Bill and Eileen's Travels

Friday, June 20, 2014

Yosemite, San Fran, Crater Lake (6/10 - 6-18)

Today is Thursday 6/19/2014. We are in Bend Or. at the Crown Villa RV Resort. It has been a very active week and a half. We left Visalia, Ca. and moved on to the Yosemite-Mariposa RV Park which is about 30 miles south of Yosemite National Park. Mark and Kathie moved on to California because there RV was to big for this Park. We met Jen, Magnus, Seb, and Sofia here for a couple of days. We would visit Yosemite and enjoy the park.

After a nice dinner and an interesting night in the RV we piled into the Volvo and off to Yosemite we went. Soon after we entered the park we stopped at the first waterfalls (Bridalveil Falls). The park has very high granite cliffs with beautiful waterfalls. On the way back to the car my bride fell off the asphalt path and landed directly on her right foot. She also had a bad cut and scrapes on her left knee. We took her to the Medical facility at the park and as luck would have it the PA on duty trained with a friend of ours from NC. Needless to say we received excellent service from Brian Burt but the news was not good when we got the X-Ray. The fall fractured the fifth metatarsal on her foot. We were told to see a Orthopedic doctor this week (after the swelling subsided) to determine what to do next. We have an appointment tomorrow morning here in Bend. The open toe sandal is really quite attractive but the crutches proved to be a pain.

In spite of the injuries we had a great couple of days, mostly at the campground with the Ekman family. What a joy to be with them. Sebastian and Sofia are growing up too fast, both are at a great age. We barbequed, swam in the pool, got ice cream, went for pizza, and just enjoyed each other. A great couple of days.

On Friday we were off to SF Motor Coach Resort in Pacifia, Ca. Saturday we went with Mark and Kathie to Jen's house. The girls went for manicures while Mark and I did errands. We had a great dinner at Jen's house. Sunday we joined Magnus for Fathers day and went to see Seb at Soccer. He is a key person on the (Little Kickers) team they just don't know it yet. This is his first year and I see a star in the making. We had a barbecue in the afternoon. Sadie Graham and cousin Emerson joined us for the meal. We had a great time and were able to catch up on all the SF news.

We had a great time with The Ekman's we sure wish we lived closer so we could have visits more often.

On Monday we were off to Oregon with a one night stay in a nice campground in Redding Ca. We arrived in Diamond Lake RV just a few miles from the Crater Lake North entrance on Tuesday afternoon. The campground was difficult to find but well worth the travel. We were able to have our first campfire of the trip that night. Most of the places we have been are in the middle of a three year drought. It has been super dry ever since Colorado. This campground is in the Conifers, the sites were very nice, and the people working there were very friendly.

Wednesday morning we headed up to Crater Lake NP. What a beautiful place. There is still a lot of snow, in fact it snowed the night before we got there. There is a road that goes around the crater with various overlooks. We were only able to go about 40% of the way because the rest is closed due to snow on the roads. We were also delayed for about 30 minutes while a crew working on the cliffs, above the road sent the loosened rocks down onto the roadway. Fortunately while we waited we had the opportunity to view the beautiful lake. After touring the gift shop and a nice lunch at the lodge we headed back to enjoy the campground. This was one of the highlights so far. Just pure beauty.

Today we boogied to Bend. Mark and Kathie lived here in the late 70's. we toured the town and went up to Pilot Butt, a cinder cone that gives you a 360 degree view of the town and the surrounding mountains. Another gorgeous view. We are here for two more days. Life is Good!

Yosemite!!!!!!!!!!

Bridal Veil Falls Yosemite

Rock Climbers!

Brian Burt and My Injured Bride!

Upper Falls - Yosemite!

Lunch at the Hotel in Yosemite!

Breakfast in the Bus!

Sofia!

San Fran!!!!

What are these guys doing? Rock Climbing of course.

Budding Soccer Star!

You talkin to me?

The Ekman Family!

More rock climbing!

Cousins.
Emerson, Sofia, Sebastian

Laughing Cousins!

Cousins and Friends!

Diamond Lake RV and Crater Lake!

Crater Lake is more beautiful than you can capture!

Click on the pictures for more detail!

Waiting for the road to be cleared of rocks. Not a bad place to stop!

After lunch at the lodge in Crater Lake!

Lots of snow still on the ground. Mid June!

Clarks Nutcracker!!

Diamond Lake RV!

Happy Campers!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's (6/7-6/9)

Today is Monday 6/9/2014. We arrived in Visalia, Ca. a city of about 120,000 people southeast of the National Parks. The town is mainly supported by agricultural businesses in the area and it is a very nice town. We arrived Saturday late in the afternoon after a 400 mile ride. Getting out of Death Valley proved to be a little more difficult than we thought. The most direct route was over some very steep mountains so we opted to "go around". This was the correct decision but it added about 90 miles onto our trip. Needless to say it was a long, hot day.

Yesterday we chilled if you can do that in 105 degree heat. We went to church at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. This church was quite different than our experience last week. The parish has something like 1500 families and the mass was jammed. Nice people.

Today we left early and drove to Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's. Visalia is about 40 miles from the Ash Mountain entrance in the south end of the park. We climbed from 300 feet to about 6100 feet to our first stop at the Giant Forest Museum. The road up this mountain was very challenging with switchback after switchback. The views just got better and better. Absolutely beautiful. These mountains are unbelievable.

We entered the first Giant Sequoia grove just as we arrived at the Museum. After visiting the Museum we drove toward Moro Rock stopping at Tunnel Log (You can drive through it) and other beautiful groves of these giant trees. The last stop on this loop was Moro Rock. Moro Rock is a granite dome at 6,725 feet, with a 1/4 mile staircase that goes up about 300ft. When you get to the top of this climb you can see for a hundred plus miles in all directions. The pictures are below but you can't capture the beauty of this place. Well worth the climb.

After a nice lunch at Wuksachi Village we backtracked and took a short hike to the General Sherman Tree. This tree is estimated to be 2200 years old and stands a mere 275 feet tall. In volume of total wood the Sequoias are the largest trees on earth and The General Tree is the largest of them all. The Sequoia is shorter than the Redwood trees found on the coast of California. In all other areas the Sequoia's are older, weight more, thickest bark, and larger in diameter. In all respects this is an incredible living thing.

We kicked around the mountain in other areas and went down another, less windy, route. The round trip was about 130 miles and the scenery in all areas was unbelievable.

We returned from the 72 degree woods to the 103 degree campground. I think the temperatures in this drought stricken area are hitting new highs this week. I guess were just lucky.

Tomorrow we leave for Yosemite NP were we meet the Ekman's for a few days of camping and exploring. We are really looking forward to seeing everyone. Can't wait.

Life is good!!!!!

On the way up the mountain!

After the museum. Drive thru!!

This is Tunnel Log!

Grove of trees!

Taller than her!

Taller than me!

Moro Rock!

On the way up the 300foot climb!

The summit. Endless view!

Biggest tree in the world!

Volume of wood!

Endless View!!

General Sherman!

Endless View!!

Friday, June 6, 2014

Las Vegas and Death Valley (6/5 - 6/6)

Tonight is Friday 6/6/2014. Yesterday we moved from St George to Las Vegas where we met up with Kathie and Mark. The Las Vegas Motor coach Resort has changed considerably since our last visit in 2008. They have basically redone the entire resort and the sites are really nice. We finally had the bus washed. Then yesterday we took a ride to Red Rock Canyon and then to downtown Vegas. We ate at PF Chang's then we went across the street to see the water show at Bellagio. Vegas is just not for us. It's a crazy city.

Today we drove to Beatty, Nevada which is the small town just east of one of the entrances into Death Valley NP. We only had about 5-6 hours to see some of the park. We rode up to Scotty's Castle which is a big estate built in the desert with the money from a Insurance millionaire from Chicago. Scotty was the one who pushed the investment by telling people he had discovered gold in the valley. The estate was certainly unique and ahead of its time. It was never finished because of a title dispute that was later settled and the fact that the owner ran out of money due to the stock market crash of 1929. It was an interesting place, but we all agree we would never live there.

We then went to Ubehebe Crater. This is the site of a volcanic explosion about 2000 years ago. The explosion blew debris into an area about 6 square miles. There is very little vegetation in the area and the crater is about 400-500 feet deep and very interesting.

This park is enormous and we saw about 2% and yet we drove over 110 miles. The temperatures were excessive for us today but in the normal range for this valley this time of year. We didn't get to the lowest area because it was too far away but the lowest spot is in Badwater Basin which is 282ft below sea level. This will probably be the last time I come here, but we all agree that it was a place we had to see.

Tomorrow we head west to Visalia, Ca. which will be our base for visits to Kings Canyon NP and Sequoia NP. Then on Tuesday we head up to Yosemite where we will meet up with Magnus, Jen, Sebastian and Sofia. We are really looking forward to that.

My refrigerator worked well until late this afternoon but right now it is not cooling that well. We will see.

Back in the campground we are greeted by the wild burrows that roam this area. The campground host puts water out for them and they show up every morning and evening. They tend to eat the planted flowers so I'm not sure I would feed them. they seem to be healthy. The fat one is really pregnant and the two others are her offspring.

Enjoy the Pic's