hey, i wake up this mornin, and its not raining, pretty nice.
i decide to take my time today, i waiver between staying another night or heading out. i ended up heading out.
i make a few stops, nice sights, and on one i hike down to the lake with my grapes.
i head out and go to the hoover dam. wow. what a dam. i got out and walked all across it and then went back. after the dam i headed towards the grand canyon. not much between the dam and the canyon...lots of desert.
dadgum. talk about a ditch. the canyon was absolutely gynormous and humungo. i walked around here for a bit and then headed out...for it was also pretty touristy, and i felt like i was one of the few americans there.
on the east side of the canyon, actually in the forest area, i managed to find a spot to plop. if it would have rained this time, it would have been interesting getting out. so i set up shop. the ground was hard in two of the corners, so i ended up only putting three stakes in. it was a beautiful day so i didnt think anything of it.
after milling around i went to sleep only to awaken at about 23.30 by some stinking awful sound. it really sounded like a cyote but i dont know if it was injured or in heat...but it was weird. luckily the sound seemed to be going away. well, all by yourself, in the middle of the forest, not a nice place for a rabid wolf...but luckily it didnt come to any of that.
however, at about 0.30 the wind started picking up. now i didnt think much of it, only that my tent was plowing up and in around me. one corner of my fly had come off (and for those that dont know a fly is the extra covering that straps on top of the tent). so i get up and fix this. meanwhile, without much weight anchoring the tent down it started to float, but due to my cat like reflexes, i managed to squeeze back in and position my sleeping bag on one corner (although anchored it had come up, and the other unanchored corner. this wind kept on persisting, and went so far as to start pulling the other corners off of the stakes. well, i got fed up with almost blowing away, so rather than being anchor in the tent, i decided to pack up and sleep in the car again...first time in both the tent and car in one night.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
the trek home: day 6 lake mead
so i wake up to rain once again. its not bad, just a slight drizzle, but enough to make the tent nice and wet. i pack up and get going for the day. i head towards kings canyon and sequoia national park. i start hitting snow not to far along on my way up. i am gonna make it to sequoia national forest, even though there is one set of tracks through the snow and my car isnt exactly winterized. so i keep following these tracks...but i get to a place where they turn off and do not continue going. by now i am about 8-9000 feet up with a thicker snow. i turn off and go to the lodge and wait for a bit. i clean the car, eat breakfast and go and check, and there are still no tracks, so i go back and talk to someone at the lodge (for it is now open) and they say that you need a 4-wheel drive with snow tires or snow chains, neither of which i have. she also tells me that the fine would be hefty if i got stuck or pulled over. so i head back to where i came from and end up going a little north to at least see what a sequoia looks like.
i continue heading south after getting out of the national park. i head south on these wonderful roads...reminiscent of highway 1 north of san fran, sept there wasnt any ocean in the middle of cali. no speed limit, but the car could only handle about 35-40 on some of these switchbacks.
i finally get out into straight road country (for the most part) and head south to bakersfield and on up to las vegas.
ok time for creepy story...well, it was creepy to me at the time.
advert your eyes if you must
so i stop at a rest stop in cali on my way to vegas. i get out and it is fairly busy and so i go to the restroom and i nod to some dude sitting on one of the benches outside. who knows what he was waiting for...but anyways...so much for being polite. i head into the restroom and i do my duty standing up. well, this same dude comes in (and i only notice this from my peripheral vision because i didnt want to acknowledge him). so he comes in and stands next to me...not doing much, but i think he checks me out (or tries to anyways). i make sure to finish up quickly, zip, and turn the way he was not facing and i left without lingering...almost a beeline to my car...i dont care if people were around, not something i really care to wait on.
ugh...with slight shivers
anyways, i head out and call the lake mead area a couple of times and try and get a free spot, and i do on the second time. i stop to get a map of the area at a visitor center, and then head into las vegas.
wow.
i just drove the strip, and saw all of it from my car, but it was still an interesting place. i dont know that i would call it my annual vacation spot, but some of the illusionists and other shows might be pretty sweet to see...about a weekend's worth is all i would care to visit. but regardless, it seemed like an interesting place.
after crusin the strip for about an hour (cause it was the beginning of the weekend and about rush hour) and then i head towards lake mead.
i managed to get there in time to see a little and pick a spot. i picked one, and then went to another. so i set up my tent, let it air out, and then set it up for sure...on a nice rocky surface.
stars were nice during the night
i continue heading south after getting out of the national park. i head south on these wonderful roads...reminiscent of highway 1 north of san fran, sept there wasnt any ocean in the middle of cali. no speed limit, but the car could only handle about 35-40 on some of these switchbacks.
i finally get out into straight road country (for the most part) and head south to bakersfield and on up to las vegas.
ok time for creepy story...well, it was creepy to me at the time.
advert your eyes if you must
so i stop at a rest stop in cali on my way to vegas. i get out and it is fairly busy and so i go to the restroom and i nod to some dude sitting on one of the benches outside. who knows what he was waiting for...but anyways...so much for being polite. i head into the restroom and i do my duty standing up. well, this same dude comes in (and i only notice this from my peripheral vision because i didnt want to acknowledge him). so he comes in and stands next to me...not doing much, but i think he checks me out (or tries to anyways). i make sure to finish up quickly, zip, and turn the way he was not facing and i left without lingering...almost a beeline to my car...i dont care if people were around, not something i really care to wait on.
ugh...with slight shivers
anyways, i head out and call the lake mead area a couple of times and try and get a free spot, and i do on the second time. i stop to get a map of the area at a visitor center, and then head into las vegas.
wow.
i just drove the strip, and saw all of it from my car, but it was still an interesting place. i dont know that i would call it my annual vacation spot, but some of the illusionists and other shows might be pretty sweet to see...about a weekend's worth is all i would care to visit. but regardless, it seemed like an interesting place.
after crusin the strip for about an hour (cause it was the beginning of the weekend and about rush hour) and then i head towards lake mead.
i managed to get there in time to see a little and pick a spot. i picked one, and then went to another. so i set up my tent, let it air out, and then set it up for sure...on a nice rocky surface.
stars were nice during the night
the trek home: day 5 sequoia national forest
i get up early in the mornin, and haul my tent and stuff up the hill and then begin packing so as to not wake the roomies.
i head out and go across the famous golden gate bridge and on into the city of san francisco. nice little town...need to head back and see it someday. yeah, i mainly just cruised through town...nothing like heading through downtown during rush hour. that, and the long day of travel ahead, i didnt do much sight seeing.
i make my way towards yosemite national park.
nice country on the way to the park
nice park.
cant even explain the beautiful views of the waterfalls, of el capitan...
it was a bit touristy in the valley, and i bet would have been better in the backcountry...but i didnt take that chance, for as i was milling round, the rain started to come in. up in the higher elevations it started to snow...so i decide to head on to kings canyon and sequoia national park. i end up calling and they dont have any free campsites, but i could camp anywhere on the side of the road in the national forest.
needless to say, i got a prime spot to camp.
as i passed it, i saw a potential spot and figured that i would cruise a bit more and check if i found something closer to the park...but as i got to thinking about it was a prime spot for me to camp, and luckily i didnt go far before i decided to head back. well the sandy road that i thought were just two drive ways not going far back ended up being driveways to a nice bit of free camping.
after changing and setting the tent up, i read for a bit. nice chillin by myself, and i head to bed.
i head out and go across the famous golden gate bridge and on into the city of san francisco. nice little town...need to head back and see it someday. yeah, i mainly just cruised through town...nothing like heading through downtown during rush hour. that, and the long day of travel ahead, i didnt do much sight seeing.
i make my way towards yosemite national park.
nice country on the way to the park
nice park.
cant even explain the beautiful views of the waterfalls, of el capitan...
it was a bit touristy in the valley, and i bet would have been better in the backcountry...but i didnt take that chance, for as i was milling round, the rain started to come in. up in the higher elevations it started to snow...so i decide to head on to kings canyon and sequoia national park. i end up calling and they dont have any free campsites, but i could camp anywhere on the side of the road in the national forest.
needless to say, i got a prime spot to camp.
as i passed it, i saw a potential spot and figured that i would cruise a bit more and check if i found something closer to the park...but as i got to thinking about it was a prime spot for me to camp, and luckily i didnt go far before i decided to head back. well the sandy road that i thought were just two drive ways not going far back ended up being driveways to a nice bit of free camping.
after changing and setting the tent up, i read for a bit. nice chillin by myself, and i head to bed.
the trek home: day 4 san fran
the night was beautiful...not to windy where i was positioned.
today is the day that i accomplish some business.
i check back into the office to let them know that i will be staying a second night. i scout around and check out the lighthouse and the point overlooking the beach and on out into the ocean.
i decide to head into town to check stuff out and get me some internet to figure out the next part of the journey. i head into sausalito and try and find some hotspots, unsuccessfully at one cafe but the whole town has wifi, but you have to log in on a web page. so i hook up in the car and try and find one floating around, cheenchy i know but i have learned from some of the best.
after sending a bit of communication, i begin to head back, but stop at a nice little grocery store, buy an apple, ask for directions to the nearest electronic store because i tell myself that my phone and taking videos does not do any of this justice. i eat my apple on the boardwalk and then head to marin city to a best buy there and check them out. i had great service and settled on a panasonic lumix 7.2 mpx (DMC-LS70S). man, it was nice to finally have a camera to take pictures with. so, i go back and take pics...i went picture crazy having been so long without a camera and having so much to take a picture of.
i met a couple that was gonna be roomin in the campsite with me (they end up sharing more of it than you would imagine). so i sit back and enjoy the beautiful day reading...some of it anyways...cant ignore the great sights.
later that evening i end up meeting four peeps from tahoe (2 that are flying out and two dropping them off). well, i end up watching a nice sunset and they come and join up. i hung out a bit afterwards and just chilled and chatted...seemed like social people, easier to socialize with.
so i crash and expect to head out in the mornin.
today is the day that i accomplish some business.
i check back into the office to let them know that i will be staying a second night. i scout around and check out the lighthouse and the point overlooking the beach and on out into the ocean.
i decide to head into town to check stuff out and get me some internet to figure out the next part of the journey. i head into sausalito and try and find some hotspots, unsuccessfully at one cafe but the whole town has wifi, but you have to log in on a web page. so i hook up in the car and try and find one floating around, cheenchy i know but i have learned from some of the best.
after sending a bit of communication, i begin to head back, but stop at a nice little grocery store, buy an apple, ask for directions to the nearest electronic store because i tell myself that my phone and taking videos does not do any of this justice. i eat my apple on the boardwalk and then head to marin city to a best buy there and check them out. i had great service and settled on a panasonic lumix 7.2 mpx (DMC-LS70S). man, it was nice to finally have a camera to take pictures with. so, i go back and take pics...i went picture crazy having been so long without a camera and having so much to take a picture of.
i met a couple that was gonna be roomin in the campsite with me (they end up sharing more of it than you would imagine). so i sit back and enjoy the beautiful day reading...some of it anyways...cant ignore the great sights.
later that evening i end up meeting four peeps from tahoe (2 that are flying out and two dropping them off). well, i end up watching a nice sunset and they come and join up. i hung out a bit afterwards and just chilled and chatted...seemed like social people, easier to socialize with.
so i crash and expect to head out in the mornin.
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