A Walking Volcano

A walking volcano? The Pinnacles rocks are all that’s left of 23,000,000-year-old Neenach Volcano. It once stood 8,000 feet high near what is now Lancaster, CA, 195 miles south. The San Andreas Fault ripped the old volcano in half and moves the land slowly north. It took the rocks a few million years to get here and according to the National Park Service, they’re still moving – about an inch per year. At that rate, they’ll be near where San Francisco is now in another 6 million years. The Pinnacles are a home for many kinds of wildlife, including the endangered California condor. These ancient birds can often be seen soaring on their 9 1/2-foot wide wings, looking for food. There are only about 425 California condors left in the world! Purrs, Gulliver

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California missions

The California Missions are an important part of our history. I thought they were built starting in San Diego and moving north, but found out they hopscotched up and down the lower part of California. I have not visited all of the sites, but the one I like best so far is Mission San Juan Bautista because there is a cat door carved right in the people door to let the cats come in the church at night and catch the mice that were always looking for food. Cats worked as hard a people to earn their daily keep! Do you have a favorite mission? Purrs, Gulliver

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Rocky Mountains

“Rocky Mountain High…Colorado” sang John Denver on the radio as we drove through Colorado. I tried to sing along, but my mom complained I was yowling too loudly. Such a critic! We headed to the Rocky Mountain National Park to do some hiking and maybe even see bighorn sheep, moose, elk or deer. I don’t want to see any bears or mountain lions – they might eat me! While the Rocky Mountain National Park is in Colorado, the Rocky Mountains are a series of mountain rangeswhich spread more than 3,000 miles from central New Mexico to northwest Alaska and include the Canadian National Parks of Banff, Jaspar, and Kootenay, while in the United States the mountains include Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks among others. I am looking forward to climbing Pike’s Peak, which has such beautiful views it inspired another song –“America the Beautiful”! Purrs, Gulliver

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Carousel

The word “carousel” was first used to describe a game played by Arabian and Turkish horsemen in the 12th century. The game, which involved tossing a clay ball filled with perfume between riders, was played with such seriousness that the Italian crusaders who first observed the game called it a “little war” or “carosello.” In England, carousels have been called roundabouts and galopers. In America, in addition to carousels they have been called whirligigs, flying horses, hobby horses and of course merry-go-rounds. Horses with at least 3 feet touching the floor are called “standing figures.” Horses with two back feet resting on the platform and front feet posed in the air are called “prancers.” Horses with all four feet in the air and called “jumpers” and are the ones that move up and down. Sometimes other animals were added to the carousel like tigers and frogs. FullSizeRender (7) Purrs, Gulliver

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Super-size this!

In 2012, scientists found the General Grant tree is the second largest tree in the world, behind the General Sherman tree. The General Grant measures almost 270 feet tall and 107 feet around at its base. The tree is named in 1867 to honor Ulysses S. Grant, and General in the US Army and later the 18^th President of the United States. Estimates on its age range from 1650 years to 2700 years old. Counting tree rings does not give an accurate date of its age – scientists are still learning how to decide the ages of some trees.

Purrs, Gulliver

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Hawaiian Islands

The Hawaiian Islands are so beautiful. As soon as I stepped off the boat my hosts put flower lei around my neck as a symbol of friendship and welcome. A conch shell, called a Pū (pronounced poo) was blown to greet the visitors. Traditionally, Pū were used to announce the beginning of a ceremony or to communicate across water to people in canoes or from a canoe to land. Today they are popular at weddings, lu’au and the opening of the Hawaii State Legislature term. When the Pū is blown, how many times and in which directions all have significance to the ceremony. I learned a few Hawaiian words also. Aloha means many things, and can be used for both hello and goodbye. Mahalo is thank-you (always useful) and Ohana is the word for family. Wahine are women and Kāne are men, while Haole describes a non-native or foreign person. Purrs, Gulliver

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Pow wow!

For many years, the native people were called “Indians” because the explorer Christopher Columbus thought he had landed in India. There are many different “tribes” or groups of natives, each with their own customs and language. The natives in the middle part of the USA, the Plains Indians, would gather once or twice a year to trade goods, learn about good hunting areas, talk and share food, dance and show off their wealth and strength. These gatherings still happen, though now everyone is invited. Maybe I will get to go some day! Purrs, Gulliver

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Up, Up and Away!

Up, up and away! I went to the Albuquerque, New Mexico balloon festival and to ride in a balloon! Not the kind you buy at the store, but a giant kind that can hold 4-6 people in the basket. The balloon part is called an envelope, and the basket beneath it is called a gondola. Hot air fills the envelope, and before long we were drifting through the quiet air, looking at the people and scenery below. Most balloons launch in the early morning, when there is little wind so landing is not as bumpy. A chase crew follows the balloon and picks up the people and equipment when the balloon lands. After my ride, there was a balloon fiesta where 600 balloons went sailing through the air at the same time, creating a rainbow of colors in the blue sky. Purrs, Gulliver

Farming in California

We could eat our way from one end of the state to the other on the crops grown in California and never be hungry. Farming and ranching are a big business in California. People here grow more than 350 different crops, including 32 kinds of lettuce. We grow so much food; we send it all around the world. Artichokes, almonds, figs, olives persimmons, pomegranates, raisins and walnuts are just some of the food grown for sale to other places. Next time you are in the store, look at the labels and see where your favorite fruits and vegetables come from. Maybe like me, they started out in California! Purrs, Gulliver

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