GC and I also witnessed the Amish. GC was out on the trail while I stayed in the parking lot with Thurston. An enormous bus pulls into the lot and about 40 Amish people emerge, walking in pairs to see the giant trees. The bus was from somewhere in Ohio and it's dash was decorated with garlands of red silk roses.

Later, while in the Giant Forest, I tried to take a nap but the symphony of international languages surrounding me was too wonderful to not keep cracking open my eyes and looking around me.

We stopped at the store at Grant Grove and saw the Amish folks getting ready to head out there, so you must not have been too far behind us.

Silly me, I was looking for the horses and buggies in the parking lot. I didn't think they'd take a bus.


I love them ... they made my entire side trip to Grant's Grove so fantastic.

I had initially accidentally pulled into the campground along the road down, so after making a U-turn I found myself STUCK BEHIND AN EFFING BUS for the remainder of the road down. In frustration, I grabbed the first parking space I could in order to get out from waiting behind the bus. But my annoyance dissipated INSTANTLY the moment all those cute little Amish people emerged from the bus. Because how can you be annoyed in the presence of cute little Amish people?

I tried to tactfully take a couple photos from a discreet distance.

I think they were Mennonites.
Amish don't use modern modern modes of transportation...
Not sure though.

No, they will if someone else is driving them. And I'm not sure if Mennonites do the Germanic tongue thing or not.

edit: crap, I've spent the last hour posting spoilerized photos... only to realize I posted them to the Sooo thread. Perhaps some kind soul will move them over here?

I would have liked to have seen a Mennonites vs. Amish Grudge Match in the Grant Grove parking lot!

Don't the Amish also separate themselves from the outside world? I think Mennonites travel a lot. Seen a lot of them at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The High Voltage Box, my Adventure Staff and Me.

:D

And when I first saw it (the little avatar), I thought you were Capt. Jack! Love the scrub on your chin! Thank goodness I'm getting new glasses soon!