Full Circle

Our last days were spent with Mommy La and Daddy Lo and the rest of the San Diego clan. Mamma Mimi took us to La Jolla (pronounced 'La Hoya') for a stroll and to check out the seals. Seals seem to be common all over the California coast. This stretch actually reminded us a lot of parts of Sydney.

On our way to cousin Hazel's place for lunch I noticed a sign on the highway to Van Nuys. This rang a bell and after a quick search, I realised this was the area where a well known American comedy is filmed. The location is actually very un-Hollywood, being in a semi industrial dead end street. Here's the picture:

Any guesses?

Beets, Bears, Battlestar Galactica.

Yes, the Office is filmed in the middle of LA and not in Scranton, PA. It's a strange thing to see a building you've seen hundreds of times on TV. Kind of familiar but different at the same time. We walked around the street and discovered the back lot and stages. The show is currently on holidays so there wasn't a lot happening but still interesting to poke around a little. The security guard was nice enough to let us take some photos as long as we didn't walk past the entrance.

Our trip went full circle with our final meal - we had checked in and had an hour until we had to go through security. Where could we eat? It seemed fitting that In & Out was conveniently located. In fact it was the same one we ate at in the beginning of our trip.

Its always a little sad to leave but happy to be going back to see everyone back home too. Too bad there's 14 hours between destinations. Thanks to all the family and everyone we could spend time with for a great trip! Hopefully we'll be back soon...

Stores We Dont Have in Australia Awards

Shopping is great in the USA compared to Australia. Most things are cheaper and the stores are super-stores. I guess when you are selling to 300 million people - things will be cheaper. Here's some observations from the many (many) hours we spent shopping...

Most Visited Store Award: Walmart - I guess Walmart isn't the most exciting store in the world but I love how its huge and stocks pretty much everything. Because of that - there was always an excuse to go back. Sweet Tarts for a dollar = bad idea. Go for Ice Breakers instead.

Award For Store Causing The Most Excitement For The Girls: Ross - 'Dress For Less'. Endless racks of end of season clothes at discount prices. It's like girls in a candy store, except the candy is clothes, shoes and handbags and the prices are comparable to candy. In many ways it like a treasure hunt where you can rummage through tons of rubbish for a few items of quality and the reward is the privilege of handing over your credit card. How come the guys section is like only 4 racks out of 100?

Ol' Favourite Award: Costco - We have Costco in Australia now so it doesn't technically qualify for these awards but its still a little different. Same same but cheaper. We just can't buy a lot from here because everything is in bulk.

I Wish I Had More Money Award: Frys - You know those competitions where you have one hour to fill up a shopping cart. I wish I could do that here. Like electronics much?

Same Same But Awesome Award: REI - Australian outdoors enthusiasts usually love Kathmandu. REI stores are about 4 times larger, cheaper and they deliver!

Honorable mentions:

Marshall's - this one is like Ross but messier.
Nordstrom Rack - Nordstrom is like Macy's but classier (the sales attendants wear suits) and Nordstrom Rack is the discount version. They have suits for guys!
Best Buy - someone say Harvey Norman?

This photo is completely unrelated to this post but I found it interesting...

One last national park...

We made the drive out to see one last national park 3 hours away from San Marcos: Joshua Tree National Park.

The distinctive trees which give the park its name are a type of yucca palm. As with so many things out here, travelling Mormons gave the trees the name Joshua trees as it was said to resemble Joshua with his arms outstretched in prayer.

While the Joshua trees give the landscape a unique look, the park also is a geologists paradise with many and varied rock formations dotting the park. An area called the Wonderland of Rocks resembles a child's playpen full of misshapen play-doh. The rock formations make for great places to climb around and explore. We encountered a few in the area bouldering around the rocks.

The Joshua trees seem to thrive in the desert heat.

Skull Rock

Food watch: Flat bread at Subway. You have to try it. Its like fluffy pita bread.

San Diego

Our last stop this trip is in San Diego. Spending some time in San Diego allowed us to catch up with some more of Love's family here. The Sorianos made us comfortable once again as we wound down our trip.

After a trip to REI (where Owen gave his credit card a workout) and a bit of fishing at Oceanside, it was off to the District Convention on Friday to Sunday. 37000 attended the Sunday sessions and Samuel Herd gave the concluding talks with the new releases. Friday was incredibly cold and windy. You know its really cold when even the inside of your mouth is cold. By contrast, Sunday was really hot in the sun. I'm glad we have our conventions indoors in Sydney where its just cold all the time. Even so, it was great to catch the convention in San Diego once again.

Owen won REI.

Sharissa caught 3 fish in one go. That was our entire catch.

Costco must be making a killing on these umbrellas.

Food watch: The Charger Burrito at Mr Taco. I was warned it was big but I still went for it. I almost finished it....

Bay Area

First stop after Yosemite was to Boudins in San Francisco for clam chowder. Well worth making the trip. It always seems to be windy around there but it makes a steaming hot bowl of clam chowder that much better.

A short walk from there is pier 39 to check out the shops and the seals sunning themselves around the pier.

San Jose gave us a chance to catch our breath a little and slow down the pace of our trip a little. We got together with the family at Jeff and Leah's place in San Jose for an awesome BBQ and spent the next day around Monterey and Carmel with the Laigos and Woodings. It was nice to catch up with everyone again at Uncle Jun's place. Thanks to Allan and Christina for letting us stay over!

We didn't get to go to Monterey Bay Aquarium last time so it was a treat to look through the aquarium. The aquarium is visually stunning, especially the way the tanks are lit up to almost make it feel like you are under the ocean with these creatures. The array of jellyfish and sea horses are particularly mesmerizing. For those who love cute and cuddly things, the otters provide endless fun as they swim and play in their enclosure. You can get your hands dirty too in the touch pools where you can touch sea cucumbers and baby sting rays.

Show off.

This jellyfish looks like its imploding.

Hours of fun with the otters.

Go Go Junior Rangers

As of today, Love and Cynthia are officially Junior Rangers at 6 national parks. There apparently is no age limit, rendering the 'junior' tag purely ceremonial. I guess its more of a suggestion than anything. The actual NPS rangers we had encountered had been extremely enthusiastic and passionate about the national parks and really helped us to appreciate the parks more.

As we drove up to the ranger guided Tree Walk, I had to do a double take as  I realised our walk was to be guided by perhaps one of the more well known rangers in the NPS. Shelton Johnson had featured heavily in the series produced by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan: National Parks - America's Best Idea. This series helped motivate us to go and see more of the national parks and it was great to have a guided tour by Shelton. I had low expectations for the Tree Walk but Shelton really made it interesting. 'Trees grow where they grow for a reason.' Very true. Trees will only grow where conditions are right. Trees cannot move like animals and are important indicators of environmental conditions. There are even sequoias in Yosemite Valley but these have been planted. Even so, as one of the fastest growing trees they are already big.

We also did the ranger guided Bear Walk and played with a bear hide Ranger Christine had. Apparently the bears in Yosemite don't hibernate like other bears because there is never a shortage of food available. Oreos, potato chips, candy, etc.

As per usual we tried to fit too much in and attempted to check out Mariposa Grove and the giant Sequoias as well in the same day. Little did we know that giant mosquitos attack humans at dusk down there...

Wet Dry Wet Dry

We went for a walk up the mist trail that takes you up Vernal and Nevada Falls. The path up to the top of Vernal Falls is particular wet as the mist from the falls whips up the narrow corridor carved out by the waterfalls and straight into our faces.

The reward for getting up is worth it though as you reach a stone platform where you can sun yourself in the warm sunshine and watch all the nervous walkers make their way up the slippery steps.

The top of Nevada Falls another hour and a half up up a series of granite steps smoothed out by many a hiker's boots. The view from the top is stunning as you realise you are another few hundred metres up in granite cliffs of Yosemite. Just another 4 hours round trip is the the top of Half Dome but we had to save that for another trip.

Worth the effort.

"They are killers"

Yosemite actually means 'they are killers'. It was meant to describe the Ahwahneechee Indians who lived in the valley but somehow stuck as the name of the valley and park.

Close to 4 million people visit the park every year. It felt like most of them were there at the same time as us and isn't even high season yet. Yosemite valley is probably one of the prettiest places in America and a personal favourite but it certainly isn't as expansive as Yellowstone. The easy accessibility means it is a very popular park and a high revenue park. Well over a thousand of the National Park Service employees work here at peak times.

Having said that, its popularity isn't unfounded. The view at Tunnel View is described as the most photographed vista on earth.

We also passed our highest elevation on our trip at 10000 feet on our entry into the park at the Tiago Road entrance in the east.

Some highlights to follow...

Fast Food Awards

Travelling presents some interesting challenges when it comes to finding food. When the pace of the trip has been fast and furious, you don't always have the luxury of time to find fast food of good quality. Usually one of those things will be lacking.

However, it has allowed us to sample some of America's finest fast food establishments. Here are some awards judged and presented by a committee of one: me.

Best Burger Award: In & Out - My favourite burger joint in the states. I don't think anyone does cheeseburgers like these guys. I love how they put an entire sliced of onion in the burger too. Ask for your cheeseburger 'protein style'.

Best Fries Award: Jack in the Box - I don't know why but curly fries are funner to eat. The sirlion steak burger is delicioso.

Best Chain Restaurant: Apple Bees - This was probably the best diner style restaurant chain we went to. The ribs were beautiful.

Best Late Night Meal Award: Denny's - I cant say its the best quality food but it tastes so good when your desperate and its late.

Participation Award: Wendy's - I generally like the burgers here but I just can't pick anything outstanding about this place. Out of 10, I would give it a solid 7.

Best Roast Beef Burgers: Arby's - If you love roast beef burgers, you'll love this place. I don't love roast beef burgers.

Same Same But Different Award: McDonald's - Same same but different. Why do they call a scone a biscuit?

Best Clam Chowder: Boudins San Francisco - We drove directly to this place when we got to SF. Enough said.

Craziest Chicken Award: El Pollo Loco - At the recommendation of Allan Laigo we got some chicken here and it was very good. The marinade worked well with the salsa a guacamole. Yum.

I Like Super-Volcanoes

Yellowstone is one giant super-volcano. An eruption would be  hundreds if not thousands of times larger than any eruption in modern history. Apart from the possibility of it erupting at any given moment, there are many other reasons to want to be here. There were parts of the park which were still heavily blanketed with snow. Other parts felt summery and mild. Water running off mountains had formed the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and some beautiful cascading waterfalls.

Water also comes up from the ground in the form of geysers. The Old Faithful geyser is probably the most famous attraction in the park after faithfully sprays super heated water and steam 20-30 metres into the air roughly every 90 minutes.

Prismatic pool was also a highlight. The day we were up there it wasn't too busy. After the mandatory photo from every possible angle we could think of, we could just relax and sit on the broad walk. The afternoon was warm and soothing. There was little wind to harass us. The steam rose from the pool of bright green, blue and orange, in a silent, serene manner which settled our hurried and hectic journey for long enough to really enjoy a few moments next to the pool. The gentle stillness of the entire scene was really enjoyable.

Serengeti of the Yellowstone

The National Parks Service shield has three things on it: a tree, a mountain and an animal (specifically a bison). Not all the National Parks are known for all these things but Yellowstone ticks all the boxes.

Animals are definitely in the fore when you drive around Yellowstone. Thousands of bison line the open fields and geyser basins. The time of year was perfect to see bison calves which look like little orange dogs. Big horned sheep can be seen straddling the mountain sides and hills. Mule deer, antelope and elk are also common inhabitants. Bears are a little rarer but we did see a couple of black bears. Also good - was that we saw the bears from a distance. They recommend you take bear spray (concentrated pepper spray) on hikes in case you run in to any unexpectedly. One black bear mother was with its two young bears about a 100 metres away. When it started walking towards us, we knew it was time to get back in the car.

Big horned sheep.

Food watch: Eggs Benedict at Mammoth Hotel in north Yellowstone. Poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, spinach on a muffin. Best breakfast so far.

"For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People"

National Park #5: Yellowstone National Park.

What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Yellowstone? Geyers, waterfalls, mud pots, animals, Yogi Bear?

Well it turns out Yogi lives in Jellystone, not Yellowstone.

The fact that Yellowstone is so far away is a good and bad thing. It took the best part of two days to both drive there from Arches National Park and also to drive to Yosemite afterwards. The good thing is that it doesn't feel too crowded like Yosemite sometimes can. The distance would certainly keep some people away but there's also some great big open areas which you can easily escape to.

The drive was definitely worth it though and you really need to spend a few days in the park to be able to see everything at a reasonable pace. I can't say we've really done anything at a reasonable pace this holiday but we've certainly seen a lot of amazing things in a short amount of time. It wouldn't be rare to fit in three things into a day. Someone told me once that you really should put the camera down, forget what you are doing next and savour the moment, so I've tried to relax and soak in as much as I can.

The photo on this post is of the Roosevelt Arch opened by Teddy Roosevelt in 1903 at the north entrance to the park. The inscription at the top of the arch typifies what the national parks are about: "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People". This is the notion that the National Parks are built on. Yellowstone was the first National Park created in 1872. Interestingly, the Royal National Park in Sydney's south is the second oldest, established in 1879.

Some highlights to follow...

Snakes and Ladders

National Park #4: Grand Teton National Park.

Although much smaller in size to its neighbouring Yellowstone National Park, the Tetons offers much. The three Teton mountains, from which the park gets its name, suddenly rise 7000 feet from a series lakes and grassy pastures. The imposing nature of this mountain range gives this park its trademark look.

Its a look that has been recreated many times by many artists and photographers. In fact one of the trademark photos by Ansel Adams has been my background image on my computer, so it was a special experienced to finally see it for my self and attempt to recreate it. Snake river weaving its way at the base of the Tetons...

The park also gave us a first glimpse at some of the wildlife we are expecting in Yellowstone. Bison! Large and aggressive looking but somewhat placid cow cousins dot the landscape at every turn. More about bison to come in a later post.

Mount Owen!

Antler arches in nearby Jackson.

Trevi the Chevy

Just had to add a post about our car: Trevi the Chevy (Chevrolet Traverse).

So far we have crossed 6 states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and now Idaho. We've probably covered about 2000kms in it across the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde National Parks. Fortunately it has enough space for the things we've accumulated in shopping. Very comfy too on these long drives. Best feature: space.

The Fiery Furnace

National Park #3: Arches National Park in Utah.

Rocks on the side of the road typically don't get very interesting but when rocks are arrayed in spectacular arches and bridges, there's a lot to appreciate and learn from the way these are formed. Erosion is often used in a negative sense, but without it we wouldn't have these fragile arches and many other wonders like the Grand Canyon.

Delicate Arch is the most photographed of the arches. Most of the number plates on cars in Utah displays this arch in the background.

If you ever make it to Arches, you should book in to do the Fiery Furnace ranger guided tour. The ranger will take you through the Fiery Furnace. The ranger guided tours really bring a lot of life and depth to the things you see. Interesting fact: the frogs that burrow themselves into the ground come up only when it rains. In fact they come up before the rain starts because they can feel the thunder through the ground before we can even hear it. Clever.