Pinnacles National Park

We set off to Pinnacles National Park with the hopes of seeing a California Condor, an enormous, endangered buzzard-like bird with a huge wingspan known for gliding through Californian Canyons. Of course Henry wanted to get his National Park cancellation stamp for his collection and to add to his list of National Parks visited. He has now visited 10 out of 64. He wants to visit them all!

Once again it was a glorious day and we set off nice and early with a packed picnic.

The scenery in central California was like a bucolic fairy tale, with rolling hills of golden grass, the occasional red barn, beautifully maintained farmhouses with colorful flowers dancing in stone troughs, rustic windmills and wooden water towers, animals ranging freely, lazily chewing the cud or pecking at the ground, we kinda expected to see Rumpelstitskin, Prince Charming or maybe Little Red Riding Hood  skipping along the lanes. The drive was magical.

We arrived at Pinnacles, a geological wonder formed millions of years ago by volcanic activity and tectonic forces. We were marginally impressed by the unique rock formations, spires and canyons but after national parks like Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon, we couldn't help feeling a little deflated. ​We looked and looked but unfortunately we did not see any Californian Condors. Perhaps they were resting somewhere with Hansel and Gretel in a nearby Gingerbread House? Honestly, much of the park was closed due to adverse weather conditions that had impacted the drivability of the roads to the west of the park. Most unfortunate and a little disappointing.

We drove to the Visitor Center for the obligatory National Park Cancellation stamp and lunched under the nearby shady oaks.

After lunch we drove out to the cave entrances and hikes that were ultimately closed, so we cut our visit short and headed home.

And that's the end of the story.