California Hot Springs in Tulare County, up in Sequoia National Forest, it's about equal distance between Visalia and Bakersfield in the mountains east of there. The "town" is a post office and California Hot Springs Resort and that's it. All told there are 200 residents spread out in the little community that are ranchers and retired people and people who commute to Visalia, Porterville and Bakersfield and other places to work. Folks from LA like to come up and have cabins and vacation homes up there. We had a home up there for 13 years, we moved up there when my husband became the resident deputy for a couple of years. The night the trees came down it had rained heavy all day and then changed to snow, the weight of the snow I think was the last straw, they sounded like cannons going off as they fell. The next day I went for a walk with the dog through the woods and the roots of those trees were 10+' tall and more where they broke off out of the ground, unbelievable, they lay like match sticks, huge match sticks. If you like camping there's a really nice campground for RV's or tents a couple of miles below the Resort to stay at with a creek running by it. There is also an RV park across the street from the Resort but it's very basic. The Resort is is an old building with alot of history that has a giant swimming pool that they pipe the hot springs water into that they hold the water rights to and have year round swimming in with two hot tubs. They do charge to go swimming too, it's a business. The water comes in at 130 degrees and they cool it down to swimming temp, it's wonderful water. In the winter they keep it warmer and in the summer a little cooler. Inside the Resort is a deli, a gift shop and a little grocery store. They used to bottle and sell the water. About 20 miles up, I believe that's the distance, is where the Trail of 100 Giants is where President Clinton came and declared it a National Monument several years ago. My husband was there and part of the entourage that day. We sold his extra presidential pin of the day on E-Bay:) I did get nice gentle rain soaking in, I've been out to pull weeds twice now. Yesterday and today, they come up out of the clay better with a little water on them:) Course I'm gong to get alot more now, but that's ok, my plants and bulbs are all cheering too, I'm getting a bunch of them poking their little noses out now. Yea, after all the brown, some green! Leslie

We had a high of 81 yesterday at1:30. I was out in my garden picking salad for thanksgiving. We have had a steady 30 mile an hour wind from the south for several days blowing the tall bluegrass in the front field to the south. The wind came to an end in the morning and it was still and ominous. I heard it coming up the gorge to my north, moaning loud. The wind hit and the temperature dropped 20 degrees in 15 minutes. We ended up with a low of 33. Almost 50 degree drop in a day. It is now down to 27. They say low 20's or upper teens in the morning but then back up to 60 and 70 the next day. I have been moving plants all day and all yesterday. The Vegetables are covered up. But I think I will let my Brugs die. They didn't bloom for me this year. I am a passive aggressive gardener with to many plants to move.

figsin7b: I used to go to Sequoia when I lived in the San Fernando Valley--closest one, as I recall, to the Valley. General Sherman tree is there--the largest living thing on Earth. Some trees are taller, but no other has the volume of mass as General Sherman. Don't know if you'll find yourself in the San Francisco area, but if you do, check out the gargantuan fig trees at Alcatraz. Boat leaves from Pier 40 or 41, as I recall, every half hour, to Alcatraz. Pier 39 has been taken over by Sea Lions, and they hoist themselves up on the pier and lie about bellowing, shoving their weight around,and smelling up the place--to the tourists' delight, who can't seem to take enough pictures. If you're interested in Figs--and history--I wouldn't dream of going to Ca and not checking out the SPANISH MISSIONS, 21 of them dotted throughout the state, mostly along El Camino Real (some more, inland) from San Francisco, southward. You know the story of the old Spanish Missions,no doubt--many of the California Figs (and other fruit trees) originated at these missions. I lived a few blocks from San Fernando Mission, at Sepulveda Boulevard and San Fernando Mission (or San Fernando Mission Boulevard off the San Diego Freeway), in the northern San Fernando Valley. Used to also go to Mission San Gabriel, in the L.A. area, and both these missions had profuse Fig trees, 30 years ago. The central San Fernando Valley runs northward up the San Diego Freeway, from the junction of the Ventura Freeway and the San Diego Freeway. The off ramps proceeding north on the San Diego Freeway from that junction are Burbank Boulevard, Victory Boulevard, Van Owen, Sherman Way, Roscoe Boulevard (home of Budweiser Brewery, west), Nordhoff, Devonshire, San Fernando Mission Boulevard (get of there and go a mile East), and Rinaldi Boulevard at the northern end of the Valley. You can get off at any one of these offramps, and drive the suburban neighborhoods (particularly from Devonshire, north) and find Fig trees in every 4th yard, or so--if things remain as they did 20 years ago. On your way back south on the San Diego Freeway, take the Ventura Freeway west about 10 miles toward Ventura (east goes to L.A.), and take the Las Virgenes Canyon exit, south toward Malibu. That's actually Malibu Canyon to the locals, and you'll end up in Malibu, overlooking the Pacific Ocean (and Pepperdine University). After checking out Malibu, go south on El Camino Real and look about Santa Monica, and check out the Santa Monica pier--then a little further south to Venice--the Venice boardwalk and Muscle Beach, where Arnold used to work out before he ended up in the Governor's mansion. Retrace your path back north on Malibu (Las Virgenes) Canyon Road, east on the Ventura Freeway back to the San Diego Freeway, and head south. You'll pass LAX Los Angeles International Airport) in Inglewood, Long Beach (where the Queen Mary is now located) and the Port of Los Angeles, then keep booking south. Of course you know where you'll end up proceeding South on the San Diego Freeway. Don't forget to mark the Missions on your map as you travel south--Figs should abound. There: that ought to keep you busy for awhile, and you should see Fig trees all along your journey.

Naturegirl: Excellent planI donÂt think you could do better. Of course you will see the Mariposa grove of sequoias. They are a bit out of the way from the other park attractions, but I would say they are a "MUST." A couple of things to look for: By all means stop to see the "Grizzly Giant" tree. This is one truly spectacular tree and in its way as amazing a giant sequoia as you can see anywhere. The diameter is truly massive, but overall it is technically not one of the largest because it is not so tall as othersÂjust a bit over 200 feet--, but no matter. The crown of this tree is truly grizzled and gnarled, suggesting that has been growing there forever. Depending on how much time you have, a couple of suggestions: Try to see one of the fallen trees. There is one called "The Fallen Monarch," but I canÂt remember how far one has to walk to see it. And since I was last there, the Wawona Tunnel tree has fallen. You might want to make a point of seeing that--it should be right next to the road. One of the finest trees is the Galen Clark treeÂgiven that name because that is supposedly the first tree he saw when he discovered the grove. It is not unusually large, but perfect in its formÂat least the last time I was there. Also, I understand there is a kind of tram ride that has been built. Maybe you could get around more easily that way to see the grove. But anywhere you stand in this grove you will see wonderful trees. And if you see this grove, and Big Basin, you will really have more than just a "taste" of the most amazing trees in the world. I would recommend that you get up early, very earlyÂand get to Yosemite early enough to see the Mariposa grove the first day. Then you would not have to break up your stay in the valley area the next day. Two recommendations: first, for a hike in the valley, the vernal falls trail is nice. I canÂt remember exactly how far it is to get to the top of the falls, but it may not be too far. Some of the other falls in November may not have much water. Bridal Veil may be dry, and Yosemite falls itself will be at a low ebb. But Vernal Falls should still be very nice. Second, Glacier Point should be a must. It is a bit of a drive, but not much walking required once you get there. One bummer for you is the days are so short in Nov. Well, have fun!!