Happy to be in Paradise

Choosing not to take the I-5 we opt for the scenic route through the Sierra Nevada foothills.

This is a beautiful drive, not one you would take if you wanted to get anywhere fast. Turns out, we made a 200 mile drive last, oh about 6.5 hours.  Good thing we had our next stop planned months in advance.  Best stay all trip.  Tonight we sleep in Paradise.

Climbing a Waterfall

We are feeling grateful to find a nice place to stay just outside the park, so we plan a day hike in Yosemite.  The Mist Trail seemed like a great choice.The morning started cold, just above freezing.  We dressed in many layers and brought an extra pack, more water and rain gear.  I also brought my gloves.  

The trail was easy to find and even paved in the beginning. Soon we were stopped by a park ranger telling us that the trail was closed while they 'blew up' a boulder which was blocking the path.   What - like,  EXPLOSIVES?   Ok, we thought, we will want to see this.

Shortly there was a distant rumble and we were on our way as the hard working park employees jack hammers to break up and move the stubborn parts of the rock not moved by the charge.  These guys do a great job to keep the trails safe and open for everyone who visits.  

We do not travel far and the path begins to get steep, fast.  Still paved, but very steep.  The view is gorgeous as we follow the rushing river to the base of the waterfall.

We can hear the falls now as the trail winds us along the trail. 

As we reach the bottom of the falls the beauty and power of the water is all around.

Soon we begin to feel the mist and understand why we brought rain gear on this hike. 

Up, up, up we climb; a staircase built from granite.

Once at the top, we rest in the sun.

And decide that this is far enough for today.  Happy to stay and linger a little longer.

Yosemite National Park

All of the times that we have been in California we always seem to just drive by Yosemite. Never with any regret or real desire to stop.  This time was different. 

 I am not sure what kept us away but it was evident from the first moment, that this was "our" place.  Tall pines, towering mountains, majestic water falls.  

Nature at its best.

El Capitan, Spanish for 'the captain' is a grey, smooth, vertical mountain, whose presence in haunting.  Because of its massive size, it feels closer than it really is.  All around the valley, iconic images make me feel like I have been here before, even though I know I have not.  This is truly an amazing place.

It had rained in Bakersfield where we spent the previous night, but snowed here in mountains of Yosemite.  Just adding to the beauty.

Yosemite in the spring is an exciting place to be.  This year has been exceptionally wet.  The snow melt makes the rivers wild and waterfalls spectacular.  

We linger at the Merced River and watch.  Secretly wishing for the opportunity to spend more time in its presence, not knowing that in a few hours will be lucky enough to be stepping into our room 20 feet off the rivers edge. Yosemite View Lodge, usually booked way in advance, not only had a room available, but allowed pets.  When we opened the door and saw the patio, just feet from the river's edge.  The sound of the water swirling around the rocks, lulling us to sleep.  Time to linger, we are staying TWO nights. 

This has been an amazing trip.  Every turn, amazing, each stop with a surprise.   

Magical Sequoias

Driving up from the south entrance to Sequoia National Park is quite an experience.  California Highway 198 is called the "Generals Highway" because it connects the two big trees, General Sherman and General Grant.  Today, March 26, 2017 no connection can be made.  Too much snow makes the road only passable up to the lodge.  We begin our climb and follow the Kaweah River.  This is a narrow road with sharp turns.  We have a long way to go.

We drive quite a while through the foothills where there is no sign of any pine tree, large all small.  I could image a hundred years ago when these hills where full of the tall mature sequoia.  How could anyone cut these beautiful trees down.

  Then suddenly they appear.

Big, beautiful, everywhere.

Some are bigger than others.

The fog is getting thicker as we get higher, adding a mystery to this magical journey back in time.

So big, so amazing.

Just for some perspective...

Giving awesome a whole new meaning...

Best Hamberger -- EVER!

Well with every trip there are days when things do not go as you might have hoped.  Well we were not able to meet Eva and Wanda in Laughlin. That is very disappointing. We are not finding the California highway driving very charming or even enjoyable.  The stop in Bakersfield came late in the day and we did not have a reservation so we stayed at the first 'pet friendly' place we could find.   Not a great spot.  Oh well, such is life on the road.

Up side, our Travelodge is just across the parking lot from a place called Bootleggers Craft Pub & Eatery.  Cute place boasting of many local craft beers and great hamburgers. With things not going great today, a fun meal is definitely what we need.

 Good, cold beer, happy hour to boot.  The night is looking up.  Now for food!  

Being a 'meat eater', Brad is intrigued.  Two 1/3 pound patties of beef, pulled pork, ham and bacon... OMG.  Yup, one bite and the man who was ready to park the car and walk to Paradise was smiling again.  "...I think this is the best burger I have ever had."

Leaving Sedona

Today I felt sad leaving our little sweet little casita and the comforting red rocks.  Sedona is a beautiful place that leaves me with a sense of peace.  I really like it here.  Driving down the scenic 89A north towards Flagstaff we go through the Oak Creek Canyon.  Beautiful in its own right. The narrow switch-back roads with hairpin curves takes us from an altitude of 4500 in Sedona to nearly 7000 feet in 23 short miles.  What a beautiful way to leave a beautiful place.

Shortly we are back on Interstate 40, seeing snow left from the storm on Thursday that really hit this area.  The pot holes provide quite a bumpy ride and soon I am reminded that you must be careful for what you wish for.  ...that someone would fix this blinkin' road.  We find ourselves in construction zones six or seven times across this I40 route.  Hmmm. 

Construction delays, oh so many trucks, one very dirty gas station bathroom plus a ridiculous Pilot Travel stop where it took us over 30 minutes to just get gas make for a long day.  

Welcome to California!

Happily settled for the night, we eat, rest, and plan for our next day in Sequoia.  How lucky are we?...

Bear Mountain

We have been planning this climb all week and the day has arrived for our trek up Bear Mountain.  The ride to the trail head is quiet and tense.  I have many reservations about attempting this hike.  For starters, it is a 2.5 mile 2,000 ft climb, the trail is advertised as not well marked and we are old. Plus after climbing that height we have to navigate back down.

No messing around on this hike, after a short jaunt across the meadow in front of the mountain, the trail ascends, fast.  We seem to climb a foot with each step forward.  Soon we notice that we are at nearly the same elevation as the top of the Doe Mesa we climbed earlier in the week, and we are just getting started.

And still Up, Up, Up we go.  

The rest stops are very rewarding with outstanding vistas from all directions.

The trail moves around the side of the mountain, over and through a little canyon separating the peaks. Soon we climb some more, straight up.  

The rocks on this mountain are like slanted sheets of red slate, making most of the hike at about a 40 degree angle.

There are two more steep climbs to areas that we are sure the summit but turn out not to be. Determined we trek on.  Stopping to look up, we can not believe we still have more to go.   Finally we reach the top.  Excited and a little surprised.  

We made it!

Now we just have to get down.

God sends rain

So tired, but unwilling to stop on our own, we get a rainy morning with a little thunder to keep us snuggled inside. Needing to rest, we accept the gift and surrender.

Boynton Canyon

Life is at the Casita is easy.  The coffee out on the patio listening the birds.  Brad nervously watches the bees happily humming around the beautifully blooming wisteria.  Today we are headed to Boynton Canyon.  We get a late start but find the trail easily down a road we are becoming familiar with.  We are a little tired from yesterday's trek and going to take it easy today.  Temps are much cooler and the sun is filtered by some clouds.  

As we walk along the beautiful homes, I image what it would be like to wake every morning to these views.  Spectacular.   We soon leave all evidence of human existence behind as the terracotta trail snakes along the base of the canyon.

  The wind sings through the needles of the Ponderosa Pines.  This area is known for one of the four energy vortexes here in the area.  Not sure what that is or if I feel any thing other than happy to be here. 

There is peace in the beauty as we go deeper into the forest and all sound disappears.  Here in the forest, surrounded by the tall canyon walls, you feel small, human and amazed by nature.  

After a few lovely miles, the easy hike becomes more challenging as we begin our assent.  We are getting better at negotiating the loose rocks below our feet. 

Once at the top we stop and take a seat on the side of the canyon.  Time for some water and a snack.  Still smiling.  

 As with most of these hikes, you leave the same way you come in but the views are very different on your way out.  The angle of the light on the rocks, the view in front of you, the nature you missed on the way in.

...a heart shaped cave

...four little deer snacking on tender spring growth

...a great resting spot

After this wonderful hike we head back home to the casita for a soak in the hot tub and a nice fire.

Getting to Devil's Bridge

 Yesterday we tried to get to the Devil's Bridge trail head via a dirt road. (The dirt roads, which the we were told, are very different from the gravel roads that we were used to.  Um, yup, they were correct.) Our sweet little Tahoe did the best she could but we finally had to turn around when the rocks required to traverse just got too rough.  Not to be lead by what other's say, Brad scours the maps to find a new way to Devil's Bridge.  We will climb over Brim's mesa, back down the other side, down a forest service road to the Devil's Bridge trail head.  Ok, here we go...

Brim's Mesa is about a 600 ft climb in elevation on the first mile of the trail.  This beautiful trail is one of my favorites so far.  

On the back side of the mesa you follow a mostly dry creek bed with those beautiful red rocks all around and nice shade from the warm sun.  We stop often, hoping that we brought enough water.  

The trail is a little over three miles, where we pick up FS 125.  Another "dirt road" where we meet some nice people from California out exploring.
We will see them again on our way back. Outback hikers share a bond and seem to immediately be friends.  

The day is warm and the sun bright as we hike down the road.  It gets rough in spots.  We are on the same road as yesterday, just entering from a different direction.  Finally reaching the trail head, I am feeling tired.  We are about five miles into this hike and a big climb ahead of us, not to mention the return trip.  We are being very stingy with our water, saving the last few sips of the first bottle for the end of Devil's Bridge.  

The climb sure seems longer than advertised and the rocks and other hikers are starting to irritate me.  We stop to take a break, get a snack and a sip of water.  Rested, we push on.

We made it- well almost.  At the top we can still smile, but I am worried about getting down and back.  It has been a long day, already many hours logged today.  

Brad promises a rest on the big flat cool rock at the river bed where we stopped  on our way here.  That thought keeps me going all the way down, and back down the dirt road through to the trail head. 

Grateful to be back at the cool rock, we take off our shoes, rest, snack, open our second canister of water and I take a nap.  So quiet, so peaceful.

Feeling much better, we start our return trip with lighter hearts and a refreshed spirit.  This really is a beautiful trail.

Before we begin our climb down the mesa, we stop to take one last look.

Oh my, what a day.