Finally, Scott had a week off of work. Much needed!!! We decided to go and play without spending much money. That rules out almost everything, but camping. So, camping we did and we did it an entire week. I know, we are brave. We wanted to use the National Parks pass we had and decided to head to California. We went to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. Awesome! Best vacation ever! The kids said it even beat Disneyland. This is how the vacation played out.
Day one: Drove all day. Kept driving. Got caught it traffic in Yosemite. Took pictures while sitting in car waiting. Drove to campground. Got lost, terrible directions. Drove more - 13 hours in car. We were all very onery. Long and worst day of trip. Don't go to Yosemite on a holiday weekend. Set up camp first time.
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Day two: Memorial Day and Scottie's birthday! Don't want to go to Yosemite this day. Too many people. Sick of driving so we stayed at our campground and played at Bass Lake. So much fun. The kids swam and Scott and I skipped rocks. Most beautiful place ever. Ate peach cobbler for Scottie's birthday cake. Happy Birthday Scottie.
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Day three: Drove back to Yosemite. Hiked to Nevada and Vernal Falls. Got completely soaked from all of the mist coming off of the waterfalls. They were incredible and almost unbelievable. The hike was so steep, wet and slippery that we went the long way back to prevent us from slipping. Had lots of crazy looks for having our kids with us but you know us. Had a lady stop us and ask us if we were Mormon. We must really stick out! She happened to be one, too. Loved Yosemite. Thought it looked like Zions with more cliffs and then add the waterfalls.
Day four: Packed up our stuff. Drove for three hours to Sequoia. Set up camp #2. Beautiful campground right by river. Warned about bears and coyote, don't think we will see one. Go check out a few small hikes to big sequoia trees. Also hike to top of Moro Rock on a cool trail with steps built right into rock. Felt like looking off of Angel's landing. Could see forever and to the top of Mt. Whitney. Just not as long of a hike. Forgot my camera. Hike on a trail just across the river from our campground just before bed. Thought Scott was a chicken cause he was so worried about bears and made us turn around early so it wouldn't get dark. Learned he was smart. Almost got attacked by a coyote. It wanted our food and Josie went into histerics. Couldn't sleep, the river was sooo loud.
Day five: Saw our first bear on the same trail we were on the night before. It was following two girls down the trail like a puppy dog. They seemed very calm and weren't even running away. Glad it wasn't us because we would have been running. Glad the river was between us. Josie threw all the breakfast food into the bear box and luckily didn't go into histerics. Spent all day hiking to huge, huge trees and taking lots of pictures that don't seem at all as big as they really were. Our favorite part of the trip. It was so unusual and not like anything we had ever seen before. Went into a museum to learn more and the kids became Jr. Rangers. Saw two more bears just off the road. Glad we were in our car. Hiked again to Moro Rock so we could take pictures.
Day six: Packed up again. Started leaving Sequoia and saw three more bears. One was a momma bear with a baby. So cool we stopped to watch them for a half hour. Glad a bear patrol ranger was there babysitting all of us tourists. Drove to Visalia. Stopped at Chuck-E-Cheese for Scottie's birthday. Lots of fun. Drove again for a long time to Montana de Oro State Park. Set up camp #3. Walked down to the beach and played until bed time. Soo beautiful.
Day seven: Played at the beach all day. Got soaked even though it was chilly. Found cool rocks, shells, crabs, and even a sea star. Kids didn't want to leave, but I didn't know how to clean them up after all the sand without a shower and didn't want them in the sleeping bags so filthy, so decided to come home that night instead of the next day. Drove and drove and drove. Nine hours and four icee's later we fell into bed. Glad to be home. Sad to have to stop playing. Best vacation ever.
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Yeah for posting your trip!!!! I am sooo jealous! It looked so fun! Have you recovered? I love all the pictures. Not sure if I want to show Anna the bear pictures...she's already nervous about them when we go to Yellowstone in July.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like the funnest vacation ever. I wish I would have come! Those pictures are gorgeous and the bears don't look scary at all:) How did you fit all your stuff in the van? Maybe when Joe sees the pics he'll want to take me there on a vacation!! Thanks for the fun week. I love you guys!
ReplyDeleteMish
Wow, did you ever get some great pictures! Melissa was just asking me about camping today. When I get brave, maybe we'll copy your travel plans.
ReplyDeleteFun!!!! It looks so beautiful there, I have never seen such big trees. It looks like you had a blast!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you guys had so much fun, can't wait to see you at some point this summer :)
ReplyDeleteWe are glad that you had a fabulous time! Thanks for showing us all your pictures and telling your story--loved it!
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