Thursday, July 14, 2011

Once Upon a Time... Yosemite National Park - May 1987

Yosemite National Park ~ California ~ May, 1987

 My husband is the driver, and I am the entertainer. Yep, I said it. These are roles that are etched in stone in our household, and in all of our travels we have never swapped places. You may be wondering why, and I implore you to understand that this is not a sexist position or indication of male vs. female roles in our family. I can only state that my husband seated himself comfortably in the driver’s position after a “near miss” incident when I was driving his beloved El Camino during our early days of dating. The El Camino was my husband’s first big purchase after graduating from college and it was his pride and joy. No one else had ever driven it but him. One warm summer afternoon, we were returning home after a day at the beach. My future husband was sleepy and allowed me to take over the driving. As he nodded off, his only words to me were, “Don’t scare me.” I turned on some music and got on my way. Our stories diverge here as he believes that he was jolted awake from a peaceful slumber while I maniacally swerved across three snarled lanes of traffic to avoid an accident of colossal magnitude. He also contends that I was flustered enough to hurl vicious insults at the offending driver. In my humble opinion, his version is quite a bit exaggerated. I merely changed one lane over to avoid a car that was being driven a tad haphazardly. Nothing bad happened. There were no scratches on the car. And no one was hurt! It was practically a non-event in my book. But he insists that after asking me not to scare him, I did it anyway. I know I'm right, but he has never forgotten the occurrence. It is brought up occasionally as a testimony to his own superior driving skills. So, to keep the peace when it comes to our shared driving arrangements … he does the driving. I love him, and he loves to drive. Since my husband is the principal driver, this naturally means that he is also the one to bring the maps, chart and navigate our course, and ask for directions along the way while getting us from Point A to Point B in one piece. I must further point out that while my husband will find every single dead-end street as he stubbornly searches for various city sights (without asking for directions,) he has always gotten us safely to our ultimate destination.

 On this particular driving trip as many other new parents do, we slipped our sleeping 1- year old from her crib directly into the car seat of our new “mommy van” and hoped for a few peaceful hours on the road before she wakened. Unfortunately, this method did not work for us then, and never worked for us on any other trip we have taken. (Wait till you hear about our flight to Toronto.) I have to wonder if it ever really works for anyone else out there. Erin was babbling away mere minutes after gently descending our driveway and rolling on down the street. Now, I must remind you again that my husband is the driver, and I am the entertainer. The job of the driver is, obviously, to safely operate the vehicle and get the family to their desired destination. Certainly the easiest job in the car! The more difficult job, which is that of the entertainer, is to do exactly what it states…entertain the back-seat passengers. 

*Side Note - Please remember that we traveled with our children long before there were personal babysitters (i.e. Portable DVD/Video Players, I-Pods, etc.) available for purchase and/or installed in vehicles.
           Now we entertainers clap and sing songs, tell stories, point out delightful sites along the way, and create a loving and educational traveling experience that will keep our offspring from annoying or bothering the driver in any way. There were approximately 350 miles from our front door in Lakewood, California to the entrance of Yosemite National Park, or a sweet seven hours of entertaining the little one. And entertain her I did! We sang every Disney song ever recorded, played simple car games, read stories, ate our snacks, and shared every single waking moment while I twisted and contorted myself to gaze back at our darling daughter. You may wonder why I didn’t just sit in the back seat with her, but our van was packed to the roof with camping gear, baby supplies, and food. Happily, my antics kept both Erin and Jeff comfortable and contented throughout that long drive. I however, did not fare as well. When we reached the outskirts of Yosemite I was painfully hoarse, had a mind-numbing headache, and a roiling stomach ache to boot. My tendency towards motion sickness knows no bounds, but did I mention that I was also in the early stages of my second pregnancy? Having taken no medication because I was expecting, coupled with the seat-swiveling maneuvers I used to entertain our darling daughter had created a horrific nausea that managed to unleash itself as we passed through Fresno. I am quite sure that Fresno is a wonderful city, but the memory of driving through their downtown area makes me ill to this day.


          Heading out of Fresno, and winding your way up Highway 41 through the towering forests and attractive small towns is an exceptionally lovely drive. Don’t hesitate to visit one of these towns for a respite, or spend the night in one of their enchanting inns. As you gain elevation, the skies are clear and blue, while the air is freshened with the heavenly scent of pine trees. The highway meanders through absolutely glorious mountain scenery. Yet nothing, seriously nothing, can prepare you for the awesome majesty that is Yosemite National Park. Yosemite and its 1,200 square miles are some of the most gorgeous land in all of California. There are green glades and meadows with enormous shade trees, cascading waterfalls, gorgeous vistas, and spectacular views. We visited during May when most schools have not yet released for summer vacation, making it a less crowded time to experience all that Yosemite has to offer. Though Yosemite is open year-round, the waterfalls are at their peak in late May as the snows from higher elevations melt. I am still waiting to go back to Yosemite in the winter as I have dreamed about a snowy visit for many years.


          Upon arrival at the Lower Pines Campground we set up our tent, complete with baby bed and a brand-new air mattress for us, then closely followed the important safety information regarding food and wildlife in the area. Rangers have information at check-in, and there are signs everywhere reminding visitors to store their food properly. The American Black Bears in Yosemite are extremely curious with a voracious appetite and strong sense of smell.  Thus, all food must be stored safely out of sight in special food lockers provided at each campground. Certainly no one would willingly invite a bear into their campsite, and we were no exception, following all of the park rules.


           I am always anxious to begin our vacation, so we usually go for a hike after setting up our campsite. Yosemite offers some beautiful hiking trails through Hetch Hetchy, Tuolumne Meadows, the Mariposa Grove of Sequoias, and Yosemite Valley itself.  Jeff carried Erin in a backpack carrier that was a wonderful piece of equipment to own. I don’t see too many of these around anymore at baby stores, but if you can get your hands on one, it is fantastic for carrying infant/toddler sized children and not hassling with a stroller, especially on uneven terrain. Our new camp stove came in handy as well and we enjoyed the superb weather, gentle sounds of nature, and the peacefulness of our campground. We always make s’mores in the evenings and Erin was delighted to sample her first taste of the gooey roasted marshmallow sandwiched between two graham crackers with a small piece of melted Hershey’s chocolate. She also thoroughly enjoyed playing in the dirt that surrounded our campsite, so bringing along her baby bathtub to rinse her down was one of my better packing decisions.  

          We had experienced a very long day of travel and were exhausted, so sleep came easily amid our quiet surroundings. Around midnight however, I was awakened by a light snorting noise. My husband is a serious snorer so I assumed it was coming from his side of our bed. Oh dear, was I ever wrong! The grunting, groaning, and scratching noises that I heard were coming from outside of our tent. The sounds were quite disconcerting, reminding me of what a large pig might sound like. Jeff, who can sleep through just about anything (including earthquakes), had to be awakened to hear this. We were both a bit frightened as the gruntin got louder and the scratching became more determined around the exterior of our tent. We whispered about the possibility of wild pigs in the vicinity. Jeff carefully peeked out of one of our little vented windows and then quite casually informed me that there was a bear outside of our tent.  What???  “Is there food in here?” he hissed at me. Remember my newly pregnant existence? Well, I must tell you that I was ravenous during the early days of both my pregnancies, and chocolate is one of my greatest weaknesses. Certainly you must also recall that I mentioned how safely we followed all the advisories regarding food and bears in the area? But there was one teeny-tiny itty-bitty piece of leftover chocolate just nearby my bed. Seriously, it was just four small squares from a Hershey bar. How could that little bear possibly smell a piece of chocolate the size of my palm?? I couldn’t believe it then and I don’t understand it now, but I gobbled that chocolate down as fast as I possibly could. As the scent of chocolate disappeared, appreciatively so did our little friend.


          There is much to see and do in this celebrated scenic playground. Throughout the park you will find areas for hiking, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, water sports, and fishing, along with excellent opportunities for bird-watching and photography. Yosemite National Park is located in central California, just north of Fresno. There are several entrances to the park, so verify ahead of time that the entrance you’ve chosen is open. The easily navigable Yosemite National Park Service website can be found at http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm and is full of detailed information on camping and lodging, weather, outdoor activities, and much more. You may also want to take a peek at another Yosemite website found at http://www.yosemite.com. There are two very popular nearby lodges (The Wawona and The Tenaya) and you can find out more about them by visiting http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_WawonaHotel.aspx and http://www.tenayalodge.com/. If you’re interested in making a pit stop at one of the areas outside of Yosemite, go to http://www.yosemitegold.com/yosemite/oakhurst.html or http://www.oakhurstchamber.com/ for information on the charming town of Oakhurst, and  http://www.basslake.com and http://www.basslakechamber.com for information on Bass Lake Recreation Area.  Lastly, don’t miss The Mount Sugar Pine Railroad which is a lovely memory from our own childhood and still a very fun excursion. Their website can be found at http://www.ymsprr.com/.
Keep in Mind …


Always assume that someone in your family will get carsick. Even our dogs got carsick as puppies. Remember to pack Dramamine or Bonine, along with clear soft drinks and crackers.


Be prepared to follow all directions posted at any campground, or that given by park rangers. Assume they are experts and really do know what they are talking about.


Yosemite and other popular destinations accept advanced reservations. Don’t wait till the last minute to find out that the much anticipated vacation spot you have dreamed about is sold out.


Try to leave your electronic gadgets at home. Our kids are bombarded with hand-held games, television programming, computer viewing, homework, and a litany of prescribed activities. Make all your vacations a time to enjoy not only each other, but the world around you. Encourage your children to be present to their surroundings, allowing them the opportunity to relax and re-charge. For family fun bring board games, a deck of cards, or even better… a chapter book that you can read aloud together in the evenings. I've got tons of suggestions... just ask.

Happy Travels!!
Deb :)
















Weekend Getaway - Tucson, Summer 2011

We truly enjoy Tucson. Our kids each spent four years at U of A and we just missed this town.  A quick hour and a half drive from our home in Phoenix and we arrived in downtown Tucson. I had a wild yen for one of Lindy's burgers so we headed first to Lindy's on 4th Avenue. Juicy, a little bit spicy, and so flavorful - yum. Jeff had the "dirty sanchez" and I had a single "og." We watched a few college guys finish up the "OMG challenge" made even more famous on 'Man vs. Food.' I think it's 8 or 9 patties and such in a short amount of time. I could barely finish one burger. Lindy has opened another place in Tucson but we didn't get a chance this weekend. Maybe next time. Check out his website at www.lo4th.com.

We booked ourselves into the JW Marriott at Starr Pass Resort & Spa (www.marriott.com) for this anniversary weekend. (Number 27 if you're wondering.) Coming around the mountain at sunset and viewing this spectacular resort was exceptional. The grounds are so well kept and the hiking trails and golf course are especially inviting. Our room had a great view of the Tucson lights and we sat on our balcony watching the sun set. Early morning had us up and taking advantage of the cooler Tucson weather on a good walk in the neigborhood surrounding the resort. Gorgeous homes up there, but I bet they have critters! Breakfast was very nice as we sat out on the patio listening to a traditional Native American flutist. Soft and melodic, a very spiritual way to start our morning.

We puttered around Tucson for the day stopping into the Barrio area to shop and wandering in and out of some locally owned shops. Of course we had to visit Alan's Shoe House and pick up a few pairs of Birkenstock's. I can't pass up a good comfortable shoe and Alan's always has what I'm looking for. The salespeople are so friendly and helpful and there is always something on sale! Their website can be found at www.alansshoehouse.com.

Lunch was a delicious encounter with pizza and beer at 1702. This place is delish... great pizza, fantastic beer selection, and homemade ice cream that is sooo creamy good. For dessert Jeff sampled a nice Tangerine beer and I had the peanut-butter chocolate chip ice cream. Yum. Find out more about 1702 at www.1702az.com. You'll be glad you visited them if you love a nice cold beer on a sweltering hot day. We sure did :)

We had to head back to the resort for their traditional 5:30 Tequila Toast. We love the story-telling and the watermelon tequila was not bad either. Though the Kiwi Mojito had a very sweet tang to it. Great wait staff on the patio as we sat in the sprinkling rain and enjoyed the sun set and the Salud resort bar. The pool area with lazy river looked cool, but we didn't partake. I really can't say enough nice things about this place. Very accommodating, helpful, and gracious staff with lovely rooms. If you find yourself in Tucson, check out the JW Marriott at Starr Pass.

Until next time....
Deb :)