USA Part Four
Firstly, sorry for the complete lack of updates lately. Internet access has not been as available as we thought it would be. Secondly, sorry if this entry is littered with spelling mistakes, but Im typing this in a hotel room on a TV with a not so clear picture.
We finished that last entry leaving San Francisco and heading North to the Redwood National Park. Well our drive up there along th coast was once again shrouded in fog, so we couldnt see much of the views that Highway 1 would have offered. It was very slow going too, as the road twisted and turned along the coast. After going about 30 miles in an hour we decided that the scenic route in the fog was probaly not worth doing so we cut across inland to the more direct Highway 101.
This took us straight up to the Redwod NP, our destination for the night. Unfortunatly we only had that afternoon to explore the Redood Forest. So we decided to go to the information center and ask them how we could best use the little time we had. Well unfortunatly the Ranger that helped us was a little too helpful. He gave us a map of the park and the proceded to highlight the different places that we might want to go and see. The only problem with this is that he ended up pretty much highlighting the whole map, which kind of defeated the purpose!
Nevertheless we decided with not much help form Ranger Eager Beaver to do two walks in the forest. What little we did see of the park blew our minds.Those trees are just so huge! After our walks we went to go and find our campsite. We had booked ahead having learnt our lesson in Big Sur. The campsite we ended up staying in was probably on of the best sites either of us have ever camped in. It was right in the middle of the forest and was competely secluded from the other campers. It felt as though it was just the two of us in this forest of massive trees. The only downside was that we only had one night there before pressing on towards Portland.
Well after a hell 9 hour drive along the fairly boring I-5, after trying unsuccessfully to get the radio to stayed tuned to a station for more than one song (althogh we did hear a rather interesting discussion about the Andre Stander of all people) and after managing to get lost 10 minutes before the end and thus adding another hour to our journey. We finally made it to the home of Joel, the younger brother of our Pastor at home in South Africa. Whom we had never met before.
Portland itself was just another city to us. Although I thnk if you lived there and knew it better than us a couple of tourists, then it could be quite an interesting place to live. The thing that made it so enjoyable for us was th people. Joel and his house mates were very welcoming and we had a great time just hanging with them.
Other highlights in Portalnd included: Attending a John Kerry Presidential election rally. Which was pretty interesting to watch, us being outsiders and seeing how worked up every one here gets. And going to church with Joel, which was great as we dont know when we wil get to chuch again while we are here. Also it was cool just to spend some time with fellow Christians.
After we left Portland, we headed South to Crater Lake NP which is stil in Oregon but fairly close to the Califonian border. Words fail me when I try to describe Crater Lake. It was just so unblievable beautiful. The lake is in a now dormant volcanic crater. As there are no river running into or out of the lake it consists only of rain water and snow melt. The water is so clear and pure that the lake looks unreal. We did a few hikes in the park, two up some mountains which gave us a breathtaking view of the crater and one down into the crater itself for a swim in the lake.
Next we drove South again back into California headed for Yosemite NP. Yosemite NP was for me even more spectacular than Crater Lake. The Yosemite valley feels like a big hole in the ground with massive granite cliff faces all around you. We camped outside the vally which was probbaly btter as there where quite a few day trippers in the valley during the day from near by San Francisco.
We spent our time in Yosemite either hiking or swimming in the lakes and rivers. However the undoubted highlight for us was the 27km hike up to the top of a missive granite dome called Half Dome. It was a hectic hike from the valley floor 4000 feet to the top of the dome. With the last 400 meters consisting of pulling yourself up cables along a very steep and slippry rock face,
The views from the top were amasng and were worh all the effot. The 4 days we had in Yosemite was too short and all too quickly we were leaving and heading south again towards Las Vegas.
The drive through the desert towards LV was sureal and at times you cant believe you are on the same planet. We went through small town after small town and you cant help thinking what exactly do people do out there. We even went through an old mining town called Johannesburg! Although it was little more that a few delapidated houses and what looked like now defunct gold mines littered across the surrounding hills.
Well we are in Las Vegas now and Im writing this from our hotel room in the farcical hotel that is the Luxor. Its basically a huge smoked glass pyrimad wth other egyptian themed attractions including a exact replica of king Tut's tomb and bigger than life sized shinx gaurding the font door.
Vegas itself is quite possibly the saddest city I have ever been to. Nevertheless we have a big clean bed, our own bathroom and a massive pool to lie next to all day. And at night we can watch all the Olympics we can handle from the comfort of our own bed. After camping with no showers for over a week these little luxuries are going a long way.
Next on Rycatprojects:
The Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree NP and back to LA.
