Arrived at Yosemite around dusk. The campgrounds that weren't closed for the season were full, so we drove through to the other side and stayed at Sweetwater NFS Campground just outside the park. Got up the next morning and realized almost immediately that we had made a strategic error...it was Saturday on a long holiday weekend. The park was crawling with people. Surely not as many as in summer months but many more than we were anticipating in October. We drove, took pictures, hiked to Vernal Falls and called it good. On the way out of the park we stopped to glass El Capitan, and sure enough, found some intrepid climbers making their ascent. Incredible!
Uneventful afternoon driving across arid southern California. Sunday we got to Los Angeles in time to hit the Farmers Market and share a meal with Laura Jean & Tye. Monday means museum closures...we were bummed not to be able to experience the Getty or Griffith. On our list for next visit. Enjoyed La Brea Tar Pits and Santa Monica Pier. Taylor got to pick one thing he wanted to do which was the Museum of Death. Ugh. Dropped the boys off and killed some time. Didn't take long--after only thirty minutes they were done. Said it was even more intense than they had imagined.
Headed to Echo Park to wait out evening traffic. My dad, Greg and I are all Harry Bosch fans. We've decided to pick one point of interest from one of the books to visit every time we visit LA. Had picked up rotisserie chicken earlier; added some veggies; Tye & LJ brought more--enjoyed a picnic feast by the lake. Ended the evening with dessert at 101 Diner. Sometimes I wish we lived closer to my girls; quick, uncelebrated visits with these adult versions of my children are cool.
Had a wild hair as we left LA: why don't we drive Historic 66? Bad idea. If you ever want to do this--do your research! We wandered and wiggled our way from LA to Pasadena on side streets through run-down commercial areas and high-end neighborhoods. Google maps assured us we were on 66, but we are still skeptical. Popped on the interstate to Victorville before trying again. Discovered its officially named the National Trails Highway. Who knew? Drove to Barstow on the iconic road that has seen its better day. Many of the "treasures" listed as "must see" along this section are closed/shuttered. Barstow to Needles we were back on the interstate. GPS said LA RV Park to Grand Canyon was seven and a half hour drive. After an eight hour day, we were half way when we boon docked outside Needles.
More wide open spaces between Needles and Grand Canyon--alternating between I-40 & 66 depending on driver up to the Grand Canyon cut-off.
I. Love. The. Grand. Canyon. This makes my fourth visit: once with girls, once with Grace, once with Greg, plus this one. Over the two days we were in the park, we hiked 10 miles, caught a sunset AND a sunrise, then boon docked on NFS just outside the park. If you're ever camping here ask me to tell you where the best free campsites are!
One of my favorite things that happened was an accident. After we rode the shuttle back from our sunset viewing we discovered we had missed the last shuttle bus to take us to where we had parked. Had to hike 1.5 mile trail in the dark. My, but the stars were spectacular! What a magical place.
Few more pictures added here.
No comments:
Post a Comment