Trip Report California Dazzling: A Roadtrip Vacation Spectacular - Last Update and Final Thoughts 11/8

[franandaj]

OK, you're updating like crazy. I'll comment on the previous update and then when I get a chance, I'll be back for the next one.

I can't believe how many times you had to change cars and unpack and repack. The view of Yosemite Valley is spectacular, I have got to get there someday. I think the room was fine, even though I would like AC. However the TV is a total luxury, if you got any reception! Dinner looked really good and a whole lot of food. But Black Beans on a wedge salad? Really?

I'll be back in a while to read the most recent update. I need to catch up on some other folks TRs!

 

[Steppesister]

They even had a water tap where you could wash your fruit immediately:

Good idea!

I am looking forward to that do-over!! And while Neuschwanstein is impressive, I think it is also very over-hyped. There are other places that are also very beautiful, but not as overrun and therefore much nicer. Neuschwanstein isn't even the only castle that King Ludwig II built, it just has the most dramatic setting and exterior. Inside it is to a large degree unfinished. I personally like Herrenchiemsee much better, it is situated on an island in the Chiemsee (a very large lake) and modelled after Versailles.

Give me a couple years of working and I'll be able to swing it. Meantime, I'll research a bit and find some fun things to do. Adventures await, methinks.

I prefer Central European wildlife then: rabits, foxes, beavers. If there is a wolf coming here from Eastern Europe, it makes the headlines, equally with a bear. Mostly there is nothing dangerous around.

A beaver almost killed my dog a couple years ago. Literally. He cornered one under a log and it attacked him with his long teeth and claws. His VERY deep wounds became infected and he had to have surgery to debride the wound and have antibiotics for quite a while. Wolves are really making a comeback here- it's a very controversial topic and both sides have quite valid points. Really a tough issue.

Hope you are going to catch up on sleep during your vacation a little!

Not so much. My parents are quite active and like to do stuff all day long. I had hoped to do a lot of Trip Planning while here, but also feel like I just want to spend time with them.

My destination for this bus ride was the Ahwahnee Hotel.

\

Did you know that that hotel also has a history of serving as a Military Hospital during WWII? My grandfather's ship was torpedoed in the S. Pacific in 1943 and spent many week
s there recovering from his wounds.

Spectacular!! WOW!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I can see that you have a lot of trip planning to do!!

Yes, I actually need to go back to this. Things have kind of stalled in that department.

But I guess other, less fun things keep you busy, too.

Yes, most of what has kept me busy is distinctly less fun than trip planning.

This looked like a really interesting day. What a shame that there was so little water at the waterfall. The hotel looks amazing. I would have loved to go exploring there. The stargazing excursion sounds like a winner even if the guide was annoying. I am glad that you did not need to use the emergency room. How unlucky to get tangled up with the ceiling fan.

Corinna

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Na, I don't bother with "passive"...

Whoulda thought.......???

Hmpf!

Okay, is that German for Hmpf?

But do you have the cafes, too? Or just the coffee beans?

The beans, the whole beans, and nothing but the beans!

As most people who have been to Yosemite!

I'm thinking Pat needs a picture.....

Exactly! In Norway Katharina and I visited a leper hospital. Luckily there were no lepers around anymore...

Sounds like the place was falling apart.........

Passive aggressive there, Marv??

Who? ME?

 

[Poolrat]

But I know that I will never change him in that regard. And to be honest, if there is a train to catch to my aunt's 75th birthday celebration, he was at the station at 7:30am and made nice conversation with my parents.

Well then he is a keeper...

I hate it when products I rely on disappear. I had this amazing conditioner that I used for years and that worked perfectly on my hair and then they changed the formula. I am still sad about this!

I mourn discontinued products. I finally find something that works well for me like conditioner and glass cleaner and then poof it is taken away.

Because of the location in the mountains, it really worked very well with keeping the windows open. And these were not your usual windows. They were specifically for airing. They had shutters in front of them and then a mosquito screen inside. So they were secure from large and tiny intruders.

As long as you can get some air and it cools off I can deal.

Na, I don't bother with "passive"...

But do you have the cafes, too? Or just the coffee beans?

Like Marv said just beans. In Fact I need to get some, I am almost out again.

Passive aggressive there, Marv??

You truly were very lucky because the fan was on fairly fast and you could have easily wound up with broken fingers.

I missed that the fan was ON at first ----- OUCH. I guess for me I am not usually in the way of ceiling fans. If I were in danger other people might get their heads chopped off!!!

I am glad you were okay and yes I have been attacked by the hoodie too and gotten stuck.
Why are those things so hard to back over your head???



Looks like a lovely day with a great tour, minus perhaps the tour guide. You got some great pictures and yes a place I would love to visit. A simple and "safe" dinner looked okay - like you said hard to really mess it up.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally I had thought that I could go for a run this morning, but then all those warnings about Mountain Lions scared me and I decided that it was maybe too dangerous for me to go on a run through the valley on my own – on the well paved large sidewalks where thousands of visitors walk during the summer season. You will see how ridiculous those thoughts were when you hear about what I did the next morning…

The mountain lion is even more scared of you. Or so they say.

In previous travels, especially Namibia and Canada, I always loved how when you are away from civilization you suddenly see how full of stars the sky is. And obviously a National Park would qualify for such an experience as well.

Seeing the Milky Way at Bryce Canyon remains one of our travel highlights.

Everyone says, if you want to see the waterfalls in Yosemite, you need to come early in the summer.

I heard the spring was a good time, to catch it when the snow is melting. If, you know, there is any snow.

I am pretty sure this is normally a river…

And this is the waterfall:

Wow... amazing to see the effects of the drought like that.

At least we were in the shade and the sandwich was mighty tasty. Not bland like ... I dunno ... a Delaware hoagie.

BLASPHEMY!!!!

Once I was in a restaurant in California and they offered a "steak sandwich" on the menu. I ordered it and received a piece of sirloin steak and one slice of garlic bread.

Remember, it is now renamed to The Majestic Hotel – I really hope they will be able to get the old name back!!!

Yes, me too!!

I tried to get a panoramic shot to get it all in, but it turned out a bit wobbly. I still think it gives you a good impression of the building and its location.

I think the building looks so cool.

When you enter the hotel there is only a rather crowded front desk area, but when you move through there you end up in this wonderful hall:

My kind of place!

This shot really caught my eye. Looks great.

The ceilings were nice decorated, too.

Love the detail!

I also took a picture of the restaurant where we would eat the next day:

It reminds me quite a bit of the Old Faithful Inn.

Unfortunately it was only open until 6 p.m. and the last hour was reserved for lap swimming. So, effectively it closed at 5 p.m. I spend a nice hour in the water with Michael and then we sat in the sun to dry off a little after we had to get out at 5 p.m.

5:00 p.m.? That does seem incredibly early to close.

One thing it definitely was: overpriced. All the food in Yosemite was expensive. But since we just had spent so much time at Disney, it seemed that prices were similar, in some cases cheaper than Disney, in some more expensive. I guess that is what you have to expect when you have a captive audience. And then to a certain degree I do understand it more in the National Parks where you have the added logistics of getting the stuff into the middle of nowhere.

Yeah...you really can't avoid that. It would be nice if the food was better at those prices.

Just at the end a very loud single lady got on the bus who started to chat cheerfully with the people around her. She was very perky and seemed a bit over the top. I kind of was wondering what her deal was… Well, it turned out that she was our stargazing guide!! She was really very enthusiastic about everything and did a great job, but maybe I am a dry and humor free German and that is why I thought that I would have preferred someone a bit calmer…

A little "personality" goes a long way!

We do need to go shopping to buy you a sense of humor. I would say it is a German thing, but knowing your family and friends now, I am kinda, sorta thinking it might just be you! ... Oh, have I told you how much I adore you today?!!?

The drive up to Glacier Point took about one hour. During the drive the bus driver was really good at telling stories and pointing out the sights. I even manged to get some nice pictures! I was falling asleep.

Already?

We saw a spectacular sunset on the way up there:

Wow, that's a stunning photo!

There was a wall and when you looked straight down over that wall, this is what you saw:

The valley floor 3.000 feet below us!

Cool.

I have since tried to "scan" the picture of me and my aunt up there on Glacier Point in 1986. It is a crappy scan, but it does give you an impression of the view - and my horrible 80s hair!

This was worth posting for both the view and the hair!

We had brought a bag of pistachios with us and I really loved sitting there in the fresh evening air on a blanket munching my pistachios next to my lovely Michael and look at the stars! This was definitely a high light of the trip for me!

The way back was not nearly as nice as the way up. Still a long drive, but now it was dark outside. Michael of course immediately fell asleep on the bus…

Again? Doesn't he already sleep till noon every morning?

And once he realized that I was not in any danger I was immediately told off for being so stupid and jump into a ceiling fan!

Might want to go back to that "how much I adore you" bit again...

First, a dull thud that was quickly followed by some sort of yelping type sound mixed with some German that I couldn't understand.

Oooh! Teach us some German profanity!

You truly were very lucky because the fan was on fairly fast and you could have easily wound up with broken fingers. I just wish I had footage of this to put on YouTube. You could have been a global sensation.

That truly is a missed opportunity. Can you re-enact this episode, with the 80's hair too?

 

[GoofyFan1515]

They offered two different types of star gazing tours, one in the valley and then one that went all the way to Glacier Point. Glacier Point is at the end of a road and it is actually kind of directly above Curry Village – just about 3000 feet higher. Somehow, this sounded far more spectacular and we decided to go with that excursion. And that was planned for tonight, so I headed to the excursion desk and picked up the tickets.

Sounds like you made a great choice..............

It was the second half in August in a year where California was suffering from a severe drought. We did not expect much in the way of a waterfall. Everyone says, if you want to see the waterfalls in Yosemite, you need to come early in the summer. However, I was still surprised how little water there was!!

Yes, the conditions weren't much better when I was there. This is also the case where I live and we have numerous waterfalls in the area. Late spring after the heavier rains is always the best time to view them, just like the Yosemite area after the snows melt.

And this is the waterfall:

I agree with Michael...........yeah, not so much!

Next to it was the post office:

Definitely one of my top tourist destinations!

And then we headed to the deli shop to get some lunch.

The sandwich was really good! They had a nice selection there and made the sandwiches fresh.

What? Where's that lettuce infused bun you have shown a propensity for???

A few years ago @nodnol and her DH came back from their trip to the US telling me about those delicious Cliff Bars they had discovered there. I had since tried to bring her some back from my visits to the US. But I only saw three or four different types when I found them somewhere. However, this store seemed to have every single variety they make!

You mean those same Cliff Bars that you can buy in Germany?

Yes, those Cliff Bars that you can NOW buy in Germany, but could not two years ago...

Okay children, let's play nice........

Yes, they seem to be very similar to the typical WDW bus. But they were far more reliable and came around more regularly!

That was my first thought too. Disney buses come around pretty often too...........just not necessarily headed to the park you are trying to visit.

There are all kind of rooms off from the big hall. They were meant for people to come and gather and sit in the evenings.

Sadly, I'm guessing very few people take advantage of this feature...........

There were plenty of desks where people could sit and write letters home:

So did you take advantage???

I also took a picture of the restaurant where we would eat the next day:

Very spacious.........sorta like Biergarten.

Simply gorgeous!!!

Luckily we got to the food court before the dinner rush started. We both decided to go with some hotdogs with fries:

USA! USA! USA!

Just at the end a very loud single lady got on the bus who started to chat cheerfully with the people around her. She was very perky and seemed a bit over the top. I kind of was wondering what her deal was… Well, it turned out that she was our stargazing guide!! She was really very enthusiastic about everything and did a great job, but maybe I am a dry and humor free German and that is why I thought that I would have preferred someone a bit calmer…

Yes, I got that impression with the very sedate people you like to dine with at 50's Prime Time..........

We do need to go shopping to buy you a sense of humor. I would say it is a German thing, but knowing your family and friends now, I am kinda, sorta thinking it might just be you!

Hey, she has a sense of humor. The time we hung out a lot at Disney I found myself laughing at her quite a bit! Oh, maybe that was for a totally different reason..........

We saw a spectacular sunset on the way up there:

Sharing a sunset is always a nice way to put a ribbon on a good day!

I tried my best to get some pictures with the night setting on my camera and got an interesting picture of Half Dome:

Unfortunately I didn't get to spend any time in Yosemite at night, but I did get a few good early morning pictures.

I have since tried to "scan" the picture of me and my aunt up there on Glacier Point in 1986. It is a crappy scan, but it does give you an impression of the view - and my horrible 80s hair!

Oh, gotta LOVE that hair!!! You should go back to that style...........

You truly were very lucky because the fan was on fairly fast and you could have easily wound up with broken fingers. I just wish I had footage of this to put on YouTube. You could have been a global sensation.

Half undressed and an image that would sear into one's consciousness??? I'm pretty sure she would be more than just a global sensation........

 

[PrincessInOz]

Italian ice, also known as water ice

We have Granita over here. I assume it's very similar.

Tulare Outlet Mall.

That would be the reason for stopping in Tulare.

I totally fell in love with the sequoias

I love sequoias too!!!

original bathroom

WOW! That is original.

you are likely from some make believe place like say ... Delaware.

Poor Cap Oblivious.

Bwa ha ha ha ha.

More lovely trees

Stunning!

just enjoyed watching the bear who just seemed happy in the meadow.

Lucky you! Love being able to see bears in the wild.

sequoias is that their cones normally don’t release the seeds. They only come out when animals eat them or when there is a lot of heat – i.e. in fire conditions.

Eucalyptus trees are like that too.

pictures of the outside of our cabin and our picnic table

That is rustic!!

questionable tire:

You and M kept driving with that tyre??? YIKES!

Yosemite Valley: Tunnel View

Love this vantage point.

National Parks did attract comparatively few Americans and far more international visitors

That always surprises me as well that in all NP I visit in the US, there are always more international visitors than Americans.

 

[Flossbolna]

OK, you're updating like crazy. I'll comment on the previous update and then when I get a chance, I'll be back for the next one.

Not like crazy!! But I am seriously trying to get this trip report finished.

I can't believe how many times you had to change cars and unpack and repack.

Yes, that was tedious..

The view of Yosemite Valley is spectacular, I have got to get there someday.

It is an amazing place!! And a lot of stuff in the valley is really very accessible. The only caveat is that you need to book accommodation very early (365 days early is recommended...).

I think the room was fine, even though I would like AC. However the TV is a total luxury, if you got any reception!

I actually really liked the hotel, room and all. The TV had decent reception and quite a few channels. We even had wifi, but that was rather slow.

Dinner looked really good and a whole lot of food. But Black Beans on a wedge salad? Really?

Oh - black beans on wedge salad is not ok? Michael seemed to like it well enough.

I'll be back in a while to read the most recent update. I need to catch up on some other folks TRs!

And you are on vacation!! You need to enjoy your ship!! Not read my trip report!

 

[dizneeat]

Why does everyone always have to update like crazy while we are on vacation?

But none the less, I am finally all caught up again and again too much to comment on, just want to say that the scenery is just breathtaking and I love that photo of you and your aunt. Memories!

 

[franandaj]

Originally I had thought that I could go for a run this morning, but then all those warnings about Mountain Lions scared me and I decided that it was maybe too dangerous for me to go on a run through the valley on my own – on the well paved large sidewalks where thousands of visitors walk during the summer season. You will see how ridiculous those thoughts were when you hear about what I did the next morning…

Plus I don't think those animals are usually out in the daylight unless they have become really bold.

There is a courtyard with an amphitheater for lectures and movies in the evenings. I had hoped that we would be able to catch something, but it never worked out.

Or a nice place for a band concert.

I am pretty sure this is normally a river…

And this is the waterfall:

I've seen pictures of that spot before with water gushing over the fall.

The sandwich was really good! They had a nice selection there and made the sandwiches fresh. It was a bit crowded. But all in all, not a bad spot for lunch! The only not so good thing was that we had to sit outdoors and by now the temperatures were crazy hot again.

The sandwich looks good, but I can only imagine how hot it must have been!

But the hotel does not look less amazing itself:

It still does look amazing!

Somehow I have the feeling that people do that far less now than when the hotel was built. It seems that we have become far more private and prefer to spend our spare time in our own rooms and not sit in public rooms. I actually really love it, when I am somewhere, where I can hang out in public spaces. I think this is one thing I like about the cruise ships. You can be out and about and even sit in the bars without being obliged to get a drink or so.

I like the idea of public spaces too, it just doesn't seem to be a thing anymore. People really seem to like to keep to themselves nowadays.

There were plenty of desks where people could sit and write letters home:

Letters? What are those?

We saw a spectacular sunset on the way up there:

Very beautiful!

I have since tried to "scan" the picture of me and my aunt up there on Glacier Point in 1986. It is a crappy scan, but it does give you an impression of the view - and my horrible 80s hair!

OMG! That's so funny! I had the same hairdo as your aunt back in the 80s!

My only defense is that I have never lived in a house with a ceiling fan. The only places where I have experienced them is in American hotel rooms.

We have them in nearly every room in our house! I guess they are really an American thing!

 

[Flossbolna]

Give me a couple years of working and I'll be able to swing it. Meantime, I'll research a bit and find some fun things to do. Adventures await, methinks.

Hey, you could even fly to Africa via Germany!! You did it with Asia, too. ;-)

A beaver almost killed my dog a couple years ago. Literally. He cornered one under a log and it attacked him with his long teeth and claws. His VERY deep wounds became infected and he had to have surgery to debride the wound and have antibiotics for quite a while. Wolves are really making a comeback here- it's a very controversial topic and both sides have quite valid points. Really a tough issue.

Oh, so sorry for your dog! I had no idea that beavers were that dangerous. Fun fact: The German word for beaver is Bieber...

Not so much. My parents are quite active and like to do stuff all day long. I had hoped to do a lot of Trip Planning while here, but also feel like I just want to spend time with them.

Sorry that your time with your parents was not as relaxing as you hoped, but it sounds like you got some quality time nevertheless!

Did you know that that hotel also has a history of serving as a Military Hospital during WWII? My grandfather's ship was torpedoed in the S. Pacific in 1943 and spent many weeks there recovering from his wounds.

Yes, I read about the hospital that was there. But it is amazing to hear that you actually have a family member that spent time there.

Spectacular!! WOW!

And that wonderful sunset picture was just a point and shoot camera out of the window of a driving bus! Sometimes one does get lucky!

 

[Flossbolna]

This looked like a really interesting day. What a shame that there was so little water at the waterfall. The hotel looks amazing. I would have loved to go exploring there. The stargazing excursion sounds like a winner even if the guide was annoying. I am glad that you did not need to use the emergency room. How unlucky to get tangled up with the ceiling fan.

It was expected that Yosemite in summer would be quite dry. That happens every year in August.

And the hotel was wonderful - I wish I had that kind of money to not think about how much I am spending for a night so that I can stay there...

I think myself and ceiling fans will never become close friends after this encounter...

 

[Flossbolna]

Okay, is that German for Hmpf?

Hey, I had no idea that your German was that good!!

The beans, the whole beans, and nothing but the beans!

Ok, only Peets beans. What a shame. They made some really good coffee drinks, too!

I'm thinking Pat needs a picture.....

Yes, most definitely!! Unfortunately I guess there aren't that many water park conventions being held in Yosemite. That one pool was more or less it with regard to aquatic leisure offerings...

Sounds like the place was falling apart.........

Ha! No, actually Norwegian doctors were the forefront of leper research and the last patient died (of old age) finally in the late 20th century. The hospital we visited is where the research started (they moved to a nicer place already in the late 19th century as that place was very basic). And because of that fact it is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Who? ME?

Yes, I am sure @englishrose47 can confirm that you are the most innocent person in the world!!

 

[Poolrat]

Yes, most definitely!! Unfortunately I guess there aren't that many water park conventions being held in Yosemite. That one pool was more or less it with regard to aquatic leisure offerings...

I just need to get close enough, close enough. Last year the conference was in Palm Springs and we did Disney, and San Diego before heading out to Palm Springs. Most times due to getting time away from work, I can only add a few days to the conference.

 

[englishrose47]

Keeping up!!

 

[Steppesister]

Hey, you could even fly to Africa via Germany!! You did it with Asia, too. ;-)

This is very true! This is becoming an adventure for the books! This summer, I'll start to make some plans; first I've got to get a job!

Oh, so sorry for your dog! I had no idea that beavers were that dangerous. Fun fact: The German word for beaver is Bieber...

Awesome, you told me Justin time!

Sorry that your time with your parents was not as relaxing as you hoped, but it sounds like you got some quality time nevertheless!

We really did. The trip was really about them, not me. I had no agenda whatsoever, so rolled with the punches.

Yes, I read about the hospital that was there. But it is amazing to hear that you actually have a family member that spent time there.

It's really such an amazing place with a rich history. So many stories it tells!

And that wonderful sunset picture was just a point and shoot camera out of the window of a driving bus! Sometimes one does get lucky!

WOW! I guess once in a while you can get rather lucky with shots. There have been some good ones with my phone I've gotten too. Rare, but it does happen.

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Why does everyone always have to update like crazy while we are on vacation?

I know I will catch flack from Rosie for this, but..............
Because they're all busy reading when you're updating like crazy the rest of the time...........???

Hey, I had no idea that your German was that good!!

For a few years now I've been coached by the best!

Yes, I am sure @englishrose47 can confirm that you are the most innocent person in the world!!

Yeah, definitely don't ask Pat for confirmation..........she lies!

 

[englishrose47]

I know I will catch flack from Rosie for this, but..............
Because they're all busy reading when you're updating like crazy the rest of the time...........???
Well the updating like crazy is definitely not you Karin can keep me busy with her updates as has our Magdalene this time !!

For a few years now I've been coached by the best!

And all you learnt was Hmppf!!!

Yeah, definitely don't ask Pat for confirmation..........she lies!

That is my claim and is absolutely true , I have never or anyone else ever accused you of being innocent

 

[GoofyFan1515]

And all you learnt was Hmppf!!!

Alright old woman, obviously you have too much free time on your hands! I think it's about time you go back to work!!!