tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-302388722007-11-10T23:58:28.366-05:00Have school will travelMarkBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-79476248048546679192007-10-07T23:20:00.000-04:002007-10-12T17:05:21.835-04:00The Geek Squad hits Seattle<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thurs-Monday, August 16-20, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Seattle, Washington</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/VanceBig.jpg" /><br /><br />As a new hire (fresh out of college) with IBM in Boca Raton, Florida back in 1983, me and a couple of other young programmers were given the unlikely task of coordinating software development activities for the new IBM Personal Computer. Working with a small software company located in the Seattle suburbs, for the next 2 ½ years, I shuttled back and forth between Boca and Seattle. I had an apartment in each location, and would typically stay about 2 weeks in each place before commuting in the other direction.<br /><br />It was a dream assignment for someone just out of school – one week I’m working on my tan on the Florida beach, the next I’m night skiing in the Cascades – and I’m piling up the frequent flyer points. I fit right in with the boots and ski parka culture of the little software company - much more comfortably than the formal suit and tie dress expected of us IBMers. After awhile, figuring ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ I would dress to blend in, keeping a suit handy in my Seattle office to don quickly when warned that some IBM management was expected to be on site that day ;-)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall1.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The small software company in question was Microsoft, and yes, I knew Bill Gates long before he was rich. In a stunning case of being just a little too naïve (or stupid) for my own good, I had a semi-standing offer to go to work for Microsoft, which would have made me something like employee number 60 or so. But proud of my IBM job, and also being from an IBM family (my dad and both of my uncles worked for IBM) I never gave the Microsoft offer any serious consideration. Maybe if that little decision had gone differently, I’d own my own baseball team or something today ;-)<br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">BTW, I'm not in this picture - it's just an early one of Bill G and Paul Allen...</span>)<br /><br />But I can’t complain as things have turned out just fine in the long run. This week I am looking forward to showing Vance around the town that next to San Francisco is probably my favorite. I fell in love with Seattle during my time here – the evergreen trees, the brooding rainy skyline for months on end, the water and the rawness – there was and remains a pioneer edge to Seattle that not even modern day skyscrapers and expressways can erase.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/MtRainier.jpg" /><br /><br />Of course, Seattle is first and foremost a technology town. Denise decides to take a break from the geeky stuff I’ve got planned, so it’s just me and Vance for a day or two. Denise is anxious to catch a glimpse of <a href="http://www.nps.gov/mora/">Mt Rainier</a>, which I’ve assured her many times looms above the city. However, the weather, in typical Seattle fashion, never really clears up our entire time here, so she’ll have to settle for seeing it up close.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall2.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />While the downtown skyline in Seattle isn’t one of my favorites, the city itself is located in an area of stunning scenic beauty. Seattle is ringed by mountains that are snow capped for most of the year. Combined with Puget Sound to the west, and Lakes Union and Washington to the north and east respectively, the views can be expansive and breathtaking. Much like San Francisco, Seattle is built on top of a series of high hills (in fact, in an earthmoving project second only to the building of the Panama Canal, Seattle leveled 68 blocks of downtown hills, with the dirt used as fill for what today is the waterfront). Despite the hills, Seattle (also like San Fran) is a great walking town, with historic shops and markets seemingly everywhere.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >To describe the beauties of this region, will, on some future occasion, be a very grateful task to the pen of a skillful panegyrist. The serenity of the climate, the innumerable pleasing landscapes, and the abundant fertility that unassisted nature puts forth, require only to be enriched by the industry of man with villages, mansions, cottages, and other buildings, to render it the most lovely country that can be imagined<span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:85%;" >-</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:85%;" > George Vancouver (1792)</span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><h4>Space Needle</h4>I don’t remember exactly what got Vance interested in the <a href="http://www.spaceneedle.com/">Seattle Space Needle</a>, but for the past several weeks he’s been looking forward to visiting it. Built in under a year for the 1962 World’s Fair, the iconic structure for years has provided a focal point to the Seattle skyline. I visited it once during my Seattle stays, and enjoyed the view, although the structure itself was a bit rundown.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall3.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Not today. Newly refurbished, the Space Needle is at the center of the ‘<a href="http://www.seattlecenter.com/">City Center</a>’ district, surrounded by several museums and an amusement park. There is apparently a move underway to remove the carnival rides and open up the space for more greenspace. In any case, it’s a vibrant area, and it was hopping the night Vance and I showed up. The energy in the Space Needle viewing area reminded me of the Empire State Building. The views are great, and the tourists are flocking in. Quite a few younger couples are dressed to the nines – it is date night it appears, and the viewing level is a popular spot, as well as the restaurant suspended below. Both Vance and I enjoyed the views, and it was a great chance for me to catch up on familiar landmarks and point them out. We particularly enjoyed watching a sizable regatta underway on Puget Sound, with a multitude of sailboats weaving their way around buoys and a number of large freighter ships anchored in the Sound.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Right next to the Space Needle was a fantastically shaped building, looking like an exaggerated version of the <a href="http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Guggenheim_Bilbao.html">Guggenheim Museum in Bilboa, Spain</a>. Covered in a wild series of metalic colors, upon closer inspection, this building turned out to house the Science Fiction Museum and the Experience Music Project. We’ll return to visit both of these museums in several days.<br /><h4>Boeing Plant Tour<br /></h4>I had two big regrets from my time living in Seattle – the first was failing to visit nearby Victoria, BC, and the second was not taking a tour of the Boeing Plant. Plants, I should say, because you can’t turn around in Seattle without bumping into an airport with a Boeing factory next to it. Boeing and Microsoft are the two largest employers in the Seattle area, and the Boeing factory in Everett, just north of Seattle, is touted as one of the largest buildings by volume in the world. So large, in fact, that when the building first opened, they had issues with clouds forming and raining inside!<br /><br />The next morning, we were literally headed out the door when a quick check of the weather called for a change in plans. It looked like a nice day outside, and the rest of the week called for rain. Figuring we could do factory tours and museums on rainy days, Denise declared <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span> was the day to go to Mt. Rainer. Despite some initial grumbling from us guys, this clearly made sense. So instead of driving north thru town, we headed south toward the huge mountain, which we still couldn't see, and wouldn’t until well on it’s flanks (which we’ll describe in another post).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/BartBig.jpg" /><br /><br />The coming of the weekend found Vance and I driving north to Everett. I was a little worried about traffic on I-5 going thru Seattle. Due to seismic reinforcement of a bridge (beefing up critical freeway infrastructure is a big deal on the west coast), I-5 was shutting down several lanes during the day. Newspaper accounts had made the expected traffic jam seem like the coming end of the world. However, used to nightmare rush hours in Atlanta, it just didn’t seem that bad, fortunately. We made it to the Boeing factory without incident (other than the constant rumbling of Vance’s stomach, a usual occurrence!)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/BoeingBig.jpg" /><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/tours/">Future of Flight Museum and Boeing Plant Tour</a> is about what you expect – first we viewed a movie discussing the history of Boeing planes (as well as other companies they have bought over the years). After this we were loaded up in a bus for a brief trip across the runways to the factory. There we overlooked the area where 747s, 767s and the new 787 Dreamliners are being constructed.<br /><br />Although a short visit, it was a fascinating look into the mechanics of building such large planes. Wings, portions of the fuselage, and the tails are all assembled separately, then joined together as the planes move down the assembly line. The new line being created for the next generation Dreamliners will be much more automated than the 747 and 767 assembly areas. Boeing also constructed 4 modified freighter jets to bring in completed assemblies from all around the world for the Dreamliner. One of these, the ‘Dreamlifter’, was sitting out in front of the building, looking for all the world like an oversized flying guppy!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/Dreamlifter.jpg" /><br /><br />I think Vance got a good feel for how modern day assemblies occur, with emphasis on the individual parts being manufactured elsewhere. Boeing’s main task here is the design of the planes, and bolting together all the parts. The mammoth scale of the factory, in which even the giant 747’s were dwarfed, was quite a sight.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall5.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Afterwards we visited the ‘Future of Flight Museum', which was mostly about old and new Boeing jets. Vance greatly enjoyed a kiosk setup that allowed you to ‘design your own plane’. In a piece of marketing genius, we could pick up a printed copy of our design in the gift shop. There was even an option to have it printed on a T-shirt. I was all ready to spring for the T-Shirt when we found out the system was broken, and printouts weren’t available. Boeing promised to mail a copy when they got the printer back online, hopefully it will be waiting for us when we get back home. Vance had a nice design ;-)<br /><h4>Sci Fi Museum<br /></h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall7.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Back at the Space Needle, the two of us visited the <a href="http://www.empsfm.org/">Science Fiction Museum</a>, located in the strange looking building I discussed above. The museum could have been really hokey, but it was well done. Unfortunately, the museum doesn’t allow cameras, so I don’t have any pictures. This is a shame, because there is quite a bit of memorabilia – for example, items from the Star Trek TV and movie sets.<br /><br />I liked how the museum was organized – largely by cultural areas of interest. For example, while there was the obvious display on ‘alien invasions’, and how this was represented in pop culture (from ‘War of the Worlds’ to ‘Mars Attacks!), other sections were studies of weightier subjects. Science Fiction is often used as an analogy to modern cultural issues, and the museum did a great job of pointing these out. Various cultural issues – racism, gender roles, overbearing governments, etc…..the museum was full of examples of novels and movies covering these issues.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/jetsons.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Of course, there were the old favorites – Vance was particularly fascinated by videos from shows and movies from my childhood – the Jetsons and Lost in Space, in particular. My favorite was the original manuscript from the Baroque Cycle novels, written by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/002-6306734-9767203?ie=UTF8&tag=mozilla-20&index=blended&link%5Fcode=qs&field-keywords=Neil%20Stephenson&sourceid=Mozilla-search">Neil Stephenson</a>. These novels, which Stephenson wrote using quill pins, cover the dawning of the scientific age and the modern finance system. As Denise can attest, I love these novels, having read all three multiple times.<br /><br />Expecting the museum to be full of sloppily dressed geeks, I was surprised at the numbers of families, and even more, at the number of young girls in there. It did not fit my stereotype of Sci Fi fans at all. The museum was a lot of fun, Vance got introduced to a whole genre of fiction outside of Star Wars, and I got to take a trip down memory lane, including a list of sci fi novels to check out. A well spent couple of hours.<br /><h4>Experience Music Project<br /></h4>Right next door is the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/jetsons.jpg%22%20class=%22alignLeft%22%20align=%22left%22%20/%3E">Experience Music Project</a>. Founded by Microsoft's Paul Allen, the museum is devoted to documenting the history of the Seattle music scene, as well as in depth archives of general music history. I could have easily spent all day in here listening to the fascinating series of recorded interviews with musicians that the museum has. For example, I enjoyed listening to a Pat Metheny interview discussing the pros and cons of touring, and to another musician who had played with Jelly Roll Morton.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall8.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Upstairs, the museum had a section devoted to teaching you how to play various instruments – drums, keyboards, using guitar effect pedals, etc….This area was very well done, using multimedia to walk you through the basics of the instrument. I very much enjoyed the ‘effects’ walkthrough, gaining a basic knowledge of their use, something that has perplexed me for years. In addition, there were multiple ‘studios’ available (voice, keyboard, drums), where for 10 mins you could go in and create your masterpiece. For a few dollars you could record your efforts and burn them to a CD. Vance came into the keyboard studio with me, and as I used to play keyboards in a series of bands, we were able to make some decent sounding noise for the next 10 mins. We both got a big kick out of this.<br /><br />I could have easily spent a lot more time in the museum – we pretty well just blew thru the Seattle music history section, including a lot of Jimi Hendrix memorabilia. However, Vance was complaining about a headache, so we cut our visit here short. Hopefully, I’ll have a chance to go back someday.<br /><h4>Pacific Science Museum<br /></h4>Denise joined us the following day for a visit to the <a href="http://www.pacsci.org/">Pacific Science Center.</a> Vance typically loves these museums, and invariably I’ll see an exhibit that relates to something we’ve been studying or he’s shown interest in. In this case it was a tic-tac-toe playing robot, a large industrial robot adapted to the task. Using the robot's discrete, repeatable steps for an example, I sat down with Vance and gave him a brief introduction about how such a thing would be programmed.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/ScienceCenter.jpg" /><br />For example, the robot would always return to the same spot before and after moving a piece. The motion to pick up and place a piece was always the same. By getting Vance to notice and describe the individual steps, I then told him how you would write a short program for each little step. Hook them all together, and you have a tic-tac-toe playing robot. This is considerably simplified, of course, but it’s an example of how I try to teach Vance, particularly on subjects (like programming) that I’m reasonably familiar with. I don't really expect him to remember, but next time he hears something similar, it will have a better chance of sticking.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall9.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The museum had a section on dinosaurs, which Vance always enjoys. Outside there was a series of water jets that you could shoot to spin a variety of objects, which was a big hit with all the kids. We also took in a couple of IMAX movies – one on <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/">Mt. St. Helens</a>, and another on the <a href="http://www.lewis-clark.org/">Lewis and Clark Expedition</a>. Both were relevant, as we would be visiting St. Helens on our next stop, and would be covering much the same ground as the Corps of Discovery for the next month or so as we started our way back east.<br /><br />Prior to dinner we walked around some – I had spotted a new downtown park from the Space Needle that Denise was interested in seeing. She had read an magazine article about ‘<a href="http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/OSP/default.asp">Olympic Sculpture Park</a>’, which is an interesting design of slanting green spaces and walks, constructed on bridges over several roads. It was a neat park, affording great views of the city, waterfront, and artwork. A wedding was taking place while we were there, which was in sharp contrast to what we stumbled on next – the ‘<a href="http://hempfest.org/drupal/">Seattle HempFest</a>’! Apparently a concert had just let out near the waterfront, and quite the crowd of mostly young (and rather stoned) hemp lovers were walking back our way. For the most part, the crowd was well behaved, and the local police seemed to take things in stride. After working our way through the crowd, we stopped for dinner at a lavishly decorated Spaghetti Factory near the waterfront.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall10.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Our final day in the Seattle area was spent exploring areas north of town – I had wanted to visit the town of Bellingham, up near the Canadian border. Denise and I had visited the area briefly several years ago on a business trip, and we enjoyed driving around the area. To cap our trip off, we drove down Whidbey Island, first crossing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deception_Pass">Deception Pass</a>, finally taking a short ferry ride back to the mainland. I had always enjoyed riding the ferries to the islands when I lived here, so this was a great way to end our stay in the Emerald City.<br /><br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span><span><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall11.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />The Seattle area has lots of surprises. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, I’ve always wanted to see it. I guess I’ll start off with the Seattle Space Needle. Built for the ’62 World's Fair, it stands at 605 feet tall. Mom wasn’t really interested in seeing it, so the geek squad (me and Dad) decided to pay a visit. The enormous structure offered wide views, free view telescopes and a video screen talking about interesting spots around the city.<br /><br />Right next to the needle was a pretty funky building. Later we found out it was the museum of Science Fiction and Experience Music Project. We will return in a few days to this. If you’re into Star Wars, I recommend you pay a visit if you go to Seattle.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/SWSmall12.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />We had a single clear day on our entire stay. Mom declared we go see Mt. Rainer, a nearby volcano. We men grumbled a little and decided to go to the mountain. The next day we toured the Boeing Plane Factory without her. After about forty minutes down I-5 we arrived at the entrance area. Dad purchased a gallery and factory tour ticket pack for us. The tour had a beginning video. After ten minutes the bus was waiting to take us on to the factory. After entering the upper deck, we watched the employees work on a 747 and a 767 liner. It takes such a long process to make the liners I’m not sure I can write it all down. The building is so large at first it began to form clouds and rain inside! </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Seattle/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a></span></span><br /><br /><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/10/cmon-along-to-canada.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>C'mon Along to Canada</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /></tr></tbody></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-83250548015951774392007-10-07T11:59:00.001-04:002007-10-13T09:22:03.277-04:00C'mon Along to Canada<span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Victoria, British Columbia</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/FerryBig.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/denise.jpg" /><br />It's wonderful when you can take a day trip to another country - without having to suffer through airport security or jet lag! This morning we hopped a ferry across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Victoria, Canada. It takes about an hour to cross 20 miles of water. Luckily, we don't need a passport for this adventure. Our driver's license <span style="font-style: italic;">(with photo)</span> and birth certificates were sufficient to get us through customs in both countries. Nor is it necessary to exchange our money for the <span style="font-style: italic;">"</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loonie"><span>Loonie</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;">"</span> (the Canadian dollar). Most merchants in Victoria gladly accept U.S. currency and credit cards, but change is always given in Canadian currency.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/VBCSmall1.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />As we near Victoria's harbor we're mesmerized by the float planes that are also arriving and departing frequently.... wouldn't that be a fun and fast way to commute! The Inner Harbour is a busy place with ferries entering from Port Angeles, Seattle and Bellingham, WA. Numerous yachts and sailboats are moored in the marina. Many visitors opt for a tour on the adorable little Harbour Ferries that busily putter across this scenic area to points of interest.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/VBCSmall2.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />In some ways it's like stepping into another world. Oh sure, we see plenty of businesses and sights that are common to the US, yet the ambience in Victoria is clearly Canadian with a bit of British colonial flavor. The impressive architecture of the Edwardian- style <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/empress">Empress Hotel</a> and the Romanesque Revival <a href="http://www.victoriabc.ca/victoria/parliamentbuildings.htm">Parliament Building</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">with its splendid verdigris dome</span> greet us as we enter the harbor. An imposing statue of Queen Victoria, for whom the city is named, and a tribal totem pole stand prominently on the Parliament grounds. Today, some tribal members are giving the totem pole a fresh coat of paint.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/ParliamentBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Victoria more than lives up to its reputation as the "Garden City". Old-fashioned lamp posts are adorned with massive hanging baskets. This year the city is proudly displaying 1600 baskets and they plan to increase that number next year. No one does flowers like the Canadians. It's easy to see why <i>Condé Nast Traveler</i> has voted Victoria one of the world's top-ten cities to visit.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/VBCSmall3.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />To make the most of our time, we opted for a tour package that includes a bus drive around the city and transportation to Butchart Gardens, where we spent most of our day. The enormous Royal British Columbia Museum is within walking distance of the ferry, but there wasn't enough time to visit the museum and the gardens before the return ferry<span style="font-weight: bold;"> ;-( </span><br /><br />On board the bus, we get to drive through the downtown district, numerous city parks <span style="font-style: italic;">(including Beacon</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Hill)</span> and some upscale neighborhoods. We're quickly informed that it's very expensive to live in Victoria. However, it seems the high cost of living hasn't curbed the influx of retirees who are anxious to become Victorians and the resulting housing boom.<br /><br />For some inexpensive entertainment, our tour guide made a pit stop along the way at a marina and the kids get to feed the resident seals some frozen fish. Vance was reluctant to get back on the bus after this little adventure. Knowing he'll never go willingly to the gardens unless we feed him first, we bribed him with the promise of a lunch break after we finish the bus tour. Usually the promise of food will cure Vance of whatever is temporarily bothering him!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/VBCSmall4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />After lunch, we took a bus to <a href="http://www.butchartgardens.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1">Butchart Gardens</a>. This time our guide is very personable and he gives us the inside scoop on what it's like to live and work here, sprinkled with a good bit of humor. Vance enjoyed his witty talk on how middle class folks get by in pricey Victoria as well as information regarding gun control, income taxes and socialized medicine in Canada. One topic of conversation was the price of fuel in Canada versus our country. We noticed the tour buses run on biodiesel. Mark had previously spotted a fleet of bright yellow Toyota Prius taxis near the Empress Hotel. Seems like our Canadian friends are progressive when it comes to sustainable energy.<br /><br /><h4>Butchart Gardens</h4><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/ButchartBig.jpg" /><br /><br />I have to commend Vance for being such a good sport when it came to this garden tour. Most 11 year old boys don't have the patience or interest to look at flowers for hours on end. Luckily, there were various areas of the garden that held his interest such as the Sunken Garden. Encompassing 55 acres, <a href="http://www.butchartgardens.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1">Butchart Gardens</a> includes a former cement factory and quarry site. When the quarry was exhausted of resources in the early 1900's, Mrs. Butchart (the cement factory owner's wife) began planting the Sunken Garden. Today it is a lovely combination of evergreens, vines, flowers and water features. It's hard to believe it was once an area of spent rock and dust.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/VBCSmall6.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Other areas of Butchart Gardens include the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden and the Italian Garden. The Japanese Garden is my personal favorite. I'm always inclined to linger in the cool shade and subtle textures of an oriental garden. The tranquil setting does not overpower or over stimulate the senses. Finding a restful spot in which to sit and ponder, we enjoyed the beauty of a simple water feature. All three of us loved the humorous ingenuity of the bamboo Boar Scarer. When the bamboo filled with water it would tip, spilling the water.....once empty it would tilt back to strike a large rock, thereby creating a loud noise to scare away the beast!<br /><br />Having a little time on our hands before boarding our bus back to Victoria, we were captivated by a whimsical Wizard of Oz play. Especially since the Good Witch was actually a He, not a She! The cast was small and they were doing a very speedy version of what can be a lengthy production. The cast included 2 Munchkins, Dorothy, the Good Witch, the Wicked Witch, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. Unfortunately, the Cowardly Lion and the Wizard had not appeared by the time we had to leave. This little play was a happy ending to Vance's day at the gardens.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/OzBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Other than ranger-led programs in National Parks, this commercial tour is the first one we've done on this trip. It's not our practice to leave an event like the Wizard of Oz play before it's finished, but the bus was waiting and so was our ferry ride back to the US. The drawback with tours is that you're always on someone else's clock. We don't wear watches, but might have to resort to that habit if we ever become avid tour travelers. At this point... <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">no can do</span>! Our current method of operation suits us much better. With that said, our day in lovely Victoria has whet our appetite for seeing more of Canada. The seed for a camping trip across the Canadian provinces has been planted in our thoughts for future travels. Always dreaming!<br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span><span>Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. British Columbia is a province, or what Canada calls a state. It took the boat about an hour to go from Port Angeles, Washington, to Victoria, British Columbia.<br /><br />After the ride, there is a step you have to go through called customs. They will not let you through if you have any firearms. It is illegal to have firearms in Canada except the police. I found the law quite interesting.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/VBCSmall7.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />We spent most of our stay in Butchart Gardens. The Garden is a series of gardens with plants from all over the world. It heated up quite fairly in the day. We found lots of shade in the Japanese Garden. One neat gadget is the Boar Log. I don’t know the real name, but I call it that anyway. The log would fill up with water, then fall and make a loud thump to scare the boars. Lastly, we had an ice cream break and went back to the dock where the KOA shuttle waited to take us back to the campground.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />BEFORE WE LEFT THE GARDENS, WE SAW A SHORT PART OF A WIZARD OF OZ PLAY. </span><span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Victoria/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a></span></span><br /><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/10/its-all-about-lakes.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prev - </span>It's all about the Lakes!</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/10/geek-squad-hits-seattle.html"> Seattle<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></tbody></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-65604541208067519502007-10-03T11:09:00.000-04:002007-10-10T17:15:54.507-04:00It's All About the Lakes!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday, Aug. 13 - Tues., Aug. 14, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Northern Olympic Peninsula, WA</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/LakeCrescentBig.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/denise.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/HRSmall1.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />We have blue skies and sunshine, so this afternoon is perfect for a visit to Lake Crescent. On the way, we stop at a little cafe for lunch, and Vance spots some goats in the backyard. In short order, the kitchen staff loads him up with bread, and he has a fine time feeding the goats. Vance loves animals. He's always delighted when one of our adventures allows him to get up close and personal with them.<br /><br /><h4>Lake Crescent</h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/HRSmall2.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Today I wasn't satisfied to merely gaze at Lake Crescent or just take a scenic drive around it. I wanted to get in a boat and on the lake. Better yet, let's kayak! I had missed the Chetco River float in Oregon and this was my chance to play catchup. Wow - I'm hooked. Paddling is a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of this stunning lake that was carved by glaciers during the last ice age. Lake Crescent is nestled among the mountains creating a fjord setting that many compare to the scenery seen farther north in Alaska. It's one of the deepest lakes in Washington and its waters are a brilliant teal blue color. We understand that the lake is home to two unique species of fish, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beardslee_trout" title="Beardslee trout">Beardslee trout</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescenti_trout" title="Crescenti trout">Crescenti trout</a>.<br /><br /><h4>Marymere Falls</h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/HRSmall3.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Back on land, we decide to enjoy an easy hike to nearby Marymere Falls. It's a lovely stroll through the rainforest to this delightful cascade. The lushness of this trail is so pleasurable and otherworldly that you really don't need a waterfall as the reward for your effort. However, we've never been known to turn down a waterfall.<br /><br />We arrived just a little late to visit the old fashioned ranger station at Storm King, but enjoyed our hike, starting out by passing through a lengthy culvert which ran under Hwy 101. The hike was short, and we soon came upon the 90 foot waterfall, which fans out to a pretty horsetail shape.<br /><br /><h4>Lake Crescent Lodge</h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/LodgeBig.jpg" /><br />Initially we thought we would still have time this evening to drive up to Hurricane Ridge and enjoy the views under clear skies. While leaving the trail, we see a sign for <a href="http://lakecrescentlodge.com/">Lake Crescent Lodge</a>...what the heck, we're here...let's check it out. That was an excellent decision. The lodge is located in the middle section of the lake, perched right on the bank, providing an enchanting place to sit and leisurely enjoy a glass of wine! Vance has quickly gained an appreciation for National Park Lodges and suggests that we take the camper back to Petaluma, CA and check into this Lodge for the rest of our trip. While we're not willing to do that, we are happy to bag Hurricane Ridge in exchange for a relaxing end to our day.....just watching the sunset over the sparkling waters of Lake Crescent.<br /><br /><h4>Hurricane Ridge</h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/RidgePanorama.jpg" /><br />Next morning we awake to more sunshine and blue skies. We're on a Pacific NW fair weather roll. The Olympic Mountains are in view from our campground so we decide to head for Hurricane Ridge. Just because the weather is clear for now.....there's no guarantee it will stay that way all day. Along the way we stopped to view snow-capped Mt. Baker to the north in the Cascade Mountain range. At the top, the ridge is abuzz with lots of other visitors.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/HRSmall4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The air is crisp and cool today, and the sunshine is glorious. That's not always the case up here. Over 75 mile an hour winds can hammer this ridge, hence the name "Hurricane". The 30-35 <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">feet</span> of annual snowfall melts slowly...affording us some stunning alpine scenery and wildflowers in late summer. We revel in the views and enjoy a short hike near the Visitor's Center. I really want us to get off the beaten path and head for P J Lake so we grab a quick snack and off we go.<br /><h4>P J Lake<br /></h4>We have to travel a narrow unpaved road to get to the trailhead. No problem - we love the roads less-traveled, and the views of the Olympic Mtns. are gorgeous. The trailhead is well marked and it's a short hike - less than 2 miles roundtrip. How hard can that be? Let's do it.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/HRSmall5.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />A wooden walking stick is leaning against the trail sign, so I grabbed it purely on a whim. We left our metal walking sticks in the truck. That proved to be a mistake because this little trail goes <span style="font-style: italic;">straight down</span> into a ravine. It is narrow with very few switchbacks.....a real toe cruncher in every sense of the word. I can read Mark's thoughts. Where did she come up with this hike? I don't have to read Vance's mind - he is vocalizing his displeasure - <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">loud and clear.</span> I just keep reminding them that a Ranger instructed an elderly couple to do this hike on a rainy, cloudy day! Truthfully, I wouldn't even consider doing this hike with the threat of rain...it's steep enough when the trail is hard and dry. If you have bad knees or weak ankles, forget it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" >Be advised that rangers in the western parks typically don't baby the visitors. They expect people to know their limitations and to use wise judgment when setting out for hikes, boating trips and other adventures in the park system.</span><br /><br /></span><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/HRSmall6.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />At last we reach tiny, subalpine P J Lake. While it is not as pretty as I had imagined, it is teeming with fish. They're literally jumping out of the lake to catch insects that are flying low over the water. The color of the lake is a milkly emerald green hue due to glacial melt. We relax and take in the quiet solitude of this place. That's the wonderful benefit of getting just a few miles into the backcountry in most National Parks. You usually have the place all to yourself. Too bad we don't have any fishing gear with us! In fact, we later learn that the trail was blazed by fisherman. That may explain why it's so steep...they were in a big hurry to get to P J Lake and start reeling in the fish.<br /><br />Speaking of steepness, now we have to go up that trail. None of us of are looking forward to it. As it turns out, going up proves to be a lot easier than going down and before you know it we're at the top. Whew, that was one mighty short, steep hike. Now I know why someone wisely and graciously left the walking stick at the trailhead. Maybe it was the older couple from a few days prior. Anyway, I'm happy to extend the courtesy to the next fellow hiker who's ambitious enough to go in search of P J Lake!<br /><br /><h4>A touch of Provence on the the Peninsula</h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/HRSmall7.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />We're camped near <a href="http://www.visitsun.com/">Sequim</a> and this region is known for the heady aroma of its lavender farms. After a late lunch we head for <a href="http://www.cedarbrookherbfarm.com/">Cedarbrook Herb and Lavender Farm</a>. I know Mark will enjoy this excursion because he loves growing herbs. Vance will probably balk, especially after our strenuous little trek to P J Lake.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/HRSmall8.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" /><br />Our enjoyment of this experience is secured when Vance discovers the resident house cats! Minnie, the prima donna feline, could not be bothered. It was her nap time. Vinnie, however, became rather attached to Vance. This amusement allows Mark and I ample time to shop and tour the grounds. We would enjoy visiting other farms in the area, but we don't want to push the envelope with Vance. We have yet another botanical spree in store for us tomorrow <span style="font-style: italic;">(in another country)</span>!<br /><br />Speaking of other countries, we are craving Thai food and I've read good reviews for <a href="http://www.khularbthai.com/">Khu Larb </a>in <a href="http://www.enjoypt.com/">Port Townsend</a>. Before dinner, we luck out and find a lovely little historic park and Vance joins some local kids for some playtime. The park is right on the water and Mark and I enjoy watching boats sail into the harbor with Mt. Baker in the distance. Yum, our Thai dinner was delicious and well worth the drive to the most northeastern point on the Peninsula.<br /><br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance:</span><span> </span>We moved but still stayed on the Olympic Peninsula, this time on the north side. To start off we have Crescent Lake Lodge. It is a lodge with cute cottages facing toward the lake. It looked pretty nice. Earlier today, we kayaked on the other side of the lake. Dad and I did a two man kayak and mom got a pink kayak. After the kayak trip, we hiked to pretty Marymere Falls.<br /><br />Up in Sequim, pronounced Skwim, there are some lavender farms. Lavender has a wonderful scent. I’m sure you would like the smell too. A funny book in the gift shop was called "Fifty ways to kill a slug". I cracked up reading it.<br /><br />Hurricane Ridge was probably my favorite part of the park. I liked it because of the wildlife. It was fogged in the first day, then cleared up a few days later. On the clear day </span><span style="font-style: italic;">one deer </span><span style="font-style: italic;">went down and shortly used the sidewalk. Some people were breaking the rules by getting off the walk and into a meadow.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/PJLake.jpg" /><br /><br />At Hurricane Ridge we did a hike to PJ Lake. It was very steep. I didn’t like the hike at all, very tiring, very boring and like I said, very steep. Weirdly, we came up faster than we went down. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007HurricaneRidge/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/those-damn-dams.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Those Dam(n) Dams!</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/10/cmon-along-to-canada.html">C'mon Along to Canada<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-66229780118790667232007-09-29T00:34:00.000-04:002007-10-05T01:43:39.825-04:00Those Dam(n) Dams<span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday, Aug 13, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Olympic National Park, WA</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicElwha/images/GlinesCanyonBig.jpg" /><br /><br />After Vance received a response from the ‘<a href="http://www.hetchhetchy.org/">Restore Hetch Hetchy</a>’ organization about his “<a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/hetch-hetchy.html">Vance’s Viewpoint’ on the Hetch Hetchy Dam</a> in Yosemite National Park, we were quite intrigued by the existence of two dams located in Olympic National Park. How, after the Hetch Hetchy controversy did they get there, and were the rumors true that they were slated for removal? We went in search of the two dams in order to satisfy our curiosity about the how, why and when of dam removals.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicElwha/images/OESmall1.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />What we learned was that both the Elwah and Glines Canyon Dams were constructed before Olympic National Park existed. The dams have been long opposed by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, who saw their salmon fishery largely destroyed by the dams. As the dams aged and the calls for their removal increased, the National Park Service purchased both dams. Planning for the removal of the dams began, with the actual demolition process scheduled to start in 2008. The goal is the restoration of the entire Elwha River watershed as a fishery.<br /><br />The removal of dams is more than just a passing fancy of ours. Back home in Western North Carolina, Duke Energy is undergoing the relicensing process for several of the hydroelectric dams near where we live. The power companies are provided usage of public waterways without any real costs other than the initial property purchases for the lakes. Part of the licensing process is to ensure that there is some form of ‘public mitigation’ for the ongoing right to use the water. In theory at least, this is supposed to compensate the public for the fact that ‘their’ waterways are being used by power companies to generate electricity for profit. In many cases, mitigation may take the form of campgrounds, boat ramps, etc….<br /><br />With the licensing cycle rolling around for multiple dams, the ‘mitigation’ negotiations can be interesting, particularly with environmental concerns receiving far more consideration than when these dams were built. Tradeoffs are typical, for example, the power companies may agree to increased waterflows down one river channel in order to avoid having to make major changes on another. In a novel twist, Duke Power is proposing to remove the small and aging Dillsboro Dam on the Tuckaseegee River as part of it’s mitigation for relicensing other dams in the area.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicElwha/images/Dillsboro.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.watrnc.org/"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicElwha/images/WATR.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" /></a>While this would seem to be a win-win all around, the devil is in the details. We belong to <a href="http://www.watrnc.org/">WATR</a>, the <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/WATR.jpg">Watershed Association of the Tuckaseegee River</a>, which is the primary environmental ‘steward’ for the Tuckaseegee watershed. Although you would at first blush expect WATR to be in complete favor of the dam removal, it has taken no official position. The reason for this is concern over the large amount of sediment that would be released with the breaching of the dam. Because of the silt issue, from WATR’s perspective you are damned if you do, dammed if you don’t (pun intended!). Other groups wish to preserve the dam for its historic and scenic value. In either case, it has been a long running controversy back home.<br /><br />Back up here in Washington State, the <a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/2294301.html?page=1">process for removing the dams</a> is progressing a little smoother, if not a whole lot faster. The National Park Service purchased the dams from the previous owners, adding the lakes to Olympic National Park. Environmental Impact Statements, approvals, demolition project plans, etc…are pretty well taken care of. Now it is a matter of finalizing the funding to proceed with the removals, and replacement of existing infrastructure. For example, the municipal water source for Port Angeles is provided by the lake behind the Elwha Dam, and new intakes must be constructed for the city prior to the dam removal.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicElwha/images/Chinook.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />The primary motivation for the removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams is to restore the Salmon runs on the Elwha River. The Elwha Dam sits a mere two miles inland from the ocean, and by all accounts it destroyed a tremendous salmon spawning run when constructed. Removing both dams will restore the Elwha, a glacier fed river that starts high in the Olympic Mountain Range, to its natural state. A worthy goal, indeed.<br /><br />The process for the removal of the Elwha river dams and the Dillsboro dams is much the same. The difference lies in how close the Elwha dams are to the ocean. Silt flushed out from the breaching of the dams is expected to help replenish several natural sand spits, also helping out the river delta, home to oyster and clam beds.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicElwha/images/OESmall2.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />We found the Glines Canyon Dam first, after a lovely drive up the Elwha River. It’s an older dam in a small, narrow canyon. After looking around a taking a few pictures, we drove back down the Elwha towards the coast, stopping to ask directions to the Elwha River Dam at a really cute Ranger Station. There was an older couple from Virginia manning the station as volunteers – we had a great conversation with them. Like us, they were living in their camper for the season, volunteering at the Ranger Station because it would be closed otherwise due to lack of staffing at the park.<br /><br />Armed with directions, we finally found the Elwha Dam. This is beyond a doubt the ugliest dam I’ve ever laid eyes on! The picture below doesn't even come close to showing just how ugly the structure is. It looks like something slapped together with whatever materials happened to be on hand at the time, which might not be far from the truth. The dam was constructed in 1913 to provide electricity for a local mill, and by modern day standards, the amount of electricity it generates is minuscule. Hence, the widespread consensus for removal.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicElwha/images/ElwhaDamBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Improving Salmon habitat is a big issue these days in the Northwest. The damming of almost every river in the northwest, particularly the Columbia, has seriously reduced the Salmon runs to a fraction of their historical levels. Other than simply the economic impact of reduced fisheries, the role the salmon play in the overall ecosystem is slowly being recognized. According to one of the ranger programs we attended at Olympic, scientists are now demonstrating that spawning salmon play an important part in providing nitrogen fertilization in the soils.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicElwha/images/Bear.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />How does this happen? Bears and other animals (eagles, for example) eat the salmon as they come in to spawn. The bear digests the salmon, then goes and poops in the woods. Salmon loaded poop provides lots of nitrogen for the soil (think fish emulsion). Research is indicating that the impact of this process has been severely underestimated. Much of the Puget Sound area is built on volcanic caused mud and ash flows (we’ll talk about this more later when we get to Mt St. Helens), and this nitrogen scattering process is an important way to start the initial fertilization process.<br /><br />Learning about the two dams slated for removal was a nice counterbalance for Vance after his Hetch Hetchy experience, and provided some context for the controversy back home around the Dillsboro Dam. In general, as many of our nation's dams age, removal will become the only option as their structural integrity begins to diminish. While the dams under consideration for removal today tend to be minor structures, the experience gained should prove valuable down the road when addressing larger structures and lakes.<br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">It’s great that these dams are slated for removal for a natural cause. People don’t have the right to just go and take something that isn’t theirs. The salmon deserve to have the spawning grounds restored. No parks should have any dams at all for people’s greed.<br /><br /></span><o:p style="font-style: italic;"></o:p><p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal">Destroying these two hideous structures of a dam will restore the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Elwha</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place>, a beautiful glacier fed piece of nature. Like Dad said, the Elwha Dam is far more hideous than Hetch Hetchy. I’m so glad it’s going down to rubble.<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">LIKE I SAID ON HETCH HETCHY, SEE WHAT YOU THINK AND MAKE AN OPINION! I’M COUNTING ON ALL OF YOU!!</span></p><p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></p><span style="font-style: italic;"><span><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicElwha/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicElwha/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a></span></span><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/bright-ideas-in-fog.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Bright ideas in the fog!</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/10/its-all-about-lakes.html">It's all about the Lakes!<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-40136533447072772002007-09-24T20:42:00.001-04:002007-09-29T11:24:08.648-04:00Bright Ideas in the Fog!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, August 12, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Northern Olympic Peninsula, WA</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/OlympicSignBig.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/denise.jpg" /><br /><br />As we move the camper to the northern end of the Olympic Peninsula, we travel along beautiful <span style="font-style: italic;">glacier</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">carved</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Crescent">Crescent Lake</a>. Without even vocalizing it, Mark and I are both making mental notes to come back and check out the area. It doesn't take us long to get the camper set up between <a href="http://www.portangeles.org/">Port Angeles</a> and <a href="http://www.sequim.com/">Sequim</a> (<span style="font-style: italic;">pronounced Skwim</span>) leaving us plenty of time to visit another area of <a href="http://www.nps.gov/olym/">Olympic National Park</a>.....Hurricane Ridge. We make a quick stop at the Visitor's Center because Vance has completed his Jr. Ranger and wants to be awarded his badge.<br /><br />I overheard a Ranger give an elderly couple directions for a hike to a subalpine lake called PJ that's popular for fishing! Suddenly a second idea for something to do in the Park has been planted in my mind. For now, I'm just anxious to get up to Hurricane Ridge. Our day has been mostly overcast up to this point, but some rays of sun are breaking through the clouds. With any luck we can see the snowcapped Olympic Mountains this afternoon....maybe even hike to PJ Lake. It's hard to believe that we can be so close to the world's largest ocean and we'll see mountains with glaciers! Keep in mind that we're from the Southeast, and this geography simply doesn't exist on our coastline.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VanceFogBig.jpg" /><br /><br />On this day, it just wasn't meant to be! The 17 mile drive to Hurricane Ridge takes us deeper and deeper into heavy fog and mist. The temperature is also dropping into the 40's. We can't see anything other than the car in front of us and a few deer that are grazing along the roadside. We go all the way to the top knowing that this is a place we'll want to revisit - hopefully, on a clear day.<br /><br />We've learned to roll with the punches when it comes to weather on this trip. Perhaps you've noticed that we're wearing raincoats quite a bit since we arrived in Washington. This is the wettest, soggiest corner in the lower 48 and we happen to be here during the dry season! <a href="http://www.gore-tex.com/">Gore-Tex</a> is a wonderful thing. Here's the twist. Where we set up camp today gets less than 15" of annual rainfall. How can that be? Sequim is in the rainshadow of the Olympic Mtns. All the warm moist air coming off the Pacific Ocean gets blocked by the mountain range and soaks the rainforest to the west. Sequim is rendered arid with ideal conditions for growing lavender. Visiting a lavender farm is high on my list of things to do and see in this area.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2006.htm"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/OlympicRainfall.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Meanwhile, we get back to our campsite and Vance has a surprise on the computer. After posting a 'Vance's Viewpoint' with a <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/hetch-hetchy.html">forceful denunciation of the Hetch Hetchy Dam</a> in Yosemite National Park, he gets a response! From the director of the Restore Hetch Hetchy organization, no less. It was very encouraging for Vance to see firsthand that even kids have a voice!<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/HetchHetchyReply.jpg" /><br /><br />Mark has been wanting to visit the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams, located in Olympic National Park on the Elwha River. Both of these dams are slated for removal. After Vance's note from a group that wants to remove the Hetch Hetchy Dam, these two dam sites get added to our must see list.<br /><br />So today was a typical travel day for us, except we didn't have to travel all that far from one campground to the next. Only 65 miles...that may be a record for us. Even with the clouds and fog, we've put together some ideas for how to spend the next couple of days. Now all we need is a little blue sky and some sunshine. Keep your fingers crossed.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicFog/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicFog/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/north-by-northwest.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>North by Northwest</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/those-damn-dams.html">Those Dam(n) Dams!<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-67674832848944811042007-09-23T22:06:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:27:28.499-04:00North by Northwest<span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, August 11, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cape Flattery & Rialto Beach, Washington</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/CapeFlatteryBig.jpg" /><br /><br />After our rainforest and hot springs adventures, we were ready for more coastline. Our travels will soon be turning eastward, away from the Pacific Ocean. It will be hard bidding farewell to the Pacific Coastline, particularly the wonderfully cool temperatures and dramatic scenery. With this in mind, we decided to spend the next couple of days exploring the coastal areas, including the far northwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula.<br /><h4>Cape Flattery<br /></h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/OW2Small7.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Located at the upper corner of the Olympic Peninsula, Cape Flattery is the most northwestern point in the contiguous 48 states. The brooding point is within the boundaries of the <a href="http://www.makah.com/">Makah Reservation</a>, at the junction of the Pacific Ocean and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Ships, whales, and Vance’s favorite bird, the Tufted Puffin, can all be viewed from the overlook at the end of the narrow cape.<br /><br />I made a brief visit to the Cape during my time spent in Seattle in the mid 1980’s. I remember arriving just before dusk. The long drive down a dirt road, and then an equally long walk into the thick, fog covered woods, was spooky. There was no one around anywhere, and being on a remote reservation in the fading light rather freaked me out. However, the views at the end of the cape, with a lighthouse sitting on an offshore island, were spectacular. I’m happy to have the chance to return in brighter conditions.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/MakahPuffins.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />The road out to the cape is being paved, and the Makah tribe offers a free shuttle service. Once there, we walked the ½ mile trail to Cape Flattery, which had been <span style="font-style: italic;">greatly</span> improved with a government grant several years ago. The views are every bit as good as I remembered, and Vance was quite excited to spot some Puffins floating in the ocean next to the cape. In contrast to my previous visit, there were quite a few people who had made the trek.<br /><br />On the way back, we spotted a traditional Salmon Bake underway – offered as a tribal fundraiser on the grounds of the Makah Cultural Museum. Using cedar sticks to hold the fish, the salmon was slowly baked over a driftwood fire. The father of the family offering the bake was a fisherman, and the salmon had been freshly caught just a few hours before. He would prep the salmon for baking in front of us – it was quite interesting to watch him trim the fat from the fish and spread the filets on the interleaved cedar sticks for baking.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/SalmonBakeBig.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/OW2Small1.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />It was unbelievably good, and it probably has spoiled Denise and me forever. I don’t think a restaurant cooked salmon will satisfy either of us again. Before we got our plates, Vance was complaining loudly that he didn’t want salmon, he didn’t like salmon, he wanted something else to eat…..then he tried it.<br /><br />He liked it so much he ate all of his, and then cajoled me into going back and purchasing another plate for me and him to split. If I hadn't run short of cash, he would have had me buy a third helping!<br /><br />We finished up our afternoon touring the excellent and interesting Museum of the Makah Indian Nation. I usually glaze over at Indian museums – after awhile one piece of pottery looks about the same as another. But this one was very well done. The ancient Makah seaside village of Ozette had been buried under a mudslide for centuries, and thus preserved, until it was exposed by a storm in 1970. The museum was constructed to house the artifacts recovered from an archaeological dig at the village site. What made this so interesting was that the artifacts were displayed in context to various activities – tools for fishing, village life in the different seasons, trade goods, etc…This was much more interesting than the static displays you usually see full of arrowheads and broken pottery.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/MakahFishing.jpg" /><br /><br />The Makah tribe largely relies economically on fishing. A series of court cases in the 1980’s established the rights of the northwestern Indian tribes to half of the annual salmon catch, and recent decisions have awarded the Makah the ability to resume whale hunting in a traditional manner. The tribes are allowed to fish in ways otherwise prohibited if they can prove that the method was traditionally used. The discovery of an ancient reed netting in the Ozette dig provided the Makah evidence in one court case that net fishing was a traditional fishing method.<br /><h4>Rialto Beach<br /></h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/RialtoBeach.jpg" /><br /><br />According to its description, Rialto Beach is covered in driftwood, and this proved to be accurate. Stacked along the high tide mark are a huge number of driftwood logs. There are numerous warnings posted describing the dangers of logs moving in the surf at high tide during storms, and it is easy to imagine being crushed under some of the monsters, many of which were obviously huge Douglas Firs when they were alive. The tangled piles of driftwood along the beach are a pretty sight, the giant logs providing shelter from the wind for many campers who have set up small tents in amongst them.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/OW2Small3.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />We had heard there were tidal pools located at ‘Hole in the Wall’, a large rock formation about a mile down the beach. It was nearly low tide, so we set out to visit them, hoping to see more sea stars and other marine life. We weren’t disappointed. Hopping around the slick rocks and dodging the spray from incoming waves, we found numerous pockets of brightly colored sea stars.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/OW2Small4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />‘Hole in the Wall’ is just that, a sizable tunnel thru a small cape jutting out into the water. The tide was still low enough where we could walk through to more tidepools on the other side. On our return, Vance and I took a short trail that looped over the top of the little cape, giving us a dramatic view of the whole beach.<br /><br />On the walk back, we passed a group of guys playing baseball using driftwood for bats and the round stones the beach was littered with for balls. It seemed to work pretty well, although we had to take extra care not to get beaned by a stray hit! It was a nice walk on a wild coast – I’d love to come back and camp on the beach in the driftwood some time.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/ShelterBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Rialto Beach is located just across the mouth of the Quileute River from the Quileute Tribal village of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Push,_Washington">La Push</a>. The Quileute have a unique language, one of only five in the world without any nasal sounds. Unlike the Makah villages, which were well kept, La Push was simply depressing. Despite a beautiful setting on the coast, the village looked like something out of a third world country. The economic situation of many tribes remains desperate, particularly small tribes like the <a href="http://www.forks-web.com/fg/quileute.htm">Quileute</a>, whose reservation at La Push is a mere one square mile. It’s hard to fault Indian tribes for all of the casinos popping up all over the west, when you see the alternative.<br /><br />Although several beaches on the La Push reservation were crowded with visitors, the Quileute have for some reason been unable to capitalize on the tourism. Needless to say, we didn’t hang around long in La Push – a very different visit than our one with their Makah neighbors to the north.<br /><br />With this we bid adieu to the Forks area... tomorrow we move to the northern edge of the Peninsula near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Angeles,_Washington">Port Angeles</a>. From there we will visit more of Olympic National Park, and take a hop across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Victoria, Canada!<br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance:</span><span> The western Olympic Peninsula is in Washington State. A peninsula is land surrounded by water on three sides. It is mainly known for scenic beauty. It’s also known for the wildlife.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/OW2Small5.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Our first stop was the Hoh Rainforest. We went to a visitor center and took a ranger led walk in the Hall Of Mosses. One unique feature is the nurse log. This kind of tree falls and other trees grow on it because it supplies nutrients. A ranger also let us feed the baby Coho salmon some bugs.<br /><br />Next we have the Sol Duc Hot Springs. Interestingly enough, it even has a swimming pool. I usually went to swim in the pool, then got back in the hot tub. After you get out you are supposed to drink lots of water because the hot water dehydrates you.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/OW2Small6.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />We got lucky to go up and see Cape Flattery before the storm. It is the most Northwest Point in the country except for Alaska and Hawaii. We even saw some Tufted Puffins in the water. Anybody remember the Newport Aquarium blog? Then we went to a salmon bake near the Makah Indian museum. The light was dim in the museum to protect the artifacts.<br /><br />The Olympic Peninsula is beautiful. I enjoyed Cape Flattery most of all. I thought I wasn't going to like the salmon, but it was really good. The Makah museum reminded me a lot of my Cherokee ancestors.<br /><br /><br />(</span></span><span><span><span style="font-size:85%;">Note: Vance is 1/64th Cherokee on his mother's side)</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest2/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/drip-drip-drip.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Drip, Drip, Drip</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/bright-ideas-in-fog.html">Bright ideas in the fog!<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-74507965962058316642007-09-23T11:43:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:28:40.397-04:00Drip, Drip, Drip<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday - Friday, Aug 9-10, 2007 </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Olympic National Park, Washington</span><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/StumpBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Denise has long desired to visit <a href="http://www.nps.gov/olym/">Olympic National Park</a> on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. The peninsula is home to the Olympic Mountain Range and the only temperate rain forest in the United States. A beautiful, remote and brooding land, the peninsula sits across from Seattle and Tacoma, bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Juan_de_Fuca">Strait of Juan de Fuca</a> to the north. The strait is the mouth of Puget Sound – although Seattle is a ‘waterfront’ town, it sits well inland from the Pacific Ocean, separated by the Olympic Peninsula.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/OlympicRangeBox.jpg" /><br /><br />While the Peninsula is only a few miles from Seattle via water, it was largely unexplored until 1889. The so called ‘<a href="http://www.olympic.national-park.com/info.htm">Press Expedition</a>’, chartered by one of Seattle’s newspapers, made the first documented crossing of the Olympic Mountains. The expedition, which was more an extended party than a mission of discovery, took several months to make a trip that today can easily be backpacked in 3 days.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/Clearcut.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />We camped for the first part of our visit to the Peninsula in <a href="http://www.forkswa.com/">Forks</a>, which claims to be the ‘Wettest town in the United States’. Forks receives around 150 inches of rain a year - some of the higher elevations in the park get over 200 inches annually! Forks is a gritty ‘resource’ town, its fortunes rising and falling with the vagaries of the lumber industry. While the town itself is in a pretty area, it is surrounded by miles of clear-cut forests, nothing left but stumps and ugly tangles of downed limbs and brush – an example of the complete rape of the land that lumber companies are unfortunately famous for.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/OW1Small1.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Olympic National Park was established largely to preserve a portion of the Olympic Peninsula from the same fate. The portions that have been preserved are unbelievably beautiful. The massive amounts of precipitation that the park receives results in mountains that are snow capped year-round, and lush, vibrant green vegetation that appears to be part of a fairy land. Combined with a dramatic Pacific coastline, the area is indeed an outdoor paradise, although a very wet one.<br /><br />The park is diverse, and our stay in Forks illustrated this. We visited a Rainforest, coastal tidepools, giant stands of driftwood on a beach, hot springs, waterfalls and a dramatic cape in the middle of an Indian Reservation.<br /><br /><h4>Hoh Rainforest</h4> <img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/HohBig.jpg" /><br />Those of you who are Star Trek fans will know of the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/archive/olym/edurain.htm">Hoh Rainforest</a>, if indirectly. At the end of the second Star Trek movie (The “Revenge of Khan”) when Spock dies, his coffin comes to rest in a newly generated forest, courtesy of the terraforming ‘Genesis Device’. This scene was filmed in the Hoh Rainforest, part of Olympic National Park.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/OW1Small2.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />You approach the rainforest alongside the Hoh River. The Hoh is lined with downed driftwood, an indication of the river’s power during periods of high waterflow (which is often, given the 200 inches of yearly rainfall the watershed can get). The water is a milky blue color, courtesy of the ‘glacier flour’ suspended in the water. The ‘flour’ is created by the grinding of glaciers high in the Olympic mtns, which grind and polish rock underneath them. The runoff collects the rock dust, which gives the creeks and rivers the distinctive aquamarine color.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/PanoramaBox.jpg" /><br /><br />The rainforest itself is incredibly lush and green. Almost everything is covered in moss, including the roof of the visitor center. We joined a ranger led walk along the ‘<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_of_Mosses">Hall of Mosses</a>’ trail. At one section, the moss covered trees and branches come together an almost cathedral like setting, leading to the name ‘Hall of Mosses’. We learned about the different trees that grow in the rainforest, including the Douglas Fir and the Western Red Cedar. The Douglas fir is called the ‘money tree’, for its huge size (exceeding 200 feet) and incredible straightness. The Red Cedar was called the ‘Tree of Life’ by the local tribes, who used the cedar in a wide variety of ways, from making canoes to making rope. The ground is covered in vegetation, including a large number of ferns. It is a beautiful and inspiring area, a literal blanket of bright green.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/OW1Small3.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />After our walk, Vance hooked up with another ranger who started to ‘feed the fish’. Catching bugs with a net, he then dropped flies and insects into the water, which were instantly gobbled up by the small Coho Salmon fry. The salmon spawn in the creek beds in the rainforest, and we could see lots of the little guys from a small bridge. Vance and several other young boys got a huge kick watching this, and started hunting for bugs and spiders on the plants to feed the salmon. Afterwards, Vance finished up his Jr. Ranger requirements for the park, and had a good discussion with the ranger about his answers.<br /><h4>Sol Duc Hot Springs<br /></h4>About once a month, the dust of the trail seems thick upon us and the weariness of the many miles on the road settles deep into our joints. When this happens, we start looking around for a set of hot springs to relax and rejuvenate in, and right on queue we find ourselves in the neighborhood of Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, in the heart of Olympic National Park.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/OW1Small4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Calling Sol Duc a resort is a bit of a stretch – it’s more in the line of a small lodge, the pool complex and a lot of small and basic cabins. The location is pretty, as well as the drive up. Located in a valley just a couple of drainages away from the Hoh Rainforest, Sol Duc is also an extremely lush area.<br /><br />We started our day with a short hike above the resort, reaching lovely Soleduck Falls. The falls are rather unique, in that there are 3 side by side cascades into a small canyon that runs perpendicular to the falls. Even in August, there is still a lot of water flowing over the falls – it’s hard to imagine how the narrow little gorge could contain the water levels from the spring melt.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/SoleduckFalls.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/OW1Small5.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Afterwards, we ‘took the waters’ at the hot springs. It made for a relaxing afternoon. At first I was a little grossed out by what seemed to be an inordinate amount of dead skin floating in the water! However, we soon saw a sign that said the particles were actually a type of harmless algae that grew in the mineral rich springs. Reassured, we settled back in for a series of long soaks. The complex wasn’t as nice as the hot springs we visited in Ouray, Colorado, but it was still a welcome respite.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OlympicWest1/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/welcome-to-washington.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Welcome to Washington</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/north-by-northwest.html">North by Northwest<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-53888057206085337102007-09-03T11:13:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:29:49.533-04:00Welcome to Washington!<img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/WelcomeWashington.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/denise.jpg" /><br /><br />North by Northwest...that’s our general direction. As we cross the mighty Columbia River we enter a new state, Washington. By now you know it’s standard and customary for us to go as the way opens and our compass is pointing to the Olympic Peninsula.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Washington/images/Annies.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />First things first, our stomachs are growling and we quickly spot a cafe in Chinook, WA called Little Ocean Annie’s – serving Fish & Chips. A quick glance reveals that Annie’s is the garden shed of a former church, turned restaurant in later years. We aren’t feeling religious at the moment, just hungry! We enjoy a delightful lunch amid other tourists and locals who frequent the establishment. Fresh seafood is abundant in this region and we’re taking every opportunity to sample the bounty of the sea. We keep urging Vance to venture forth and expand his culinary experiences, but so far he’s happy to stick with chicken strips. ;-(<br /><br />Our waitress is very personable and when we mention we’re from North Carolina and on an extended tour of the West, she wanted to know all about our travels. What a great welcome into the Evergreen State!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Washington/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007Washington/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/puffin-power.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Puffin Power</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/drip-drip-drip.html">Drip, Drip, Drip<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-11748218738803926922007-09-01T11:15:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:30:46.002-04:00Puffin Power<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, Aug. 5th - Wednesday, Aug. 8th, 2007<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Oregon Coastal Aquarium, Newport, OR</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lewis and Clark National Park, Astoria, OR</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/PuffinBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Very early into Oregon, Vance discovered a brochure for the <a href="http://www.aquarium.org/">Oregon Coast Aquarium</a> picturing a Tufted Puffin. He got <span style="font-style: italic;">'Hooked on Puffins'</span> during our visit to Maine last fall. Since then, he's been lobbying for a stop at the aquarium when we pass it on our trip up the coast. Since we'll reach Newport, Oregon about lunchtime, this proves to be an easy request to accommodate.<br /><br />It's a nice aquarium, with about half the exhibits inside and half outside. The Puffins, which Vance made a beeline for, are located in an outdoor aviary. The Tufted Puffin, unlike it's eastern cousin, has a distinctive yellow 'tuft', sorta like big, bushy yellow eyebrows. They are very cute birds, who love to show off. One little guy was constantly flapping and preening for the crowd, and they all love to dive underwater. The Puffins are excellent swimmers - like penguins, they glide for long distances underwater.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonNorth/images/ORSmall1.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Vance is rapidly taking on his mother's love for birdwatching, and was excited to see the Pigeon Guillemot, another seafaring bird he has learned about. Best of all, the aquarium had an exhibit on <a href="http://www.westernsnowyplover.org/">Western Snowy Plovers</a>, the endangered bird that we learned about on our beach nature walk outside of Eureka. Unlike our previous excursion, we got to see a Plover this time, which made Vance's day.<br /><br />It's encouraging to see Vance actively research and lobby for stops at places other than the local video game store! He's become quite good at identifying birds (with his eagle eyes he's much better at it than his parents). This has been a good birdwatching week for him - he's seen Osprey, Bald Eagles, Tufted Puffins, Snowy Plovers and Pigeon Guillemots - a pretty good haul.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/"><img style="width: 173px; height: 119px;" src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonNorth/images/ORSmall2.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" /></a>Word to the wise, if you plan to camp along the Oregon Coast during the peak summer vacation season, make your reservations for campgrounds <span style="font-style: italic;">well</span> in advance. The State and National Forest parks are beautifully scenic and affordable...and highly popular. Initially we weren't sure if we would even make it to the Pacific Northwest on this trip, so we opted to wing it. It's worked out fine so far. There's no shortage of private campgrounds. I usually try to book something a day or two ahead of time so we don't have to worry about what time we arrive. Many public campgrounds are first come, first serve so there is a strong incentive to arrive early. With reservations, we don't have to worry about the time we arrive, which fits the 'moving slow in the morning, go to bed late' lifestyle we seem to naturally drift into on the road. Today, a call ahead to the <a href="http://www.koa.com/where/or/37182/">Astoria KOA</a> lands us one of their last open spots.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonNorth/images/banana.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Our weather in Oregon has been sublime. In the Banana Belt region near Brookings there was a constant tug of war between the warm inland air currents and the fog from the Pacific Ocean. By mid morning, warm sunny skies prevailed with temperatures in the mid 60s. Along the Central coast we enjoyed even less fog, sunny days and pleasantly cool weather. Our luck is probably about to run out though. It's impractical to travel in the Pacific Northwest and not be prepared for a little rain. Indeed, as we get closer to the upper northwest corner of Oregon, the clouds start rolling in. This is a strange feeling, as we haven't seen any serious rain in months.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonNorth/images/FortClatsopBig.jpg" /><br /><br />We visited Astoria briefly during our 2003 Oregon vacation. Situated at the mouth of the Columbia River, it's an interesting seaport town with some rough edges - the economy here swings back and forth depending on the bounty of the sea and the vagaries of the seafood markets. Due to our last minute reservations, we can only spend a couple of days in Astoria before having to leave the campground (it's booked solid). After taking a day to catch up on laundry and letting Vance play with the kids running around the campground, we focused our attention on nearby <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Clatsop">Fort Clatsop</a>, part of the expansive <a href="http://www.nps.gov/lewi/">Lewis and Clark National Historic Park</a>. Fort Clatsop is one of seven sites that make up Lewis and Clark National Historic Park in the Astoria area, and there are 5 additional Oregon and Washington State Parks that are L&C related.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacajawea"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonNorth/images/ORSmall4.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" /></a>Fort Clatsop is the site of the winter quarters for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_and_Clark_Expedition">Lewis and Clark Expedition</a>, after they had reached the Pacific. By all accounts, it was a miserable stay, raining nearly every day. Today, the Park Service offers a reconstructed fort, with frequent programs lead by 'in character' docents. For example, a local history professor presented a program on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacajawea">Sacajawea</a>, the young Shoshone woman who, with her French-Canadian husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, joined the Lewis & Clarke expedition as guides. There are also a couple of excellent films documenting the expedition. The Jr. Ranger program here was top notch, and Vance received a good overview of the expedition and it's importance to the young American nation.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.clatsop-nehalem.com/"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonNorth/images/ClatsopLogo.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" /></a>The second film was extremely interesting, as it told the story of the Corps of Discovery's stay in northwest Oregon from the point of view of the local <a href="http://www.clatsop-nehalem.com/">Clatsop Tribe</a>. In the film, a contemporary member of the tribe relates the oral histories of the visit passed down by her ancestors. Needless to say, the outlook is considerably different from what one normally learns about the Expedition's visit. Although the Corps is welcomed, the Clatsop bridle at the construction of the fort on their land without permission, and feel insult at not being allowed to sleep inside the fort, despite providing lodging for Expedition members. Members of the Corps are also accused of theft on one occasion by the Clatsop. It is an uneasy relationship between the two groups.<br /><br />This is the type of education you just don't get in a classroom. Once again, we're truly thankful that we are fortunate enough to provide Vance a balanced look at the world. The more we travel, the less 'traditional' instruction I'm feeling is necessary for Vance. Other than some core subjects such as math, he is learning what he needs to learn in the 'real world classroom'. I saw a quote that I really liked about this method of homeschooling:<br /><br /><blockquote><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">"</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">I've had people tell me he won't get a good education, but he made a comment to me that now he understands the words "purple mountains majesty". He sees it every morning. He's hiked through the swamps of the Everglades and the desert southwest. So far we've been through 3 different deserts since November. He's seeing national parks, historical sites, and regional differences in culture. How are THEIR kids gonna get THAT education?</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">"</span></p><p class="last"><span style="font-size:85%;">-Vickie Swindling (<a href="http://www.familiesontheroad.com/roadschooling.html"><acronym title="Families on the Road">Families on the Road</acronym>)</a></span></p></blockquote><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonNorth/images/ORSmall3.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Fort Clatsop is a small park, but very well done. The park has 'gone green', putting a focus on energy savings. The parking lot is set well off from the visitor center and recreated fort. Guests are shuttled via bus, which runs on propane. I wish more National Parks would do this, reducing congestion on the roads.<br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance:</span><span> </span>The surprise I promised in two blogs back is at the Newport Aquarium! It’s Tufted Puffins! One puffin was hamming it up for the cameras. Another bird in the seabird aviary is the Pigeon Guillemot. The chicks are so cute! The next surprise was a Snowy Plover area. I felt lucky to see to this tiny endangered bird.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonNorth/images/ORSmall5.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />We camped near Astoria, Oregon. Just down the road is Fort Clatsop. Back in 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition made winter quarters there and named the fort after the local native American tribe. Has anybody ever heard of Sacajawea? She was a Shoshone Indian but was captured by a Hidatsa raiding party. This native American woman traveled far on the expedition with a newborn baby all the way. She also was the translator for Lewis and Clark to the other tribes.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SACAJAWEA’S SON’S NAME WAS JEAN BAPTISTE </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">CHARBONNEAU</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonNorth/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonNorth/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/central-coast.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Central oregon Coast</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/welcome-to-washington.html">Welcome to Washington<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-76086498238595180742007-08-30T23:00:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:31:59.006-04:00The Central Coast<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday, Aug 2 - Sunday, August 5, 2007<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Florence, Oregon</span><span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/sandboarddudeBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Usually Travel Days are simply a means of getting the camper from point A to point B. During our New England trip last fall, we took scenic routes a few times with the camper under tow, and lived to regret it. The additional cost in gas, and the sheer hassle of pulling a 30 foot trailer through a bunch of small towns and bad roads rapidly outweighed the scenic value of such trips. So for the most part, we’ve opted for the easiest route when we’re pulling the camper, and look for our scenic opportunities when the truck is untethered.<br /><br />Every once in a while ‘the easiest route’ and ‘the scenic route’ are one and the same. This happy state of affairs occurred on our move up the Oregon Coast. The southern Oregon coastline is nothing short of spectacular, and US Hwy 101 makes the best of it. We pulled out of Brookings with no real plan – for once, we figured we would just completely wing it and see where we wound up. As the day stretched into late afternoon, we pulled into a likely looking State Park hoping to find a campsite. Alas, it was full, but we were pointed towards a series of National Forest Campgrounds that we had passed a few miles south.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/RockyShores3.jpg" /><br /><br />We’re rapidly becoming big fans of National Forest campgrounds, at least those here out west. The campground we found, Alder Dunes outside of Florence, Oregon, was simply wonderful. The campsites are wooded, spaced far apart for privacy (a welcome change from private campgrounds), have nice fire rings that aren’t within feet of your camper and are well maintained.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/OCSmall1.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />It was a welcome respite from the ¼ mile off the interstate KOA’s that we’ve stayed in many times on this trip. For whatever reason, when we are in a National Park or National Forest campground, Vance doesn’t bemoan the lack of amenities (store, playground, etc….) that he will when camped at a private campground that doesn’t meet his exacting standards! We’ve found that if we are conservative with our use of electricity and water when ‘boondocking’ (i.e. camping without hookups), we can stretch things out 4-5 days. After that, we have full tanks and dead batteries, and it’s time to move to the next campground.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/OCSmall2.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Driving back into Florence to ‘check things out’ the first evening, what we found was another town like Brookings – a series of strip malls lining Hwy 101. Discouraged a bit in our search for a likely looking dinner option, Denise spotted a sign pointing to ‘Old Town’. There, our perception of Florence changed immediately, as we found ourselves in a charming little waterfront village, facing a dock full of fishing vessels and seafood restaurants. It’s going to be hard to go back to frozen seafood after eating all of this wonderful freshly caught stuff for the past couple of months.<br /><br /><h4>Honeyman State Park</h4>The coastline takes on a different character around Florence, as the town is surrounded by the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The dunes stretch for 40 miles from Florence to Coos Bay in the south. It’s a big area for ATVs, and also for our new favorite sport, Sandboarding!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/OCSmall3.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Yes, sandboarding – think snowboarding, but with sand. Honeyman State Park had received glowing reviews from several sources we had read, so with it just south of Florence, we decided to check it out. The park is centered around a lake, with a series of large dunes on one side. Vance wanted to try one of the paddle boats – one of those contraptions that you pedal. After a tiring hour peddling seemingly against the wind regardless of what direction we turned, we drove around the lake to watch some of the sandboarders in action.<br /><br />Too cool, we had to try it ourselves. There are multiple locations in Florence to rent the boards, so off I went. I elected to rent what I call a ‘butt board’ – slightly wider than the stand up boards (which look very similar to snowboards). Vance tends to lose confidence rapidly with things that require balancing skills, and I felt like he’d be more accepting of something that you wiped out at ground level, rather than falling down.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/ButtBoard.jpg" /><br /><br />Armed with the ‘butt board’, we climbed the big dune and gave it a try. It took a while for us to get the hang of it. First, the board requires waxing prior to each trip down. The shop gave me wax, but I was under the impression it only needed waxing at the beginning. Once I caught on (largely by watching others) that a few quick strokes prior to a slide would do the trick, we immediately started having fun. The other trick was staying on the thing. The board tended to rotate under you (basically, you sit on the back of it when sliding downhill), and at the speeds you were going, it was very difficult to stay on top of the thing. After more than a few spectacular (and sandy) wipeouts, I finally figured out that instead of holding onto the board for dear life, it worked much better to just lightly drag your fingertips in the sand on the sides. This allowed a way to steer the board, although it did make for an exciting ride down the steepest part of the dune as you bounced down without holding on!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/OCSmall4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Needless to say, we got quite a workout climbing up that dune all afternoon long. Even Denise joined in the fun, and proved to be a natural butt board rider. Vance got comfortable climbing to the top of the dune, and coming down the hill at breakneck speeds. We were a tired but happy bunch when we finally left, coated from head to toe with sand particles. This was a slight problem, as we had no shower at our campground. Fortunately, we were able to shower off at the State Park campground, so a gritty dilemma was avoided!<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><h4>Cape Perpetua</h4></span><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/OCSmall6.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Denise wanted to see tidepools. Fortunately, nearby Cape Perpetua has tidepools galore. At the base of the Cape, the rocky volcanic shoreline traps enough of the outgoing tide to provide a temporary home for numerous sea creatures. We joined a ranger led walk to the pools (provided by the Forest Service, who runs the Cape Perpetua Nature Center). After a scramble over the rocks, we were rewarded by a vast number of colorful sea stars, sea anemones, sea urchins, barnacles, mussels, etc….. The Sea Stars are particularly interesting, as they will pry apart an unfortunate mussel. Once successful, they will disgorge their stomach around the mussel to digest it, all while hanging on the side of the rocks.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/SeaAnemone.jpg" /><br /><br />To our surprise, the times of high and low tides shifted about an hour later each day. Fortunately, tide tables are readily available at most of the parks. Low tide of course is the best time to explore tidepools. One rule we learned was to never turn our backs on the ocean – every year several individuals lose their lives on the coast due to sneaker waves. Sneaker waves are large, unexpected waves that rush up on the beach, catching people off guard. You also must exercise care to avoid being trapped against the bluffs by a rising tide.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/OCSmall5.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" /><br />Just down from the tidepools was a ‘blow hole’ called the Spouting Horn. When the wave action was just right, the water pressure will cause a column of water vapor to shoot upwards, creating an ‘ocean geyser’. They can also be quite noisy. We had a great time trying to guess when the waves would create the right conditions for the spout to occur.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h4>Heceta Head Lighthouse</h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/hecetalighthousebig.jpg" /><br />If you had to pick one section of Hwy 101 as the epitome of the Oregon Coastline, the Heceta Head area would probably be it. After a long inland stretch as Hwy 101 passes through the dunes, the road dramatically returns to the coast with a climb up to Sea Lion Caves. From there a series of overlooks provide an unbelievable view of the Heceta Head Lighthouse. Not content, the road then passes through a tunnel, emerging directly onto a high, narrow bridge. All of this is surrounded by the lush evergreen forests, and plunging cliffs down to the water’s edge. It is quite a sight.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/OCSmall7.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The lighthouse is one of the most photographed landmarks on the entire Oregon Coast. We stopped in hoping to take one of the tours of the historic lighthouse. When we reached the trailhead to the lighthouse, I was discouraged to see that tours were limited to 4 people at a time. Standing next to a large parking lot full of cars, I was expecting a wait of hours. However, the steep ½ mile walk up to the lighthouse was to our advantage. Like most places, if folks have to venture too far past their cars, they won’t do it. We reached the lighthouse, and after a short 15 min wait we were in.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/Lens.jpg" /><br /><br />The tour was interesting – first, the tour size is limited because of structural weaknesses in the lighthouse staircase. The guide discussed what life was like for the lighthouse keepers and their families. We also got to see up close the 1st order Fresnel lens used to cast the light 21 miles out to sea (limited by the curvature of the earth). An interesting fact we learned was that the lights weren’t only used for indicating navigational dangers. Each lighthouse on the coast has a distinct pattern of flashes. For example, one lighthouse might be white, white, red, while another is red, white, red. By determining the angle between flashes of multiple lighthouses, a ship at sea could determine its location using simple trigonometry.<br /><br />Back at the campground, we settled in around a nice fire, and Vance happily roasted marshmallows for S’mores. We enjoyed our central coast visit so much that we extended our stay in the area for an extra day.<br /><br /><h4>Sea Lion Cave</h4><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/OCSmall8.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Sea Lion Cave is the largest sea cave in the world. It is also home to a large herd of Stellar Sea Lions. Although most of the sea lions had migrated elsewhere at the time of our visit, there were still several in the cave. The attraction offers an elevator ride down into the cave, where you can watch the sea lions and birds up close. Outside of the cave, there were more sea lions on a rock below one of the roadside vista points, and you didn’t have to pay to see them! Never-the-less, the sea cave is fun to visit, and I wanted Vance to see it, even though it can get rather crowded with tourists.<br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/OCSmall9.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance:</span><span> I enjoyed central Oregon a lot. I had the most fun at Honeyman SP. One neat activity was the paddleboat. It turned with a lever, but you peddled like a bicycle to move it. Dad and I paddled from one end of the lake to the other. It was fun, though hard.<br /><br /><br />Next we enjoyed the sport of sand boarding. Some of the boards are like snow boards and the others you sit on. Dad rented a sit down board. Even though we got sandy, we still had a huge amount of fun.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />YOU RENT THE BOARDS IN FLORENCE, THE TOWN NEAR THE PARK.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonCentral/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/tale-of-two-rivers.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>A Tale of Two Rivers</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/09/puffin-power.html">Puffin Power<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-55429208624285456682007-08-28T07:15:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:32:59.620-04:00A Tale of Two Rivers<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, July 29 - Wednesday, Aug 1, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Southern Oregon Coast</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/ChetcoRiverBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Denise has long held a fascination with Brookings, Oregon. Intrigued with the area after an Oregon vacation in 2003, she spent a fair amount of time researching the Brookings area – located in the ‘Banana Belt’, a narrow microclimate of year round warm (not hot) temperatures. Indeed, almost all of the Easter Lilies grown in the United States come from about a 12 mile region between Brookings (just across the California/Oregon line) and Smith River, California. With its reputation of wonderful weather and a resort like setting, she was hooked, at least at long distance.<br /><br />My exposure to Brookings was on the final leg of a 1990 bike ride down the southern Oregon Coast. As the final town I passed thru on a nearly 400 mile ride, it appeared as nothing more than a strip of shops along US 101. With the end of the trip just south of Brookings at the California border, it was just another town with a lot of traffic. I didn’t much care much for it.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/BOSmall5.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Thus with these two competing impressions we pulled into Brookings for a visit to the southern Oregon coastline. The crowded but well manicured campground, located next to Brookings Harbor, provided the first clue. Vance immediately noticed 1) there was no campground store (he <span style="font-style: italic;">loves</span> to go up and buy snacks at the KOA stores), and 2) everyone camping there other than us was quite a bit older. In fact, Brookings is a retirement town, for much the reasons that appealed to Denise via her internet research on the area.<br /><br />While we never warmed up to Brookings itself, we rapidly came to appreciate the surrounding area. <a href="http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_79.php">Harris Beach State Park</a>, just north of the city, provided a spectacular setting for sunsets, and a great introduction to the dramatic scenery that the Oregon coastline is so rightly famous for. However, although we thought this stop would be about the coast, we were in for a surprise, like we often are when we pull into a stop without any preset plans.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/PanoramaBox.jpg" /><br /><br />‘Travel Days’, as we call them, have developed their own rituals. After setting up and packing the camper dozens of times on this and other trips, Denise, Vance and I each have our own tasks and methodologies for preparing the camper to move. I largely concentrate on the outside, dealing with the mechanics of disconnecting the camper from utilities and hooking up to the truck. For Denise, Travel Day is Cleaning Day – it doesn’t take long for the interior of the camper to become rather unruly. So every 4-5 days she makes a clean sweep, so to speak.<br /><br />A ‘Travel Day’ tradition - if we get into our next campsite early enough, we like to ‘check things out’. Because we don't do a lot of prior 'planning' before pulling into a new area, an afternoon spent 'getting the lay of the land' can really be helpful. If visiting a National Park, this usually means a visit to a visitor center. There we usually pick up the park’s <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/10/jr-ranger.html">Jr. Ranger program</a> for Vance to start working on, look into hiking trails, ranger programs, and sights to see. If not visiting a park, we’ll just drive around to get a feel for the place.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/BOSmall4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />In Brookings, a spur of the moment decision to ‘check out’ nearby Loeb State Park turned our stay from a ‘coastal’ to a ‘river’ visit. We had heard a reference to the ‘river bars’, and at Loeb SP we figured out what this meant. The banks of the Chetco River (<span style="font-style: italic;">whose mouth is at Brookings Harbor</span>) were lined with small gravel stones, forming a series of bars, substantial enough for cars to drive on. A large number of people lined the shores of the cool, clear river, swimming, sunning, and generally having a good time. Fortunately, we had Vance’s bathing suit in the truck, and he gleefully joined in the fun.<br /><br />Denise noticed a couple coming down the river in a set of plastic kayaks, and when they pulled into shore she asked them about kayaking the river. They had rented the kayaks at a local outfitter. Suddenly, tomorrow had a plan. Denise agreed to shuttle Vance and I up the Chetco and pick us up at the state park, a float of about 5 miles.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/BOSmall1.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />It was a great trip. Vance rapidly became comfortable with maneuvering the kayak, and the river was shallow enough that we didn’t have to worry about any serious rapids. Mostly, we paddled thru a series of deep, crystal clear pools, lined with the seemingly never ending gravel bars. We stopped a couple of times at particularly inviting pools for a snack and a swim. Occasionally we would have to get out and pull the kayaks over a particularly shallow spot, and later in the afternoon we had to fight the strong wind blowing in from the coast. At the end, a dog waded out to greet us, and Denise was waiting (camera in hand) to record the end of our river voyage for posterity.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/HarrisBeach.jpg" /><br />After an enjoyable sunset experience at spectacular Harris Beach State Park, Vance and I set out the next morning for the Rogue River, 30 miles north at Gold Beach, OR. The Rogue is well known for its Jet Boat tours. The 80 mile boat trip takes you up the winding Rogue River at high speed. The trip is a load of fun, with the boat skimming up shallow rapids that at first glance you think a motorboat has no right to go up. Our pilot had been making the trip for 20 years, and as such, cut corners and slid by rocks very tight, adding to the thrill.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/BOSmall3.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The Rogue is a National Wild and Scenic River for much of its length, and along the journey we saw plenty of wildlife. A highlight was spotting multiple bald eagles in the trees, along with one that swooped down and snagged a trout right in front of the boat. We also saw a family of otters, and an assortment of herons, ducks, deer and other wild critters. For lunch, we were dropped on shore at the charming Lucas Lodge, where we had a large family style feast.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/BOSmall6.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />The ‘<a href="http://www.mailboats.com/index.cfm">Mail Boat</a>’ company that offered our tour literally started our delivering the US Mail on the Rogue to several lumber camps along the river. Today, there are two companies offering the Jet Boat tours. Every few minutes one of the powerful (Three engines with 350 horsepower each) boats can be seen zooming up or downstream, swerving at the last minute to miss colliding with the upstream boat. Another favorite trick is to rapidly cut the power while making a hard turn, throwing the boat into a dizzying 360 degree spin. This maneuver usually resulted in a large wave of water splashing into the boat, drenching the passengers. I learned rapidly to keep the camera under wraps whenever we approached a wide spot in the river!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/OregonCoast.jpg" /><br /><br />After a couple of days spent on the local rivers, it was time to see the coast. Most of the Oregon Coastline is preserved in a string of State Parks and National Forests. The coastline can only be described as wild – the mountains come right up to the oceanfront, providing a setting of soaring cliffs and sea stacks everywhere you look. We spent a great day driving up the coast, stopping wherever our fancy struck. The coastline provides an embarrassment of scenic riches – it is almost overwhelming.<br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/BOSmall8.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span><span>We didn’t stay in the campground a lot in Brookings. There was no store, no game room or anything for kids. In fact, it was really a retirement campground. So, being active outdoors is what we did.<br /><br />Mostly Dad and I were the boat men. We took a four hour kayaking trip from a national forest to a state park. It was a very good experience. I learned to paddle and turn the kayak.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/BOSmall7.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />On our last day, we experienced a white water jetboat run. The captain threw fish out and Bald Eagles swooped down to grab the food. When we were just a little bit away from the dinner lodges, some River Otters showed up as if they were saying, “howdy”. I was soaked by time the ride was over. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />THIS WAS PROBABLY THE MOST BORING CAMPGROUND IN THE ENTIRE TRIP!!<br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/Aug2007OregonSouth/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a></span></span><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/spectacular-oregon-coastline.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Welcome to Oregon</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/central-coast.html">Central oregon Coast<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-21513628719208924362007-08-27T18:57:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:34:07.726-04:00The Spectacular Oregon Coastline!<img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/oregon.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/denise.jpg" /><br />As we near the Oregon border the coastline becomes visually dramatic. Traveling north on Highway 101 our drive takes us through the beautiful coastal Redwood forests. The Pacific Ocean dominates our view to the left and large rocks can be seen in the surf. Cross over the state line and be prepared for a seemingly endless supply of State Parks and National Forests. Here’s the best part…..many of them have campgrounds. Way back in 1913, Governor Oswald West began promoting the idea of public access to Oregon's coast. His vision was later secured when Governor Tom McCall lead the passage of the Oregon Beach Bill. Where else in the contiguous United States can you find 363 miles of scenic oceanfront property minus <span style="font-style: italic;">No Trespassing</span> signs to prohibit your access? <span style="font-style: italic;">All beaches in Oregon are free and open to the public!</span><br /><br />Travel along with us as we enjoy the rugged beauty of Oregon's rocky shores. This is a perfect point for diving into the Pacific Northwest. You may opt to show up sans your bikini <span style="font-style: italic;">(cold</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">water wetsuits are a fashion statement in this region)</span>. Just be sure to bring a light weight jacket. We're keeping our fingers crossed for sunny skies and daily temperatures in the mid 60s to low 70s. Ideal conditions for a little beachcombing.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/oregonCoast.jpg" /><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/hasta-la-vista-baby.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Hasta la Vista, Baby!</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/tale-of-two-rivers.html">A Tale of Two Rivers<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-68793260877012537842007-08-26T13:07:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:35:09.017-04:00Hasta La Vista, Baby!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday, July 26th - Saturday, July 28th, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Eureka, California</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/eurekabig.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/denise.jpg" /><br />We're back to the cool temperatures of coastal Northern California. This time it's the extreme northern terminus of an area in the state known as the 'Lost Coast'. Don't get too excited, for the most part it has been discovered. However, culturally speaking, it feels like we've entered a new state. There's a hard, gritty edge to this area. As one downtown shop owner explained to me, "Eureka can't make up its mind what it wants to be.....an old logging and fishing town or a tourist destination with some high tech influx". The indecision is evident as you stroll about the historic district. A curious mix of the ragged fringes and the newly gentrified areas stand in sharp contrast to one another.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/images/HotelVance.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/images/ERSmall1.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />A delightful discovery was the historic <a href="http://www.humboldt.k12.ca.us/sobay_sd/pinehill/studentwork/gate/local_history/john_vance.htm">Hotel Vance</a>! Of course, we had to snap some pictures and have lunch downstairs in the lobby area. Today, the hotel no longer caters to guests...it's an office and retail complex. Down the street, is my favorite shop, the original <a href="ttp://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/index.jsp">Restoration Hardware</a>. It is housed in a beautifully restored Victorian and I love, love, love their stuff.<br /><br />Speaking of Victorian architecture, it abounds in this area and the cute little town of <a href="http://www.victorianferndale.org/chamber/">Ferndale</a> is a must see when visiting this region. The wood to build these charming houses was once readily available from the abundant groves of the Coastal Redwoods. In this century, the redwoods faced near-extinction by logging. Today, only 100,000 acres of old-growth redwoods remain. That's a mere 5 percent of the forests of a century ago. What remains of these giant trees helps to drive the tourist industry in this region. During our 2003 Oregon vacation we took a detour into northern CA to visit the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/redw/">Redwoods National Park</a>. This time we decided to visit <span style="font-style: italic;">Avenue of the Giants</span> in <a href="http://www.humboldtredwoods.org/">Humboldt Redwoods State Park</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/images/ERSmall2.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />I love to stroll in the protected primeval forests of this region, amid the tall giants and beneath the shadow of their towering canopy. Unlike the arid Sequoia forests, these groves are bathed in misty fog from the Pacific Ocean. Moist, lush ferns and moss blanket the forest floor. Flowering rhododendrons are found in the northern groves of Redwoods National Park. The setting is peaceful and serene. The urge to slow down and become part of something ancient is irresistible.<br /><br />Our interest in the coastal ecology prompted us to join a county sponsored nature walk with a local biologist on Clam Beach, just north of Eureka. In addition to learning about the plant and wildlife amid the sand dunes, we were primarily on the lookout for the endangered <a href="http://www.westernsnowyplover.org/">Western Snowy Plover</a>.<br /><br /><div style="border: 2px none black; text-align: center;"><img style="margin: 0px;" src="http://www.westernsnowyplover.org/images/home_feature.jpg" alt="Plover father brooding" title="Plover father brooding" border="1" height="304" width="460" /><br /><br /><embed style="width: 400px; height: 326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-5702434296419929823&hl=en" flashvars=""></embed><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">View a really cute 11 minute movie for kids about sharing the beach with plovers.</span><br /><br /></span></div><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/images/ERSmall4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />While the Plover proved to be elusive, it wasn't hard to see why they're endangered. Motorists are allowed to drive along the beach, but they're supposed to stay off the dunes. Human behavior being what it is, people don't always follow the rules. One of the truck drivers proceeded to wreck havoc on the dunes much to the dismay of our biologist guide. This display of reckless behavior prompted her to give us a talk on why it's important to protect the natural habitat and nesting areas of seabirds and other marine life. Too bad she was preaching to the choir! The person who needed educating was busy cutting donuts and free wheeling with complete abandon amid the dunes.<br /><br />There you have it.....the age old conflict between those who feel it is their God given right to do what they desire with the land and the environmentalists who strive to protect it. This is a battle we often see played out in the region we call home...the western mountains of North Carolina.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/images/trinidad.jpg" /><br /><br />A short drive up the coast brought us to the quaint little village of Trinidad. A memorial lighthouse overlooking the harbor provides a stunning setting for photographs. The beach is accessible via a steep trail and once there you can spot numerous seals lounging on the rocks. We had eaten at the Seascape restaurant that sits above the pier on our 2003 vacation and it seemed appropriate to have dinner there this time around.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/images/ERSmall3.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Speaking of grabbing a bite to eat, when Mark heard that an old logger's cookhouse was now a restaurant it became a destination unto itself. The combination of history and something to eat is a combo that appeals to my husband. It's easy to imagine the historic Somoa Cookhouse full of hungry loggers with Paul Bunyon size appetites. Apparently, Somoa was one of the last company owned towns in the United States, owned by The Vance Lumber Company.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/images/terminatorSmall.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Mark and I knew we would need a hard push to send us packing out of California. We joked with Vance that if we didn't move to another state soon, Governor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Schwarzenegger" title="Arnold Schwarzenegger">Arnold Schwarzenegger</a> might call and order us to leave. Even though Vance is much too young to have seen the Terminator, he knows all about Arnold. Eureka proved to be the impetus in nudging us northward. A few days of being socked in with gray fog factored into the equation. That's the beauty of camping without a set itinerary, if the area and the weather is not to our liking....we just load up and move!<p></p><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span>Eureka was near where we had visited when I was seven years old. Eureka seemed a lot more interesting than it looked . It has a restaurant called the Hotel Vance. Obviously, we ate at the hotel. After we ate, Dad and I went down to the waterfront. According to a sign, there are otters in the water but we didn’t see them.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/images/ERSmall5.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />While we were around the area, we went to Humboldt Redwood State Park. There are some very large trees there. We visited a small museum and watched a video a about a big flood in 1964. It destroyed a huge amount of highway roads. Later Mom and Dad and I took a walk in Rockefeller Grove with some stupendous trees.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/images/ERSmall7.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" /><br /><br />Near our last day, we stopped by Clam Beach for a birding walk. It was mainly about the endangered Western Snowy Plover. Scientists used to put the Plover nests in iron cages to protect the eggs, but the predators of this tiny bird outsmarted us humans.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">IN THE NEXT FEW BLOGS, THERE WILL BE A BIG SURPRISE! STAY TUNED! </span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Eureka/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a></span></span><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/ishi-in-two-worlds.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Ishi In Two Worlds</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/spectacular-oregon-coastline.html">Welcome to Oregon<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-88456717512945997052007-08-26T02:43:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:36:04.482-04:00Ishi in Two Worlds<img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/denise.jpg" /><br />Traveling in this manner affords us numerous opportunities to read and learn about the history of a region and its people. Thanks to the <a href="http://www.lassenloomis.info/">Loomis Museum</a> in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/lavo/">Lassen Volcanic National Park</a>, Vance was the first among us to learn of an extraordinary person named Ishi. We came upon Ishi again in the Visitors Center’s bookstore in <a href="http://www.humboldtredwoods.org/">Humboldt Redwoods State Park</a> (aka The Avenue of the Giants). There we purchased the highly recommended book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ishi-Two-Worlds-Biography-America/dp/0520240375/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6306734-9767203?ie=UTF8&s=books&amp;amp;amp;qid=1188110511&sr=8-1">Ishi In Two Worlds</a>.<br /><br />Allow me to give you a point of reference:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ishi-Two-Worlds-Biography-America/dp/0520240375/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6306734-9767203?ie=UTF8&s=books&amp;qid=1188110511&sr=8-1"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/ishiBook.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Imagine for a moment, that you’re all alone in your community. Your world happens to be a very primitive environment compared to the highly advanced industrial world that exists just beyond the boundaries of your concealed territory. All your friends and relatives have either died or disappeared. You are a lone survivor. Taking a huge risk, you fearfully step out of the Stone Age into the 20th century on the verge of exhaustion and starvation. Does this sound improbable? It is a fascinating and true story. The year was 1911 and the man became known as Ishi. He was the last of the Yahi tribe who lived, hunted and gathered food in a region south of Mount Lassen.</span><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/ishi1914.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />For those of you who are interested in the Native people of our country and their culture, this is a compelling book. It is also very informative on the westward expansion by white settlers in the California territory…..the great migration that ultimately led to the annihilation of Ishi’s people. I was amazed that Ishi could muster the courage and stamina to rise above his own personal tragedy. It is a powerful and moving story.<br /><br />Perhaps you too will discover,<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Howsoever one touches on Ishi, the touch rewards.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> It illuminates the way.</span></span><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/ring-of-fire.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>The Ring of Fire</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/hasta-la-vista-baby.html">Hasta la Vista, Baby!<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-40296464330126319812007-08-13T02:18:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:37:05.891-04:00The Ring of Fire<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, July 22 - Tuesday, July 24, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lassen Volcanic </span><span style="font-style: italic;">National </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Park, California</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/lassenbig.jpg" /><br />I love going to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/lavo/">Lassen Volcanic National Park</a>. It was a trip I made often while living in California, and I liked it enough to bring Denise here on our very first camping trip together. A lot of people have never heard of Lassen, but until Mt. St. Helens erupted, Lassen Peak was the last volcano in the lower 48 states to erupt. Between 1915 - 1917 this Northern California volcano erupted multiple times. Several of the eruptions were photographed by B.F. Loomis, whose photographs created a sensation when published. Already a national monument when it erupted, Lassen was rapidly ‘promoted’ to a National Park in 1916, largely due to Loomis’s photos.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/LPSmall1.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Benjamin Loomis studied Lassen Peak and the surrounding volcanoes for much of his life – his home is now used as a ranger station, and he built the Loomis Museum in 1927. The museum is used at Lassen, serving as the visitor center for the northern entrance to the park. Loomis also built a seismograph that is still in operation, located just outside the museum.<br /><br />Lassen Peak is part of the famous 'Ring of Fire', a line of volcanic activity that circles the Pacific Oceans. In the U.S., Lassen is joined by (<span style="font-style: italic;">not a complete list</span>) Mt. Shasta, Mt. Ranier, Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams, Mt. Baker, Crater Lake and of course Mt. St Helens. Lassen Peak occupies an interesting geologic site, anchoring the southern end of the Cascade mountain range, and almost due east of Cape Mendiceno, sort of a triple junction of tectonic plates. This results in a lot of seismic activity in the area.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">From Wikipedia:</span><br /><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">The Cape Mendocino region of California's north coast is one of the most seismically active regions in the "Lower Forty-eight" United States.....Just offshore of Cape Mendocino, there is an unstable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_junction" title="Triple junction">triple junction</a> where three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tectonic_plates" title="Tectonic plates">tectonic plates</a> come together. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Andreas_Fault" title="San Andreas Fault">San Andreas Fault</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transform_boundary" title="Transform boundary">transform boundary</a>, runs south from the junction, separating the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Plate" title="Pacific Plate">Pacific Plate</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Plate" title="North American Plate">North American Plate</a>. To the north lies the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_subduction_zone" title="Cascadia subduction zone">Cascadia subduction zone</a>, where the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorda_Plate" title="Gorda Plate">Gorda Plate</a> is being subducted under the margin of the North American plate. Running west from the triple junction is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendocino_Fracture_Zone" title="Mendocino Fracture Zone">Mendocino Fracture Zone</a>, the transform boundary between the Gorda Plate and the Pacific Plate.</p>Where you have this kind of potential for the old shake, rattle and roll, volcanic activity is probably nearby.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/LPSmall2.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Although the park is largely about volcanos, it is a surprisingly lush and beautiful setting. It is a great park for hiking, and it is far enough north that you start to see the Douglas Firs and Spruce that you tend to associate with the Pacific Northwest. The northeast side of Lassen was devastated in a huge mudslide during the eruptions. The area is recovering – in the 15+ years it has been since I last visited Lassen, the vegetation in this area has grown considerably.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/BeforeAfter.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/LPSmall3.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />We had two goals in mind when we reached the park for a 3 day stay – first, to visit the ‘Bumpass Hell’ area, containing hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles. I also wanted us to hike to the top of Lassen Peak. Knowing I had a day to spare, I gleefully settled down to read the latest (and last) of the Harry Potter novels, and we took the first day ‘off’. We call these Zero Days, in honor of ‘Zero’, an Appalachian Trail thru hiker whose blog Denise has been reading avidly. Whenever he gets really tired, he gives himself a ‘Zero’ day to recover. So I settled in and read the day away, in the lovely and cool California weather.<br /><br />Ignore ‘strike while the iron’s hot’ at your peril…..<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/LPSmall4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Our trip to ‘hell’ and back went great. Bumpass Hell can best be described as a miniature Yellowstone. For starters, it smells bad – really bad. After a beautiful hike, passing blooming fields of lupine and large boulder fields, you reach the geothermal area. From the overlook, you see a large area of steam vents and bubbling substances.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><br />Double, double toil and trouble;<br />Fire burn, and caldron bubble.</span><br /><br />Bumpass Hell is named after Kendall Bumpass, a cowboy and guide. While leading a set of journalists through the area, he fell through the crust, resulting the amputation of his leg. Today, we stay safely on the boardwalks, marveling at the bravery (or stupidity) of those who risked the hot boiling cauldrons for a better view. There are no geysers at Bumpass Hell, but there is plenty else to look at. It’s a hissing, gurgling and blurping kind of hell, enough to keep you awake at nights imagining it.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/BumpassHellBig.jpg" /><br /><br />On the hike back to the car, I pointed out to Vance our intended destination – the top of Lassen Peak. He was less than enthusiastic about the hike. He’s funny – he’ll moan and groan about the hiking, but he always enjoys them. Towards the end of the hikes, when you think he’d be getting tired, he gets a burst of energy and wants to take off. Go figure….but in fairness, he’s done a lot of hiking on this trip, and hangs in there pretty good.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/LPSmall5.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />We started our final day at Lassen with a, what else, ranger program. In this case it was a program on ‘A 400 year old (dead) tree’. This was quite a production, put on by longtime Lassen Ranger Kathy Carlise. Wearing a ‘tree suit’, the tree slowly becomes home to bacteria, fungi, owls, beetles, and a whole host of other critters who use the tree for shelter and nutrients. Members of the audience were all given a picture of the organism in question to stick on the tree at the appropriate time. For a dead tree, it was a rather energetic performance, and one we aren’t likely to soon forget!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Air-Account-Catastrophe-Yosemites/dp/1580801420/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6306734-9767203?ie=UTF8&s=books&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;qid=1186988620&sr=8-1"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/LPSmall6.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" /></a>About this time big black clouds started gathering around the peak. Denise had just finished ‘<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Air-Account-Catastrophe-Yosemites/dp/1580801420/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6306734-9767203?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186988620&sr=8-1">Shattered Air</a>’, a story of a lightning strike on Yosemite’ Half Dome that killed and maimed several hikers in 1985. The book is full of interesting information on all the various ways lightning can zap you, which rather gave us the willies when thinking back to our adventure in Guadalupe Mtns National Park (where we were caught in a hailstorm). In any case, the book stressed the importance of not being caught on an exposed mountaintop in a storm. After reading that book, we were in no mood to tempt fate, so we called off our afternoon hike. Bummer…..About the time we got back to the campground (a really nice KOA, one of our favorites), the weather cleared back up again. Urgggghh!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/LPSmall7.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Hoping to stay another day, we checked with the campground to see if we could extend our visit. Unfortunately, the campground was booked. We considered trying to move up to the park in one of the first come first serve campgrounds, but the next morning I woke up with the familiar and unwelcome ‘twinge’ in my foot that announces that my crazy foot pains were about to start up. So we bagged the idea again. I hated it – I’ve hiked the peak several times, and it offers great views of Mt. Shasta, and the crater itself is rather interesting<br /><br />Moral of the story….don’t spend a nice, cloudless day reading Harry Potter!<br /><br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span><span>Lassen Volcanic NP is in a seismic circle called the Pacific Ring of Fire. It is known for Lassen Peak’s chain eruptions from 1914 to 1921. It is also known for its many volcanic formations. Lassen Peak is an example of a plug dome volcano where its own magma has sealed the eruption spout.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007lassen/images/BumpassHellVance.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />One hydrothermal section is called Bumpass Hell. A man named Kendall Vanhook Bumpass lost a leg when he fell through to the boiling water below. These pools are naturally heated to over 200 degrees. If you go there, it smells like rotten eggs. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />I IMAGINE SOMBODY GOING DOWN THE TRAIL AND SEEING THE SPRINGS AND YELLING, “OH MY GOSH KIDS, IT’S HELL!!!!<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Lassen/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Lassen/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/hetch-hetchy.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Hetch Hetchy</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/ishi-in-two-worlds.html">Ishi In Two Worlds<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-26793380388113897432007-08-12T10:12:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:38:02.807-04:00Hetch Hetchy<span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, July 20, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Yosemite National Park </span><br /><br />Ever wonder what Yosemite Valley would look like dammed up?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/hetchHetchyBig.jpg" /><br /><br />If not for the efforts of John Muir, Ansel Adams and the fledgling Sierra Club, it might have happened. Seems unlikely? Consider the fate of the Hetch Hetchy Valley, also located in Yosemite National Park. Hetch Hetchy was dammed in 1922 by the City of San Francisco after a long, bitter battle, one of the first major environmental fights to occur in the US.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007hetchhetchy/images/HHSmall4.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Hetch Hetchy is a virtual twin of next door Yosemite Valley. The glacier formed valley features the same high soaring granite walls, with several huge waterfalls plunging over the edges. In a move that what seem inconceivable today, San Francisco set its sights around the turn of the century on damming the valley to ensure a reliable water and hydroelectric power source for the rapidly growing city. The National Park concept was new enough that the idea of building a lake in the middle of Yosemite National Park wasn’t automatically rejected out of hand.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Battle-over-Hetch-Hetchy-Environmentalism/dp/0195313097/ref=sr_1_1/002-6306734-9767203?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186761725&sr=8-1"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007hetchhetchy/images/book.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" /></a> The battle over Hetch Hetchy Valley was the first on a national scale concerning balance between environmental preservation and development to benefit large numbers of people. Although the story (aptly told in ‘<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Battle-over-Hetch-Hetchy-Environmentalism/dp/0195313097/ref=sr_1_1/002-6306734-9767203?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186761725&sr=8-1">The Battle over Hetch Hetchy’</a>, by Robert Righter) has plenty of goats and heroes, it’s hard even from the perspective of 90 years later to determine straightforward right or wrong in the decision to dam the valley.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">These temple destroyers, devotees of ravaging commercialism, seem to have a perfect contempt for Nature, and, instead of lifting their eyes to the God of the mountains, lift them to the Almighty Dollar…….Dam Hetch Hetchy! As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man.</span></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:85%;" ><br /><br />- John Muir</span><br /><br />When I lived in San Francisco, I was completely unaware of Hetch Hetchy’s existence until some friends took me on a side trip to see it following a weekend stay in Yosemite. After driving down a really bad road for what seemed like hours (it’s only 16 miles!), we reached the site of the lake. I was astounded – when the lake is full, it’s a beautiful sight (indeed, one of the pro-development arguments was how pretty the setting would still be with the lake in place). Several waterfalls can be seen from the top of the dam, and after walking through a tunnel, a trail extended around portions of the lake. Intrigued by the visit and the huge dam in the middle of a national park, I began to learn about the story of the beautiful valley that is no more.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007hetchhetchy/images/panorama.jpg" /><br /><br />Today, the Park Service has improved the road and facilities considerably, opening up Hetch Hetchy to the general public. Ironically, it took nearly 90 years before the Park Service inadvertently provided on a small scale what the proponents of the dam envisioned – development of Hetch Hetchy Lake as a tourist attraction. No one is allowed to boat or swim in the lake (it is San Francisco’s water supply), but the views are stupendous. There are signs all over the place with information about the valley, the struggle over building the dam, and touting the joint management practices of the area between San Francisco and the Park Service.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007HetchHetchy/images/hetchHetchyOld.jpg" /><br /><br />This feel good signage is a bit humorous, because relations between the city and the park have traditionally been frosty at best. Not only was Yosemite ‘invaded’ by the city to build the lake from the Park Service's perspective, at one point San Francisco tried to claim management of the entire Tuolumne River watershed! This is a huge area covering over 1/3 of Yosemite National Park itself. Most of the Tuolumne Meadows/ Tioga Pass section of the park are in the area that San Francisco attempted to claim. The justification given was that the city needed to protect the watershed from human impact. San Francisco wanted to ban <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">all </span>human activity in the area in question. Needless to say, this didn’t go over very well with the National Park Service, who managed to hang onto management of their own park in the long run.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007hetchhetchy/images/HHSmall3.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The story of Hetch Hetchy is a valuable one which we wanted Vance and Ella to learn. Their Yosemite Junior Ranger programs had an activity on Hetch Hetchy, which piqued their interest. We also attended a performance of the excellent one man show, ‘Conversations with a Tramp’ performed by Lee Stetson at the Yosemite Theater.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007hetchhetchy/images/HHSmall2.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />The show is about an ailing 75 year old John Muir at his home, awaiting news of a hoped for presidential veto of the Raker Act, the congressional law that authorized the Hetch Hetchy project. During the wait over the long evening, Muir relates numerous stories of his childhood and life – his stern, Scottish upbringing, wild adventures exploring the High Sierra, and camping trips with Teddy Roosevelt in Yosemite.<br /><br />Intermingled with these stories is a continued rant against the development of Hetch Hetchy and the need for protection for environmental resources. At the end of the first act, Muir receives word that Woodrow Wilson did sign the bill, sending Muir into despondency at the final end of a 20 year battle. The second act is a ‘call to arms’, encouraging his guests (the audience) to not give up hope, but to continue to fight for preservation, sticking up for the ‘plant people’.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007HetchHetchy/images/hetchHetchy1890.jpg" /><br />Popular legend is that Muir died of heartbreak shortly after losing the Hetch Hetchy fight. In reality he was already a very sick man, although the strain of the fight and the ultimate loss couldn’t have helped him any. All was not for naught, however – the political lessons learned from the Hetch Hetchy fight have been successfully used since then by environmental groups, successfully stopping 2 proposed dams in the Grand Canyon. There is still talk about removing the O’Shaughnessy Dam floating around, a proposal backed at one point by Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of the Interior, of all people.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007hetchhetchy/images/HHSmall5.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />On our return visit to Yosemite we finally made it to Hetch Hetchy. As described above, the facilities were considerably improved from my previous visits. Having absorbed the lessons imparted by ‘John Muir’ well, Vance was full of righteous indignation about the dam and the lake. Here, I thought, is a prime opportunity to demonstrate that things aren’t as clear cut as they may seem.<br /><br />For many, many people, developing Hetch Hetchy was a wonderful thing, bringing benefits to millions. Interestly enough, at the same time Vance was complaining about the dam, another parent was proudly telling her children that '<span style="font-style: italic;">this is where our water comes from!</span>" I pointed out to Vance that he had been drinking, swimming and showering in Hetch Hetchy water for the past three weeks. But for our budding young conservationist, it wasn’t a convincing argument – the dam shouldn’t have been built. I’m going to have to keep working on that ‘see both sides of the argument’ concept, I see….<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007hetchhetchy/images/HHSmall6.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The truth of the matter is there were other sources for water for San Francisco at the time, although they were without the huge hydroelectric potential that Hetch Hetchy provided. Building the Hetch Hetchy system was a massive undertaking for the city, which almost bankrupted it on several occasions. A huge problem arose with the sale of electrical power generated by the project – San Francisco didn’t own the power system in the city (PG&E), but was prevented by law from selling it to a non-public utility (one of the concessions the city had to agree to lining up votes in congress). This sticking point went all the way to the Supreme Court, and at one point the federal government notified San Francisco that the project was being federalized due to San Fran's failure to sell the power by terms of the Raker Act. Fortunately from San Francisco's perspective WWII intervined, and they were able to hang onto Hetch Hetchy. Today, power sales add millions of dollars to the city budget, and Hetchy Hetch power is used to power San Francisco’s transit system (MUNI), including turning the cables for the Cable Cars!<br /><h4>Tuolumne Meadows/Tioga Pass</h4><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007hetchhetchy/images/HHSmall7.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Following our visit to Hetch Hetchy, we took a beautiful drive up the Tioga Pass road. This road crosses the high backcountry section of the park, including the Tuolumne Meadows area. It’s a very different feel from Yosemite Valley. In the High Sierra, you are surrounded by soaring granite peaks, sub-alpine lakes and meadows. The area is snowbound for a good portion of the year – only in mid-late summer does it completly melt off (and the waterfalls in Yosemite Valley dry up!)<br /><br />Shortly after we met, Denise and I camped at the Yosemite Creek campground in this section of the park. While there, we took a wonderful 12 mile round trip hike along Yosemite Creek, right to the lip of Yosemite Falls! It’s one thing to see the falls from below on the valley floor; it’s something altogether different to see it from the top. After Denise hung thru this hike, I pretty well decided I had to keep her ;-)<br /><br />Tuolumne Meadows is beautiful, full of hiking opportunities and overlooks. However today was simply a driving and viewing day. Hopefully we can come back again and devote more time to this section of the park. It deserves a full stay – the views are simply amazing.<br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note: </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Several weeks later as I write this post, Vance is still worked up about Hetch Hetchy. This is the first time since we started the blog that he's asked to read my post prior to writing his viewpoint</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">We had to ask him to please tone down what he really wanted to say ! - </span>Mark</span><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007hetchhetchy/images/HHSmallX.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">As Dad’s blog says, I am in agony over the Hetch Hetchy dam. It destroyed a beautiful section of park land! Okay, I’ve got to say I’m with John Muir about this. John Muir was a great man of wilderness conservation. After the Hetch Hetchy dam battle was lost, legend goes poor old John died of heart break a year later.<br /><br />I love the wilderness in almost all of its natural ways. I love animals, I’m disgusted by litter and am amazed by natural formations. Well, you could help, and maybe one day, a new water source will appear so Hetch Hetchy will not be needed anymore.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />MAKE YOUR OWN OPINION AND SEE WHAT IT CAN DO!<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">P.S. </span> </span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">After we posted this article, Vance received the following feedback by email from the Restore Hetch Hetchy organization!</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Geneva;font-size:85%;" > Hello Tyson Family ---- Vance, you are right. It was and still is a travesty that Hetch Hetchy Valley was flooded for the selfish interests in San Francisco, when there were other alternatives. There are still other alternatives.<br /><br />I'm current board chair of Restore Hetch Hetchy and I'm copying Ron Good our Executive Director who should be returning just about now from a backpacking trip in Montana with Bob Righter, the author of the book mentioned in your Hetch Hetchy blog entry.<br /><br />Please visit our organization's website at <a href="http://hetchhetchy.org/" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">hetchhetchy.org</a> and please feel free to email Ron or me with any questions. With enough young Vances out there we will succeed in restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley to its natural splendor. My generation owes it to Vance's generation.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Jerry Cadagan<br />13225 Sylva Lane<br />Sonora CA 95370<br />209-536-9278</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007HetchHetchy/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007HetchHetchy/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/stairway-to-heaven.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Stairway to Heaven</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/ring-of-fire.html">The Ring of Fire<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-81722051321181689782007-08-11T23:30:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:38:55.120-04:00Stairway to Heaven<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday, July 19, 2007<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Nevada Falls - Yosemite National Park</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/NevadaFalls.jpg" /><br /><br />Why are we back at Yosemite? Good question... after a couple of wonderful weeks spent in the Bay Area, we find ourselves once again camping outside Yosemite National Park. As much as we like it here, we would have preferred to not visit twice, but this time we are on a mission.<br /><br />My father's will specified his desire for a portion of his ashes to be scattered from the top of Nevada Falls at Yosemite. We had envisioned honoring his request on our first visit to Yosemite. However, when push came to shove , it just didn't work out. Nevada Falls is a tough hike, from both an elevation gain and footing standpoint. California in general was experiencing a heat wave while we were previously at Yosemite, with temperatures peaking near 100.<br /><br />Given these factors, we felt that attempting the hike with a couple of hot, tired children was not a recipe for success. I knew I could probably sit down with Vance and explain this was something that was important to Grandaddy and us as a family, and he'd most likely pull thru. However the situation was different with Ella, who hasn't been hiking for the past few months getting ready for this. Rather than risk ruining what should be a solemn but happy occasion, Denise and I decided to return to Yosemite after Ella'a visit with us was over.<br /><br />As it turned out, this was the right decision. The weather turned much milder, with temperatures in the 80's. I also had time to have a discussion with Vance about why it was important to me that he give his best effort on the hike. As it was, he came through with flying colors - I know Daddy would have been extremely proud of him. The Mist Trail, the route that follows the Merced River alongside Vernal and Nevada Falls, is a hard hike (<span style="font-style: italic;">it is also nicknamed 'The Staircase'</span>). The climb next to Vernal Falls is a seemly never ending series of steps, most about a foot high, climbing up the black cliff face.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/StaircaseBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Above Vernal Falls the trail starts a brutal set of switchbacks on uneven rock, zigging up through a talus slope alongside the base of Nevada Falls. I've had friends who were in great shape nearly give out hiking the Mist Trail, one whom refuses to hike with me to this day after I recommended the trail to him! Most backpackers or daytrippers to Half Dome avoid the Mist Trail altogether, taking the longer but easier John Muir Trail to the top of Nevada Falls.<br /><br />Our hike up was uneventful. Almost miraculously, the crowds at the top of Nevada Falls vanished shortly after we arrived in the late afternoon, leaving us to ourselves. We have waited for over 2 years for this moment, and it was about as perfect as could be imagined. In the aftermath, I felt both a sense of peace and relief, knowing that I've now accomplished about the last thing Daddy ever expected me to do for him. For Daddy, the top of Nevada Falls was a little bit of Heaven on earth. We were happy to climb the stairway for him.<br /><br /><h4>In Memory</h4><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/DaddyNevadaBig.jpg" /><br /><br />One of the reasons we are writing the blog is to provide a reference for Vance as he gets older. We hope the posts will give him and other family members some insight down the road into this part of our lives. Because of this, I ask our readers indulgence as I reproduce for posterity the contents of an email I sent out to various family members after the hike:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Per Daddy's wishes, we scattered a set of his ashes from the top of Nevada Falls, in Yosemite National Park. It's a remote and beautiful area at the intersection of the famous Mist and John Muir Trails. Muir himself described his reactions to the area wonderfully:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">"Never more, however weary, should one faint by the way who gains the blessings of one mountain day; whatever his fate, long life, short life, stormy or calm, he is rich forever."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Daddy and I shared a wonderful hike to this spot when I lived in San Francisco - it is a location that is not trivially earned - a 7 mile round trip with a steep 2000 foot climb, over a set of thousands of irregularly placed steps and stones. A hard hike, Daddy was thrilled when he reached the top of Nevada Falls the second huge waterfall you pass on the Mist Trail. He spoke often of his desire to return. Now he has.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><img style="font-style: italic;" src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VanceNevada.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >I can't think of a better or lovelier spot than the one he picked. I think he would have been proud of Vance for making the strenous trip to the top, all for his Granddaddy.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Should you ever look for the spot, we released his ashes in a pool to the right just above the bridge that crosses above the waterfall. Just below the pool the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><st1:place style="font-style: italic;" st="on">Merced River</st1:place></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > plunges nearly 600 feet in a massive and beautiful cascade.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >I feel at peace, knowing that Daddy is now where he wanted to be. As we came down the trail beside the waterfall, in the setting sunlight, Vance came up behind a deer, which proceeded us down the trail for quite a distance.</span><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/NevadaPool.jpg" /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007NevadaFalls/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007NevadaFalls/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/were-finding-it-hard-to-leave.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>We're finding it hard to leave...</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/hetch-hetchy.html">Hetch Hetchy<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-79806926282867312872007-08-06T17:16:00.001-04:002007-09-28T01:40:50.968-04:00We're finding it hard to leave...<span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, July 14 - Tuesday, July 17, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">San Francisco Bay Area</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/TeaGardenBig.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/Denise.jpg" /><br />It's true! We'll literally have to make ourselves leave the Bay Area. It will be a bittersweet departure when that day comes. So let's not waste a single moment when there is lots to see and do in this beautiful city and the cool climate is just the way we like it.<br /><h4>Urban Hiking in San Francisco</h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall2.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />You might think we've gotten a bit slack about hiking, but when it comes to getting your exercise on foot, I can't think of a better city than San Francisco. It's so much fun to hit the pavement in this town. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous from the sparkling waters of the bay to the historic architecture and the famous landmarks.<br /><br />Layer this rich texture with a plethora of outdoor activities and entertainment such as joggers, bicyclists, boaters, wind surfers, stunt kite fliers, sidewalk musicians and street performers. Before you know it you've walked a bunch of miles and it feels effortless. You don't mind chugging up all the hills because you're so darn distracted.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall5.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />We're all inclined to keep walking if a special treat awaits us at the end of the journey. Vance is usually motivated by this logic and today the reward is a world famous hot fudge sundae. Chocoholics from all walks of life flock to the historic Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (pronounced Gear-ar-delly) to indulge in this decadent treat. You're sure to find something on the menu to satisfy your sweet tooth. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Yum Yum</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall4.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />If you do need to get off your feet, you can always hop a cable car at Hyde Street for a ride to Powell and Market. Vance loves to ride on the step board and I admit it is a thrill as you ascend and descend the steep hills. This ride provides some great views looking out over the crowded spectacle of the city as it sweeps down to the bay.<br /><br /><br /><h4>Golden Gate Park - San Francisco's Giant City Park</h4><br />I love parks. Shouldn't every city (big or small) have at least one great public park? Golden Gate Park is a collage of various sites offering a breadth of activities and scenic beauty. It is to San Francisco what Central Park is to New York - a welcome respite from the congestion of a large and densely populated city. Actually, it's bigger than Central Park - about 3 miles long 1/2 mile wide it covers 1,013 acres.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>When I visited Mark in San Francisco in March of 1992, it was my very first time to see the city. I couldn't wait to explore Golden Gate Park so I walked from Noe Valley and spent an entire day sauntering through the park while Mark was at work. It was a beautiful time of year to be there. The azaleas and cherry trees were in full bloom in the Japanese Tea Garden. Amazingly, Mark somehow managed to miss seeing the Tea Garden while he lived in San Francisco. So we decided to spend part of our last day enjoying this unique place...we were all rewarded with a few special surprises!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall6.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />First off, we happened upon a game of lawn bowling. I had no idea that such a sport existed and in fact, has a long history in Golden Gate Park. We watched, fascinated, as several gentlemen rolled balls gently down the long green lawn, to the accompaniment of a nearby group of drummers banging away. Anything goes in the park, and often does.<br /><br />Vance was ready for some action on his part and luckily just around the corner we entered the park's newly refurbished playground. The July ribbon cutting of the Koret Children's Quarter had just occurred days prior and it marked the completion of a $3.8 million renovation project at this popular and historic site located in the southeast corner of the park.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall8.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The playground was overflowing with kids who were eager to enjoy all the new activities and features. Apparently, an old favorite remained.....a double concrete slide. Yes, it is really made of polished concrete and the kids use pieces of cardboard to cushion the ride and spare the seat of their pants. Vance loved it! The famous carousel nearby was closed that day, but that was probably more of a disappointment for me and Mark as opposed to Vance. He was tickled silly with the playground.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall9.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />A nice leisurely stroll led us to the serene Japanese Tea Garden. Fortunately, the garden was not overly crowded with visitors and we could stop and linger at a relaxed pace. The garden was originally built as part of a sprawling World's Fair, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Midwinter_International_Exposition_of_1894" title="California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894">California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894</a>. Baron Makoto Hagiwara, a wealthy Japanese landscape designer, proposed the idea of converting the temporary exhibit into a permanent section of the park. He constructed the garden, its pavilions and tea house.The Hagiwara family lived in, maintained and enhanced the Japanese Tea Garden from 1895 until 1942 and the beginning of World War II, when they were forced to evict and relocate to concentration camps with other Americans of Japanese descent. Today, it remains the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall17.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />I couldn't resist purchasing a couple of Japanese wind chimes. The design is simplistic and the tone is faintly delicate...a Zen essential for any garden. A perfect way to cast off the chill of a foggy summer afternoon in San Francisco is a cup of piping hot tea. Even Vance was anxious to enjoy the warmth of this traditional beverage served in the tranquil setting of the Tea House. This treat will set you back about $3 per person and it's worth every penny.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/mark.jpg" /><br /><br />One of the things I love best about San Francisco is the sheer spectacle and entertainment that is seemingly everywhere in this crowded, urban setting. From marveling at the acrobatic leaps and turns of Kite Surfers on the bay, to watching an amateur but talented escape artist ply his trade in hopes of tips in front of the Cable Car crowd, nearly free entertainment abounds throughout the city.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall11.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />With this in mind, our best (to my mind) day in San Francisco was spent, as Denise describes above, simply walking along the waterfront, taking in whatever it had to offer. We made a full day of it, walking from Crissy Field near the Golden Gate Bridge down to Hyde Street, the traditional spot to catch a Cable Car ride. Along the way we enjoyed the sights of passing freighters in the bay, dozens of colorful kites soaring in complicated and showy maneuvers, and watched as the bay slowly turned golden as the afternoon shadows lengthened.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/EthelMerman.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Living here, I remember weekend visits to Golden Gate Park, enjoying performances from such oddball groups as the 'Ethel Merman Memorial Choir', an all male group dressed up like old Ethel herself, belting out surprisingly good show tunes. You can find Bison in Golden Gate Park, as well as radio controlled model sailboats, groups of aging hippies singing Grateful Dead tunes and never ending soccer games with participants of every conceivable nationality and ethnic group. Eclectic is the best word I can find to describe the park.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall10.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Away from the waterfront, San Francisco can seem a little forbidding to an outsider. Miles and miles of boxlike houses look the same, and it's hard to see the charm and the vibrancy that inhabit the neighborhoods. When Denise and I took Vance to see the house on Clipper Street (<span style="font-style: italic;">yea, we found it this time, even though the color had changed to yellow!</span>), he seemed amazed that I could have possibly lived in that setting. It's a big change from our suburban homes in Atlanta, and our rural farmhouse in the North Carolina mountains.<br /><br />I was a bit intimidated myself when I first moved to San Francisco, but eventually you come to understand the rhythm and life of the streets. San Francisco never sleeps - it's a city that I felt perfectly comfortable walking down the streets late at night. Even on a Sunday afternoon trip into the city on our last day here, the downtown shopping district is <span style="font-style: italic;">packed - </span>people are everywhere. Living in a small town where the sidewalks roll up a 5 o'clock, this is quite a refreshing change. Vibrant is the word that best describes the setting.<br /><h4>Point Reyes National Seashore</h4>After nearly two weeks in the Bay Area, we were beginning to miss our ranger programs! Looking on the National Park website, I found that nearby Point Reyes was offering an 'Earthquake Walk' in an hour, so we rapidly loaded up and headed for the coast.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall13.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Point Reyes was thought for a long time to be the epicenter of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Horizontal slippages of up to 20 feet occurred along the San Andreas fault here. Only recently have seismologists decided that the epicenter was located offshore near Pacifica, southwest of San Francisco. Our ranger talk, along the 'Earthquake Trail', was an informative lesson on the nature and power of earthquakes.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall12.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />It's hard to imagine the ground under you shifting 20 feet in a few seconds, but that is exactly what occurred here in 1906. The park has restored an old fence that was 'split' during the earthquake to show you how much the ground moved. The gap in the fence is a sobering sight, and you wonder how anything built by man could survive such a jolt. But survive it does - a large barn that survived the earthquake sits just feet from the fault.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall14.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Rounding out the afternoon, Vance worked on a Junior Ranger program that was focused on the reconstructed 'Kule Loklo' Indian Village, former home of the Coast Miwok tribe. Afterwards, we drove out to Point Reyes itself, hoping to view the lighthouse. Unfortunately, the area was socked in with a heavy fog, but I enjoyed walking up to view the lightkeeper's station (now a small visitor center). Vance and Denise wanted to go somewhere for dinner and warm up at the same time. So we stopped for a nice meal in nearby Point Reyes Station, enjoying the music of a local guitarist.<br /><br /><h4>Wine Country</h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall15.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />One of the perks of camping in Petaluma is its close proximity to Napa Valley and Sonoma. While warmer than San Francisco, the temperature during our visit was very pleasant and sunny. We made a brief foray into the Russian River vineyards while Darva was here, but it seemed a shame not to visit Sonoma when it was only about 20 mins away.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/BASmall16.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />We made two stops - the <a href="http://www.sebastiani.com/home.asp">Sebastiani Winery</a> and an old favorite, <a href="http://www.ravenswood-wine.com/">Ravenswood</a>. I've always associated Sebastiani with chardonnays, so I was somewhat surprised when we walked out of there with a zinfandel. Ravenswood is known for its Zinfandels, so of course, we came out of there with several chardonnays!<br /><br />Afterwards at Vance's urging, we stopped at the lovely plaza in downtown Sonoma so he could play on the playground. Vance as always wanted a snack, so later we crossed the street and found a nice bakery. It seems like, despite how large or small the town , in California there is always a swell cafe, bakery, food market or coffee shop just around the corner. The Trail Boss says we need to get back to the woods soon and hike off some of our recent indulgences!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaIII/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/on-our-own-again.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>On our own again...</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/stairway-to-heaven.html">Stairway to Heaven<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-3378039473128276302007-08-06T13:26:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:41:34.096-04:00On our own again....<span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, July 11 - Friday, July 13, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">San Francisco Bay Area</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/GoldenGateBig.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />There is so much to do and see in the Bay Area - even after living here for 3 years I barely scratched the surface. Our original plan was to return to Yosemite the day after Darva and Ella left, but when the morning arrived we just didn't feel like we'd done the area justice. So we extended our stay for several days. Even though we had to move the camper to another site, it was worth it.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall6.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Then we extended our stay again....I think we like it here!<br /><br />We've managed to pack in a lot of sightseeing in the last few days. Rather than split this into a lot of separate posts, I'll just try to highlight the different areas we've visited in a couple of posts.<br /><br /><h4>Los Gatos</h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall1.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />After dropping the girls off at the airport (SFO) for their flight back to Atlanta, we decided to ride down to <a href="http://www.town.los-gatos.ca.us/">Los Gatos</a> so I could show Denise and Vance where I used to live. I resided in Los Gatos for nearly two years, first renting a house, then a small upstairs apartment in a restored building. Los Gatos was rebuilding when I moved there - located only 10 miles from the epicenter of the 1989 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loma_Prieta_earthquake">Loma Prieta earthquake</a>, it was hit hard. A good portion of the downtown district was damaged, with scaffolding around buildings a common sight. Several stately Victorian homes on the hillside overlooking the city were destroyed when they were literally bounced off of their foundations. One particularly sad case had bounced about 10 feet, and then the side that was no longer supported gave in, causing the structure to fold over on itself.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall2.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Rebuilding occurred rapidly - the apartment I later moved into was in a building (circa 1893) that was completely gutted, then seismically retrofitted with cables. Although the apartment was tiny and rather cramped, the building itself was quite handsome. I was living here when I first met Denise through an exchange of letters, so seeing it again was full of happy memories.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall3.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Today, Los Gatos is fully recovered from the quake damage. It was always a fancy little town, but in the 15 years since I lived here it's stepped up the ritzy scale several notches. I liked it better back then, when every other shop wasn't a high end art gallery or clothes store. But the general look of the town is the same - we enjoyed driving around on the hillsides looking at the different styles of architecture present. A favorite taqueria (Andale's) was still open, so we of course had to each lunch there.<br /><h4>Coastline</h4>From Los Gatos it's a short jaunt over Hwy 17 to reach the Pacific coastline. It's a beautiful drive, with the Santa Cruz mountains sweeping down to meet the Pacific Ocean. Most of the coast is a long set of high palisades, with fields of artichokes, pumpkins and strawberries running right up to the edge.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall5.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Speaking of artichokes, we took a short detour into the small town of Pescadero to see if our favorite coastal eating establishment was still there - <a href="http://www.duartestavern.com/">Duarte's Tavern</a>. We shouldn't have worried - Duarte's has been in business as a saloon and resturaunt since the 1890's. I took Denise out here on one of her visits to see me in San Fran, and she became as hooked as I was.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Located in the middle of the sprawling artichoke fields, Duarte's is probably the only place in the world where it economically feasible to serve artichoke soup. It's good - really good. Even after having 15 years to remember and embellish how good it was, we weren't disappointed. The rest of the menu is great also, but having just eaten lunch in Los Gatos, we were still pretty full. But not so full that we couldn't enjoy a huge slice of <a href="http://www.olallieberry.com/cambria_ca/olallieberry.html">Ollalieberry</a> pie, a hybrid fruit that is 2/3 blackberry and 1/3 raspberry.<br /><br />This is a stop my trusty <span style="font-style: italic;">'Hidden California'</span> book recommended, and I've been grateful ever since.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall14.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />North of Half Moon Bay the road becomes considerably more rugged - just south of Pacifica it looks like it could slide down the hill into the ocean at any minute. In fact, the road is being rerouted inland at this point, which from a scenic standpoint, is a shame. The epicenter of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was near this point, and to view the tortured rocks that line the hillsides, it's not hard to understand just how raw and changing this landscape is.<br /><br />After attempting in vain to find a movie theatre in the South San Francisco area, we decided to head back to Petaluma. Vance has been waiting a year (since the first previews came out) to see the 'Transformers' movie, so I promised him we'd make every effort to catch it this evening. Denise wisely opted to see 'Evening' instead - lucky girl!<br /><h4><br /></h4><h4>Marin Headlands</h4>While Darva was here, we had attempted to visit the Marin Headlands Visitor Center, but it was closed. After I left San Francisco, the Presidio army base at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge was decommissioned and turned over to the Park Service. This provided the catalyst for the creation of the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/goga/">Golden Gate National Parks</a>. The GGNP is a collection of multiple parks and historic sites: Alcatraz, Muir Woods NM, Marin Headlands, Fort Point NHS, Presidio, Fort Mason, Cliff House, Crissy Field Center and Fort Funston. There are multiple new Visitor Centers, including the the Marin Headlands facility, located in a former army chapel building.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall7.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />We returned to the Marin Headlands Visitor Center, a cute building that used to be a chapel when the headlands were a military base. After a tour of the exhibits, we found out about a tour of a restored Nike Missile site nearby. While not something you'd typically associate with a national park, this turned out to be one of the coolest tours we've done yet.<br /><br />Nike and Hercules missiles were intended as last ditch air defense systems during the Cold War. The Nike, which had a range of 40 miles, would be shot at incoming bombers in order to prevent a nuclear attack. The missiles could be equipped with nuclear warheads themselves. While it's a scary thought of setting a nuke off only 40 miles out to sea, I guess that was considered a better alternative to having nukes dropped on the American mainland.<br /><br />The tour took us around various buildings on the missile site, including a preserved communications and control trailer, full of 1960's era electronics. We were led through the assembly and fueling process for the missiles, then came the fun part.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall8.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The tour guide disappeared down a set of stairs for a moment, then machinery noises started and a set of yellow and black doors swung downward, opening up to reveal a concrete pit. Soon afterwards, up rose a shining white missile on an elevator lift. The tour guide then invited us onto the lift, and lowered us back down into the underground hanger where the missiles were stored.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall9.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />It was like something out of a James Bond movie. The site had been painstakingly restored by a set of volunteers, who had pumped water out of the hanger that had seeped in over the years, fixed the elevator and trap door machinery, and restored many of the Nike and Hercules missiles (sans warheads, of course).<br /><br />The Nike system was replaced by Hercules, which had a range of 100 miles and was also nuclear capable. These systems were finally decommissioned as a result of the SALT I treaty. There were about 10 Nike sites located around the Bay area - this particular one was known as 'Battery Bravo'.<br /><br />All in all it was quite a tour - much more than we expected. Even Denise, who was rather skeptical about taking the tour in the first place, was blown away.<br /><br /><h4>Mt Tamalpais State Park</h4>Wrapped around Muir Woods is <a href="http://www.mttam.net/">Mt. Tamalpais State Park</a>. Mt Tam, as it's usually called by locals, looms above the headlands area and the nearby town of Mill Valley. Although I usually tell people that Denise and I were engaged in Muir Woods because everyone seems to know where that is, the actual trail where I proposed is located just behind Muir Woods in the state park.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall12.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Starting at the top of the ridge at Pan Toll Ranger Station, the Steep Ravine Trail is a wonderful hike. The trail goes down - yes - a steep ravine, winding around tall and stately coastal redwood trees. The best description I can give the trail is it looks like a place the Keebler Elves would live while baking their cookies. Lush, green ferns are everywhere, and more often than not fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean lingers along the hillsides.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">It's a magical place...</span></span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall11.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />I proposed near the top of a <a href="http://www.waterfallswest.com/ca-steep-ravine-falls.html">small waterfall</a>, with the help of some trolls, a monster cookie jar, and a magical set of glasses which Denise had to wear to read the proposal. Nervous enough proposing, I also had to worry if anyone else had messed with the 'props' I had planted along the trailside the day before. Fortunately, everything was as it should be, and even more fortunately, Denise said <span style="font-style: italic;">Yes</span>! We celebrated with a bottle of Dom Perignon I had stashed under some ferns, and started our life together.<br /><br />Today was not Vance's first trip on the Steep Ravine Trail - he 'hiked' it in a baby backpack in 1996 when he was 7 months old and Miles was 11. This time, of course, he could remember it and manage the trail under his own power. Loaded with another bottle of champagne, we set off down the trail to find 'our' spot. There, we had a toast, telling Vance he owed his entire existence to this spot!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/LGSmall13.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The trail descends until it runs out of the redwoods. At this point it pops out onto a golden California hillside, high above the ocean. Our destination, the town of Stinson Beach, lie 1.2 miles down the hill. At the bottom, Vance and Denise found a park near the beach to play at, and I turned around to hike back up to get the truck at the top. It took me a bit longer than I used to take climbing the hill, but I didn't do too bad.<br /><br />Back at the trailhead, I got in the truck, started to back up.....then Friday the 13th struck. I had backed right into the bumper of an SUV. Urrrggggghh. I didn't do much to the other vehicle other than scratch the paint on the bumper a little bit, but it put a small dent into ours. Not really knowing what else to do, I left our card on the windshield with a note telling what happened and asking them to contact me. I then drove down the hill to pick up Denise and Vance. Passing by the parking lot on the way back, we stopped so Denise could see what happened. Denise noticed that there was a camping receipt taped to the inside of the windshield, so we got the number of the campsite from that and went looking for the owners of the car.<br /><br />By this point it was getting quite dark - armed with only a small flashlight we bumbled around from one campsite to another, trying to find the right one. After checking almost all the campsites, we finally found the owners - a guy and two girls finishing up dinner.<br /><br />I really hated to ruin their weekend with the news about their car, but they were incredibly cool about it. The guy repeatedly thanked us for coming up and telling them, and was so low key that they didn't even go down to check the damage at the time. We parted on great terms, and they called the next morning to tell us to not worry about it, that the damage wasn't enough to bother with. My lucky day!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayAreaII/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/girls-rule.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Girls Rule</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/08/were-finding-it-hard-to-leave.html">We're finding it hard to leave...<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-84748638788353055692007-07-30T03:23:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:44:02.282-04:00Girls Rule<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, July 8 - Wednesday, July 11, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">San Francisco Bay Area, California</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/DarvaSanFranBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Darva’s visit with us seemed to pass in a flash – I had all sorts of grand plans about what to see and do while she was here, but as usual with my planning, it was way too ambitious. However, we still managed to pack a good bit into a few days, including some nice meals and a few good bottles of wine along the way. It was also wonderful to have some adult conversation while Vance and Ella played around the campground.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/BASmall1.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />It’s rather scary just how much I have forgotten in 15 years. For example, where I used to live! Darva asked to see where I had lived in San Francisco (112 Clipper Street, in the Noe Valley District). Things went downhill in a hurry as I got off the freeway at Caesar Chavez Ave, thoroughly confused. I was looking for Army Street, but the road had been renamed since I moved. I then proceeded basically to circle around where the house is without ever finding it. Consulting a map later, I realized to my chagrin that we’d passed within a couple of blocks several times. Sigh……nothing is forever, particularly your memory ;-(<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/BASmall2.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />In any case, we moved beyond that embarrassing episode, and got Ella and Darva settled into their ‘Kamping Kabin’ at the Petaluma KOA. Darva was then able to get a first hand look at how we live on the road. People usually comment on how big and open the camper looks from the inside when they first see it, but after packing 4-5 people in it for a little while you begin to really realize that it is, after all, only 214 sq feet!<br /><br />I’m sure deep down Darva suspects (<span style="font-style: italic;">correctly</span>) that we’re just a little crazy, and wonders how we avoid killing each other being this close in such tight quarters all the time. It’s fairly remarkable to me just how little Denise and I argue when we are on the road – not that we’ve ever been a couple that fights a lot, but as with all couples we have our moments. Some how, some way it works….even though we are constantly around each other and live in a small, cramped space. Wish I could bottle it up and sell it!<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/BASmall3.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Now that Darva has arrived, it has been a bit deflating – Ella has focused her attention on her Mom, and no longer tells me every other minute what a great guy I am, how wonderful it is to be around me, etc…….NOT! In reality, Ella and I have a long running ‘game’ where she pretends she can hardly stand my presence, and I pretend I’m her very favorite person in the world. It’s a joke we both enjoy, and of course we’re quite fond of each other. As an example, while she was camping with us, she started keeping a ‘to do’ list on her bunk in the camper. When she wasn’t looking, I’d sneak in and write something like ‘Tell Uncle Mark he’s the greatest’, or ‘Do something wonderful for Uncle Mark’. When she’d discover it, she’d get all indignant and scratch it off her list, then she and Vance would heap some good natured abuse on me for awhile. All the time I’m insisting that I’m really the best looking, smartest, and most wonderful relative she has. If nothing else, it kept us entertained. When she reads this, I’m sure she will be filled with a longing to return and join us again on the road, missing her Uncle Mark so bad she can hardly stand it…..<br /><br /><br />The next morning, it was time to set out on our Bay Area adventures. After the girls fortified themselves with morning coffee and cappuccino (it was that type of campground!), we began our touring with a visit to nearby Muir Woods National Monument. Muir Woods is near and dear to our hearts, as I proposed to Denise there (technically, in Mt Tamalpais State Park next door, but close enough…..). Fog shrouded, hilly and a deep green color, Muir Woods is a beautiful grove of Coastal Redwood trees located in a small canyon. The forest has always carried an air of mystery to me, with its lush ferns on the dark, shady creek sides. We’ve always enjoyed visits and hikes there, and I visited as often as I could when living in the area. I’ve been anxious for Vance to see the park, and was hoping we all could hike the trail that Denise and I became engaged on (the Steep Ravine Trail). However, for a variety of reasons (usually having to do with someone in the group being hungry!), we were unable to make the hike until after Darva and Ella left California.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/BASmall4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />While at the park, Vance and Ella worked on an excellent Jr. Ranger program. It’s interesting to contrast their two styles when working on the activities. Ella writes wonderful, in depth essays for questions that require written responses, whereas Vance will typically jot down the absolute minimum he can to get the point across. On the other hand, when it’s a matter of digging thru data to find an answer (such as reading the signs on the nature trail, etc…), Vance really excels. I feel good about his growing ability to research material and find answers to questions; in no small part due to the amount of experience he’s had working the Jr. Ranger activities over the past year. Once he’s decided (or resigned) to the fact he has to work on it, he’s proved adept at digging in and finding the information he needs with minimal help. While we haven’t formally continued with ‘schoolwork’ over the summer, I’ve used Jr. Ranger activities as a way to keep him ‘tuned up’ with his educational work. So far, it seems to be working out, and should give us a running start on his 6th grade school year.<br /><br /><br />After finishing up at Muir Woods, I drove us around the Marin Headlands and Sausalito. We cut the touring short in order to eat and watch ‘Ratatouille’, which Vance and Ella had been eagerly awaiting. Ella wanted to see it with her Mom, so the timing was perfect.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/BASmall5.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />We started the next morning with breakfast and some light store browsing in Sebastopol, a small nearby town that a friend of a friend of Darva’s lived in. After breakfast, we headed over to the coast (Bodaga Bay), first stopping to by some fresh cherries from a roadside stand. I’ve simply never had cherries like these – they are usually tart when I but them back east, but here……wow. I made a serious dent in a 2 pound bag all by myself (oink, oink).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/BASmall6.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Having taken care of our Vitamin C intake for the day, we enjoyed a short pitstop at the beach, sticking our feet in the chilly Pacific Ocean water. It was far too cold for Vance and Ella to swim, so we continued up the coast, finally turning back east at the Russian River. After a somewhat humorous stop for lunch in Guerneville, a rather rough edged town, we drove back inland through the Russian River vineyards, stopping for a late day tasting at Hop Kiln winery (not one of my favorites, it turned out). Afterwards, we visited the rather toney village of Heardsville, (where a close friend of Darva’s always talks about moving – see a pattern here?). There we visited the La Crema tasting room, and found some vintages much more to our liking.<br /><br />I was anxious to get us into San Francisco, so the following morning we started with the Marin Headlands area. This is the spot you get those wonderful photos you always see looking *down* on the Golden Gate Bridge. The views as always were wonderful, but the wind! If I had to guess I’d say we were getting 50-60 mph gusts up there, and the kids had to struggle to stay on their feet. The headlands are riddled with old WWI and WWII era fortifications, and I was hoping to show Vance some of them, but with the wind we decided to move on after just a few minutes.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/BASmall7.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />I’m of the firm opinion that every one should walk across the Golden Gate Bridge at least once in their life (after all, it’s in 1000 Things To Do Before You Die), so on our final full day I herded a couple of reluctant kids onto the span down the hill. It was a great walk like always, and despite his initial complaints, Vance was proud of the accomplishment. I turned around at the midpoint and went back to fetch the truck while everyone else continued on the bridge. When I met back up with them at the park on the other side, Vance smugly told me ‘sorry you didn’t have as good a walk as we did!”. Kids…..<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/BASmall8.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />From there, we had a typical San Francisco tourist day – Lombard Street (it was no small challenge to get the truck down the curves without scrapping the sides, but we did it, twice….), Chinatown (where we had a really good Vietnamese lunch….go figure), rode the Cable Cars and of course stopped by Pier 39. I was hoping to show Ella and Vance the seals that are usually hanging out there, but they had headed south for the season, leaving only a few stragglers to man the piers. Whatever lingering disappointment the kids may have had rapidly disappeared when they spotted a bungee trampoline setup, and soon they were both turning flips in the air.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/BASmall9.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />At this point Darva wanted to visit a new market she had heard about. Thinking it was only a couple of blocks away, we headed down the Embarcadero in search. As block after block passed, we began to wonder if the place really existed. Finally, about a mile and a half we finally reached the old Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street, which has been restored as a spectacular market and food court. (Interestingly enough, the was wass about the same distance as the earlier trek across the Golden Gate Bridge, so I’m convinced Darva was secretly getting her revenge ;-) The building was sitting empty and derelict when I lived here, so it was good to see it come back to life. Taking advantage of our find, Denise and Darva stocked up on yummies while Vance and I went to rescue the truck from the bowels of a garage in Chinatown.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/BASmall10.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />The end of Darva and Ella’s visit came much, much too soon – the three of us were very reluctant to see them go. There were some long faces showing when we dropped them off at SFO for their flight back to Atlanta. We thoroughly enjoyed Ella’s time with us – I know Denise enjoyed evening up the male/female ratio for a couple of weeks. Vance of course loved having someone to play and talk with. I hope if the opportunity arises, Ella will join us again – as much as it pains me to say it, I’m going to miss her out here. To show her how much, I will now sing for her our camping theme song:<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/rubberchicken.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Bwak bwak bwak bwwwwaaaakk,<br />bwak bwak bwak bwak bwaaaaak!!<br />Bwak bwak bwak bwwwwaaaakk,<br />bwak bwak bwwwwaaaakk-bwak bwak, bwak bwak<br />Bwak bwak bwak bwwwwaaaakk,<br />bwak bwak bwak bwak bwaaaaak!!<br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Think Lady Madonna by the Beatles, and you’ll figure it out soon enough….</span>)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a name="Vance"><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Vance:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">I enjoyed it when Ella and Aunt Darva were visiting. We stayed at a great KOA. Ella stayed in a cabin, we stayed in the RV. The day when Aunt Darva arrived, we ate at a famous sour dough bread restaurant. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On the next day we walked across the Golden Gate Bridge and went to Pier 39 so we could watch the sea lions. There was even a pup in the group. We got to see Ratatouille. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> I ENJOYED THEIR VISIT VERY MUCH…</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007BayArea/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/ella-is-so-happy-to-see-her-mom.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prev - </span>Ella is so happy to see her mom</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/on-our-own-again.html">On our own again...<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-84979405894562150292007-07-25T21:20:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:46:08.126-04:00Ella Is So Happy to See Her Mom!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, July 6, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Petaluma, California</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/denise.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/darva.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />This trip has been the longest period of time that Ella's been away from her Mom so naturally she's getting a little homesick. We're all very excited about hooking up with Darva (Ella's Mom and my youngest sister) in San Francisco.<br /><br />Darva has been to San Francisco plenty of times, but usually on business. She's coming out to be a bona fide tourist this time around. I have to chuckle a little...<span style="font-style: italic;">because Darva's not into the whole camping scene.</span> We're staying at the Petaluma KOA which is touted to be among the creme de la creme of all the campgrounds in the company.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/kampingkabin.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />To afford the girls some privacy they'll be bunked in one of the luxurious kamping kabins that happens to be minus a private bath. It does have a cute little porch swing, though. Thank goodness the communal bathhouse is extra, extra nice and it's cleaned 3 times a day. Needless to say, Ella's in heaven! She's with her Mom, in a wonderful city, in their own little cabin and this is hands down the best campground of her entire adventure with us. She's certainly experienced the whole gamut.....from the absolute worst (Lemon Cove) to the very best!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VanceScooter.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />This KOA even has a petting zoo and an el primo playground. Need I say more? Actually yes, because Vance is on cloud 9, too! Around the clock activities are scheduled for the kids including crafts, face paintings, banana bike rides, ice cream socials and evening hayrides. This is one of those campgrounds that's a destination unto itself. I met grandparents who pack up their grandchildren (leaving the parents at home) and spend a week here just letting the kids play and hang out. The Petaluma KOA lives up to its reputation as a camping resort. Vance and Ella are constantly out and about enjoying some personal freedom while we adults savor some time without the kids under foot.<br /><br />We're camped adjacent to the Rec Room and activity building and you should have seen the look of horror on Mark's face when an evening of karaoke cranked up the first night of our arrival. The thought of sipping wonderful California wines from nearby Napa and Sonoma each evening to tunes like <span style="font-style: italic;">'I'm Too Sexy for My Shirt'</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">'Girls Just Wanna Have</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Fun'</span> performed by teenage girls didn't appeal to our sense of relaxation. But it was all in good fun and fortunately it was a one night only gig during our longer than anticipated stay.<br /><br />Originally, we had planned to leave and go back to Yosemite the day after Darva and Ella flew home to Georgia. The Bay area holds so much nostalgia for us that we simply couldn't stick to what little itinerary we had mapped out. So we just kept extending our visit. We were up to 13 days when we finally had to make ourselves leave. Otherwise, we would still be there!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/mark.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/windmills.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Yosemite was hot – temperatures at the campground would typically top out in the high 90’s, even breaking the 100 mark a couple of times. So when the temperature started sliding downward about the time we topped Altamont Pass (site of a huge and beautiful wind turbine farm), we were happy campers indeed.<br /><br />A few miles closer near Oakland, the characteristic fog of the Bay Area was everywhere. It’s hard to describe our emotions as anything but jubilant. There is something about the weather out here that lifts you – I felt it often when I lived in Las Gatos and San Francisco. No matter how tired or wrung out I would be after a long days work, seeing the belt of fog looming over a section of I-280 on my drive home would always lift my spirits. I loved to leave my window open at night, letting the cool air drift in to the sounds of my favorite jazz station, KKSF.<br /><br />There is a certain sense of homecoming for me in this return to San Francisco. Had I not met Denise, there is a good chance I would still be here. I loved living in the Bay Area, I simply loved Denise more, moving back to Atlanta to be with her. That decision obviously worked out well, but this area has always had a magnetic pull on the both of us.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/bridge.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Happy and laughing, we rolled down the windows to soak in the cool, moist air, with the temps dropping into the mid-50’s at one point around Berkeley. Unfortunately, we hit town right at 5pm on a Friday. Coupled with several wrecks, what should have been about a 45 min drive to the campground turned into a 3 ½ hour trek in bumper to bumper traffic. But we really didn’t mind. We crossed the Richardson Bridge to get get across the bay, which afforded Vance and Ella their first big views back into San Francisco.<br /><br />I was somewhat bummed out initially when I realized just how far north of the San Francisco our campground was. We are staying in the Petaluma KOA, which I thought I had remembered as 10-15 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Like many other memories of San Francisco, this one was a bit fuzzy, as the actual distance was closer to 40 miles. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because we fell in love with Petaluma, a mid-sized historic town that is convenient to everything. We were approximately 20 mins from wine country, the coastline, and from the Muir Woods/Mt Tamalpais area. San Francisco proper was only about 45 mins away, including the usual glorious drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. The town itself has undergone a great renovation, and is full of interesting shops and restaurants, including a brand new digital theater complex which we took full advantage of (Ratatouille, Transformers and Harry Potter!)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/JungleVibes.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Wandering into town our first evening in search of food, we were quickly (re)introduced to the differences between California and the rest of the country. Vance and Ella zeroed in on an extremely eclectic toy store called ‘<a href="http://www.junglevibes.com/">Jungle Vibes</a>’. Inside, we find a party going on with appetizers, wine, beer keg and an old slushy machine grinding away by the front door - with a bottle of Tequila helpfully sitting on top. It wasn’t a raucous scene at all...we later found out it was an open house celebration of the downtown restoration association.<br /><br />The funny thing was, it felt perfectly natural to wander around the store with the kids, party and all. They loved it, we loved it – it didn’t seem uncomfortable, like it would have back east. Ella located some type of scooter you sit on and was soon zooming around the isles – something I’d usually never let Vance do in a store, but here it seem perfectly fine. The only trouble we had was getting someone to take our money for a couple of books we wanted to purchase – we finally good naturally decided to come back on another day, when things were more back to normal!<br /><br />The campground is huge – nearly 300 campsites. We are setup right next to a huge water tank, which is right next to a very large activities building. The first evening is karaoke night, which has attracted a large crowd of children singers. It’s kinda cute, although the thrill rapidly wears off.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/campercoffee.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Darva is joining us for a week. It’s interesting to see how your focus and method of travel changes when you are accompanied by others. With Ella in tow, we found ourselves slowing down a bit, taking advantage of Vance having a playmate. With Darva, we’ll put more of an emphasis on food – good food. Normally, eating is a bit of an afterthought when we travel – we get hungry, we find something close at hand. Denise will usually make an effort to research and find us a good restaurant every few days, but otherwise we eat pretty basic.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/MarkEating.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />So traveling around with Darva for a few days will be a real treat, because her finding and enjoying good food becomes our focus. While we will still ‘see the sights’, she’ll also steer us in the direction of good meals around the clock. Darva knows restaurants and markets all across the country the way that we might know of trails and campgrounds. It promises to be a full week (pun intended!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Petaluma/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Petaluma/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/old-fashioned-4th-of-july.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Old Fashioned 4th of July</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/girls-rule.html">Girls Rule<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-36472146689075022582007-07-25T09:40:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:48:33.206-04:00An Old Fashioned 4th of July<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 4th, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Wawona - Yosemite National Park, CA</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/BarnBig.jpg" /><br />Yosemite has an excellent newsletter describing activities in the park. Looking for a 4th of July event, I noticed a description of an ‘Old Fashioned Celebration’ in the Wawona section of the park. Located in the southern reaches of the park, Wawona has a preserved historic village, consisting of structures used when the park was first created (Wawona, not the valley floor, was the location of the first park headquarters).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/WSmall5.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />It was a long drive – you have to drive down into Yosemite Valley, and the drive back out on a road that climbs back up the opposite canyon wall. Shortly before entering a long tunnel lies the famous ‘Tunnel View’, showcasing Bridal Veil Falls, El Capitan and Half Dome. We stopped, snapped off a few pictures, then headed on our way up (and down) the long, twisty road.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/WSmall1.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" /><br />The celebration was exactly as advertised. Sitting in an old barn, we began the festivities by singing several patriotic songs – Yankee Doodle, America the Beautiful, etc….these were followed by several speeches by ‘famous’ people such as John Muir and Frederick Law Olmsted. A band up on stage accompanied the sweating, singing crowd. With the band, hosts and ‘speakers’ dressed up in period costume, it was easy to image celebrating July 4th in 1887, rather than 2007!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/WSmall2.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />After the singing and speeches, we were urged to cross the covered bridge into the historic town. There the real fun started with a potato sack race. Neither Vance nor Ella could be induced to participate, so I ‘hopped’ in to help break the ice. I managed to complete the race without falling flat on my face (quite a few folks managed some spectacular face plants!)<br /><br />This was followed by a three legged race. By now Vance and Ella were ready to join in the fun, pairing off with Denise and I, we all got to race. Again, no one fell, so life was good. Denise and Ella came in 3rd in their race.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/WSmall3.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Vance and Ella then tried the egg toss, where our luck came to an end – Ella got splattered with the first egg that came her way! She was a good sport, though… Surprising me greatly, Vance wanted to try the egg toss again, so he and I paired up for the <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">‘adult’</span> level toss. He then displayed a previously undisclosed talent for egg tossing and catching, as we won! He clinched the victory with a catch at a distance of around 50 feet.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/WSmall4.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />There were other events – a nail driving contest, and of course tug of war. The park service and Yosemite volunteers really outdid themselves – everyone involved had a great time. Afterwards Vance and Ella changed into their bathing suits and cooled off by swimming and splashing around in the South Fork of the Merced River. Swimming always makes for hungry kids, so we enjoyed a nice picnic. Ella commented that our visit to Wawona felt like being in a whole new Park. Yosemite NP is huge and each area has its own distinct characteristics.<br /><h4>Glacier Point</h4><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/GlacierPointBig.jpg" /><br />After the celebration, we elected to drive up to Glacier Point while we were in the general area. Glacier Point is one of the most remarkable overlooks anywhere – you view Yosemite Valley from a sheer 4000 ft dropoff. Even though it is quite a drive from the valley floor, the view is well worth it. For those more motivated, you can take the infamous ‘4 Mile Trail’, which climbs from the valley floor to Glacier Point – all 4000 feet of it. Miles and I hiked down it when he was 11 years old – even with gravity on your side it is quite the hike. I’ve hiked up it several times as a younger man, but nothing tempted me to repeat the feat this trip!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/WSmall6.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />One of the great things about traveling is that you never know what the next curve will reveal. Sometimes you come across a scene so sublime that you simply are grateful to be alive to view it. In this case, a small alpine meadow caught our attention on the drive up to Glacier Point. We stopped, stared, and simply stood there as the nearby birds became used to our presence and started back their chatter. The sound of the woods can simply envelope you if you will slow down and let it. I’m not sure just how long Denise and I stood and looked at the lovely meadow in the lengthing afternoon shadows, but eventually the inquiries from Vance and Ella on just how long we intended to linger before moving on eventually snapped us back to the here and now.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/WSmall7.jpg" class="alignRLeft" align="left" />We stopped initially at an overlook whose name I can’t recall, but it offered an amazing view of the Little Yosemite Valley (up the Merced River from the main valley). The views of Half Dome, Vernal, Nevada and Illouette Falls were simply amazing from on high. I pointed out Nevada Falls to Vance and Denise, as they had not previously seen it in anything other than postcards and photos. I think Vance was rather surprised to finally see the spot that we had talked about for so long, the special place where we would spread his Granddaddy’s ashes.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/WSmall8.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Pushing on to Glacier Point, we arrived shortly before sunset, just in time for the sunset talk. This proved to be a rather lame ranger program, but the setting was spectacular, as the light shifted down the color spectrum from white to pinks. Added entertainment was provided by watching various people who climbed over the railing to get photos standing close to the edge. One particular risky couple edged out a sloped slab of rock, wearing nothing more than flip-flops, dragging their preteen daughter along. Watching, alternating between fascination and horror, we kept expecting the ranger to intervene. However, I’ve come to realize that the rangers in the large parks long ago came to the conclusion that the best they can do is stick to the program, and let Darwin take care of the rest. Fortunately for all, this family got their photo without incident, standing just inches from the sheer 4000 foot drop. Of course the picture above shows the President of the United States standing a foot from the same drop! Times certainly do change....<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/Firefall.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />For years, Yosemite offered a ‘firefall program’, where a large bonfire was built at Glacier Point, then pushed over the edge. The resulting stream of embers would be viewed from the Camp Curry area on the valley floor. A valley tradition for years, it was finally ended in 1968 once conservation ethics took hold. However, the light show provided by the sunset on Half Dome provides a natural and spectacular scene.<br /><br />Ella had been asking me questions about some of the lichens on the rocks – not having a clue, I suggested she ask the ranger. She did, and thereby became the first winner of the ‘stump the ranger’ contest for the evening, as the newbie ranger had no idea either!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/WSmall9.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />On the drive back down, we were suddenly rewarded with another breath taking view, as a clearing opened up to an amazing sunset over the Central Valley. Perched high in the Sierra Nevada, we were able to see the lights of the towns along the CA Hwy 99 corridor, and the vivid orange, pink, yellows, reds and purples of the sunset along the mountain ranges closer to the coast. Again we pulled off and admired the view for a lengthy period of time –the richness of the colors was overwhelming.<br /><br />A nice day, all around. Who says we need pyrotechnics to have a blast on the 4th of July?<br /><br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span>4th of July was a very fun day. There were a lot of old fashioned games. The first event was a little music in the barn. Next was a sack race. Ella and I refused to do it.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/WSmall10.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Then Dad and I did the three legged race. We scored 5th place. Ella and Mom did it, too. I made the winning catch in the adult egg toss. You had to toss and catch the egg softly because it was a raw egg, not hard boiled. I think playing tennis ball catch in Groveland was great practice. Lastly, Ella and I swam in a little pool in the river and then had a picnic. </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />MY FAVORITE COMPETITION WAS THE EGG TOSS.<br /></span></span><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MARKAN%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007Wawona/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/yosemite-valley.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prev - </span>Yosemite Valley</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/ella-is-so-happy-to-see-her-mom.html">Ella is so happy to see her mom<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-90529992389882816452007-07-24T01:10:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:50:14.278-04:00Yosemite Valley<span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday, July 2 and Thursday, July 5, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Yosemite National Park, CA</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/JrRangerBig.jpg" /><br />Our campground was about 20 miles from the park. Not too bad, right? Only it is another 40 minute drive to Yosemite Valley from the gate! Can’t be helped, the campsites in the park itself were booked solid. The drive into the park on CA 120 is beautiful, however, so we didn’t mind the distance too much. After entering the park, the road climbs through a nice forest up to around 6000, and then starts a long decent into Yosemite Valley. On the way down, you pass through the area of the giant 1990 A-Rock fire. The fire, which burned over 16,000 acres, was largely the result of the fire suppression activities over the years, leaving a large fuel load on the ground. When the fire got out of control, it burned everything, including trees that normally would have been relatively fire resistant.<br /><br />This fire led to the creation of a new fire management plan for the park. Today, the park will allow containable lightning caused fires to burn themselves out. Controlled burns are also used to reduce fuel loads. A series of controlled burns were being set in the lower valley while we were there. Vance and Ella enjoyed seeing the fire trucks and watching the flames – particularly at night!<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/YVSmall1.jpg" class="leftAlign" align="left" />Denise and I saw the results of the A-Rock fire in 1991. It was interesting to compare the ‘then and now’ 16 years later. Completely blackened when we first saw it, today the hillsides are a carpet of green, with trees reaching a height of 10-15 feet. It will take awhile to completely recover, but other than the standing trunks of the burnt out trees, you’d be hard pressed to tell there was a fire there in the past.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/YVSmall8.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />After the first area, the road literally turns into a cliffhanger, dropping down the solid granite walls and passing through three tunnels. There we got our first peek into Yosemite Valley with a framed view of Half Dome.<br /><br />Back when I lived in the Bay Area and visited the park often, there was a lot of discussion about how to manage the number of cars. There was some talk of building a series of parking lots outside of the valley and adding a shuttle system. The end result was to build a large parking lot near Yosemite Village, and add shuttles. The system works relatively well, although Yosemite Village is a zoo.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/YVSmall2.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />After lunch, we stopped by the Visitor Center to get the kids started on the Yosemite Jr. Ranger program. Ella really enjoys working on the Jr. Rangers, which is great, because Vance is completely over them. I can’t really blame him – he’s completed close to 50, including 20 on this trip so far!<br /><br />The main reason we keep him working at them is despite the initial moaning and groaning, he’s always pleased with himself when the ranger awards the badge, and there is almost always at least one new fact he learns. Invariably, several days later he’ll tell us or someone ‘did you know….,’ relating his latest nugget of Jr. Ranger knowledge. As long as he’s learning, we’ll keep doing them.<br /><br />Of course, Yosemite Valley is about the waterfalls. It’s a good thing we came when we did for Ella’s sake, because while there was still some water on Yosemite Falls, two weeks later when we came back it was dry as a bone! The snow pack in the Sierra Nevada mountains has been much less than average for the past two years, so the waterfalls, which normally would be full this time of year, are running at late summer levels.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/YVSmall3.jpg" class="leftAlign" align="left" />There is a large field of boulders at the base of Lower Yosemite Falls which Vance and Ella found irresistible. Ella has been taking rock climbing lessons, and she put her new skills to use as we scrambled over, around and a few times under the rocks. We also enjoyed watching several climbers scaling the vertical rock face to the left of the falls. On the way back down, Ella scrambled around the rocks to pick up a bag of trash, fulfilling one of her requirements for the Jr. Ranger.<br /><br />Then Vance disappeared.<br /><br />I had given him permission to go ahead of us as long as he stopped at the bridge. We’ve been trying to give him some level of personal freedom within the confines of safety, as otherwise he’d always be chafing under our feet. 99.9% of the time he stays within the limits we set. But today……when I reached the bridge, he was nowhere to be found. I wasn’t greatly concerned, thinking maybe he just hadn’t understood me, and walked on ahead a little bit. I left Denise and Ella at the bridge to look for him, and then I started walking down towards the bathrooms and bus stop, about a ½ mile away.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/YVSmall5.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />I started having some real misgivings when I couldn’t find him at the bus stop, so I turned around and started back. About that time, a Park Service vehicle came zooming up with sirens on. Really scared now, I jogged behind the vehicle until it came to a stop in front of a crowd standing in front of a really rocky area. I pushed through the crowd, expecting the worst…..only to find a teenaged boy who had slipped off the rocks and hurt his wrist.<br /><br />Feeling bad for the injured kid, but no closer to finding Vance, I hurried on back up the trail. I was really puzzled by this point, because we’ve drilled into Vance a 1000 times to stay put if he ever got separated from us (I had gone over this rule again earlier in the day with both him and Ella). I ran back up to the bridge with my imagination running away with me……and there he was, standing with Denise and Ella, with a sheepish look on his face.<br /><br />I hate to get onto Vance for stuff like this, because he’s usually so well behaved. But for whatever reason, he had decided to walk past the bridge and go up the over side of the creek a little ways. Eventually Ella spotted him under some trees. I perhaps was a bit more excitable than usual after my run uphill and the scare of the ranger coming up with sirens flashing, so Vance got rather an earful. I think he learned his lesson! All’s well that ends well.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/YVSmall4.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Returning to the valley floor a couple of days later, we visited Bridal Veil Falls, and then went by the Yosemite Cemetery. Located behind the museum, the cemetery is the final resting place for many of the early white settlers of the valley, including Galen Clark. Clark, along with John Muir, was probably the person most responsible for preserving Yosemite as a National Park. One of the exercises in the Jr. Ranger book was to learn about some of the individuals buried there, so Ella and Vance wandered around the cemetery, happily announcing new ‘discoveries’ when they found a tombstone with information they needed. Some of the stories were tragic, such as a young girl who drowned in the rapids of the Merced River, and another who fell to her death.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/YVSmall7.jpg" class="leftAlign" align="left" />Afterwards, both Ella and Vance were awarded their Jr. Ranger badges, with the ranger making a nice announcement of their accomplishment to the crowd in the Visitor Center. Walking next door to the museum, the kids came across someone feeding a squirrel. Newly sworn to protect the park as a Jr. Ranger, Ella leaped into action, and informed the gentleman that he wasn’t supposed to do that, as it was bad for the animals.<br /><br />He ignored her and continued the feeding. With any luck, he’ll be one of the numerous people that get bit on the finger by squirrels every day. Some parks have problems with squirrels carrying Bubonic Plague, so the prohibitions on feeding the animals are there for a reason. Despite signs everywhere, people continue to feed them right and left.<br /><br />Inside the museum, Vance has got his fist balled up and is shaking with rage. Barely able to control his voice, he pointed out the person who continued to feed the squirrel. The lessons the rangers had taught them had taken root…. that was for sure! I decided it was time for some further discussion, particularly when Vance let it slip that ‘Ella got to tell some people not to feed the squirrels, BUT I DIDN’T!”<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/YosemiteSam.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Hold on there, Yosemite Sam....!!<br /><br />I pulled him aside at that point, and tried the best I could to explain that he needed to look at his reasons for being upset. Being worried about the squirrels was fine, but if his real reason for being so mad was he wanted to go boss someone around, then that wasn’t okay. I also tried to explain that the best he could do was to tell people when they were doing something wrong, and if it was serious, like mistreating an animal, he should find a ranger. That got his attention, and hopefully he learned a good lesson.<br /><br />We’ve struggled a bit lately with helping Vance find a balance with all the information he's learned. He’s gotten a non-stop litany for the past few months from the Jr. Ranger programs and Ranger talks about preserving the environment. Then when he sees someone ‘violating’ what he’s been taught is a no-no, he’s ready to go after them, staying upset at the transgression for days. I’m trying to instill a ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ attitude in him, but so far, the ‘zero tolerance’ attitude he’s developed from all these Ranger programs is winning. It’s an interesting dilemma, in how much if any we should try to curb some of his youthful enthusiasm.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/YVSmall6.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />After finishing my talk with Vance, a very nice thing happened. As we were walking away, a woman wearing a Yosemite Association shirt called out to me and asked, ‘are you dad?’ Having overheard our ‘discussion’, she thanked me for my ‘lesson’ to Vance, offering to talk with him for a moment. She provided the perfect balance, as she thanked Vance for caring so much about the park. She also told him how many people don’t treat our National Parks with the respect that they deserve, but the most you could do is try to educate them and hope for the best. I was extremely grateful for her intervention, as it calmed Vance down considerably. Hopefully he came away with some new insights into ‘park management practices’.<br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span><span>Yosemite Valley is where Yosemite Falls is located. On the first day I climbed a hard, rocky surface with the difficulties all around me at the base of lower Yosemite Falls. Ella was right behind me. It is a great workout.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/july2007YosemiteValley/images/YVSmall9.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />It took Ella and me several days to finish the junior rangers. The ranger even made an announcement at the visitor center about us becoming junior rangers. We purchased two books about bears that come to Yosemite to summer. These are hilarious books. I recommend reading them if you want to get a kick while in the park. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br />YOSEMITE VALLEY IS THE MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTION IN THE PARK.</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007YosemiteValley/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007YosemiteValley/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/hanging-tree.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prev - </span>All Creatures Great and Small</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/old-fashioned-4th-of-july.html">Old Fashioned 4th of July<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-62025893979429779322007-07-22T17:13:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:51:25.732-04:00All Creatures Great and Small<span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, June 31 - Friday, July 6, 2007<br />Wednesday, July 18 - Saturday, July 21, 2007<br /></span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">Groveland, California</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/YosemitePinesBig.jpg" /><br /><br />Pulling in, it was obvious the Yosemite Pines Campground was going to be a bit different from our Lemon Cove experience. Although we had a little difficulty getting a campsite long enough for the camper (the first site they assigned us was too short), we rapidly settled in. Across from us was a large group of Hispanic men of all ages – from little boys to senior citizens. They were having fun, with non-stop grilling of some really good smelling food, and constant singing with guitar. I wish I knew enough Spanish to invite myself over!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007YosemitePines/images/YpSMall1.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Vance and Ella were in heaven, waking up early each morning to be the first in line for the petting farm. They came to know all the animals name’s and history – Little Quack being a favorite of Vance’s. We now have several duck eggs in the camper refrigerator – not sure exactly what to do with them! Ella became smitten with a real life version of her beloved, Bluza. Mr. George is the caretaker for the animals and he’s great with the kids, too. After several hours of letting youngsters of all ages help pet and feed the animals, he literally has to run them out of the farm so he can get to his other chores in the campground.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007YosemitePines/images/YpSMall2.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />Right behind the too short campsite is the ‘Hanging Tree’. Yes, it was for real – Groveland, CA where the campground is located was founded in 1849 during the Gold Rush. In order for justice to be served, a large tree down from one of the gold mines was pressed into service. Today, a plaque commemorates the tree, and parts of the trunk remain. Denise felt the campground was missing a golden opportunity (pardon the pun) by not telling ghost stories around the tree. In any case, Vance and Ella were fascinated by it, with Ella claiming she could see part of the old rope embedded in the tree trunk. Vance in particular liked it, due to the song ‘Hanging Tree’ on his Marty Robbins Gunfighter Ballads album that we're still listening to almost daily ;-(<br /><br />Oh yea, the gold mine. There is one, just up the hill from the campground. I poked my head in a few feet into the tunnel, but decided not to go any further, not wanting to disturb any resting snakes, ghostly miners or cause a cave in! I couldn't entice the kids to make the trek in the heat, so no one saw it but me.<br /><br />Our plan was to visit the various parts of Yosemite, then hike up the Mist Trail to Nevada Falls to scatter a portion of my Dad’s ashes. We had good intentions, but were somewhat defeated by a heat wave. Temperatures during the day were topping 100 degrees, leading to some tired and weary kids. After a day in Yosemite Valley it was clear that neither one of them was really up for the hike to Nevada Falls. Not wanting everyone to get upset at each other on what should be a solemn occasion, Denise and I made the decision to put off the hike to Nevada Falls and come back to Yosemite after the San Francisco leg of our trip. This proved to be a good decision, as it was much cooler when we returned.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007YosemitePines/images/YpSMall3.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Groveland is a cute little town – it boasts the ‘Iron Door Saloon’, which claims to be the oldest continuously operating saloon in California. We had dinner there one evening, where from a picture on the wall I learned about Rainbow Pools, a local swimming hole. After asking around for directions, we stopped by Rainbow Pools a few days later on the way back from the park.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007YosemitePines/images/YpSMall4.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />There are swimming holes, and then there are swimming holes. Rainbow Pool is highlighted with a 15 foot waterfall on one end, with a rock point projecting out over the water that is used for diving into the pool. Ella and Vance badly wanted to jump off the point (which was about 20 feet above the water), but fearing what my sister-in-law, Darva, would do to me if I let her, I refused. Instead, we played around in the cool water, attempting several times to swim up to the falls. There was a surprisingly strong current flowing from the waterfall, and each time Vance got tired. Whenever that happened, we just floated back to the rocks we started at, laughed, then plotted our next assault.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007YosemitePines/images/YpSMall5.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Watching the divers from the rock was a constant source of entertainment. One girl got up there, froze, and literally wouldn’t move for about 15 mins. Others performed dives worthy of Olympic contenders, and of course we witnessed a few loud belly flops!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/denise.jpg" /><br />While the high country of the Sierra Nevada mountains heats up during the day.....nights are generally cool and refreshing. Hence the swimming pool at Yosemite Pines Campground is kept heated to 80 degrees. After testing the waters, Ella and Vance announced that it was too cold for swimming. They much preferred natural swimming holes while we were in this area. In fact, Ella declared Rainbow Pool as her very favorite on the entire trip! She's a natural born fish and I'm certain that if we had given her the go ahead, she would have jumped off the diving rock without a moment's hesitation.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/Reading.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />After a day in the park, evenings provide lots of D.E.A.R. time <span style="font-style: italic;">(Drop Everything And Read)</span>. Between the NP book stores at Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite the kids had picked up some great reads including a series called Mysteries in Our National Parks. The main characters in the books are Vance's and Ella's ages and the stories are about their hair raising adventures. The tales are full of excitement such as coming face-to-face with an enraged grizzly as told in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hunted-Mysteries-Our-National-Park/dp/0792276655/ref=sr_1_16/002-6306734-9767203?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185141532&sr=8-16"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Hunted</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mystery #5</span>. </a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a href="http://http//www.amazon.com/Fur-Loafing-Yosemite-Collection-Cartoons/dp/0939666944/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b/002-6306734-9767203?ie=UTF8&qid=1185141875&sr=8-1">Fur and Loathing in Yosemite</a></span> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Drink-Be-Hairy-Yosemites/dp/1930238215/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6306734-9767203?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185141875&sr=8-1"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Eat, Drink and Be Hairy</span></a> has provided Vance with hours of laughter and pleasure. He loves humor and these comic books (a collection of Farley Cartoons set in Yosemite) by Phil Frank are right up his alley. With the absence of TV in our camper, reading is a wonderful form of entertainment and enrichment for all of us.<br /><br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007YosemitePines/images/YpSMall6.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span><span>Yosemite Pines was the second best campground I’ve ever been to. We camped there twice. They have a petting farm and a nice office and store. The employees wore guest first service shirts. Ella was with us on the first stay.<br /><br />Near Yosemite there is a great swimming hole called Rainbow Pool. The pool was at least 10 feet deep. Many people were jumping off a pillar of rock called diving rock. I was relaxing in a little hot pool when a crayfish suddenly appeared. Luckily, I was not pinched.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />GREAT CAMPGROUND, GREAT AREA!<br /></span><span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007YosemitePines/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/July2007YosemitePines/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/sneak-attacks.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Previous - </span>Sneak Attacks!</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/yosemite-valley.html">Yosemite Valley<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Marktag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238872.post-59037574716978856092007-07-18T09:34:00.000-04:002007-09-28T01:53:13.263-04:00Sneak Attacks!<img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/denise.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/ellabig.jpg" /><br /><br />Ella loves to draw and paint, but since we're lean on artist supplies in the camper she decided to improvise. Pictures speak a thousand words, so I hope you enjoy her brush strokes and creative talent in the photo gallery! <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">teeheehee</span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/Antzarmy.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" />While Ella was plotting a sneak attack on Uncle Mark and Vance, little did we realize that our camper was about to be under siege. We were in town seeing a movie when the attack occurred. Returning to the camper, we discovered that <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><span>an</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> Army of Ants</span> had gotten into our tiny bathroom. But how???<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/RAID.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />A quick check by Mark on the outside pinpointed the source of entry..... they were climbing up one of our rear support jacks. About that time Ella found ants in her bunk and they were making their way up to Vance's bed. On closer inspection, they seemed to be just about everywhere and in great numbers. This was more than an attack.....it was a full scale invasion. Mark headed for the nearest market to buy Raid to spray on the jack and something non-toxic (to humans) to get rid of them on the inside of the camper. Meanwhile, Ella and I managed to keep the ants out of the kitchen area and food pantry. Luckily, Mark was able to find some products in the small town nearby that eradicated the unwanted pests and things got back to normal in the camper!<br /><br />As for Lemon Cove Campground, it was by far the worst campground we've stayed at on both of our extended trips. I really regretted that for Ella since part of the fun of this adventure is the whole camping experience. Basically, we expected the amenities to be clean and in good working order.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/LemonCove.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />In a previous life, Lemon Cove may have been a KOA...the office/store had that A-frame look about it. It certainly had seen better days. The setting was fine, actually better than average and it had the infrastructure to be a really nice place. What it lacked was TLC and lots of elbow grease. Ella noticed that one of the full time residents had a very nice lawn and lots of yard art. Their camper was clean and neat. They were obviously the Joneses, but unfortunately no one else in the neighborhood was trying to keep up with them.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/stuff.jpg" class="alignLeft" align="left" /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is my theory-</span>most of us are pack rats by nature and if you try to settle down and stay in one place too long in an RV or a camper, chaos results. Too little space...too much stuff. It's amazing how tidy our own camper becomes on moving day. It's simply impractical to haul unnecessary things to a new location. When we cease being nomadic we begin to accumulate stuff. So much stuff that ultimately some of it ends up outside.....a fading and rotting eyesore on the landscape. This was clearly evident at Lemon Cove.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/Tidy.jpg" class="alignRight" align="right" />Appropriately, this post is about sneak attacks and <span style="font-style: italic;">stuff</span> has a way of sneaking up on all of us! It monopolizes our time, it zaps our energy, it holds us back, it costs us money and it clutters our view. After being at Lemon Cove, we're eager to purge the camper, clean it, pack up and hit the road to Yosemite NP.<br /><br />By the way, Ella really likes moving day and cheerfully pitches in to do her part. The process that's involved in transporting the camper from one campsite to the next appeals to her sense of order. She's a big help to me when she's not busy playing tricks on Uncle Mark and Vance!<br /><br /><a name="Vance"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/images/VancesViewpoint.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vance: </span><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lemon Cove</span> (the crap campground)</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span>Lemon Cove was the worst campground so far. The men’s restroom was halfway torn up. A torn shower stall was at the back of the room. The staff did not make one effort to fix the men’s restroom, and the staff was mostly senior women.<br /><br />A few days later, ants attacked the camper. They were coming up through the jacks. We sprayed everything, but they just kept coming.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />REALLY, LEMON COVE WAS JUST A PIECE OF CRAP!<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><br /><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/June2007LemonCove/photos.htm" alt="Click for Photo Gallery"><img src="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/content/June2007LemonCove/images/photoGallery.jpg" align="middle/" /></a><br /><br /><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/bear-country-jamboree_17.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prev - </span>Bear Country Jamboree</a></td><br /><td> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com"> Home </a> | <a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2006/09/table-of-contents.html"> Index </a> | </td><br /><td><a href="http://www.haveschoolwilltravel.com/2007/07/hanging-tree.html">All Creatures Great and Small<span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Next </span></a></td></tr></table>Mark