The next park on the trip was Sequoia National Park in California with some of the largest trees in the world. Unfortunately, the temperatures were very low all the time, so there was still snow in the park and it was quite cold.
However, the advantage was also that there were not so many visitors. Overall, we were able to look quite comfortable all the attractions without too much stress, which would probably not have been possible in the summer by the many visitors.
After our rather ambivalent experience with the extremely cold weather in California, we finally drove on towards our second National Park further north through the Mojave Desert, over Tehachapi Pass into the central valley towards Sequoia National Park. H
ere we deliberately looked for a campsite in the central valley and not in the park, because it was at this time incredibly cold. We had even there at night only 3°C, but during the day best weather.
The Central Valley of California is a vast and productive agricultural region located in the heart of the state. Spanning approximately 450 miles from north to south, the valley is bordered by the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the east and the Coast Ranges to the west. The valley is home to a diverse array of crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains, and is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world.
One of the key features of the Central Valley is its Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. This climate, along with the fertile soil and abundant water resources, makes the valley an ideal location for growing a wide variety of crops.
The Central Valley is divided into two regions: the northern and southern parts. The northern region is known for its production of fruits, including peaches, plums, nectarines, and cherries, as well as almonds, walnuts, and pistachios. The southern region, on the other hand, is known for its production of vegetables, including tomatoes, lettuce, and broccoli.
In addition to its agricultural productivity, the Central Valley is also home to a large and diverse population. The valley is home to a number of major cities, including Sacramento, the state capital, as well as Fresno, Bakersfield, and Modesto. These cities, along with many smaller towns and communities, provide a range of services and amenities for the region’s residents and visitors.
After a rather uncomfortable evening in the freezing storm by the fire in Joshua Tree National Park, we finally decided to give up and find a hotel in Twentynine Palms. From there we started again in the early morning in the park with icy temperatures, but this time less wind to a hike of about 10 km through the park in later best weather.
After our short stay in Phoenix, we drove on to California to Joshua Tree National Park. On purpose we didn’t drive the highway, but the more or less parallel route to it through the desert. The weather was ideal for now and the area anyway.
This is the first video of an extensive trip through the USA in April 2022. Here we are near Phoenix / Arizona in the White Tank Regional Park on the second day some hiking. Fortunately, it was not so extremely hot, but still already borderline by the solar radiation. This hike went then also only about 8 km through some hills and the typical cactus landscape of the region.
On the way back from Sydney to Germany I had a stay of 9 hours in Singapore. I decided logically to visit the city. Several days before I had to fight with a variety of forms and regulations, because they kept changing due to the crisis and everything was not so clear.
Finally, when entering the country, no one asked for anything other than the passport and I was in the country within 30 min after landing. There I took the train east and then walked through the city through some tropical parks to the beach and back.
After two years of crisis I was once again in Sydney / Australia. During this time the weather was rainy all the time, which was totally unusual, but not bad. After all, I just came from the German winter with snow and everything else that goes with it.
Anyway, I didn’t have that much time and besides the walk in Sydney Bay I could only take a short walk through my neighborhood where my hotel was. So I just walked straight until half of my time was up and then a bit south and back. The small tour led me through areas, in the middle of the city, which I had never seen and expected before.
I was once again in Sydney after two years of crisis. Unfortunately, my favorite Meriton was not available and I had to take one at another location. This video gives a small overview of what a suite for about 180 AUD per night cost in Sydney in March 2022 and what it looked like.
