California Dreamin'

9/27/15

Visited the Oregon Vortex and House of Mystery to check out some of the optical illusions caused by the magnetic hill. The main illusion was that your height appeared to change depending on which side of the level platform you were (i.e. north vs south or east vs west). Stopped by Del Rio Vineyards afterwards before heading on to CA. Saw some gigantic trees along the drive, but didn't stop to take any pictures. Checked out the super-moon during the lunar eclipse once the clouds parted.

both poles are 7' tall

both poles are 7' tall

House of Mystery

Blood-moon and lunar eclipse

Lunar eclipse

super moon

Starting Point: Grants Pass, OR
Ending Point: Crescent City, CA
Miles Traveled: 124


9/28/15

Traveled along the Redwood Highway and Shoreline Highway today. Took some "scenic alternates" along the Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway and Avenue of the Giants. Stopped for lunch at The Lighthouse Grill, and North Coast Brewing for dinner before turning in for the night.

Yup, I'm in California...

in case you were wondering the differences...

Starting Point: Crescent City, CA
Ending Point: Fort Bragg, CA
Miles Traveled: 223.8


9/29/15

Drove down the coast a little more before heading east into wine country. Stopped by a few wineries and a brewery along the way: Russian River Brewing, Paradise Ridge Winery, Hook & Ladder Winery, and Harvest Moon Winery.

Paradise Ridge Winery

Paradise Ridge Winery

Starting Point: Fort Bragg, CA
Ending Point: Vallejo, CA
Miles Traveled: 204.7


9/30/15

Drove through Yosemite National Park to get to Mammoth Lakes; also passed through Stanislaus National Forest and Inyo National Forest. Saw El Capitan and Half Dome. Didn't do much hiking because my knee is still bothering me. Hit up Mammoth Brewing Company before turning in for the night.
Warning, another soapbox: why do people insist on feeding the wild animals? One of the park employees ran out to a woman who was feeding a squirrel and asked her stop (she did it before I could). There are signs everywhere including on the tables explaining why you shouldn't (in multiple languages). The other thing to note in this scenario is the fact that the squirrels are carrying hantavirus - yup, that one that can kill you if it develops into that severe respiratory or renal syndrome. Again, signs everywhere noting this. After the woman stopped feeding the squirrel, it came closer to her and was tapping on her leg begging for food. She looked horrified and kept trying to shew it away. This is why you don't feed the effing wild animals. And now you've created a behavior that will bother other people that did not feed the animals. Let me break it down for you (again - the sign already did): 1) you create a false food source that won't always be there (think when it's not tourist season); 2) the salty food humans eat can actually contaminate the animals' winter food stash and then they won't survive the season; 3) you make really plump squirrels, raccoons, etc. that become very tasty looking to mountain lions, etc that then venture in to spaces where humans are; 4) these animals are then "dealt with" (read killed) by the park service as protection to the stupid humans; 5) you are opening yourself up to exposure to diseases they may be carrying (read rabies and hanta virus). What have we learned? Don't feed the wild animals!

Stanilaus National Forest

Stanislaus National Forest

a big old tree

El Capitan

El Capitan

snake crawling across the trail

Half Dome

Can you see the smoke from the fire?

Half Dome (from Olmsted Point)

Clouds Rest and Half Dome (from Olmsted Point)

glacial erratics at Olmsted Point

Starting Point: Vallejo, CA
Ending Point: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Miles Traveled: 294.3


10/1/15

Drove through Death Valley on the way to Las Vegas. Definitely a hot, dry place. Ironically, it was raining in Mammoth Lakes when I left. Turns out my parents are in Vegas for a few days for a conference, so I was able to meet up with them.

Sierra Nevadas

Sierra Nevadas

Death Valley - Father Crowley Point

Death Valley

Death Valley - Sand Dunes

Sand Dunes

that's how hot it was

Badwater Basin

salt flats

Artist's Palette

friends in Vegas

Starting Point: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Ending Point: Las Vegas, NV
Miles Traveled: 368.8


Total Miles Traveled Thus Far: 12,770.5 via car, ~282.5 via another vehicle, ~143.5 via boat, 17.8 via cog (train), 5.34 via aerial tram


~Elizabeth/Lizzi/ET/Country

**I've been using Airbnb some during this trip to find places to stay along the way. If you haven't tried it, check it out for your next trip (even internationally). Usually cheaper than a hotel...and if you have some extra space, rent it out and make some money! (https://www.airbnb.com/)**


all photos Copyright 2015 Elizabeth M. Turner