Watering hole

Many find the beauty of Yosemite unmatched by anything they have every encountered before that they return again and again, year after year, finding new trails to explore or stunning landscapes to photograph. The more  agile are compelled to climb the exquisite mountains and find new angles in which to scale the infamous El Capitan.  There is an article and video in the National Geographic about an athlete called Dean Potter who has live in Yosemite for 17 years. For an adrenalin junkie he is quite amazing and we have been inspired and a little frightened by his skill and lack of fear in the search for new ways to explore Yosemite's greatness.

"It feels like I'm hovering in space," says Dean Potter, perched on a highline above Yosemite Falls. Gusting winds and blinding mist make it tough to balance on the inch-thick rope 2,600 feet above the valley, but a tether attached to his waist protects him from disaster.

The draw of Yosemite is so strong that we have returned a second time for an extra long weekend of trekking and scrambles. We have no chance of climbing a steep hill let a lone El Capitan or base jumping off Half Dome but we have come to explore none the less in the Webster's own special way.

We are back at Yosemite Bug and it is everything it was a few months ago. We are in the next door cabin from last time (which is a hit as it has bunk beds) but it still offers the same quaint charm with antique furniture and patchwork eiderdowns. Diner is a wonderful collection of fresh and well seasoned home cooked food exploring the flavours of mexico and the med and some wholesome American blueberry pie. Breakfast offers American pancakes, eggs with anything and everything and fruit. An energy building start to the day.

Its HOT.
As we drove to Yosemite Bug the temperature on the car thermometer reads 96 degrees. So much hotter that we have been used to in San Francisco or even inland in Marin County. After the 3 hour drive the children didn't want to get back in the car for a further hour into the park so we followed one of the trails here at the Bug.

A steep sandy, quite unstable, and rather fun path lead us to a fresh water stream. After a few wrong turns, a bit of rock climbing and some rather traitorous sand slides we eventually found the ever talked about Watering Hole.

WOW..........

An oasis of calm with the constant accompaniment of a 8 foot waterfall. The water is deep and crystal clear. It is surrounded by very slippery rocks and enclosed in a forest of pine. There was no one around. After laying down a few safety rules (very boring and not worth mentioning) we took pleasure in yet another 'first'. Although the romantic idea of swimming free from inhibitions in a crystal clear pool rather appeals, the reality of the water temperature put a stop to that silliness and I left the craziness up to the children. Owen and Rose found that by soaking the rock with water it became the most fantastic water slide and Isla found the whole experience hysterical as usual.

While the changing seasons bring new sights in the living nature that inhabits Yosemite, many things stay the same, as they have for hundreds of years. On our previous visit in May the early spring sun was melting the frozen mountain snow resulting in the most amazing waterfalls we have ever witnessed. The Merced River ran fast and deep, collecting the melted snow and dragging it along. In late July the air temperatures are up in the 90s and The River is calm. The power of the current is still evident and the water is still coming from the last of the frozen snow high in the mountains but the water level is much lower and it runs clear over the rocks. ( We heard that there were still people skying on the 4th July). The lower level reveals beautiful coarse granite beaches that invite us to the waters edge. Here the challenge was set. For an undisclosed financial bribe and after a little wading, Owen, Rose and Isla stripped off for a full body submersion in the freezing water. Owen even swam. I am in awe and he is my hero!!!!!! Although he had to go commando for the rest of the day.

Owen, Rose and Isla are now Junior Ranger at Yosemite National Park. The most exciting bit of becoming a Junior Ranger was having to pick up a bag of 'trash' from along the trails. To become a ranger they had to go on a trail, write about what they could see, hear, smell and touch and then attend a ranger lead programme writing about what they learnt. Buckshot (that's the name he gave!) took us on a wonderful stage coach ride in Wawona imparting loads of useful facts. Did you know that the name Wawona comes from the indian word for Hoot of an Owl or that it takes 36 hours by stage coach from Yosemite to San Francisco or a whole day to the Yosemite valley with 3 changes of horses or that each traveller was allocated 15" of shoulder room....?

The final question was to contemplate the reasons why people become rangers. Both Owen and Rose came up with well thought through reasons but Isla still doesn't really know what their job is let along why they would want to do it.

The Junior Ranger Pledge:
“I am proud to be a National Park Service Junior Ranger. I promise to appreciate, respect, and protect all national parks. I also promise to continue learning about the landscape, plants, animals and history of these special places. I will share what I learn with my friends and family.”

On the Move again

We left the lovely Hilton on Saturday morning after a heavenly breakfast of everything you can imagine. Isla started with CAKE followed by strawberries and pineapple, grapes and yogurt, cereal and a fruit shot!! You can only imagine what Owen managed to put away. We'd been there nearly two weeks and were becoming part of the furniture. It is mainly used for conferences so when there are three children running around we seemed to make quite an impression. So much so that our breakfast waitress Robyn bought them each a leaving present and a packed lunch to take away.

So this is us ready to leave.
Isla and I waited with the luggage and Dave went to get the hire car with the other two. He successfully negotiated the downtown streets of San Francisco and picked us up. With all aboard and the guitar strapped to the roof we drove away to our new home in Pacific Heights.
The apartment is beautiful. First floor of a lovely looking victorian property directly opposite Alta Plaza Park in Pacific Heights. Its fully furnished so we were able to just move straight in. Oh, apart from a bed for Owen. Dave and Owen braved the Bay Bridge in the afternoon on a mammoth trip to Ikea of all places!

Owen is completely settled surrounded by Lego and girls are pretty in pink, if you can spot them in such a huge bed!

And the girls are pretty in pink, if you can spot them in such a huge bed!! Bonus points for upsidaisy.

And now we start the rest of our journey. Can't wait to share some more.

Love Jo x

Cable Cars

Cable cars are an iconic symbol of San Francisco. We have already had quite a few journeys up and down the hills of Powell Street and Hyde.

It cost $5 for a single journey but it's much cheaper, as with most things, to get a weekly travel card.






At the bottom of Powell and over by Fisherman's Wharf the cable cars queue up waiting to turn around and head back up the hill. The driver and the ticket collector push the cable car by hand onto the round about, turn it around and the push it off onto the reverse line.



We will be visiting the cable car museum in the next few days so that we have a clearer understanding of how it all works under the road.

Owen has taken some fabulous photos and video from the back of the cable car.

Not for me thanks

I bought icecreams today from Ghirardelli's. The most famous chocolate makers in the Bay. Strawberry for Isla, mint choc chip for Owen and chocolate for Rose. They were huge! "Am I in heaven?" says Rose as she takes a big lick and smears it all over her face.

We sat and ate them looking out over Aquatic Park at the Golden Gate Bridge covered in a light mist. In the enclosed harbour (a balmy 53 degrees) there is a scattering of orange swimming hats. Men from the Dolphin swimming club out for their daily exercise.

One more sleep

Packed and ready to go. My sewing machine is bubble wrapped (most important) and the chosen teddy travelling companions are stuffed into hand luggage. We are all really rather excited, a little bit nervous, but excited.

After one more sleep our morning departure is not too brutal so hopefully, hopefully, there should be no hiccups catching the plane and starting our BIG adventure. The Golden Gate Bridge seems to be a favourite first destination for our site seeing tour but there are so many places to visit I don't really know where to start. Maybe with a good nights rest and pancakes and blueberries for breakfast.

This has been an interesting and emotional week on all levels. Wonderful friends and family have sent good wishes, drunk Moscow mules and Lagavulin, built sand castles, slept over, gone bowling, shared exciting news and long talks on the phone. We will miss and love you all but promise we will be back soon.

Love Jo x