June 11th:
We got a generally early start for Bryce Canyon. We arrived at Rainbow Point, the farthest point in the park, at a little bit after 9. It was quite majestic, and we could see quite far. But after a days worth of Hoodoos, and many days of the same colored rocks, it was obvious we were a bit tired of it all. Still, I made another post card and off we went down the road. We stopped at a couple more repetitive sights and parked at Sunset Point for the Navajo Loop Trail. I had to beg and pressure mom and dad into taking the hike. Neither of them wanted to. Weird how it was the child asking the parents to hike, and not ‘tother way around.
Anyway, we geared up with first aid and water and snacks and down we went. The first part of the hike descends from the lookout point and into the canyons. It does so not by one steep path, but by thirty (we counted) switchbacks. A steady stream of people kept the pace nice. It was quite fun to descend and look back. At the bottom, the hike goes for a while between two steep walls. It is beautiful to be at the bottom and look up at it all. Mother and father soon agreed that it was good that I forced them on the hike. We emerged from the canyon walls and went to the end where the trail went off on much longer trails. The other half of the loop was sectioned off, so the return trip would be just the same way we came from. Before going up, we took a rest in the shade, I produced another post card, and we snacked. Then back up we went! We passed by many families and counted the number of turns on the hike back up the hill. It was exhausting but well worth it.
Back on the motorhome, we swung by the Visitors Center, and then zoom off we went to Zion. It wasn’t until ten miles till Zion that we found out there was a height restriction on the entrance into the park due to a tunnel, and that it would be a special fee to escort us into the park (for larger vehicles, they would have to make it one way. Would have been nice to find this out before hand. We decided not to pay the fee and headed West for Nevada, and ultimately, Yosemite.
We climbed up to 10,000 feet above sea level in the motorhome. Over this mountain and towards Nevada. We decided to camp high up at Cedar Canyon. The campground has been ravaged by wind and not quite cleaned up. Sure the paths are clear and all that, but there is still mucho debris laying around. And no ranger. We had hot dogs and mashed potatoes and cabbage. I made another postcard. Now we settle in for the night.
Tomorrow: Nevada! And then hopefully Eastern Yosemite.
Todays Portrait Is: Zach Galifianakis
June 12th:
12 hours on the road, sure with some stops, but mostly 12 straight hours.
The day started at around 7:30am. I was still in bed when the motorhome started shaking and moving and driving. I luxuriated in the gentle rocking for a while long, and then climbed down. We stopped for gas, I bought some candy, and then we were off across Nevada. We were not going through Las Vegas. Instead we were taking the route across Extraterrestrial Highway. There would be no gas for 150 miles, and indeed none for 200+ because that was the mileage we racked up when we were finally able to refuel across the California border. Nevada was one long straight road after another. And not as hot as we were expecting. Still, it went on and on. Near the end there were two summits we had to cross. The motorhome accomplished the efforts it was forced through, though it will likely need some care and repair after this trip is done. We got ice cream across the border, had sandwiches earlier in the day, but generally we just trekked on and on. In California, at Mono Basin, we discovered the route into East Yosemite was closed (still snow on the pass) and that we would have to drive all the way around tomorrow. I bought a patch and we got dinner in town. I had the beef dip, mom had the fish, dad had chicken. It was good to just sit down and get a meal away from the motorhome and driving and all that. The . campsite was about 45 minutes away. We are back in woods and trees and reasonable elevation.
Made a fire, had some s’mores. Tomorrow is Yosemite, where Nathan will be joining us. We might just stay outside of Yosemite and relax. But we’ll be there, and then Nathan can do the rest of the driving! Ha ha!
Today’s Portrait: Eddie Izzard
June 13th:
Another day where I awoke to a moving motorhome. I scrambled down from my motorhome loft at 8am and had 7-11 breakfast. Mmm. Ma and pa headed North to go West. Leaving really early makes 6-7 hours worth of driving not seem like much when you arrive at a campsite at 2:30ish. But before that, we were on our most harrowing drive yet. Before the harrowing part, we stopped at Angel’s Camp, California to get food and have a light lunch. Angel’s Camp is where my Great Grandpa arrived at when he first came to America. We had a lovely sushi snack.
The day passed by fast for me. But then we got on the pass to Yosemite. The truck road is still very perilous. Narrow, with no shoulder. Windy. Every ten feet it wound around another corner. Steep. We could go no faster than 20 miles per hour, not that we would want to go any faster. There was even a one way car to help us past road construction. It was five terrifying miles that they need to include in their guides to Yosemite National Park. Once you start up, you can’t go back.
But we made it up in one piece, in two days we’ll have to go down, but right now we are up.
We checked into an RV park, and decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing. We hopped in the pool. Sun bathed. Showered. I played badminton with dad. Mom got dinner ready: chili, corn bread, and steamed cabbage. I had the first two. And the great thing is: Nathan drove down from San Jose to join us! He will be with us for Yosemite, which will be all of tomorrow and then we all depart the day after. Nathan had dinner and marshmallows and now we shall tuck into bed. Tomorrow will be fun, and as Nathan’s car is here, the motorhome can be left to rest.
Today’s Portrait: Richard Pryor
