On Wed Aug 13 we drove down to Kings Canyon to go camping with Karen, Luke, and Katie. We got a late start, around 8pm so didn't get down there until around 12pm. They had gotten there earlier in the day and reserved the sites. We were glad to be able to go to sleep in our cute, cozy camper (Mabel) and not have to set up a tent. Eric was busy getting it ready before we left. He got out his industrial sewing machine to make temporary curtains and slip covers (made out of sheets from the thrift store). The two benches made into a king size bed for all three of us.
After heating our breakfast burritos over the fire and celebrating Eric's birthday we took a little drive and climbed up Moro Rock which is 300 ft up. 350 stairs were carved out of the rock. It was worth the spectacular view. Josie climbed up but then part of the way wanted to be carried down.
We then took a hike to see some big trees. We thought it was going to be a quick hike and Karen and Josie dropped us off but turned out it was 2.5 mile hike. It wasn't bad but it was really hot and people we bumped into on the trail had seen a bear (unfortunately we didn't see one and Katie was glad). Josie was content to be in the car listening to "Annie". Back at camp she wanted to play in the camper and after a bit she was asleep. She woke up two hours later and threw up. We had just finished our dinner so I hung out in the camper and read to her and then she was back asleep. She was fine the next day, thankfully.
Our site neighbors had a 10 yr old, Grace, with her dad sharing the site with their friends with a 4 yr old daughter, Annika, 3 days younger than Josie. The wife is from Norway so it was fun to hear them speak Norwegian. What are the chances of having two families each with an only child so close in age to Katie and Josie. Katie hung out in the evenings a couple times at their campsite. Especially the night Josie was sick. She also hung out with Grace in the mornings too. The little girls were a little shy.
After scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast we took a drive with our camping neighbors.
We drove to Buck Rock. The neighbors had been coming for many years and never heard of it. Karen, Luke, and Katie have also been coming and camping at the same site for many years and have done the hike before. It was again well worth the drive, even on a bumpy dirt road.
We got to the top and met the ranger that spends his days up there keeping an eye out for fires. It's all set up for someone to stay up there full time but this ranger lives close enough that he prefers to make the drive every day. What an incredible view.
Our next stop was Hume Lake but we made a detour at a meadow along the way.
We met up with our friends again at Hume Lake.
A few bites of smores was enough for Josie b/c it was so sticky. She liked roasting the marshmallow. After smores we went to the Ranger campfire talk.
The next day we went to check out some stumps.
After viewing a few didn't famous stump groves we drove to see a view of the Canyon. Although where we were camping was considered in King's Canyon it was on the border and most of our time was spent in Sequoia Nat'l Forest. Next time maybe we'll explore Kings Canyon. The bottom pic is the view of the canyon even though you can't really see into the canyon. 
Random pics around our campsite. It was a great site, facing the view of forest and no other campsites and got afternoon sun and beautiful sunsets. The only downer was the yellow jackets came out in swarms any time there was food so that made meals very rushed. We all had our hammocks up and Eric put up his slack line. There were a lot of rocks around for climbing on. Everyone had a bike except for me. Josie got some riding in and Eric used his multiple times to ride to the restroom. It was relaxing and I finished reading my book. Third one of the summer which is a luxury.
Our last evening we went to visit Grant's Grove. It wasn't very crowded going early evening. We then stopped at the visitor center area for dinner. We had planned on one dinner out. It sure beat swatting off yellow jackets. Grant's Grove included the largest tree on earth. General Sherman Tree has the largest mass of any tree.
You can barely see people milling around at the bottom of General Sherman in the distance.
On our way out of the camp ground on Sunday morning we stopped at the visitor center so Josie could get her Jr Ranger badge. She finished all the assignments in the booklet. The ranger asked her questions and she was able to answer them. She then took the oath. (She still wants to pick up garbage in a parking lot or wherever we are. It's hard to explain to her she shouldn't always pick up garbage).
Video of Josie taking her Jr Ranger oath. You can't really hear her but she is repeating what the Ranger said.
Josie had been complaining a little bit about her ear. She slept a couple hours on the way home which was nice. Eric took her in on Monday and it wasn't an ear infection but Swimmers Ear. She was under the weather for most of the week but didn't miss any school. Just not her usual perky self.
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