*mental note: take the WEST bypass to Brandon (or follow Quebec licence plate 028 MZK though Winnipeg)
3:07 p.m. MJ: "Sometimes you just have to...wait." "Divided highways are great." (after many km of non-divided highway in SK)
Aug 13/04
FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH
up at 5:30 a.m. for sunrise but it's still foggy!
8:30 a.m. still foggy--going deeper into foggy woods. looks like a horror movie (hwy 101)
8:35 a.m. 13C fog magically clears as we coast down the Redwood hwy.
-nevermind. it's foggy again (8:37 a.m.)
forget Google, KT's new dream job is being the voice of Paul Bunyan at Trees of Mystery
one-of-a-kind restroom
emu at drive-thru tree
scenic hwy off 101--trees feel mushy!
1610AM Elk Radio
"do not approach on foot" "elk are wild and unpredictable animals" "always be alert and have a safe and pleasant trip in the Redwoods"
Ukiah, California (Haiku backwards)--tried to find Kyen campground from AAA book instructions. where is SR20? Found Lake Mendocino Dr. (lots of BIG speed bumps) and found the address in the AAA book. wrong campground. We found a scary little campground instead. Headed into town to get directions. Couldn't find visitor's centre. Went to Safeway for directions (thank you Gaylen). Headed back north, and with some confusion found the campground at last! A Friday night and no reservations. We got the last spot! The middle of nowhere, but it will do. Hans Coleman surprised us and actually lit. KD for supper...or maybe not. Hans let us down again. Tried to finish cooking the noodles by letting them sit in the hot water for a while. I don't recommend it. Soggy, starchy, KD not so good.
Aug 17/04
visited Jelly Belly factory in FAirfield, CA
drove down hwy 12 towards I-5 (saw wind thingies)
fields/prairies along hwy 12
bought replacement part for Hans in Lodi, CA
hot, hot HOT out! (39C)
missed SR 145, so we're heading to Sequoia
how freaking high up and far away can it be?!
got in around 7 p.m. and found a site in Dorst Creek. have to put EVERYTHING in bear locker, so Betsy got a cleaning.
Hans is still a bastard and won't work, even with his new part.
went to bed at 8:45 p.m.--stupid screaming kids.
Aug 19/04
went to Lodgepole and bought tickets for Crystal Cave
saw General Sherman Tree (largest living thing on the planet--52,000 cubic ft)
hiked into cave--very cool (when they say "steep and strenuous" they really mean it!)
saw rescue team on our hike up going for boy who had fallen 20ft and broken ankles and wrist
walked on AutoLog (cars can't drive anymore because it's rotted)
went through Tunnel Log (drive-thru tree #3!!)
we have boiling water!!! 7p.m.
mmmm! KD never tasted so good!
heard at least 2 bears in the night (and neighbours yelling and banging)
Aug 30/04
got up at 7 a.m. and called Toyota
appointment for 8:30 a.m. but stuck in traffic and arrived at 9.
Betsy had a battery problem...waited at Toyota until 11 a.m.
went grocery shopping and finally left Vegas at noon.
drove over Hoover Dam--temp reached 42-43C (HOT!!)
arrive in Grand Canyon--other TBay people in 152 and 153
WE'RE A DAY EARLY?!!!!!
-moved campsites to #315
Aug 31/04
up at 4:30 a.m. to catch shuttle
hour early for sunrise. sunrise around 6:15 a.m.
went for 10:30 a.m. show and discovered we're an hour early. NO TIME CHANGE HERE!
saw presentation on geology and GRand Canyon.
came back for lunch and had visit from Slater the deer. see pics of he/she/it peeing. didn't get a pic of he/she/it licking lips
he/she/it even stuck around long enough for Guillaume to pose.
had a visit from PEtey2
took red shuttle to Pima point and Hopi overlook (Pima=view of Colorado river, which was yucky brown)
cooked dinner (YAY!) over fire
went to see sunset, but we missed it
Slater=a mule deer (cause of the ears)
Sept 1/04
up not so early
stopped for views along Desert View
Watchtower National Historic Site
Little Colorado River Gorge
lots of beef jerky around here. why? we don't know. but we do know that Chief Yellowhorse lvoes us. (so does Tom Jackson).
Utah has cheap ice! (not for next time)
Sept 2/04
take exit 54 for Salina, or else you're screwed. 56 only seems to exist going one way.
Vail=pretty, but has some CRAZY round-a-bouts!
Melissa's hallucinations: a giant marshmallow with black dots and the Cineplex Odeon sign on a tour bus (7:44 p.m.--12 hours into trip)
Pet detective in Garfield County (CO)