We drove many hours to Great Basin National Park on Highway 50, “The Loneliest Road in America.” What is the Great Basin? The Great Basin is an area of land where there is no outlet to the sea. This means that rainwater seeps into the ground, and drains into streams and lakes and never reaches the ocean.

At Great Basin National Park we went to the visitor center and learned about the landscape. After we saw the exhibits we went outside and picked apples and pears with a fruit picker on a long pole that the visitor center lends out. The fallen fruit from the trees is eaten by the wild turkeys, which we got to see.

We went on some high elevation hikes. First we hiked to two halfway frozen alpine lakes. Next we saw a Bristlecone Pine stand. These trees are very unique because they are the oldest trees in the world. They can live nearly 5,000 years! They grow on loose gravelly peaks at the edge of the timberline. When the tree dies, the trunk remains standing for thousands of years.

On Saturday morning we saw the annular solar eclipse. A solar eclipse is caused by the moon blocking the sun and casting a shadow over the earth. An annular eclipse is when the moon is farther from earth, not fully blocking the sun. We saw what looks like a ring of fire! I got to look through solar telescopes and make a pinhole projector so I could see the eclipse safely. I also made a pinhole projector with my hands. We wore solar glasses which let us look directly at the sun.

I loved being in Great Basin National Park but now we are moving on to Cathedral Gorge. Above and beyond!

Fantastic Friday began with a trip to the Jelly Belly factory to learn about how jelly beans are made. We saw lots of interesting and amazing machines like the packaging machine. We saw a huge robotic arm that transported trays of jelly bean centers to a big room where they rested before moving on to more processing. Then we saw the mixing room where there were big spinning drums that spun the jelly beans so the candy makers could add a color and flavor coating. Next we saw another set of spinning drums where workers add that glossy shine that make the jellybeans special. I left the factory with a bag overflowing with jellybeans!

After the Jelly Belly factory we went on a surprise drive to pick up a teardrop camper for me to have as my own room. The Jay Cave is where I will chill and sleep. It is so cool inside it! I love all the fairy lights and the opening top vent. I had a great night sleep in it last night!

I loved Fantastic Friday but now the day is over and new adventures are upon us. Above and beyond!

After leaving the redwoods of Humboldt County we made our way back to the coast, camping at three parks north of San Francisco: Van Damme State Park, Navarro Beach and Doran Regional Park.

We enjoyed sunny and warm beach days, exploring, playing frisbee, walking, searching for sea glass, running from waves, reading, watching an injured sea lion get rescued and just relaxing. At night we enjoyed campfires beneath star filled skies.