Pinnacles National Park- our first NP in the Rig (with a side trip to Monterey)

July 5, Sacramento, CA

First of all, I don’t know how folks on the road are able to blog. We left for Pinnacles LAST MONTH, and we’re just now getting things up and running. Cell and wifi are virtually non existent in the big beautiful parks, and we love that… but it has created a bit of a back log. So here it begins.

PINNACLES

We didn’t know much about Pinnacles, as it is the newest of the National Parks, established in 2013.  We had 10 days to fill at the beginning of our trip before we headed to the Sequoias, so we decided to check it off first. Unfortunately it was triple digit HOT. I would recommend visiting Pinnacles in the spring or fall if you don’t like the baking heat. Our RV AC was put to the test and passed with flying colors.

Pinnacles is a release site for the endangered California Condor and is also home to several bat species that live in the caves there.

The caves were currently closed as to not disrupt the bats but we were able to take a morning hike through some talus caves.

By the time we got to the top, we were ready to get out of the heat.

Harlan is doing the Junior Ranger Program at as many national parks as he can. If he completes an activity book at the park, he earns a badge, and some parks offer extra badges. He earned TWO at pinnacles

This is Harlan taking his Jr. Ranger Oath. I love it when the rangers slip in things like “I promise to eat my vegetables and clean my room.”

To beat the heat, we decided to take a day trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium which was an hour away.Forest really enjoyed getting up close and personal

 Alan decided that after visiting each National Park, we should celebrate with a glass of  Scotch from a very  special bottle that he brought along. We were both excited to crack it open and celebrate the first one.  Cheers!