Pinnacles National Park

We decided to go out of our way to visit Pinnacles National Park on our trip north through California. This park is exhausting to get to because, coming from the south, you have to take narrow roads that are 85 miles with a million slow twists and curves. In a car it is work but it is even more so with a RV. In summary, going from south (Coalinga) to north it is a pretty drive that becomes less enjoyable after you get tired of all of the slow curves.

Anyway, about the park. There are two sides to the park, we went to the east side. There is one road that goes in a few miles and dead ends. The attractions are hiking and camping and hoping to see California Condors. We did one hike to get a feel for the park and just saw one Condor circling a long way off but we were only there a couple of hours. It is a pretty park with typical mountain hiking. Nothing against the park but since we did not enjoy the roads getting to it we will not return to this one.

Woodpecker nut storage

Condor Gulch Trail view

Condor Gulch Trail view

Condor Gulch Trail view

Cesar E Chavez National Monument

We stopped by the Cesar E Chavez National Monument on our drive from Arizona to Washington. This is a small monument, 30 miles southeast of Bakersfield CA, honoring the work of a man who, along with others, worked to bring justice and hope to farmworkers and their families. 

Cesar Chavez lived and was buried here. They also moved the United Farm Workers union to this location in 1971 to focus on building a nonviolent movement. There is a Memorial Garden and visitor center (which was closed due to COVID-19). There wasn’t much to see but since we were driving right by, we decided to stop.

Memorial Garden