomorrow and fill all his pockets up with rocks :0

We learned so much about the Sequoia Trees … or Jamie and I did … I hope the kids did … we’ll have to see … you can quiz them when we get home ….

We are on the road again … heading to Yosemite NP ….

Need to load videos too …

Good Morning … It is soooo hard to believe that we are on day 12 … the time is going by way toooo fast ….

We are wearing our bright green shirts to the parks today … should look great in pics … especially with all the trees ….

We are heading to Sequoia National Park and King Canyon NP today … I am so excited … this is one of the things the Captain wanted to see … the giant sequoia trees …

Jikkal slept in .. like normal … but the other 3 have already been to the creek to play and try and catch fish with their nets ..

Currently, the Captain is changing the oil in the Flying Dutchman … and the kids are eating left overs for breakfast … well … except Jikkal … he ordered toasted chicken salad sandwich for breakfast

A few camper antics … just to get our morning started:

* The drawers in the camper are the type you you have to lift then pull to get them to open … well … at least that’s how they are suppose to work … ours tend to fly open while we are going down the road … and then I can’t get them open when I need to … while I’m cooking and such …. I pull and tug and lift and push … and can’t get them open …. but when we are riding … all 3 may pop open at one time …. too crazy …

* Our fridge apparently came with an upgrade we were not aware of … an auto-eject function … when you are going along … it will fly open and things start ejecting … like its throwing up our groceries …. our van has this same upgrade for the lift gate in the back … when you open it … things auto eject right out the back … we have learned to jump away as soon as we grab the release handle …

Some really great things about the camper

* The hot water heater is awesome … it’s gas … it’s almost like having hot water on demand … it only takes a few minutes and we have steaming hot water … for a shower or to wash dishes

* The shower is wonderful … it’s not huge but it’s a corner shower with lots of room … it’s clean and we don’t have to go to the shower houses with the kids … especially the little guys who want to touch and feel everything … it has a sprayer that you can hold in you hand … so the kids love to hang out and their and play … and eventually they come out clean … or I guess I should say … clean enough

* Having our own potty is awesome too … no stopping every few minutes to go to the bathroom … with 6 people … we wouldn’t get anywhere … and once again … we don’t have to deal with bath houses

* I also love our gas stove …. it doesn’t take long at all to warm up something or to cook anything .. I have always wanted one in my house … now I know I want one!!!

OK … I need to get everyone dress and break camp … want to have plenty of time in the parks today … they have shuttles there so I think we will do the same as we did at the Grand Canyon … shuttle to look-outs … and hike a few small trails …. we are going to see the largest tree on EARTH today … that sounds so exciting … and also … we should be able to drive thru a fallen log of a giant Sequoia tree … also read last night .. that the Sequoia NP is the most diverse Rain Forest rain with the exception of the rain forest in Central America … wow! how cool is that … I didn’t even know till this year that we have Rain Forest in the US .. where have I been … thank goodness I homeschool my kids or I wouldn’t know anything … LOL!!!!!

Here is the link to the Sequoia FAQ … http://www.nps.gov/seki/faqs.html

ok … before I forget … we were awaken from our peaceful creek induced sleep at 6:30 by the noisiest trash truck I have ever encountered … I jumped up thinking (like Chicken Little) that the sky was falling in on us … man!!! They need to do something about that!!!!

More to come … it’s now 11:00 and trying to get on the road

As I type this email … I am sitting at a picnic table …. in Sequoia RV Ranch … just outside the Sequoia National Park in California … it’s a little town called Three Rivers …. the weather is so nice when you are not in the city … the girls are playing in the creek … just a few yards away … Jikkal and Sea Monkey are getting ready to ride bikes …

Well … I’m getting a head of myself … I need to back up and get all the days events written down first … you know … before I forget …. One day … I’ll have all these post in a book … so we can all look back and remember … especially the kids … probably after they have kids … so they can be reminded of all the fun … and also know the huge undertaking that their parents were crazy enough to embark on … I don’t think they get the full “gravity” of how big their adventure is … and of course, that’s ok … I just want to make as many memories as possible … and have as much to look back on as possible ….And …. I want to remember all the details … Thanks to everyone for all your comments on Facebook and on this site … When we are back home … I also want to print those and so the kids can have those to look back on as well ….

So … after leaving the state park and our stop at Wal*Mart … we needed to grab something to eat … our friend Curtis had suggested we try N And Out while we were on the West coast … so after we filled up with gas … I used my iphone to find the closest one … and we headed to grab some grub … and it was wonderful … we call loved it … And I fed all 6 of us for less than $25 and that’s amazing … especially in CA … gas is $3 here … and thier is added taxes and deposit fees on everything …. but milk is cheap so I guess CA cows are really happy!!!! … I do believe we will eat at N and Out again before we leave CA Thanks Curtis!!!!

After that ….. we starting checking out the map and the miles/time … and … we … being the Stricklands … and WeLearnAsWeGo.com … we are flexible and we made a new plan … we decided to change our route and head towards Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park … but not till tomorrow … we decided it was time to find a good campground … cook some food in the camper … take some long hot showers … and have some room to stretch out … so I found a really neat little RV park close to Sequioa National Park … It’s called Sequoia RV Ranch .. it looks like it may have been a farm/ranch at one time … but it was a wonderful creek running very close to our campsite and they have also damed up one area so that they have a “swimming hole” …. the water was great … not cold like Slide Rock … but nice and cool .. with the huge rocks all around that were nice and warm … I liked lounging around on those … you could also jump off one of the big rocks into the 7-8 foot deep end of the swimming hole … We had a great time just relaxing at the swimming hole … and playing in the creek … I love camping near water and I think the rest of my family loves it as well … when Jamie and I first starting dating … we would run off and go tent camping in the mountains … and creeks/water was a requirement for us … so the camping on the beach last night and a creek today … awesome!!!

As we drove out of the city today and towards the National Parks … the scenery was wonderful … groves of lemon trees …. trucks pulling huge containers full of lemons …. huge fields of pomegranate trees …. vines full of grapes … lakes and mountains … huge fields of hay with these fancy hay bailers …. huge cacti … so much cool stuff … right out the window for the kids to see …. someone was always yelling … “look at that!” …

For dinner I made a big pot of fettuccine Alfredo and a big pot of cowboy beans … I wanted left overs for tomorrow so I could just warm up food when someone got hungry …

Well … it’s time for bed … Jamie and I are having fun .. but getting some rest is a must … I need a good long sleep

(too tired to really think right now … may have to had more to this post later)

(Will add text in a bit)