Another really cool place we visited, which was quite similar to the Redwoods, was the Sequoia National Park. This time, though, it wasn't just our family. After a long time with just family, we went to Sunday night service in Fresno, California, and met up with our friend Damar Randle! The following day, we decided, on a spur of the moment decision, to invite him to come along with us to see the Sequoias!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oITyXhXLTb7kp_KZ7AUtP1QHD7GKO2vpwV4LvR_j6lU5AGD3-ua1x-iyYinpnkH2dVWJXEMl8zmO6pTi6zhYbUth1bFkrLYh8Q7V89o6RYt0ixOFngCenRD-Uztl0u_d5ZLQ8HghsfrR/s640/Following+the+Van+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
My parents were in the front... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjob_FoPpJ2OIM_usDl99dW2lEsQ00GtQLZQW3Z_BTioX5bCuYn312N9aB-b-RBqMBGNdU3aiAwBgAw37P0eE9ZwluporcR6EhtXkuXWdgoNTmpF-cKfOEIKXZS5YTGbJDK2yUTLGpB46Uj/s640/Escort+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
...and thanks to my escort, we followed behind. :) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeY1w50nYf3OGmmsm3Qu-p-UTDrUGWfUxlnV-ZInsazRkYhDkTirAbnDaQtuTNUWngQxlJPIIYQdwqFFAUQ-l3a-05-bgz1pCwpTIOubv9DZVEQmnmD-ixpSvwqS86MgW41wBLSD9rpbqA/s640/A+Walk+Through+the+Park+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
It was a cool park, with plenty of trails to walk. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7fym2_DQQ1NdE3-ov44h3WRN44hh5t5Qy_3s1eG1tiTP3dI6fm9B_yLUgYUagSBHRqOugbFAZnfeoZNpx0pbjT7A4qWDPELEwdrxjGWGC4vjY-ZQPV7VOmUyy05KdllnPWlQ3e3fXsXM/s640/Bear+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
I FINALLY saw... a bear! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XuW0YeBttQjpqcE3SkmjzrF7j9e2KLQUmzI6YRhIIdTfWrbAvJU6PSS9w1ILZeqtL1DbVkvWVIGVcZUz87VOVt33iUSPXnplSfoOZUu_c3iHBDpQcmSppstOnlRzXtt7sVoUKXwBKtaB/s640/Burned+Stump+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
This tree had been burned in the split. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgkFEDkjLHbUkcZrKFdS0vwowYFC7yVkLxvPzmMTh6iHNYBaEhKjSFk8PrlocegOLV_MP_UO0rmzTfzAYV1R8ZAyhjfkG7MFUUMYIFlkQSyzWJ5liZYDsCPlGPFoOeEHPJx0r3UnMZ28S/s640/Damar+and+the+Sequoias+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
Damar knows where it's at: wearing a Missouri shirt (note the word "superior") at a California park. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjXYmRItyypvVbUxppyWVZ4joM7QuRFLEwTAl80Vz51BLtz2LNsU_5VfBxFF7nz2Aflcntsq8zu18c7CAXxwhyR24deIfl0uWnNGSvtRYc_8ANSB2bQpxf9_wClMTnn9L6WIUn56zaa9g/s640/Damar+Cabin+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
This was a cool, old cabin. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdXk0PDG8dUBkdpeCk-rkel7kUQXOoNzUpWntefjo2nqb_30wnPZbouF51VgNjOlBu275SzPiWJos60yAS7OMCp3OFHoWngUnBdtKVD6-CqO74A6TN3wJQzZoh5fG1Mb5_Zl2zd8xsz_z/s640/Deer+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
I loved the abundance of wildlife on our trip! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqQH7hHqVOAknWi4Ata0AjTJjfx0ZW-cStNG8CcvfaoTgtkhS_zzMI1vFkQJ6EvS7yCANXqzaTkQ-VQ-h8wtURwkHDR-UFQL1FqEEf_4VQROloYFrcE_njyBw3bE7BErxqfP8_A3zjlG4/s640/Deer+Together+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
You could get so close to the animals without spooking them |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjL3yBtBLtq9ahz38bZPTmGBLH_sjkB7bu3L0lJmOTpZBoeEYBbXDCslqQqltXSVu3vjPtlDNpidY6RLQMgZdCoMuygrQ9jrygkT1WEvigXsCvabD7sVG5WBfNgvo22YKmKJ6Fxh1zkpRv/s640/Deer+Walking+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
Plus, who doesn't like deer? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyQW-rScZhgDr73yR-0rvpDvFoIPLFWaiwwaKlh3pTNkdF_IE0Isi4f8ePYGwONEtqiNbMDIyO9XQE8HxatrLWyIr_hSc8BpIMJGPzc1aMZhbV3jyZHn6Zv4y6bLPQNhavRw5BZMG0tYq/s640/Double+Stumps+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
It's hard to realize just how big this is, but it's a double tree! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6jM3TTuVrguhKzGVXGGHqsOHl26UWgqxMzzycWyGCGJG0M4oT7Fc7q6lkSCFj8OdHWkKCvhCvRurSFkQBwXn4RXr3293t8-qcPXGPvz0PUT5jfMOwABa1yyJ51-40KiXMTZZgSi_prTr/s640/Sherman+Jump+Shot+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
Jump shot! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRacqbDqyqDAm8WNLjYw7W-LKqa4FTJ-udi3Vs8RMX9HJT3K1YwNSKQ1wc09jAf869Dn0uY9nJ83Ny-tbsr6foU_lEmf1Pbk_qkEVms5SUdJFiHJDeZ1m38ajqV5zyJXJ2aVj44JQvUos9/s640/General+Sherman+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
General Sherman! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDsCC1VbWxQINRjeTejDKTiFvQF2HeYWTP3RaP_fqWbXcOdlP2mFdpC8nbhlhXxikKbh1wLJLG6We8qnaEGzDiVfMCyjmR1R2bke13TpOQGybIKZSZeOX5vSGWtuvnkFaZRgGYsXfJ1b0/s640/Hollow+Stump+Kendra+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
A hollow tree, with Kendra standing in front for perspective :) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWslJRaRznWdfWw6lY4q1R4GBLv-03HSA92Tc5qiq92iC_fjiBqrSh8XE_Ez05S2GgMxPUEh-ozIYbRjge9D7eUZ6DSNY2TL-Ci7hAUkopa6gl311DFZCXRHxrwS84uTj0ansOkJGcNdEf/s640/Pathway+Bright+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
I loved the trails and the sun! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMujMQaWWPPlqoFD3W4_w8PNEVdYHa9eyTugWuvr3NiQvyTEeMM29X5I6-M_RqX2MRDCgAOFpL-pGcCF7Qzj9czzTBAlV_o9vtopX2w9eFb8GqBvq7i_JF6oP5FzYq_5vWShJGW1T2JQn/s640/Pinecone+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
Pinecone! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEX7fmsX9pO2QKYfc9m5kVLQAUghYEE4AHeJgB8h8ABqt1WCIRvN1_2_WKYWHyPm5eRnD0zWGVoe1ytAsGb-uwgBoMCZYQCZ2_dzMzXxG49D_WlrO4-oWd1qsQrGhE5vZ9ZjAjErRNuy4/s640/Pinecone+Glare+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
Pinecone with a sun glare |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0ihv6pmO0jSUPf0nfZBavmAEfUDjBQPafZMEXTdEb4rsZSXXs_AwT6vKtGVa9S8gljtoWl1BAlT0lp9IyW013Lk98liA4ertHu09iY4gIBf_VlhjzGy0OPeBr4pNxW1iv-jY2yawvBdV/s640/Serious+Damar+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
Serious Damar! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DbeN0zmWgf4i2jG_XTIt4iG-gRR_RvtHy9kb2IpchsSR2T_huTMlL3AAaBSG_CaQPC2GwDiS65ycwtjo6alAmzsQ_UO1XfYc7th5nFqf5PqE90ld6uKibWtbXPfbSmphUAoCK6yc7DFE/s640/Standard+Sequoia+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
Just a standard Sequoia. These trees are phenomenal. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsCu_jYNjKnmMPUcxj3r6d2ZB0r-_bQMy8nZttLpz5moLB61vHHONmTPi9pdR8O0vznbv0GdCPzdCxMkeb78CiHNdde9PHPiGl_69ttKYuAV2PxKRi2AQH0PN9TyHQFH20vVMKo1wUnfx/s640/Sunset+Trail+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
Another trail shot. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9rlwVmm7Sri2IYVaulNIow5hiHN2TN2-bvj3l0Eh_3jj04mRBcSAL_WVE_qk_fc50pvpGRu47-s33Fy_K1B7IZ013IaG7p-K4POq7QlwM76xym94A3rDv8KT7SLvZkHTNJWERjwZfOuH/s640/Tall+Trees+Blue+Sky+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
So tall! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNINt8nowLJ9YvXy_y_7reuvcD1WsCgKhpoxi65YH_nHjBu3zBOVS_YBnVzu_xkC9HG3W3MDIFCJQTORvV9casM5w8eYa5hOFEk6VIohrWbqSn1YKA6FNmwrdh8CpsSjVWXFyvspxk4F_r/s640/Roadway+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
The road went right along the trees, winding in and out. The trek down from the mountain was insane, and a little hard on the brakes. :P |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-62FD17N-3Z7uvQPBmppGKycfbDGhvFUUBPJSw4W28yWJKBAqFj7XlefUhnshXwmHG1sQQG3HRvGDzgoo0E8uf64zSDyNSVQJiAcHtNA75rIbtuAlwSXZXhEJ8RWuoUp-0YPWkq00GfoV/s640/Up+the+Burned+Tree+Edit+LR1.JPG) |
Here's a shot up the tree with a burned hole in it. |
This was a very fun trip, especially because Damar was able to come along! Definitely can't wait to visit California again... and I'm sure Damar agrees! :) That's all for now!
- Brett Cole Photography
Find and Contact Brett Cole ♦ Photography:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brettdcolephotography?ref=hlFlickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100589357@N08/ Email: brettcphotography@gmail.com