California, 6th November, Sequoia National Park, the Potwishas

We woke up in Potwisha campground to a beautiful sunny day and found the campsite to be full of animals, mule deer, acorn woodpeckers, western scrub jays and numerous squirrels. It was the nicest place we stayed during the holiday.

We did not rush breakfast as we were still recovering from yesterday's driving and it was good to sit in the sun watching the birds and deer. When we did make a move we drove towards the visitor centre but stopped on the way to see the river and and parked by some interesting information boards about the Potwisha native Americans who used to live in the area.

We saw one rock which had some petroglyphs on it and there was a huge stone which had cuplike depressions which were mortar holes used for grinding acorns and buckeye nuts. There was also a rock known as hospital rock as a man called Albert Everton had been treated here by a doctor in 1873 after accidentally being shot in the leg. It was carrying on the tradition of the Potwisha as they had been known as healers and had helped Hale Tharp and John Swanson who were the first white explorers in the area. Unfortunately by 1872 all the Potwishas had been driven out from the area.

We went down to the river and it seemed strange to see so much bubbling water after our stay in Death Valley. All of Sequoia seemed fresh and new compared to the arid desert.