I look far too jolly here for the serenity and peace of the cemetery. But I've just successfully climbed a fairly steep uphill in fairly impressive heat and I'm still alive. I feel good. My minivan is parked along the roadway behind the trees behind my left arm.

(#3 on the map.) I've often passed the sign pointing up route 33 towards Santa Nella and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. But this is not an important stop for motivation on the way to dog agility events. This time I wanted to see it. Turns out that it's in the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, which is very way out in the middle of nowhere. It's quite peaceful. Just the place to put an expansive lawn and reflecting pools: the middle of a semidesert. But at least it's near a reservoir.

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elf1 > Against one hill, "The Airborne Soldier" monument stands at rest.

elf1 > Far above the Airborne soldier, the American flag flies on the golden hilltop.

elf1 > It's a stark and poignant reminder of the lives given in service of our country. It flies, alive, the only thing still brisk and breathing in this quiet place. Linda pointed out that there were people up there, and so we went in search of the walkway or stairs.

elf1 > We had to walk all the way around to the back side of the hill and then follow a long, curving roadway up the hill.

elf1 > Linda stayed way ahead of me most of the way, which was typical on uphills all weekend. Especially if I were taking pictures (who, me?) and especially if it was hot. Which it was. We reassured ourselves that this was a good conditioning hike for our upcoming Havasu hike. Which it was.

elf1 > From below, it's hard to realize how tall that flagpole really is. Linda stands beside it.

elf1 > From the hilltop,you could see all the way back out to the San Luis Reservoir, which we had left 20 minutes earlier.

elf1 > I look far too jolly here for the serenity and peace of the cemetery. But I've just successfully climbed a fairly steep uphill in fairly impressive heat and I'm still alive. I feel good. My minivan is parked along the roadway behind the trees behind my left arm.

I look far too jolly here for the serenity and peace of the cemetery. But I've just successfully climbed a fairly steep uphill in fairly impressive heat and I'm still alive. I feel good. My minivan is parked along the roadway behind the trees behind my left arm.