Summary of time:
· Interesting travel companions.
· Food packer
· Yosemite National Park – Giant Sequoias and a coyote.
Handy hints –
§ Be content to take things as they come, don’t worry if running behind your schedule, it may mean you experience something new and different.
§ Embrace the weather, be prepared for anything.
Travelling between places on public transport, means that you meet all sorts of different people, and if you are open, you can certainly learn about a different side of life. I thought that the train journey would be an uneventful journey, a time to read or do Sudoku, and watch the countryside pass by. How wrong i would be, it all depends on your fellow travellers, and where you decide to sit. I got on the train at the same time as a girl who was poss 20, with a young kid in a buggy, and a broken foot, and an older lady (mid 60’s) who was helping with all the bags, i helped her up the stairs to the top floor.
I found a table near them but didn’t think much of it, the older lady was struggling with the bags, so i gave her a hand, and she came and joined me at my table, her name was Silver.
Over the course of the next couple of hours, i learned their stories, the young girl was a roamer, constantly on the move, who had cystic fibrosis (?) apparently, her son was a large 8 month old, she had broken her foot, was in a program (drug rehab?) and on her way to a family funeral, but she had not seen any of her family for well over a year.
Silver was on her way to visit a friend in Santa Barbara, a day earlier than planned, as her daughter-in-law did not approve of her marijuana medical condition (despite the son/husband having been a user till recently), and had not wanted Silver near her 2 Grandsons (3yr old and6 month).
Silver was showing me photos on her recently acquired camera, and was trying to find the video she had taken that morning of the 3 yr old, but unfortunately i don’t think it had actually recorded, so she got upset. I was showing her functions of the camera, and how to use it. She was telling me lots of stories about her interesting live. Both Silver and the young girl were comparing details of places that they had both visited on their roaming days.
It certainly made the journey pass quicker than i thought. Silver at times reminded me of a kid trying to find pleasure in all the little things of life.
The train arrived on time at Fresno, and John was there to meet me, he had come prepared for a long wait, as the trains are notorious for being delayed.
I spent much of the next couple of weeks, doing general things, catching up on my blog, visiting the university (where John and Liz worked) to use the internet – i could have passed as a mature student, except i didn’t have a car – cooking, and just living in a home.
These are a few of the things that i saw.
Liz invited me to go for lunch with her and a friend, we would eat at a Cafe that was set up to assist young people, to train them, give them employment, as well as them being at school and looking after their kids. The food was excellent, and very good value. Our drive meant we passed various orchards growing apples, pears, oranges, almonds, other nuts.
That evening we went out with another couple to a movie “Capitalism – A Love Story”, a documentary film about America’s love of Capitalism, its history, and its affects and implications through the current economic climate. It was very interesting; i learnt about its impact on the economic climate of the UK as well.
Liz found an advert in the local paper for volunteers to help at one of the many food banks; they needed help packing up the boxes ready to give out, so i went down and helped out for 3 hours. The Valley (this part of Central California) is experiencing a drought as well as problems in the current economic situation; so many families are relying on these food parcels to help sustain their family. I certainly improved my skills of standing in a line, packing tins or packets of rice/spaghetti/dried milk, into a box. It was very warm in the warehouse, but the time soon flew by, once one packing line of goods was completed, then we moved onto another set of tables, where slightly different stuff was being packed. Once it came close to time to leave, we just filled the box we were on, and then packed up; some others would be in on another day and pick up where we left off. I almost wanted to carry on getting that table done. Some of my fellow packers were students who were doing this as part of their extracurricular activities; some were actually people who would be benefitting from these boxes, and by helping out, got credit(they had to get sheets signed off for the time they spent), to enable them to get an extra box. It was an experience i would happily do again if the opportunity arose.
Liz was away visiting family, so John and i were off to Yosemite. The morning fog was around, so we set off slightly later than planned, it would take us an hour or so to get up there. We drove passed the end of Route 49, which is known as the “Gold Road”, this was where all the mining was done during the California Gold Rush in the 19th Centuary. Arriving through the entrance to Yosemite, we had planned to go to Mariposa Grove, where you can see the Giant Sequoias, but the road was closed because the car park was full, they wanted you to use the shuttle bus, which you could get from Wawona Hotel. We headed on down and parked up, our luck was with us and there was a shuttle ready to take us back up. John was a little put out as it meant timings of doing things would be out, but then there was a silver lining, as we went back up the road on the bus John saw a Coyote cross the road, and i saw it watching us from a rock as we passed. I had never seen one before, and John hadn’t seen one in this area before.
The “Sierra Redwoods” or Giant Sequoias found in Mariposa Grove and not the tallest of the redwoods, but here they can grow as tall as 290 feet, with a basal diameter of around 40 feet. The sequoia doesn’t have deep tap roots; they spread out near the surface to capture water and go no deeper than about 6 ft, although they can fan out about 150 ft, which gives a stable base to balance the massive trunk.
It was interesting to learn that these Giant Sequoia’s need the lightening caused fires to clear away leaf litter from competing evergreens, flora, fauna and to dry out the mature trees’ green sequoia cones, to cause a shower of fresh seeds to fall on the nutrient-rich ash that is over the mineral soil from the fire. These lightening caused fires happen every 7 to 20 years - the circle of life.
I felt like a tiny ant against those big trees. We did a couple of mile loop through the forest, seeing some big trees that had been given names; one was “The Grizzly Giant” which is estimated to be 1800 years old. It has a huge limb on its south side which is almost 7ft in diameter, which apparently is larger than the diameter of any non-sequoia tree in the grove!! Not far from the Giant is the “California Tunnel Tree”, it was cut in 1895 to allow horse drawn stages to pass through, it is quite something to stand in that tunnel. There is another tree called “Clothespin” which due to numerous fires has a natural tunnel which is wider than a car – we didn’t get that far, something to do another time.
Walking back down the road, i stopped to take a picture of a giant sequoia and realised that i could see the moon high in the sky (it was only 11.30am) through the branches, when i took the picture it is very visible!
As we approached the bus stop to get back to the car, one was just pulling up. We were soon back at the car and on our way. We headed on into the park and off on Glacier Point Road, where there is snow or heavy rains, this road is closed. We were fortunate, the higher levels had received snow the previous week, but the roads were clear and open. This road takes you above the valley; you get a different perspective of the mountains, and valley. We stopped at one view point and looked across at Half Dome, we could also see a tiny bit of water coming over Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls. We stopped for lunch, some ground squirrels were hoping for some titbits, but the wind soon meant John and I headed to the car to keep warm. In the sunny patches it was warm, but catch the breeze and you could feel the chill. Looking through binoculars, you could see trepid walkers on the top of Half Dome (it is a good 12 hour hike from the valley floor and back). We then moved on to Glacier Point which gives a much clearer view of the Valley floor, we could see cars and campers, i could even see the campsite that i had been at 16 yrs ago with my family. Ah memories.
From Glacier Point Road, we headed back and off through the Tunnel to the Valley floor. Coming through the tunnel, there is a fantastic vista point, from where you can see El Capitan – the climber’s wall, Bridal Veil Falls, Half Dome. When the sun is setting you can get some fantastic photos from here (we saw them all waiting there later!!!).
Then down into the valley, this really bought back memories from my previous visit, despite having been once, i wanted to go back for a visit, and i will happily go back again and again. We stopped (in the parking areas) near El Capitan to see if we could see any climbers, they would be some of the last going up this season, it is a 3 day climb up the rock face (that means 2 nights hanging suspended from the cliff face or nook). John saw some, but by the time he had come to me, he couldn’t then find them, but we did manage to in the end. Later as we were leaving the road takes you closer to the cliff and i managed to get a couple of photos showing the people (tiny ant blips) on the rock face.
This trip it wasn’t worth walking to any of the falls as there was not much water, so we headed off to the village, and John took me to see the Ahwahnee Hotel, you need to book a long time in advance (or hope for a cancellation) and have some money to stop here. It was very plush. A few weeks later i was talking to a British couple at Canyonlands National Park, we were sharing experiences of our travels, comparing notes of where we had been. They had been in Yosemite the following weekend to me, during the week in between there had been heavy (unseasonably heavy) rain, which meant that by the weekend the Valley was packed with people who had come to see the waterfalls.
Time was getting on, and John wanted to get on the road, so some of the journey would still be in daylight, we stopped for dinner at Oakhurst, getting back around 9. A full day, but a good day, and it was the right day.
· Interesting travel companions.
· Food packer
· Yosemite National Park – Giant Sequoias and a coyote.
Handy hints –
§ Be content to take things as they come, don’t worry if running behind your schedule, it may mean you experience something new and different.
§ Embrace the weather, be prepared for anything.
Travelling between places on public transport, means that you meet all sorts of different people, and if you are open, you can certainly learn about a different side of life. I thought that the train journey would be an uneventful journey, a time to read or do Sudoku, and watch the countryside pass by. How wrong i would be, it all depends on your fellow travellers, and where you decide to sit. I got on the train at the same time as a girl who was poss 20, with a young kid in a buggy, and a broken foot, and an older lady (mid 60’s) who was helping with all the bags, i helped her up the stairs to the top floor.
I found a table near them but didn’t think much of it, the older lady was struggling with the bags, so i gave her a hand, and she came and joined me at my table, her name was Silver.
Over the course of the next couple of hours, i learned their stories, the young girl was a roamer, constantly on the move, who had cystic fibrosis (?) apparently, her son was a large 8 month old, she had broken her foot, was in a program (drug rehab?) and on her way to a family funeral, but she had not seen any of her family for well over a year.
Silver was on her way to visit a friend in Santa Barbara, a day earlier than planned, as her daughter-in-law did not approve of her marijuana medical condition (despite the son/husband having been a user till recently), and had not wanted Silver near her 2 Grandsons (3yr old and6 month).
Silver was showing me photos on her recently acquired camera, and was trying to find the video she had taken that morning of the 3 yr old, but unfortunately i don’t think it had actually recorded, so she got upset. I was showing her functions of the camera, and how to use it. She was telling me lots of stories about her interesting live. Both Silver and the young girl were comparing details of places that they had both visited on their roaming days.
It certainly made the journey pass quicker than i thought. Silver at times reminded me of a kid trying to find pleasure in all the little things of life.
The train arrived on time at Fresno, and John was there to meet me, he had come prepared for a long wait, as the trains are notorious for being delayed.
I spent much of the next couple of weeks, doing general things, catching up on my blog, visiting the university (where John and Liz worked) to use the internet – i could have passed as a mature student, except i didn’t have a car – cooking, and just living in a home.
These are a few of the things that i saw.
Liz invited me to go for lunch with her and a friend, we would eat at a Cafe that was set up to assist young people, to train them, give them employment, as well as them being at school and looking after their kids. The food was excellent, and very good value. Our drive meant we passed various orchards growing apples, pears, oranges, almonds, other nuts.
That evening we went out with another couple to a movie “Capitalism – A Love Story”, a documentary film about America’s love of Capitalism, its history, and its affects and implications through the current economic climate. It was very interesting; i learnt about its impact on the economic climate of the UK as well.
Liz found an advert in the local paper for volunteers to help at one of the many food banks; they needed help packing up the boxes ready to give out, so i went down and helped out for 3 hours. The Valley (this part of Central California) is experiencing a drought as well as problems in the current economic situation; so many families are relying on these food parcels to help sustain their family. I certainly improved my skills of standing in a line, packing tins or packets of rice/spaghetti/dried milk, into a box. It was very warm in the warehouse, but the time soon flew by, once one packing line of goods was completed, then we moved onto another set of tables, where slightly different stuff was being packed. Once it came close to time to leave, we just filled the box we were on, and then packed up; some others would be in on another day and pick up where we left off. I almost wanted to carry on getting that table done. Some of my fellow packers were students who were doing this as part of their extracurricular activities; some were actually people who would be benefitting from these boxes, and by helping out, got credit(they had to get sheets signed off for the time they spent), to enable them to get an extra box. It was an experience i would happily do again if the opportunity arose.
Liz was away visiting family, so John and i were off to Yosemite. The morning fog was around, so we set off slightly later than planned, it would take us an hour or so to get up there. We drove passed the end of Route 49, which is known as the “Gold Road”, this was where all the mining was done during the California Gold Rush in the 19th Centuary. Arriving through the entrance to Yosemite, we had planned to go to Mariposa Grove, where you can see the Giant Sequoias, but the road was closed because the car park was full, they wanted you to use the shuttle bus, which you could get from Wawona Hotel. We headed on down and parked up, our luck was with us and there was a shuttle ready to take us back up. John was a little put out as it meant timings of doing things would be out, but then there was a silver lining, as we went back up the road on the bus John saw a Coyote cross the road, and i saw it watching us from a rock as we passed. I had never seen one before, and John hadn’t seen one in this area before.
The “Sierra Redwoods” or Giant Sequoias found in Mariposa Grove and not the tallest of the redwoods, but here they can grow as tall as 290 feet, with a basal diameter of around 40 feet. The sequoia doesn’t have deep tap roots; they spread out near the surface to capture water and go no deeper than about 6 ft, although they can fan out about 150 ft, which gives a stable base to balance the massive trunk.
It was interesting to learn that these Giant Sequoia’s need the lightening caused fires to clear away leaf litter from competing evergreens, flora, fauna and to dry out the mature trees’ green sequoia cones, to cause a shower of fresh seeds to fall on the nutrient-rich ash that is over the mineral soil from the fire. These lightening caused fires happen every 7 to 20 years - the circle of life.
I felt like a tiny ant against those big trees. We did a couple of mile loop through the forest, seeing some big trees that had been given names; one was “The Grizzly Giant” which is estimated to be 1800 years old. It has a huge limb on its south side which is almost 7ft in diameter, which apparently is larger than the diameter of any non-sequoia tree in the grove!! Not far from the Giant is the “California Tunnel Tree”, it was cut in 1895 to allow horse drawn stages to pass through, it is quite something to stand in that tunnel. There is another tree called “Clothespin” which due to numerous fires has a natural tunnel which is wider than a car – we didn’t get that far, something to do another time.
Walking back down the road, i stopped to take a picture of a giant sequoia and realised that i could see the moon high in the sky (it was only 11.30am) through the branches, when i took the picture it is very visible!
As we approached the bus stop to get back to the car, one was just pulling up. We were soon back at the car and on our way. We headed on into the park and off on Glacier Point Road, where there is snow or heavy rains, this road is closed. We were fortunate, the higher levels had received snow the previous week, but the roads were clear and open. This road takes you above the valley; you get a different perspective of the mountains, and valley. We stopped at one view point and looked across at Half Dome, we could also see a tiny bit of water coming over Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls. We stopped for lunch, some ground squirrels were hoping for some titbits, but the wind soon meant John and I headed to the car to keep warm. In the sunny patches it was warm, but catch the breeze and you could feel the chill. Looking through binoculars, you could see trepid walkers on the top of Half Dome (it is a good 12 hour hike from the valley floor and back). We then moved on to Glacier Point which gives a much clearer view of the Valley floor, we could see cars and campers, i could even see the campsite that i had been at 16 yrs ago with my family. Ah memories.
From Glacier Point Road, we headed back and off through the Tunnel to the Valley floor. Coming through the tunnel, there is a fantastic vista point, from where you can see El Capitan – the climber’s wall, Bridal Veil Falls, Half Dome. When the sun is setting you can get some fantastic photos from here (we saw them all waiting there later!!!).
Then down into the valley, this really bought back memories from my previous visit, despite having been once, i wanted to go back for a visit, and i will happily go back again and again. We stopped (in the parking areas) near El Capitan to see if we could see any climbers, they would be some of the last going up this season, it is a 3 day climb up the rock face (that means 2 nights hanging suspended from the cliff face or nook). John saw some, but by the time he had come to me, he couldn’t then find them, but we did manage to in the end. Later as we were leaving the road takes you closer to the cliff and i managed to get a couple of photos showing the people (tiny ant blips) on the rock face.
This trip it wasn’t worth walking to any of the falls as there was not much water, so we headed off to the village, and John took me to see the Ahwahnee Hotel, you need to book a long time in advance (or hope for a cancellation) and have some money to stop here. It was very plush. A few weeks later i was talking to a British couple at Canyonlands National Park, we were sharing experiences of our travels, comparing notes of where we had been. They had been in Yosemite the following weekend to me, during the week in between there had been heavy (unseasonably heavy) rain, which meant that by the weekend the Valley was packed with people who had come to see the waterfalls.
Time was getting on, and John wanted to get on the road, so some of the journey would still be in daylight, we stopped for dinner at Oakhurst, getting back around 9. A full day, but a good day, and it was the right day.
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