Patrick's Point (Day 1) Rememberance

When I was a little boy, maybe 7 or 8 years old, my grandparents took me on a camping trip to the coast. They had this cab-over Lance truck camper and I loved spending time with them in it. I remember I would swing like a monkey from the camper through the pass-thru window into the cab of the truck.

I vividly remember this trip we took 25 years ago. We literally drove to the most magical place I had ever been. It was the greenest, most alive, country I had seen and it just stuck in my memory. I felt like I was swallowed up by ferns and berry branches, the sunlight showered the moist undergrowth with big beams of soft light but only after it found a path through the thick tree canopy. I saw big bright yellow slugs and when we walked on the beach I found a starfish. Up until then I didn't know any of these things existed. This place is called Patrick's Point and it's heaven on earth. I hadn't been back here since that trip but I've always meant to come back one day.

Being here is especially meaningful now because my grandmother passed away last year. I remember playing yahtzee with her in the camper while my grandfather drove and she made us some egg and bacon burritos in the morning. This is the trip she taught me that if you have a stomach ache you can lay down and put a pillow over your stomach to make it stop hurting. I just remember lying on the cab over bed with a pillow over my stomach.. I probably ate too many egg and bacon burritos. She was such a loving, kind and beautiful person. The time we spent together on this trip was just one of the special experiences we got to share together.

You know how sometimes when you remember something so vividly from your youth and then you go back as an adult it just doesn't measure up? It was an experience so powerful and unique to your 7 year old self that it's no longer so unique after you've experienced 25 more years of amazing things? Well, I was going to find out if this was one of those times.. Danielle and I got to our RV park in the afternoon and then went straight to Patrick's Point. We were driving through the park and I've got to say, it still has the same magic I remembered. We walked down to the beach and then i really felt like a kid again! We got there at low tide and we hopped along on the rocks looking at starfish, sea lions, sea anemones, shells, little sea snails and crabs. Then we collected some smooth round rocks and talked about how when we have kids we will definitely take them here.

We drove over to the point but by now it had started raining pretty hard so we decided to just drive around the park a little bit. This place is so lush and green. The little walking paths through the forest look like something out of a children's book. What a perfect day this turned out to be. My memory of this magical place is still intact, it wasn't an overgrown remembrance that got too big for reality. I'm glad that I was able to experience this place with two of the most amazing women I've ever known. Now if only I could get Danielle to make me some egg and bacon burritos... :)

-Tommy

Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14097442@N00/sets/72157626407846881/

Yosemite!

Wow.. where do I begin? Last weekend when we were in Reno our friend Scott told us that he was trying to put together a trip to Yosemite next weekend with his girlfriend Kenita (Danielle's good friend, who you might remember also met up with us in Moab for the canoe trip). He told us about how the unusually large amount of snow melt had swelled the rivers entering Yosemite and that the waterfalls were supposed to be the best you'll see in, '20 to 25 years.' That was all we needed to hear to swap around a few days on our trip and make a weekend in Yosemite a reality.

On Thursday we had to take care of a few things and get some work done before we took off for our waterfall weekend in Yosemite. So it was around 3pm before we actually hit the road. Well, we didn't make it very far before we stopped for a break. There is this hamburger place I loved as a kid and I've been craving it ever since we put Redding on the itinerary, Bartel's Giant Burger I love you. I thank you for your meaty goodness and crispy perfect fries. 

Okay, back on road we drove straight through to Yosemite. Because we had to beg, borrow and steal to find a campsite for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, none of the camps were at the same place. Luckily, Danielle snagged a campground at Hodgdon Meadow which is right inside the northwest entrance of the park. Since we were getting into Yosemite at night we were going to be able to get up in the morning light and drive to the valley floor. We got to our campsite and were greeted by Kenita and Scott. Scott cooked us some steak, asparagus and these awesome spicy beans. It was a perfect end to a 7 hour drive with great people dishing up plates of awesome food. Thanks Scott! We drank beer until the wee hours of the night and then crashed, excited about the majestic ocular treats that awaited us the following morning.

The next morning we got up and I made fried spam, eggs and english muffins (fried up in the spam juice). It was a sodium celebration. We packed up camp and then headed into the valley. I have to mention something before I get too far into this story, Scott actually lived in Yosemite for about two months last summer. So he knows what view is around every corner. We pulled off before a curve in the road and we got a glimpse of the magic of nature that awaited us this weekend. Right in front of us was Bridal Vail Falls and there was so much water tumbling down from the top that it made Yosemite look even more heavenly than it already does. I've been coming to Yosemite since I was 14 and I've never seen it like this. 

Once we got to the valley floor and started driving towards Curry Village it was waterfall after waterfall. The usual waterfalls were no longer usual, they flowed bigger and louder than ever and got so full that they birthed waterfalls to either side. The rocks were springing water spontaneously where it seeped straight out of their granite faces. We saw one waterfall that stair stepped all the way down from above Curry Village it ended about 300 to 400 feet north of where it began in dramatic fashion, like a kid poured kool-aid down stairs and you were seeing it's profile.

We got to our campsite and setup. I was still a little tired from the 'drank beer until the wee hours of the night' so I setup a blanket and took a nap under a tree. Danielle joined me for a little while until the excitement of making plans for the afternoon consumed her and everyone started planning a hike. They ended up planning a hike up to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls while I snored and dreamt about things I no longer recall. 

Off we went to Vernal Falls. Standing below a waterfall while it's pushing this much water off of it's rocky perch gives you natural pause. It was the first time in my recollection that a waterfall seemed completely violent. It was loud, and the sheer volume of water coming down it's chute was enormous. Even with our rain jackets we got soaked from the mist. Quickly we climbed the old rock stairs to the top of Vernal Falls and witnessed the tranquility these little water molecules enjoyed before the extreme chaos that waited for them at the edge of the fall. I was glad at this moment that I was a man and not a water molecule. We finished the hike by hiking up to Nevada Falls and then back down along the Mist Trail, catching a bus back to camp. Danielle and I crashed early. We got to sleep in the back of our Subaru together for the first time. This was one of the reasons we bought this car in the first place. We woke up to condensation from our breath beaded and thick on all of the windows, but our night was warm and cozy. Successful choice on the car.

On Saturday we went to do a little climbing in the morning with Scott, Kenita and Scott's friend Julie. The area was pretty crowded but we found we found a route that was easy enough for us to play around on. After Danielle and I did our one unsuccessful trip up the route each we watched everyone else climb for a while. The guy climbing next to us let me watch his 11 month old pit bull who licked my face about a dozen times and then passed out in my lap and started snoring. I really miss my dog. I try and talk to everyone I see with a dog so I can pet it. It's getting pathetic. 

Danielle and I left the group and went for a hike up to the top of Yosemite Falls, which is 3.5 miles and 2700 ft of gain. We were already sore from the hike up to Nevada Falls, so when we got to the start of this hike and learned that the beginning was 60 switchbacks, with about a half mile of flat trail and then another set of switchbacks that were worse than the first set.. we almost went back and drank beer instead. But alas, onward we trudged. Remember when I said there was a flat piece of trail? Once we got there, it began raining. Onward we trudged. Remember when I said there was a second set of switchbacks that were worse than the first? Once we got to the top of those switchbacks it started snowing. We finally reached the top of the fall and it was freezing cold. We barely had time to enjoy the view when the cold wind forced us from the top. From the time we did spend on the top we had an amazing view of Yosemite with a serious weather system rolling in. Yosemite Falls, like Vernal Falls the day before, was a violent torrent of water spilling off of a beautiful rock edge. The only difference was that Yosemite Falls is a lot taller than Vernal. As we got to the bottom the rain fell harder and faster until we were soaked to the core. 

We got to camp and found that Scott, Kenita and Julie had a good fire going and a tarp hung over the table so we could cook. We got dry and got our stomachs full just in time for the skies to open up again and dump large amounts of water. Danielle and I said good night and hopped back in our car for another cozy night of sleep.

The next morning we woke and went for a lazy bike ride with Scott and Kenita, taking photos of Yosemite with frosted snow-covered trees on it's rim. It was a really nice morning for a couple of very sore people. Our trip to Yosemite was epic. To see a place as magical as Yosemite in such a rare state of being was amazing and at times surreal. We left Yosemite through a snow covered pass, it was perfect.

Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14097442@N00/sets/72157626407846881/

Redding, CA (Day 4)

I got my groom on. I've been complaining to Danielle for weeks now that my hair was getting too long.. today, I fixed that. She likes it when it gets longer and curlier, but she also loves liverwurst and stinky cheese. So I ignored her requests and got it cut.

It rained all day today. Pretty heavily actually. On my way to the barber I dropped Danielle off at a coffee shop so she could work. I had called around to a few of the coffee places in downtown Redding and finally found one that had wifi and wasn't a Starbucks. I forgot to ask what time they closed.. I dropped off Danielle at 2:50 and they ended up closing at 3. Danielle had to walk (in the rain) to a another coffee shop, which turned out to just be a drive-up coffee hut sort of place. So then she walked to a Starbucks (in the rain). She was soaked.

While we were at Starbucks I talked to my childhood friend Rick and he decided to stop by so we could catch up. I hadn't seen him since we were 12 years old. It was great catching up with him. He's a highway patrolman so he had a lot of great stories of high-speed pursuits as well as what they do when they're waiting on the side of the road for the next high-speed pursuit, I can't tell you though, I've been sworn to secrecy.

After we got home from coffee and got Danielle in some dry shoes we started packing for Yosemite. We had decided to go camping there while we were in Reno last weekend. Our friend Scott had told us about the snow melt and how huge the waterfalls were right now in Yosemite. We made plans to meet up with Kenita (Danielle's good friend from LA) and Scott (Kenita's boyfriend) so all four of us started checking the online campsite reservations. It's a really busy time there with this being a holiday weekend. So we were really luck to have cobbled together camping reservations for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. We're really looking forward to 'roughing it' a little bit. Here's to smelling like campfire and looking like hobo's! Or at least like a hobo with a fresh haircut. ;-)

- Tommy

Redding, CA (Day 3) - Best Water on Earth!

We decided that we would just do a little road trip today to see some of the area north of Lake Shasta. We drove about 45 min to a little train town called Dunsmuir. It's this really cute, idyllic town along the 5. Their claim to fame is 'Best Water on Earth,' and they prove it with little water fountains all over the town. We also got some great views of a snow covered Mt Shasta a little farther north of Dunsmuir.

We got a bite to eat at the Dunsmuir Brewery and also, um, drank some beer. We knew we were out of Utah when we got a little buzzed after just two beers.. this surely wasn't any of that 3.2% beer from Utah!

After we sobered up a bit we drove to Castle Crags state park and did a quick hike up a scenic trail to get a really awesome view of both the crags and Mt Shasta.

It's a really beautiful time here in Redding. There has been a lot of fresh rainfall and what are usually golden fields of grass are now nice and green!

Shasta Lake: When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

Last week Tommy complained that the last few days in Zion were kinda boring. Canoeing down the Colorado river or rappelling off waterfalls is really hard to top, but I guess there's all the little unexpected adventures that keep you on your toes. Like yesterday, when the RV got a flat tire or today when we went mountain biking and got stuck in a thunderstorm.

After working most of the day, we decided to go on a little afternoon bike ride around Lake Shasta. It was warm and sunny outside when we started our ride. The trail was gorgeous, winding around the lake with beautiful views. Since it has been raining unusually much this year, there was lots of high grass and wild flowers, and the water level of the lake was really high as well. Tommy said I was lucky I got to see it that way. We even saw some deer, ducks, an eagle and a big garter snake that was crossing the trail. And there was nobody else on the trail! We were so amazed and had so much fun, that we completely missed the big heavy clouds that rolled in. About half way in the ride, it started raining slightly and when we looked up to the sky we saw a big storm front right above us. We decided to hurry up and try to get back to the car as soon as possible, but we were about 4 miles away. Soon after, we heard loud thunder almost exactly above us. I got really scared. Being on a bike is certainly not the safest place to be in a thunderstorm. Is it unsafe because you're basically on a piece of metal or is it ok because you're insulated by tires and you're moving? I decided that it was unsafe and dropped my bike to the ground when I heard loud thunder right above me. I ducked next to some bushes on the ground. Tommy looked half scared, half amused and then sat down next to me. At that point rain started coming down really hard and then even turned into hail. After a few minutes, we were completely soaked and Tommy suggested to move on, saying the storm was already moving on. I think he thought I was overreacting, but that's exactly the reason why guys are 4 times more likely to get hit by lightening than women are. They just think they're invincible. Not really convince that this was safe, I hesitantly got back on my bike and started pedaling. 2 minutes later there was loud thunder again, really close to us. I started yelling at Tommy, how crazy this was, dropped my bike to the ground again, and crouched away from it on the ground. I think he got a little annoyed at this point, but I really didn't feel safe to ride. We waited about 10 minutes and then decided to move on again. The storm had somewhat past, or at least the thunder sounded a little farther away. There was still thunder through the rest of the ride and we were still getting rained and hailed on, but we made it back to the car safely. I don't think I've ever been that scared, soaked or muddy during a bike ride. Quite the adventure! 

Redding, CA (Day 1) - Feels like home!

Well, we were going to take three days to get from Zion to Redding. But then we decided to keep on trucking and get all the way to Reno (585 miles / 942 km) in one day. We were really glad that we did. The two towns we picked out for halfway points were slightly depressing. Plus, one of our friends, Scott, happened to be in Reno staying at his parents house. So he invited us to park the RV there, eat BBQ and drink free beer. Free RV spot, free bbq and free beer? There was no way we were going to miss out on that.  It took us most of the day, and we ended up missing the bbq but that just left us more room for beer. Scott's parents were so nice, and so were his friends and his dogs. We had a blast! It was really nice interacting with real people again. The last time we had a conversation with real humans besides the basic niceties was with a couple we met way back in Bryce Canyon, Matt and Nancy. They're a really nice couple from Connecticut who've been doing the same thing we're doing.. but for 15 months so far!

This morning we got up and said goodbye to Scott as he was heading off back to LA and then we went and met up with my cousins Jeff and Emily who go to school at UNR. Jeff suggested we go to a local place for breakfast called Peg's. It was really really good food and it was great catching up with them. I mentioned needing a new battery kit for my Suunto watch, they told us about an outdoor store called Scheels and then gave us a personal escort to the store. They didn't have the watch kit but they did have.. a ferris wheel, animatronic talking presidents (kind of weird for an outdoor store), a $6k shotgun,  a sword with a dragon on the handle and this HUGE mountain thing that had staged taxidermic animals all over it. This was the most awesome outdoor store I've ever seen. They had so much stuff (besides my watch kit). If you're in Reno, eat at Peg's and go to Scheels, you'll thank us.

After our shopping trip we decided it was time to get down to business and hightail it to Redding, CA. My hometown. We had 200 mi (320 km) of driving to do. All was going great, we were making good time and then.. we got a flat tire on the RV. One of the rear dually tires had indeed perished. Luckily we were close to Susanville which has three tire shops, luckily one of the three was still open on a Sunday afternoon, luckily they said they had our tire in stock and could drive down the 16 miles to us and fix it. Which they did! Lassen Tire, we owe you.. at the very least we owe you a positive review on Yelp. 'Onward to Redding!' we screamed as we peeled back onto the highway.

Once we got through Susanville we got onto the 44 which takes you straight through Lassen National Park. Oh man, that was breathtaking. With all the recent rain and the snow melt off the streams and lakes were swollen thick. It was so different from what we've seen the past month. Out with the red rocks and in with the wet, misty, crisp pine forests.

We finally got to our new RV park around 7pm tonight. It's only a few miles from Shasta Lake and we've got some beautiful scenery outside our bedroom window. We ate dinner and then went grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, which we've been missing since LA. Then I took Danielle on a quick tour of Redding where I showed her where I played little league baseball, my old elementary school, our old house, the houses of my old friends, the place where I ran over a kid with my go-kart and the tree in the play yard where I got in a fight with this other kid named Logan who then became my best friend. It was a really good day. I'm glad we've got a few days to see things here. I do miss Redding from time to time, it's just slower here.

- Tommy

Where were we?

Sorry for the absence, but trust me, our last few days have been boring. It's been pouring rain here in Zion. Our internet has been garbage. The hikes have been muddy. So all we've really been doing is working, watching movies, playing Rummikub (Danielle has been doing all the winning though). We have done a couple hikes but nothing to write home about. The one we did yesterday was so muddy we had a good two inches of mud on the bottom of our shoes!

We had the most awful internet situation of the trip thus far. Pretty much 4 solid weeks of good to great internet.. then this. We were constantly bouncing around from my phones internet connection to the parks wifi and neither option was great. We ended up finding a really cool coffee shop called the, Mean Bean, they had awesome wifi and equally awesome chocolate croisants.

In a few hours we'll be on the road to California after a quick stop in Reno, NV.

Dear Utah,  

We've loved your red rocks, your twisting Colorado River and your slot canyons. Your 3.2% abv beer wasn't nearly as bad of a situation as we thought it would be. Your people we're friendly and kind. Moab might not have been our favorite mountain bike destination but I did love your Thunder Mountain. All in all your state has been amazing, it's been more than we thought it would be. We can't wait to come back and we already have plans in the works to do so. We'll miss you. Now we're off to Northern California to ride our bikes among the redwoods and walk along the beach to see what treasures it offers. 

Thanks again, 

Tommy & Danielle