Another motel, another bit of wifi, another blog. Hurrah! Trekking part two is a highlight I think.
So I left you on my way to Yosemite National Park. I drove. I DROVE ALL THE WAY THERE! Look at me:
So I left you on my way to Yosemite National Park. I drove. I DROVE ALL THE WAY THERE! Look at me:
For some of my first legal driving it was pretty sweet. Long, straight roads, amazing views. Sure I was in the wrong (I mean other) side of the road but I only drove onto the verge once at a reasonably slow speed. And I negotiated rocks and trees and things in the campsite. I wanted Kirsty to take over there but she wouldn't. I think she thought It would be good for me...practice those manoeuvres, you know.
We did a lot of driving in Yosemite. It's so big, and so much to see that it was the best way. At Glacier Point we got an amazing view of Half Dome and Clouds Rest etc as well as the "controlled fire" that was burning above the valley. There were lots of aeroplanes chucking water (very precisely) on the blaze. Two of them passed by at eye level actually. We were as high as planes :)
The next day took us even higher on a trek to Clouds Rest. It's an incredible walk and there may have been cartwheels and jumping photos at the top. Classic.
We did a lot of driving in Yosemite. It's so big, and so much to see that it was the best way. At Glacier Point we got an amazing view of Half Dome and Clouds Rest etc as well as the "controlled fire" that was burning above the valley. There were lots of aeroplanes chucking water (very precisely) on the blaze. Two of them passed by at eye level actually. We were as high as planes :)
The next day took us even higher on a trek to Clouds Rest. It's an incredible walk and there may have been cartwheels and jumping photos at the top. Classic.
And then it was time for the biggest trek of them all. Five days in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, bear canisters and all. It didn't start so well...
The trouble was...well it was lots of things.
1. We were late. We didn't start walking until 2.20 and we had ten miles to walk before reaching our planned stop at Thousand Islands Lake (the pinnacle of our imaginations).
2. The weight. The bear canisters do add a significant chunk. Inside them we had to fit five days of food, toiletries and anything else smelly- to stop the bears getting in. This made us slow and weak, like a pair of geriatrics.
3. The dark, which started early in the woods. And the rustling in the bushes by unknown animals which we imagined as bears of course, and sang "she'll be coming round the mountain" to scare them away. We aren't singers. There were definitely bears in the area- we saw a couple of large paws prints on the dusty path. Scaaaaaary. Until that point we were both very grumpy and hated each other a little bit. We didn't speak at all. So at least the bears bonded us.
So we stopped a little early, as soon as we found a good spot. A little whiskey to warm us up (and calm us down) and bed. I dreamt of bears.
The next day was much better, thank goodness. Not only did we make it to the stunningly beautiful Thousand Island Lake but a man (in response to me saying we were from London) said "Well Hot Diggity!!" What more can I say to convince you of the charms of the wilderness?
We camped at another glorious lake, Garnet, and watched the sunset from the rocks, and saw an eagle. We bought binoculars this time to properly see all the big birds. Jeez, life is hard.
And then in the morning it looked like this...a perfect mirror.
The trouble was...well it was lots of things.
1. We were late. We didn't start walking until 2.20 and we had ten miles to walk before reaching our planned stop at Thousand Islands Lake (the pinnacle of our imaginations).
2. The weight. The bear canisters do add a significant chunk. Inside them we had to fit five days of food, toiletries and anything else smelly- to stop the bears getting in. This made us slow and weak, like a pair of geriatrics.
3. The dark, which started early in the woods. And the rustling in the bushes by unknown animals which we imagined as bears of course, and sang "she'll be coming round the mountain" to scare them away. We aren't singers. There were definitely bears in the area- we saw a couple of large paws prints on the dusty path. Scaaaaaary. Until that point we were both very grumpy and hated each other a little bit. We didn't speak at all. So at least the bears bonded us.
So we stopped a little early, as soon as we found a good spot. A little whiskey to warm us up (and calm us down) and bed. I dreamt of bears.
The next day was much better, thank goodness. Not only did we make it to the stunningly beautiful Thousand Island Lake but a man (in response to me saying we were from London) said "Well Hot Diggity!!" What more can I say to convince you of the charms of the wilderness?
We camped at another glorious lake, Garnet, and watched the sunset from the rocks, and saw an eagle. We bought binoculars this time to properly see all the big birds. Jeez, life is hard.
And then in the morning it looked like this...a perfect mirror.
And we had the opportunity to play :)
It was the next day at Rosalie Lake we made a friend called Dave. We made a bonfire, talked trekking and careers and 'Naked and Afraid.' He was very impressed with our trip. "If you girls are capable of this, then shame on you if you don't make wonderful things happen in your life." No pressure there, but I like the sentiment. We do do a great holiday. Why not more?
And then finally two days hiking in one. We were in pain, filthy, sweaty. There was smoke in the air and landscape like a giant had rampage past unrooting huge trees. But the thought of a shower, a sandwich and a cup of whiskey spurred us on. So here we are.
We even have carrot cake.
