Well, it has been a VERY INTERESTING 2 ½ weeks since our last Blog. First we spent a couple days at the southern end of Yosemite and then we left that area on June 12th to drive to the northern entrance of Yosemite where we intended to continue our time in this gorgeous park. That’s when things got VERY INTERESTING. Twenty-five miles after leaving our campground, while coming out of the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, we experienced a SERIOUS problem with the RV. The motorhome has been laid up ever since!  In the intervening couple weeks we have 1) been trying to get repairs started on the motorhome; 2) flown to Iowa for Pat’s Aunt Maxine’s funeral; and spent a few days in San Francisco. We said it had been a VERY INTERESTING 2 ½ weeks!


• We really enjoyed the days in Yosemite where we began viewing this fantastic National Park. It is a very special Spring in Yosemite because this year they experienced 200% snow-pack and, thus, the waterfalls and river rapids are EXCEPTIONAL. Many folks told us that the falls are the best that they have seen in their lifetime. Our visit to Bridal Veil Falls was awesome. There was so much water coming down that we got absolutely soaked while viewing it. Next we went to Tunnel View which is a viewpoint east of the Wawona Tunnel. The vista from here looks east into Yosemite Valley and includes an unparalleled panorama of the southwest face of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridal Veil Falls. We were very fortunate to drive up to Glacier Point since the road was just finally cleared of snow and opened two days before we arrived. Glacier Point is a lookout located on the south wall of Yosemite Valley at an elevation of 7,214 feet. From this perspective we had a superb view of Yosemite Valley, including Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Clouds Rest. It was very awe-inspiring. Next we headed to Mariposa Grove which is a sequoia grove located in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park. It is the largest grove of Giant Sequoias in the park, with several hundred mature examples of the tree. Two of its trees are among the 25 largest Giant Sequoias in the world. We also visited the Yosemite Pioneer Village which consists of historic structures from different eras of Yosemite history. As we walked among the structures, it was fascinating to see each building that represented a different chapter in the Yosemite story. Our last evening in Yosemite we were privileged to view a movie entitled "Return to Balance" which examines the life of Yosemite legend Ron Kauk, who, through imagery and soft-spoken narration, shares insights and stories of his life of climbing in Yosemite. He strives, in his own ingenuous way, to awaken us to our connection with nature and our responsibility to preserve it. Ron was there to introduce the movie himself and then answered questions and interacted with the audience for a long time after the viewing. It was a very inspirational and moving evening. We also visited Curry Village and drove around the floor of Yosemite Valley experiencing our first close-up views of Yosemite Falls and El Capitan. We were reserving this area for several more days of exploration once we got to the northern entrance to the park. This will now have to wait a while.


• We spent several days in San Francisco where we were joined by Mary and MarieElena, friends of ours from Florida, and Sal and Alan, friends of ours from Houston. Firstly we went to a GREAT dim sum restaurant in China Town with Mary and MarieElena. It was delicious and great fun selecting plates from all the enticing dishes that kept coming by. Thanks to our friends M&M for a great time. Next we had a delicious dinner at a wonderful Mexican restaurant with Pat’s brother and sister-in-law. The next day we started a whirlwind three days of sightseeing. This included visits to the waterfront and Fisherman’s Wharf; Ghiradelli Square for some scrumptious hot chocolate; a ride on the historic San Francisco trolley, a drive down Lombard Street, best known for the one-way section on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, in which the roadway has eight sharp turns (or switchbacks) that have earned the street the distinction of being called the crookedest [most winding] street in the world; China Town; Little Italy and it’s North Beach Festival; Golden Gate Park with it’s gorgeous Japanese Tea Garden and the Palace of Fine Arts; the Golden Gate Bridge; Muir Woods; and Point Reyes National Seashore. We also had time for a great sushi dinner with Pat’s niece, her husband and daughter. This is just a quick synopsis of some of the many things we saw and did while in San Francisco. We REALLY enjoyed having the opportunity to experience everything with our friends and family.


• After San Francisco we flew to Iowa where we spent a few days with Pat’s family. Her great-Aunt Maxine, who turned 100 this past December, passed away. She had requested that Pat deliver the eulogy at her service so, of course, we wanted to be there.


• We are now in Lodi, California where our motorhome has been since we broke down on June 12th. As mentioned above, while leaving the southern entrance of Yosemite we encountered some serious problems. The front-left wheel came off the RV! All four bolts that hold the wheel assembly on the A-arms of the axle sheared off and we skidded 880 feet until SAFELY coming to a stop. We had to be towed twice, first 47 miles to a locked yard, and then 115 miles to the repair center here in Lodi. We have now spent the last 2 ½ weeks trying to get insurance adjusters here, estimates prepared, authorizations for repairs, confirmations that parts are being ordered, etc. The repairs are pretty extensive and the current consensus seems to be that it will be six to eight week before all the work will be completed!!! We have been staying in the RV in the parking lot of the repair center without air conditioning or hookups and we certainly cannot remain here for another couple months. So, this Sunday, July 3rd we are going to fly back home to Florida. Our current plans are to fly back out here around the middle of August and resume this trip where we left off. After all, we still have northern California, Oregon, Washington, Vancouver/British Columbia and Glacier National Park. It’s a REAL BUMMER but we have not lost sight of the really important fact and that is that NO ONE WAS HURT. We consider ourselves VERY FORTUNATE and we will just go on from here.


So, this will be the last Blog for a few weeks but tune back in and we’ll pick up where we left off.


Below is the link to the pictures for Yosemite and San Francisco.


http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMsG



As always, drop an email at  PFerraro1@cfl.rr.com we’d love to hear from you.
So, in the mean time, take care and stay safe.


SOON,


Pat & Judy