San Diego Weekend

So, I guess I have to start this travel post with a caveat, which isn’t the most elegant way to start a travel post.
See, Mel Heth left a comment (thanks Mel!) that apparently started all of your imaginations going way, way out of control.
Yes, I did go down to San Diego to meet [...]

Quiet Thanksgiving

Perhaps I’m just getting older.  Or lazier.  Or, quite possibly, both.
Whatever the reason, as time goes by, I find myself doing less on the Thanksgiving Holiday, even while society at large seems to be pushing everything and everyone to rush around at a more and more frantic pace every year.

Lingering Memories

I went down to San Diego last weekend weekend before last; just a quick overnight trip.
I’ve only been there a few times in my life, which is kind of strange considering that both a) I like San Diego and b) it’s really not that far away from L.A.  On this trip, too, I [...]

Those Bears Are Smart, I’m ‘Tellin Ya

Camping in Yosemite Valley, unlike the rest of the park, has certain unique factors.  Namely the fact that humans and bears have been interacting for far, far too long.  This has left the resident bear population very accustomed to seeing humans as a food source, leading to a nightly contest between ranger and bear.  Bears [...]

Happiest At 4,000 Feet – A Weekend of Desert and Dessert

When October rolled around when I was a kid, in addition to Halloween, there was the annual trip up to Apple Hill.
Located near Placerville, up in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of Sacramento, Apple Hill is an association of apple growers who banded together to promote their products.  The Parentage and I went up every [...]

Friday Sillyness: My Blood Runs Cold, My Memory Has Just Been Sold

(Bonus points if you know the reference above. )
National Geographic Magazine isn’t something I read a lot.  This isn’t for lack of desire or interest, mind you.
The honest truth is: I’ve already got so many things (books, magazines, online items) on my reading list already that I just can’t add NGM, as fascinating [...]

The Problem…

…with watching all of “The National Parks – America’s Best Idea” for a solid week is that it makes one really, really want to quit one’s job and hit the road.
I can only imagine what would have happened if they’d aired the show in the spring, near the beginning of tourist season, rather than now, [...]

Kings Canyon Trip

A brief rundown of the Kings Canyon trip, for those interested.  With pictures, natch.
Friday mostly consisted of driving to the park (I know, the 99 is thrilling).  Luckily, my carpoolmate was local, making the pickup easy, and we left at a reasonable time (as opposed to, say, the crack of dawn).
The drive was long, but [...]

Respite

Just home from a much-needed relaxing weekend of car-camping in Kings Canyon.
There was hiking, talking, caving, fire lookouts, scenery galore, good food, and even a bear.

Travels: Red Rock Canyon State Park

I’m going to go out on a limb and speculate that most of you have seen California’s Red Rock Canyon State Park (Wikipedia Page here).  No, really, you probably have.
RRCSP pops up out of nowhere along California’s Highway 14.  One moment you’re rocketing along through the flat scrub of the Mojave Desert, having just passed [...]