US 7 - Bakersfield to FRESNO

Thu. March 8th, 2007: Bakersfield - Visalia - Sequoia N.P. - Fresno.
Going North first to VISALIA we went on to SEQUOIA National Park driving through a country in blossom, full of fruit gardens of all kind, like peaches, wine, Oranges etc. until we came nearer to the National Park located higher than 2000m above sea level, passing a long one-lane-construction zone and many switchbacks. So we did meet snow again, this time up to two meters !!! However we could get through to see the biggest trees on earth, the Sequoia's, its biggest one, 'General Sherman tree' to be estimated 2700 years old!! We also visited the museum there with plenty of information, and after for a short lunch at the WUKSACHI-Lodge, where we saw people walking on snow shoes and cross country ski's. As the way down to road 120 still was closed after the snowstorm, we went back to Visalia and continued from there to FRESNO on Route 99, where we had a quick dinner at Denny's before sleeping.