Vacation 2022

Awaiting Yosemite

Things were looking pretty good as far as our somewhat flexible schedule went. Since Yosemite is one of the busiest national parks, we had planned to be here for our visit on a weekday and before Memorial Day so that many families wouldn’t be on vacation yet. This would permit us to visit when the park was far from maximum people capacity.

Also, many of the national parks require reservations to enter. Yosemite is one of them. However, because of the distance we had to travel to visit Yosemite and the other stops we had planned, we were not sure exactly when we would be here. So we were going to purchase our reservations when we got close. You don’t get much closer than a couple of mile outside of the Northwest gate. We arrived late and decided that we would sleep in today and then get our reservations tomorrow.

Once we got going today, we started on our journey of information gathering. We pursued and received information from a park ranger. He indicated that reservations are not needed for entry so long as you enter the park before 6am and after 4pm. A quick pow-wow with Dad and we decided to just take it easy today, get to bed early and get in the park early in the morning. So that’s what we did.

Today’s video is a short one of just driving around checking out the local scenery and such.

May 24, 2022

Start – We got into “The Pines” campground, operated by the BLM, late last evening. We decided to sleep in and take it easy today. But we were rudely awakened.

1:47 – Let’s take a drive.

10:29 – Checking out the “Lost Claim” BLM campground.

29:26 – Back home again… Well, back at the campground again.

Vacation 2022

Redwood NP & SP
to Yosemite NP

This video is just a portion of the beautiful roads that we drove on from the Redwoods to the edge of Yosemite.

May 23, 2022

Start – Leaving the Southern end of the Redwood NP and headed South.  The Pacific Ocean can be seen on the right from time to time.

3:50 – Paul Bunion and Babe.

29:33 – Elk!

38:52 – More Elk!

56:05 – Continuing South in the Sierra Mountains.

1:02:21 – Typical California City.

1:11:32 – The Breadbasket of America, the San Joaquin Valley in California.  Lots of groves and farms that was dessert a few decades before.

1:18:38 – Driving through the mountains about 1.5 hours from the North West entrance of Yosemite.

Not on the video but we camped at a BLM just a few miles from the Yosemite National Park entrance.

Vacation 2022

Redwood National and State Parks

The Redwood park system is pretty unique in that the national and California park systems work together to manage the Redwood parks.  The Southern park forests tend to have more and taller undergrowth.  The Northern park forests have shorter undergrowth allowing for easier viewing through the woods.  I thought the Northern much prettier and more majastic.

May 22, 2022

Start – Heading to Ladybird Johnson’s Redwood Grove.

7:11 – We arrived at the parking lot and begin a foray into the forest.

11:44 – A couple of pictures of Dad and I in front of some redwood giants.

26:09 – The return to the bridge that gets us to the parking lot.  Driving North to Jebedihia Smith’s Park.

51:06 – Starting the Howland Hill Road scenic drive.

1:29:58 – Taking a walk around Stout Grove.

1:46:55 - What are you up to Dad?

1:52:55 – Continuing our drive on Howland Hill Road.

1:59:43 – We spent the night in the Mills Creek campground.

The Redwood national and State Parks should be on your bucket list!  Simply beautiful.

Vacation 2022

The Pacific Ocean

After camping last night in the Burnt Ranch BLM, we traveled through Eureka, California and North toward the Redwoods.

May 22, 2022

Start – Heading up the Pacific Coast Highway toward the Redwoods.

2:40 – Some local flora.

12:25 – I’m not wearing swim trunks or a speedo but I am in the Pacific Ocean.

After our EVA at the coast, we continue on into the Redwoods with the next video.

Vacation 2022

Arches to Eureka

Today and tomorrow are days of long driving.  No site seeing destinations along the way.  We’re in a hurry to ge to the Redwoods.

May 20-21, 2022

Start – West bound on I-70 in Eastern Utah.

5:47 – The game of leapfrog begins with the Schneider truck.

11:42 – Red rock.

18:23 – White rock.

24:15 – The Schneider truck over takes us again.

29:39 – Let’s hope there’s some gas down this road.

We did eventually find a one pump gas station.  We filled up the car, and emptied ourselves and headed back to the interstate to finish today’s trip in Battle Mountain, Nevada.
The next day we drove to the end of I-70 in Western Nevada and through the Sierra Mountains to nearly Eureka, California where we camped at a BLM.

Vacation 2022

Arches National Park

Arches National park is very unique.  Many of the sand stone structures are above the main level of the ground.  Most structures of this type exist in canyons.  Another unique feature is that it contains the most arches in this size of an area.  The rocks are nearly as colorful as other places but Arches should certainly be on everyone’s must and bucket list.

May 19, 2022

Start – We head to Arches NP after camping in a BLM campground along the Colorado River.

12:07 – Entering Arches National Park.

35:06 – A parking area with several trail heads.

46:35 – Scenic place.

55:42 – Another parking lot with several trail heads.

1:02:40 – Driving to the Devil’s Garden.

1:13:41 – Entering the devil’s Garden.

1:18:24 – Dad and I on an EVA trip.

1:26:15 – Leaving the Devil’s Garden and heading back to the parks entrance.

1:52:43 – Good-bye Arches National park.

We returned to the campground, got in our tent and cot and then fell blissfully asleep.

Vacation 2022

The Colorado Monument

May 19, 2022

Start – Traveling through park via the N.E. entrance of the Colorado Monument.

7:14 – A tunnel.

24:08 – Some local flora.

42:20 – Time for to stretch our legs with a walk about.

We spent more time at the Colorado Monument but the video isn’t on the card.  Maybe we didn’t hit the record button; if you remember, I have stated that the sun was so bright on this vacation that it was difficult to see the view finders and LED lights.

In any case, we went to the Visitor’s Center and ate our lunch near the ledge of a cliff in the parking lot.  Afterward, we headed out for Arches National Park in N.E. Utah.

Vacation 2022

Glenwood Canyon

Glenwood Canyon contains a beautiful piece of the American Interstate System, I-70.  It is roughly 12 miles long and travels in the canyon and above the Colorado River.  If you get a chance, I recommend that you travel through the Glenwood Canyon.  For best results, do it with the sun to your back or directly overhead.

May 18, 2022

Start – Traveling West bound between Glenwood Springs, Colorado to the West and having passed through the Eisenhower Tunnel behind us to the East on I-70 and just entering the Canyon.

9:09 – Passing through the tunnel.

11:07 – Passing through a second tunnel.

16:59 – Bathroom break.

23:31 – The search for tonight’s campground begins.

For some reason, the remainder of Glenwood Canyon video isn’t to be found.  Much like what happened at The Colorado Monument.  I’m beginning to suspect Dad was up to some foul play.

We continued West for a few more miles through Glenwood Canyon and camped on the West side of Glenwood Springs.