Week Three

THURSDAY 18th SEPTEMBER

Week three begins with the drive from Morro Bay up the famous coast drive through Big Sur, to Carmel where we are staying in another cabin in the hills in the Carmel Valley.

The first half of the drive is in thick fog so we do not see much at all whilst negotiating the narrow roads and hairpin bends. A highlight of this part is a large group of Elephant seals on the beach.

Eventually the fog clears and the scenery is fantastic. We stopped by the famous Bixby Bridge and there is a busker with a rabbit on his head!! ….  and what is he singing? “I’ve got a rabbit on my head”!! Every so often he picks up another rabbit out of the bushes – bizarre!

We finally arrive at the cabin – not one of Ian’s greatest choices. Very rustic indeed. On a par with Everest base camp! The “kitchen” is outside and the only cooker is a bbq. Spagbol cooked on a bbq  – interesting!

Still the wifi is good and we watch the Scottish election results come in on the BBC and at a reasonable hour!

FRIDAY 19th SEPTEMBER

Beautiful sunshine at the cabin so we descend to Carmel beach where it’s cooler and foggy. Still, Clint Eastwoood lives here, though we didn’t see him.

SATURDAY 20th SEPTEMBER

Last day in Carmel spent driving the “17 mile drive” – cost us $10 but was worth it. Through the forest, passing several golf courses and houses of the rich and famous. Eventually we emerge on the lovely coastline.

SUNDAY 21st SEPTEMBER

We set off early and travel the 4 hour journey to Fresno. Glad to get away from the cabin. The Hotel we are staying at is excellent and half the price of the cabin, and includes breakfast. We spend the afternoon at a shopping centre so large everyone travels between the shops by car. No-one walks!!

MONDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER

A bit of supermarket shopping in Target – massive store with a comparatively small supermarket section. Loads of ready meals but only 6 tomatoes!!!! I was asked for ID as I had bought wine!!

Our cabin is just 2 miles from Yosemite Park entrance. It’s lovely – perfect for what we want and unbelievably is cheaper than the last “garden shed”.

In the evening we go into the park (£12 entrance fee to last 7 days – great value). Its a bit late so we go to the area of the giant Sequoias. What an amazing place – trees up to 1800 years old and one with a tunnel carved through it in 1895 as a gimmick. The tree is still secreting sap in an attempt to heal itself, after 109 years!

TUESDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER

Just a mile down the road from Fish Camp is an old railway – 100 years old and used for hauling timber to the mill. Its an amazing place and Pauline manages to wangle us tickets to ride on the footplate of the locomotive. What an experience – we even get to blow the whistle. Its an oil fired steam loco with a kind of direct drive to all wheels. Incredibly powerful loco.

And on into Yosemite Park itself. its huge  – 35 miles to Yosemite Village and the views of El Capitan and Half Dome. I’ve read about these places for a long time and its great to see them. Through the binoculars (and 30X camera zoom) we pick out climbers on the face.

 

WEDNESDAY 24th SEPTEMBER

A full day in Yosemite. We drive up the Glacier Point road and stop at the trailhead for Sentinel Dome. The hike up it was well worth the effort. Not crowded and 360 degree views. In particular El Capitan was magnificent. We then drove to Glacier Point. Much more crowded and touristy. The views were still good, in particular Half Dome (but no view of El Capitan).

THURSDAY 25th SEPTEMBER

Our last day in Yosemite Park. We take the road to Glacier Point again and park by the road so as to hike into Taft Point. Its much more remote than Sentinel Dome and the views are great. There a 5 large fissures dropping down to the valley floor (1000m 3000ft). Its quite an “airy” place with only one small set of railings on the edge.

We’ve now seen 4 out of the top 5 places to visit in Yosemite according to Trip Advisor. Great place.