BIG SUR 7-29-11

Last day at Big Sur and two hikes to go.  We went to Andrew Molera State Park and hiked to the beach.  And then we went to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park where we hiked through the redwoods and to a waterfall.  We did some prep work to prepare to take off tomorrow morning and are meeting John and Marty at the shop after close.

BIG SUR 7-28-11

Up and out for hiking in Big Sur.  The ranger station was closed, but Pine Ridge trail was well marked and much used.  We did ask a runner how far to the top and he said, "There is no top, you just level off a bit and keep on going up."  I don't really like hiking without the proper maps, so we stopped at a camping store and got everything we needed from an enthusiastic person who knew all the trails and we got a detailed map of the Big Sur area.  We had lunch at the beach.  After our beach hike we hiked a rim trail with great views of the ocean

BIG SUR 7-27-11

We did chores in the morning and then our travel guide John picked us up for a fun-filled day of this and that in the Carmel area.  We drove to Salinis in hopes of some RV equipment, but no luck.  Tom did get his pills at Target and we had a great lunch at an Indian, not the feather kind, restaurant.  Very yummy and not at all spicy.  After drop off we did grocery shopping to hold us over for the four-day trip to Yellowstone

BIG SUR 7-26-11

Traveling to Big Sur 28 miles down the road.  Gee, it's cold here.  Very beautiful, but very cold.  Mind you that's talking to me.  We got settled in our campground and then did laundry and planned for the upcoming trip to Yellowstone and for our days in Big Sur.

BIG SUR 7-25-11

We took our bikes to the shop in the back of the car and went from there to ride the 17-mile drive through Pebble Beach and back.  John and Marty came over for dinner and we grilled out.

CARMEL 7-24-11

After a gourmet breakfast prepared by Chef John, we headed out to do errands before lunch at a local seafood restaurant on the water.  Sunday afternoon was nap time for all.  We went to the wonderful Monterrey Aquarium in the evening and saw the exhibits while a jazz group entertained us.  We topped off the day with pizza.  After our very full day we headed back to prepare for the morning's move to Big Sur.

CARMEL 7-23-11

We rode our bikes into Casa di Campagna, John and Marty's store, and after checking in took a ride into Carmel, walked around, had lunch and returned to the trailer via the shop.  We returned when J&M closed and followed them to their house where they cooked dinner for us.  We stayed over as they had Sunday off.

CARMEL 7-22-11

Travel day to Carmel.  Interesting drive - turn left on Yosemite Avenue, drive 25 miles, turn left on Golden State Blvd, drive .3 miles, turn right on Olive Avenue and etc.  Then of course you've got your cows, corn and groves.  And now lettuce, artichokes, broccoli and tomatoes.  Not to mention beautiful strawberries.  It's 62 degrees here on the coast.  Evidently, the temperature does not vary much.  We got to Carmel By The River RV park at about 1:00 PM.  We're ranked in here like sardines, but at least no dust and it's shaping up to be a great sleeping night.  We checked in with John and Marty at the store and are planning to get together for dinner.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 7-21-11

Basically, a get ready to move on day.  We did laundry, washed car, got gas, got propane and picked up a few groceries in Groveland, a cute little town a mile down the road.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 7-20-11

We used our free coffee and tea coupons at the lodge cafe.  Tom added carrot cake and we considered ourselves ready for the morning.  Our first caller was Ali who was very concerned because she saw that people were killed in Yosemite yesterday, but did not report the names.  Evidently, young people were on the rocks at Fernal Falls and were swept away by the water.  There is so much water here because of the bad winter that the falls are very beautiful, but also very dangerous.  John checked in upon their return from a buying trip to Atlanta, where they ran into Hildred and Carolyn Rowles from Curwensville.  Tarla also called to check in.  We walked to lower Yosemite Falls which was close to our room. 

Our hike for the day was to Sentinel Dome at 8,122 feet providing a 360 degree view of Yosemite Valley, but our first stop was Glacier Point.  We drove to Glacier Point as the ten hour hike to get there by foot was way beyond us and unlike Sentinel Dome we could drive there - in the summer of course.  The views were great although there were tons of people and tons of buses.  While we were there we were interviewed  by a TV station out of Sacramento about the tragedy yesterday.  As of when we talked to the news team they had not found the victims and later a ranger told us that it is possible that they will never be found.  Another reminder about how dangerous these beautiful wild places can be.  We hiked the 2.2 mile round trip to Sentinel Dome which looks out over the valley and the High Sierra.  The last part of the day we drove to Wawona at the south end of the park.  One of the first homesteaders, Galen Clark, settled 160 acres in 1856.  In 1874 the Washburn brothers took over Clark Station and developed the Wawona Hotel which still operates today.  The painter, Thomas Hill (1829-1908) came to Wawona when his daughter, Estella, married John Washburn and he established a studio beside the hotel which is still there today.  We walked around the village where quite a few of the valley's original dwellings have been relocated.  We then made the 2 1/2 hour drive back to our camper

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 7-19-11

It's 6:40 AM and 53 degrees.  We are headed for Tuolomne Meadows which is located on the extreme east side of the park.  We hiked to Elizabeth Lake which is at 9487 feet.  We hiked across snow pack and swollen streams.  When we reached the top we could see a little slice of Lake Elizabeth, but could not find a place to cross the stream to get there.  The hike was a 4.6 mile round trip with an elevation gain of 1,000 feet.  It's a subalpine lake and by the time we got to the top I could see only one kind of pine tree.  Before we started the hike we had to take all of our food out of the car and put it into bear proof containers which were situated at the trailhead. 

The drive back to the valley was 55 miles and we arrived at 4:00 PM ready to enjoy our stay at the Ahwahnee.  Well....as it turned out I did not make reservations there, but rather at the Yosemite Lodge.  I was not too happy that my planning went awry, but at Yosemite Lodge we got an eco-room which had just been redone using all natural and recycled products - very cool.  Dinner at the Ahwahnee was just as wonderful an experience as we remember from the last time we were there 20-some years ago. 

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 7-18-11

Traveled 200 miles today.  Remember the S-curves of several days ago?  Well, this was S-curves with the trailer.  Yosemite Pines Campground is pretty, but it is an hour away from the Park.  We took a reconnaissance mission into the park to plan our strategy for the coming days.  Wow, it is like Disney in Yosemite Valley without the organization.  We saw a person stop their car in the middle of a four way intersection and jump out to take a picture.  We saw the introductory film, consulted with a ranger and then walked to the Ahwahnee, the historic hotel in Yosemite Valley and made reservations for tomorrow night.  The desk person said no reservations available, but we were determined and did get a room for tomorrow night.  We will not be returning to the Village area and will not be bringing our bikes as there are just too many people and it is crowded and dangerous.  It's 5:15 PM and we are leaving the park in a huge traffic tie-up.  Home at 6:30 PM so after the initial traffic it wasn't so bad.

SEQUOIA AND KING'S CANYON NATIONAL PARKS 7-17-11

We were up early and tried to go to church, but the rangers were clueless (too bad), and we saw no one at the site where I thought it was held.  We hiked a ridge trail with stunning views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  We ate our lunch on a log bench overlooking a beautiful meadow and then on the way out of the park we hiked an area where in the 1880's loggers cut down many of the Giant Sequoias.  Because they decay very, very slowly the stumps and even the sawdust from the trees are still evident.  Our walks were wonderful, 60 degrees and sunny.  Now were are back off the mountain and although it is still sunny, it's 88 degrees.  Tonight after we get back to Lemon Cove we'll prepare for the trip to Yosemite tomorrow.

SEQUOIA/KING'S CANYON NATIONAL PARKS 7-16-11

We decided to take Route 245 to the park because it looked closer.  Closer it was - 49 miles instead of 69 miles.  However, it was an hour and a half of solid S turns.  Interesting trip, but we won't be taking that route again.  Our objective for the day was to drive to the end of the road through King's Canyon and make the 9.2 mile hike to Mist Falls.  It was a beautiful, beautiful hike.  We met many people along the way, many packing into the wilderness areas.  We decided that we would do that if we had some young strong people to carry our tents and etc.  King's Canyon is a forested Grand Canyon that you drive down.  No raft trips on this river with miles and miles of rapids that looked like boiling water.  This was Tom's favorite hike.  We got back to John Muir Lodge at 4:00 PM, showered, had dinner and we were in bed by 7:00 PM.

SEQUOIA/KING'S CANYON NATIONAL PARKS 7-15-11

Right off the bat we saw a bear.  Very exciting!!  We stopped along the highway to see huge stands of Sequoias.  Later we drove down a fire road and saw where the rangers we conducting prescribed fires.  Now, in the 1960's the rangers did their very best to put out all the fires.  Later they learned that they were harming the eco-balance so are now trying to put things back to natures cycles.  We hiked Redwood Canyon which isn't redwoods at all, but the largest stand of Sequoias of ten foot in diameter.  There are 2200 in the Redwood Forest area, a fact the rangers are quite proud of. 

SEQUOIA/KING'S CANYON NATIONAL PARKS 7-14-11

We were much better prepared for today with layers of clothes, a time schedule for avoiding long waits and a plan to avoid the construction for the remainder of our park visit.  We left Lemon Cove at 6:15 AM so we could go through at 8:00 AM.  We took a three hour hike to Moro Rock, a dome overlooking the park.  The final stretch was 400 steps up to the top where you see Tom in the picture above.  We then walked through the forest  to a meadow.  We met a group of Eagle Scouts who were packing 82 miles which included a climb of Mt Whitney. (14,000 feet)  You can't just "go" to Mt Whitney, you have to hike in, taking your everything.  After lunch we drove into King's Canyon to check things out, made reservations to stay at John Muir Lodge and we were back at Wukachi Lodge for a nap and dinner.  Unfortunately, it is very cloudy - maybe tomorrow will be better.

SEQUOIA/KING'S CANYON NATIONAL PARKS 7-13-11

Getting into the park is a little more difficult than we imagined.  Major road construction because of the bad winter between the park entrance and the Giant Forest Museum where many of the trails start required us to wait and go through only at the top of the hour.  We also discovered how cold it is at 7,000 feet.  Lemon Cove at 500 feet is 88 degrees, Sequoia is 53 degrees.  Tom had only shorts and a tee on.  I had on shorts and a jacket.  Instead of the hike to General Sherman, the 275 foot 2200-year-old Sequoia we drove and walked the very short walk to the tree.  By car we checked out two more areas - Lodgepole and Stoney Creek, made reservations to stay the next night in the park and made the three hour trip back through the park and to Lemon Cove.

SEQUOIA/KING'S CANYON NATIONAL PARKS 7-12-11

Travel day to position ourselves for Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks.  We traveled through the Mojave Desert, past Edward's Air Force Base and then fifty miles of vineyards, and then cows, cows, cows and then corn, corn, corn-probably for the cows.  We got situated in Lemon Cove and then went to the local market for supplies.

SEQUOIA/KING'S CANYON NATIONAL PARKS

The elk greeted us upon our arrival and this morning a group of eight males bid us good-bye.  What amazing creatures.  It was a travel day like the West Texas days.  We got to the KOA in Barstow at 4:00 PM, had a swim and finished up the blog for Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON 7-10-11

We didn't quite make the 5:20 AM sunrise, but were up and out before six to hike some of Bright Angel Trail and go to church.  We walked 1/2 hour down the trail and it took us an hour to return.  We've now hiked most of the major trails along the rim and into the valley, just not that far into the valley.  Church was held smack on the rim overlooking the Canyon and the text was God's creation - very cool.  We returned home for brunch and a nap and we never did venture back out. 

GRAND CANYON 7-9-11

We started out on our bikes and headed to the South Kaibab trail head to hike the trail.   It was especially beautiful because it follows an exposed rim, it was early and not so hot and these South Rim mules are much better behaved if you know what I mean.  They are much more neat about themselves along the trail.  We went only to Ohh Aah Point 1.8 mile round trip with a 600 ft drop in elevation.  Along the way we met a young gal who was running the trail.  Her boyfriend, an ultra marathoner was running rim to rim and had started at 4:30 AM that morning.  After lunch and a nap we walked the rim trail and visited the historic hotels and buildings.

GRAND CANYON 7-8-11

Barb and Ali bused to see the sunrise over the Canyon.  Tom and I didn't as we will be driving to Phoenix and back to drop off Ali and Barb for their return to DC Saturday morning.  The trip took only four hours, we had a Mexican lunch, a short rest and were back at the Canyon by six

GRAND CANYON 7-7-11

For Ali and Barb's last day we decided on the Rim Trail in the morning followed by lunch and a rest and then later in the day we walked Hermit's Trail.  To get to the trailhead we had to bus.  It was a very steep trail, but we enjoyed it by using the lessons learned at the North Rim.  It was challenging, but well within our abilities.  We hiked only 1/2 hour down the trail and it took us less than one hour to return to the top of the trail.  Not hiking in the heat of the day is key!!

NORTH RIM GRAND CANYON 7-6-11

We had breakfast in the North Rim Dining Room.  Well fortified we tackeld the North Kaibab Trail.  We obeyed all the rules - know the weather, dress in layers, go slowly, rest often, drink lots of fluid - except the don't hike in the middle of the day.  The first section to Coconino Overlook was .7 miles and an 800 ft drop in elevation.  This is where Tom said enough and headed back - smart, smart boy.  A, Barb and I continued on another 1.3 miles and 650 ft drop to the Supai Tunnel.  Gorgeous views and all, but it was ify going back.  Ali forged ahead, 30-year-old that she is, but even she was surprised at the rough going. Barb and I were just greatful to make it back.  Around the park is posted a picture of a very fit and attractive man in hiking gear saying , "We rescue 250 people a year off the trails.  Most of them look like this".  The trip back to the South Rim was a pleasure and although it was a long trip we were very glad that we did it.

NORTH RIM GRAND CANYON 7-5-11

Ali is a little under the weather so rested while we prepared for our trip to the North Rim.  If you are a bird it is a 17 mile trip.  By car the trip is 213 miles.  Before we took off we "took off" in a helicoper for a tour of Grand Canyon - wonderful with amazing views of God's work.  Our 4 1/2 hour trip to North Rim was very interesting and actually went very quickly as we saw many Canyon, desert, alpine meadow and pine forest views.  We left South Rim at 4000 ft and 93 degrees and arrived at North Rim at 8000 ft and 83 degrees.  Our hotel room was a log and stone cabin, one a many clustered around the North Rim Lodge which overlooks the Canyon.   "The train" trip to the Western Barbecue turned out to be a tram trip, but the buffet was very good and we were entertained by a couple who performed country music while we had supper.  After dinner we went to a Geology lecture about the Canyon.  The Park Ranger who gave the lecture was a Penn State Graduate.

GRAND CANYON 7-4-11

Ali, famous for her life-long ability to find doodinks (small treasures no one else sees) was one of the first to encounter a baby diamond-back rattle snake at the RV park.  The park folks quickly rounded up the little guy and returned him ( or her) to the wild.  Barb had a swim and a hot tub session.  Tom and I prepared for our trip to Grand Canyon South Rim.  After setting up camp we headed over to the main visitors center, saw a film about the Grand Canyon and saw our first view of the Canyon from Mather Point and walked along the rim trail.  When we returned to our campground we encountered three elk just grazing among the campers.  Wow and wow!!

SEDONA 7-3-11

 

We spent the day in Sedona beginning with a 6:00 AM walk into the hills of one hour followed by an hour of yoga.  Tom didn't participate in the yoga, but as you might expect high in the hills of Sedona at 7:00 AM he managed to find a friend to talk to.  We had brunch at a local cafe which was very yummy.  While Ali had a massage, the best in her life she reports, we shopped around.  Later in the day we took a pink jeep ride which would rival any Disney ride with the added thrill of the stunning Sedona mountains.  Satisfied that we had done Sedona justice we headed back to Camp Verde for a swim and supper.

CAMP VERDE 7-2-11

We started our day with a visit to Montezuma's Castle, ruins from people who lived in the area between 1100 AD and 1200AD.  The culture was highly developed and the cliff dwellings amazing.  And I got a stamp for my National Park Passbook which was very exciting.  Anyway, for some unknown reason the culture vanished.  We picked up Barb and Ali at 7:00 PM at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. 

CAMP VERDE 7-1-11

They had showers here yesterday.  They were the first showers in the last 83 days.  We're making the short jaunt to Camp Verde to position ourselves to scoop up Barb and Ali from the Phoenix Airport and see Sedona before we head up to Grand Canyon.  It's 9:58 AM and it's 100 degrees as we head into Phoenix.  We headed up over the mountain toward Camp Verde where a sign suggested that we turn off our air conditioner which we did.  Even so the temperature gauge got within 15 degrees of hitting the red line.  It's now 109 degrees.  Our campground is so lovely with pool, hot tub and laundry - everything we need!!  We took the three mile drive into Camp Verde to purchase groceries for Canyon week, gassed up and even washed the car.

TRAVEL DAY 6/30/11

Another travel day in West Texas and New Mexico and Arizona.  It is hot and barren - no wonder no one lived here.  We saw thousands of cows along the road in pens waiting for what we don't know.  We saw six 100-car trains going East and West along side us.  Made me think of the early train passengers shooting the buffalo out the train windows.   I think that is fact, but I also saw it in a movie with my Dad.

TRAVEL DAY 6-29-11

Travel day in West Texas.  We started the day out at 82 degrees, were up to as high as 105 degrees and leveled off at 100 degrees for our stop in Van Horn.  I've discovered what I know about Texas I learned watching westerns with my Dad?