I'm Not a Colorado Boy

We were on the road by about 8:00am MT today and landed in Lee Vining, CA about 5:30pm PT.  Ample time spent in the car, but it was quite a lovely drive and I was able to keep reading, which was lovely. 

The drive was fantastic.  Utah, Nevada and finally California.  There's nothing like the sunshine state.

I said to Nick as we were driving yesterday, "I know you're a Colorado boy, but I'm more of a Utah girl."  To which he loudly exclaimed (he's been saying everything loudly - his ears have been plugged from sickness and altitude for days), "I'M NOT A COLORADO BOY!"  LOL.  It was like telling a toddler that they're you and you're them.  If that makes any sense.  :)  He explained that while he DOES like and appreciate Colorado, it's not his all-time favorite.  Truthfully, he's really more of a Cali boy at heart.  Who could blame him.  This is an awesome awesome place. 

Well, the big adventures start tomorrow.  We'll be staying in Yosemite for a couple days in their tent camp... We watched videos of bears going tent to tent trying to open the bear boxes (where people have to keep their food and any scented items like toothpaste or deodorant so bears don't try and come into the tents for food) in front of people's tents.  I'm hopeful that we don't have such an encounter, although it would be fun to see a bear... from a ways a way.  :)

Some pics - 1/2 of which are from a bug sprayed windshield.  lol.

The magnitude of these fins was amazing... see the road through the middle.  It was amazing as we approached them.  So cool.

The only picture with a human in it we took today.  We kept pulling off to take pictures as did some other guy traveling on his own.  So he and I took each others pictures.  I love doing that on vacation. 

I love when roads cut through these awesome structures.  It's just amazing.

We hit rain off and on today.  It was pretty cool to see it in the sky ahead of us.  The temps ranged from 71-93 today.  Next to Hwy 50, which is known as the "Loneliest Road," Hwy 6 is affectionately known as the "Even Lonelier Road."  It was just us for many long stretches.

Beautiful California.  Heading into the Sierra Nevadas.  

Our hotel.  El mono in Vining, CA.  I could spend my life in places like this.  Sitting outside typing this blog.  Life. Is. Good.

Our room.  Shared bathroom/shower, no TV.  Windows open... Ahhhhhhhhhh.  Livin'.

See you tomorrow!  xo

Sick, White and Out of Shape!

We decided to hit the open road and travel across the country to Yosemite!  We've been driving for several days now and I brought 20+ books to read.  Nick and I had several discussions about how many books I could take, but... I just kept packing them.  Mom gave me a 450 page book a couple years ago that I finally pulled out and started reading here and there last week.  I finished the remaining 400 pages driving the last two days. :)  I'm planning on just leaving books in hotels all over America.  :)

Nick started this vacation the way he has started many of our vacations... very sick.  He was feverish and congested last night and bed-ridden for the time he wasn't driving.  He woke up in much better shape today, so we were happy about that.  We still have a few days before Yosemite, so I'm hoping he's completely recovered by the time we get there.

It was a scorcher of a day.  It ranged from 93 - 103 degrees for most of the drive.  We did a short 1/2 mile hike in Canyonlands National Park that almost killed me.  My face was so red... it was reminiscent of when my mom would come in from burning brush in the backyard.  :)  It became quite apparent that my Irish German blood was not handling the heat/sun well and that I am woefully out of shape.  The good news is I'll have something to aspire to when I'm done with school.

We didn't take a ton of pictures, but here are a few of our hot hot time in Canyonlands!

Classic must-have coffee shot

Mesa Arch
Behind us is a sheer drop into a canyon abyss.  We watched a man walk on top of the arch... This is why men die earlier than women.  1) He said he didn't see the sign that said not to walk on it when his wife told him about the sign and 2) 90% of women don't look at an arch that is three feet wide with a sheer drop on the other side and think... "what should I do next?"  I know!"  "I'll figure out how to climb on top of the arch and see if I can get a better view!"  

White white girl trying not to be baked to death.

Such a handsome boy.  :)  And the scenery ain't bad either.

Ghost town we're staying in tonight.  Dust storm was starting up, you can see how foggy the mountain is behind the deserted buildings and gas station.  Ended up eating at a good Mexican restaurant.  Some folks from Thailand were there and we met another couple who were there from Burlington, IA... what in the world?  I think we represented 50% of the town population.