Yosemite National Park

Dad and I spent yesterday at Yosemite National Park. It was an absolutely gorgeous, sunny day. With that blessing, however, came the mobs of tourists (ourselves included!). Call me my father's daughter, but I have a hard time enjoying a beautiful park when I practically have to jockey for position to take a photo! We stuck it out though and hit up some of the really touristy spots of Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point, which are touristy for a reason. The views were absolutely incredible. After Glacier Point, Dad and I headed to Mariposa Groves, which is where the huge sequoia trees are. When I say huge, I mean HUGE. It was so awesome to see them. I don't think pictures do them justice...you can't grasp how big they are until you are standing next to them. Even then I felt like I was in some version of "Honey I Shrunk the Kids." While in Mariposa Groves, I talked Dad into a taking another hike (shocking since he is still complaining about the one at Yellowstone!). I told him it was only 1.6 miles round trip to the Giant Grizzly, a mammoth sequoia tree in the park (the diameter of the base is almost 30ft in circumference!) that is more than 2000 years old! Once we made it to the Giant Grizzly, I'm not sure what prompted us more to keep hiking...wanting to see more of the sights listed on the trail map or to get away from the crowds! Either way we kept going and by the end of the day ended up hiking probably around 6 miles. I think the best part of the day was when we got out into the middle of the woods where there was no one else around and we could really appreciate the park. Things went a bit downhill when we got back to the car. It seems someone had clipped the bikes (which are on a bike rack on the back of the car) with a side-view mirror (we're not positive that is what happened but that is all we could come up with) and had broken the rack and put a dent in Dad's bumper. The rack was still working but everything was crooked and probably wouldn't hold for the entire trip back. We stopped at Lowes on our way to the hotel so Dad could get some zip-ties to piece the thing back together. It was too dark when we got to the hotel so he is out there this morning working on it. The good thing is Dad has the uncanny ability to rig things so that they work. Hopefully I didn't just jinx him writing that! Once we get things back together (fingers crossed!) we will be hitting the road to head to the Grand Canyon! It's about a 10 hour drive from here so hopefully we can make it there today and go to the park tomorrow. I also hope that nothing more happens to the Camero because I don't know how much more Dad can handle!

On the road again...

19 hours and 4 new tires (Dad was getting close to needing new ones anyways and decided better to do now than risk having this happen again!) after realizing we had a flat tire, we are back on the road! We've had to alter our original plans of making it to Yosemite today (it's about a 5 1/2 hour drive from where we were) so we are thinking of driving 3-4 hours and then going to Yosemite tomorrow. Dad wanted to drive to the nearest bar but I told him I'd spent enough time in Corning, CA and we'll get him a cocktail (or 2!) in a few hours :) We have both handled this surprisingly well (as our family knows we aren't two of the most patient people and putting us together in this situation could have been disastrous!). Dad was smart and kept me fed, hydrated (of the cola variety) and in the air-conditioning...he's learned a few things in 25 years! Although this put a cramp in our plans, it's all part of the adventure and things could be worse. I do find it a bit humorous that this same thing happened when Mom and Dad drove across country almost 40 years ago in his old Camero! I'm sure she is real jealous she missed this adventure!

What's a good road trip...

Without a FLAT TIRE. Yes that's right, Pops and I are stranded in Corning, CA. After checking into the hotel for the night and freshening up, we headed off to find dinner. We were following the directions Juan Pablo (that would be our GPS...we like to name them in our family) was giving us and were about a mile from the hotel when Dad said "I don't think the road is THAT rough" (although they are doing a ton of construction around here), he pulled over and sure enough, the rear passenger-side tire was flat. Since we were on this dark country road, Dad drove back to the hotel (with me cringing the entire way). Since there wasn't likely to be a tire place still open, we decided deal with this in the morning. However, because the spare is buried in the back under all of our stuff, AND we have the bikes on the car...it looks like a flat bed truck to the nearest tire shop could be in order! Never a dull moment around here. Don't worry though, as upset as Dad was he was still thinking about his little girl (and the fact that she was hungry BEFORE we even got to the hotel) and took me across the street to McDonald's. Ok let's be honest, he was actually thinking about himself because he knows how I turn into Bitchy Bartle when I'm hungry:) Not exactly the dinner we had in mind (Dad REALLY could use a cocktail now!) but who am I to complain. At this point I was so hungry I plowed through an order of fries faster than Mom at the county fair! We went real classy style and ate the car in the parking lot of the hotel while waiting for AAA (before deciding we should just wait until morning). Ahhh it's not funny but really it kind of is...now fingers crossed we get this situation squared away tomorrow and don't lose too much time...we have much more to see and do!

Biking in Oregon and off to Cali we go!

Dad and I just finished biking 21 miles on the OC&E Rail Trail in Oregon. We started at the main trail head in Klamath Falls. The first 6 or 7 miles were paved and pretty easy riding but then we hit the dirt and gravel path which was a bit tougher going. The old man kept up pretty well though :) I think the country views of Oregon would have been wonderful on what should have been a cloudless blue sky, but unfortunately the forest fire I mentioned in the previous post followed us here and kept us from seeing too far off into the distance. Now we are headed for Yosemite National Park (we are going to stay in Redding, CA tonight and probably won't get there until sometime tomorrow) and I am hoping we don't run into the same problem with California forest fires! On a side note I would like to mention how sad Dad and I were to hear about the passing of Brandi Estelow, who lost her battle with cancer. Brandi and I went to high school together (one year apart) and to lose someone so young is heartbreaking. It makes me even more appreciative that I have had the opportunity to take this trip with my dad. It's important to live each day to the fullest and I feel we are doing that on this trip. God bless you Brandi.

A Smoky Day at Crater Lake, OR...

Dad and I have just made it to Crater Lake in Oregon and I am saddened to report that due to a forest fire a couple hundred miles away in Oakridge, OR the smoke has almost completely blocked our view! We can just make out the outline of Wizard Island. The lake is the product of a volcanic erruption and is completely surrounded by mountains. It is supposed to be a spectacular shade of blue but that is something we are not meant to see today. However, although the park is covered in a haze of smoke, it is easy to see how beautiful it is. Hopefully someday I will make it back and see it in all its glory! On to Klamath Falls, OR for some biking!

Bend, OR...I need a cocktail!

Dad and I are in Bend, OR for the night after a looooong day of driving (about 11 hrs!). Once we made it to Bend, we checked in at the Holiday Inn and freshened up for dinner, getting to the restaurant (some italian place) around 8pm. Now, keep in mind we did cross a time zone today so technically it was 9pm to us. Once we'd been sat, the waitress came over with some bread and to take our drink orders. I ordered a glass of pinot grigio, to which she responded "Which kind?" and then listed two different kinds. I picked one (What do I care? I drank boxed wine for 4 years in college...I'll drink ANYTHING). Her next question threw me through a loop, "6 oz. or 10 oz.?" (I've never been asked this before!). Not being a lush like my mom (I'll get a pissy text as soon as she sees this...love you Mom!), I politely asked for the 6 oz. Then the waitress asked (in a very rapid manner!) for my ID, and I just as quickly replied "Ashley" before I realized what she was talking about. She gave me the strangest look while Dad burst out laughing (Cut me some slack! We'd driven 700 miles...it was really 9pm (almost my bedtime) to me...she just brought over warm bread and my lunch subsisted of pretzels, sunflower seeds, an apple and diet pepsi...GIVE ME A BREAK I NEED A DRINK!). After I realized my mistake I quickly dug out my license and said, "On second thought, I think I need the 10 oz." :)

Oh Idaho...

We've been on the road since 9 this morning, ultimately headed for Crater Lake, OR (the deepest lake in America and the 7th deepest in the world! Supposed to be a fantastic sight...and a good 12 hour drive from where we were!). We are in the middle of Idaho right now...I've seen lots and lots of fields of potatoes (we did see a sign for a potato museum - as tempting as it was to stop we decided to forge on. I wonder what they have there - an homage to Mr. Potato Head?). It's a beautiful day and we've got the windows down and are cruising along quite nicely. The song, "Old Time Rock and Roll" just came on the radio. When I was a senior in high school (and big into dancing), the senior dance at the studio was a father/daughter number to that song. I made sure to remind Dad of his big "debut" :) I think it's only fitting that we should hear that song on our trip!