Yosemite National Park

Katie and I arrived early in the morning to Yosemite and got ourselves a sweet little campsite at Bridalveil Creek Campground. We couldn't be happier about it! We set up camp quickly and decided to head down into Yosemite Valley for a swim in the river Merced. Swimming in the cold river surrounded by steep cliffs and mountains was a perfect introduction to the park. After swimming we both begrudgingly decided that a real shower and laundry was in order. We soon found that at five dollars a shower we wouldn't be doing many of those in the park. All sparkly clean we headed back up the mountain to our camp and listened to a ranger give a short talk on the Yosemite black bears that roam the valley. Interestingly, these bears are far smarter than us in that they can open just about anything containing food, including your car. Each campsite contains a bear box that is essentially bear proof and any and all food and toiletry products must be in the box at all times or you'll be issued a fine. The bears are a big draw to the park. Alas, as much as Katie and I looked and looked were not fortunate to have seen any of them. Signs about bear safety are littered throughout the park. "Save a bear, lock your food", "Speeding kills bears", and "Save a bear, don't feed the wildlife" are just about everywhere. It concerns me just slightly that people are feeding the bears…….!

Our second day in the park, after a noisy night in the campground, we arose and drove to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. Were Sierra was quiet and peaceful, Yosemite is a swift kick in the pants to get up, get out, and get exploring! Crowds of people flock to the park every summer to see the magnificent trees, mountains, and lakes that make the park a beautiful place. I think we heard as many languages as we saw trees. It was clear as we began to explore that many people were not equipped to enjoy a national park as we were. We had a few chuckles over a select number of tourists glad in designer clothes and ill-fitting shoes complaining loading in German, Japanese, or French to their families about god knows what. Most likely the heat.

After taking a very sticky shuttle bus ride to the sequoias we finally got to see the big ones! I was most looking forward to seeing these ancient giants after missing Sequoia National Forest. Needless to say, they are HUGE. Katie and I both got a sense of what life is like for ant. These trees range in hundreds to thousands of years old. One fact we read was that some of them had taken route around the time the Cleopatra ruled Egypt. Think about that. The biggest sequoia was aptly named The Grizzly Giant, just a youngin' at 2,000 years old. To be considered a giant one had to be at least 400 years old and minimum circumference of 40ft.

Katie at the Grizzly Giant

Where's Emily?!

There is also the tunnel tree where you can walk through the base of the trunk. 

That took up much of our day and we spent the rest of the day walking through all the shops, stores, and galleries on display trying to stay cool in the brutal heat. We read about the many famous naturalists and photographers that took up residence here and helped shape our national park system including one Ansel Adams. Yosemite was founded by Galen Clark during the Civil War by the Yosemite Land Grant per Abraham Lincoln making it the first national park in the world. Years later a young naturalist named John Muir would take up residence and build his career by expanding the park lines to encompass more land and making the park what it is today. Some say that Americas greatest idea was to create a national park system and preserve some of the beauty that naturally lies within our borders.

Katie's psyched to be here! :) 

Our last day in the park we decided to do what one can only do when it's so damn hot, float a river. We did stop off in the morning to see Glacier Point which provided a panoramic view of the Half Dome, the Sentinel Dome, Upper Yosemite Falls, Bridelveil falls, and the other various mountains spanning the park.

Rafting the river was the best idea we had yet! Slow and lazy with frequent stops to swim and people watch we quite enjoyed ourselves. So many people have no idea how to paddle. Katie and I had the best time watching them all spin in circles arguing and laughing as they crashed into trees and rocks. It's only a three mile float but highly recommended.

Wouldn't it be great to have a wedding here!

Upper and lower Yosemite falls

While we both agree that Yosemite was a must-see part of the country, we weren't sad to say goodbye. I would recommend going in the fall or spring to avoid the heat and crowds of people. Exhausted from our three days there we drove across California and hopped on the Pacific Coast Highway and put our feet in the Pacific Ocean for the first time! It was a little cold and a wee bit foggy, but we were still excited. We spent the night in San Simeon State Park right next to the beach. Sitting in a coffee shop in Cambria, California watching the coming and goings on the street, Katie and I are a bit in awe that we've made it all the way across the country! More adventures to come.

A little grubby but happy feet! 

Our first glimpse of the Pacific!

Happiness:) 

Sierra National Forest

So I lied a little bit, we aren't in Yosemite just yet. We have been hanging out in Sierra National Forest for the past couple of days. It was tough to get reservations in Yosemite so we opted for just south of the park. We also had our first Griswold's vacation moment. After twelve hours in the car from the Grand Canyon to California, feeling a bit delusional, we got horribly lost. Not to mention it was 4th of July. I think we might have been a little ambitious about driving that far and then setting up a campsite. We arrived to Oakhurst, California in time to buy some supplies and then drive endlessly around Bass Lake trying to find our campground. At least three different people gave us three different set of directions. We watched the fireworks from our car in terribly moods and finally caved and got a hotel. I must say it wasn't all that bad for our first misadventure. We've only had a few blunders so far and most of them have involved packing and re-packing the car. A good nights rest and a warm shower later we were ready to find this mysterious campground. Eleven miles up in the mountains later, we finally arrived at Kelty Meadow Campground. Thank the gods we got that hotel. As we drove up and up into the mountains Katie remarked, "Well if there every was a place called the "Middle of Nowhere" this would be it". 

We situated ourselves between a beautiful meadow and creek with a pasture full of momma and baby cows. It is very rustic to say the least. No showers, only outhouses, and only a few other campers around us. It was good for us to be stationary for a couple of days and get some rest. We can have campfires here which was a relief since most of the other parks are in full restrictions from the drought. We have been cooking most of our meals over the open flame and I must say it makes everything so much more delicious! 

Our neighbors.

Breast is best!  

Our view of the Fresno Dome 

Yum!

Add caption

Our second day here we drove to town and found a sweet little cove on the lake to spend the day sunbathing and reading. It was the breather we both needed to take. I think I still felt a little bit like I was still living in the city hopping from one to place to the next with an agenda. No people to see or places to go here. I had forgotten how quiet the world can be and how beautiful. I grew up in the country, vacationed in the country, and went to college in the country. So it was no wonder that I needed to experience living in a city after all that. Austin was a perfect transition city for me. Not too big or overwhelming and just enough nature to sustain me. I did become a little bit of a city girl, I think, and it was really fun. Something I felt I needed to do. But being out here, I feel like everything is finally still and I can think again without interruptions. 

Katie and I hiked the Fresno Dome and it was amazing! 360 degree views of the entire Sierra Forest. It wasn't a long hike but we walked through a forest that looked as though it was taken right out of a Dr Seuss book. The trees are covered here with a moss that is crazy electric lime green, the pictures don't really do justice to it.  

My dome at the Fresno Dome

So we are staying one more night here and then we are leaving bright and early to get our butts to Yosemite and hopefully grab a first-come-first-serve campsite. Fingers crossed! We plan to stay a few days there and hopefully take a shower:) Until then! 

The Granyon

     We finally arrived in Grand Canyon National Park after two full days of driving across New Mexico and Arizona. Katie and I couldn't be happier. The drive did improved with our decision to take Route 180 instead of Route 10 and we drove through Apache National park.

We landed just before the sunset in time to set up the tent, eat, and fall fast asleep. We woke early the next day to set out and see the Granyon! (as we like to call it) This was my third trip to the canyon and Katie's second. We both came when we were younger with our family on vacation. What I remember most of that trip was when our Dad hiked us out onto some precipice and our Mom almost had a heart attack. On my second trip I white-water rafted the Colorado River for seven days with my best friend and her family. I was seventeen then and old enough to fully appreciate it. It was the trip of a lifetime and it left a huge impression on me. No matter how many times you visit, it never prepares you for the first glimpse. Too put it simply, it really is quite grand. It measures a mile deep, about three Empire State Buildings tall, and nine miles wide. When standing near the edge you understand how fragile we are and how quickly the canyon could swallow you up. One stumble, one trip, and it's all over. It humbles you. Katie and I walked the rim trail for a while and "oooo'd and ahhhh'd" at all the touristy spots. We only encountered one ungrateful child who proclaimed loudly, " Mommy, I want to play games on your phone!" When she denied him he exclaimed, "But there's nothing to do here!" Youth these days.

 One recurring theme did followed us throughout the day, dads. I mean there were dads everywhere. Dads in fanny packs and khaki cargo shorts. Dads with maps and binoculars reciting historic and geological facts. It was a dad free-for-all! So it was funny that over breakfast Katie and I had both remarked how we were thinking about our own Dad and the trips we used to take with him. As children he took us camping every summer to the back woods of Maine. It was "real" camping out on an island with no showers and no other campers. We loved it. I will say that both of our parents taught us the importance of respecting and appreciating nature but it was our dad who taught us to love camping. So we both had a giggle about the many tall-shocked and baseball cap wearing dads at the canyon that day and felt nostalgic about our camping adventures with our own one-of-a-kind dad. 

Later that day we had a nice siesta and were woken by some neighbors just passing through! It wouldn't be the last run-in we had with them.

Naturally we watched the sun set…….

and then it rise…….

and we were off again, but not before sharing a cup of coffee with Uncle Buck.

So here we are on the way to Yosemite National Park. It's another long day of driving but we got to pass through the Mojave Desert which entertained us for a while. We also stopped off on a section of the old historic Route 66 and had some tasty Californian burgers. Radiator Springs might be a real place.

So happy 4th of July everyone, I hope you are all enjoying yourselves on a lake somewhere and staying cool!