We had to enter Sequoia National Park via the north entrance (because vehicles our size are not allowed through the southern entrance), making it a 5-hour drive from home. Since we don't like driving our motorhome more than a few hours per day, we stopped in Visalia for the night.

The next morning, we started hearing the sound of a rooster crowing in the distance, but since we couldn't see it, and it kinda' sounded like a sick rooster, we thought it was someone imitating a rooster, and said "Linda's version is much better." Then lo and behold, he stepped into view and slowly headed our way.

He even jumped up on this tree stump just outside our cockpit window and crowed. He seemed like he was making the rounds in the campground making sure everybody was awake.

Cooper was riveted as the rooster ambled about our coach. He had quite a bit to say to the rooster; I wish I knew what it was. Maybe he was scolding him for all the chatter ;-) We decided the rooster may have sounded odd because he was a little hoarse from all that crowing.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

As we entered the Giant Sequoia National Monument, there were no Sequoia trees visible yet, but we didn't have to wait too much longer for an improvement in the scenery.

When we left Visalia, the temperature was 100 degrees. After starting our climb into the mountains, we stopped for lunch at a shady spot where it was "only" 80 degrees.

Cooper enjoyed the lunch stop from his usual spot.

As we entered Sequoia National Park, it was finally starting to look like a real forest.

There are 14 campgrounds within the park, but only 6 accept reservations, and only 3 can handle vehicles as large as ours. We had reserved our spot at Dorst Creek Campground because we could fit there, it's considered the quietest, and it's served by the free park shuttle.

We think our site, #47, was probably the best, because it was pretty private, well shaded, fairly level, and had a large sitting area. Of course, choosing this site was not random; Chris had researched it in advance, as usual.

This was our 'patio' for our stay here. On the left is the 'bear locker,' where campers are instructed to store ANY items that a bear might be drawn to (and it includes toiletries, not just food). This is primarily for tent campers--they recommend you place all these items in the bear locker, not in your vehicle. The ranger told us on check-in, that even in our motorhome, any time we left it we should close all windows, all blinds, and all vents, even the vents on the roof!

The view from our dinette window shows that this campground is in a pretty heavily forested area.

Cooper enjoyed the view from our bedroom window.

Barley didn't always care about the view, but he thoroughly enjoyed the sun streaming in our living room window.

The next day--our first full day there--we rode the park shuttle over to Lodgepole Campground, and hiked the trail to Tokopah Falls.