I have been nervous about stopping at 10 or 12. Once Dr Dan figured out I was nervous about stopping at all vs when I stopped he went full speed ahead with stopping now. He is very comfortable with how well the chemo has worked and that a break will be a good thing for being able to tolerate the next step. With the extra week after the last chemo I have already gained some energy. Looking forward to a trip to MI, and visits from Peter and Gisele, my cousin Marjorie and husband Franck and Scott and Debbie, all before Japan.
Last weeks trip to Yosemite....
Yosemite. We made it. We are traveling!!!
Up early with great anticipation for this first trip in many months (7). We were greeted in our driveway by the fawn many of you saw on our face book page. She came to see us and mom eventually looked for her and saw us and ran down the hill. We moved to the bottom of the driveway to wait for Deb and Jim to pick us up. We did see mom again but trust she circled back to find her baby. She was so young that her legs were wobbly. What a treat. No long lines at the airport and were at the gate when they announced discounted first class upgrades. We liked that idea. The trip out was gently turbulent but nice to be in first class. Nancy slept but woke up for the fresh baked warm chocolate chip cookies. Hooray for Sun Country. Picked up our high off the groundToyota 4runner. It did not come with an included step stool so this group of four shorter folks comments every time we get in and out. Sue falls out, no graceful exit or entry. Jim has been driving, we are grateful. We stayed outside the park and had a good dinner at the brew pub---yea Mac and cheese!!! Breakfast at the local spot Pete's and we were off to Yosemite. No plans so we just kept driving.
Today (Tuesday) was alternately sunny, cloudy, drizzly and foggy. We managed to capture the mood and the view of this gorgeous park. We did the valley loop stopping often to marvel at the scenery. Unfortunately Mariposa grove is closed for the season to build boardwalks to protect the shallow root systems of the redwoods, apparently our collective enthusiasm for visiting this area comes with consequences. The glacier point road is closed for weather, snow and ice and an incoming storm. We are hopeful it will be open before we go on Friday. So we have seen Yosemite falls, Bridal Veil falls, El Capitan and Half Dome. We stopped in the valley village for requisite shopping and lunch. A wrong turn took us to Yosemite lodge so we explored there-- quite the beautiful old hotel--we love national park lodges. This one is full of Native American artifacts and beautiful Native design stain glass windows. One room has two fireplaces each the size of a small room.
We finished and headed back to our Big Trees Lodge to check in and collapse. On the way we stopped to take one last photo where ansel Adams took his first brownie camera shot of the valley.
Our hotel is the oldest hotel in the park, we were warned to take everything out of the car to avoid vandalism by the local bears...
Wednesday and the sun is shining. We head off to the valley again to explore Bridal Veil and Yosemite falls and other pull off short walks. We arrived early so the crowds were at a minimum, unlike yesterday afternoon when the parking lots were packed. We hiked up to the Bridal Veil falls and got appropriately wet and cold from the mist. Quite lovely. Then off to Swinging Bridge (which does not swing) where we walked out to have a new perspective on the valley--views were stunning in the bright sunshine. Next stop Yosemite falls. Walked into the lower falls and then upper falls. Deb and Nancy spotted a sunny bench for our picnic lunch which we were smart enough to buy earlier in the morning when the deli lines were short. Our plan was to drive out to a sequoia grove but discovered that Glacier Point road was open--off we went. Up the twisty, turny road with snow on the side of the road. Stopped at one overlook and enjoyed the view with clouds rolling in. We made it up to the point and hiked out to sounds of thunder--didn't stop us or anyone else. Great view, though we liked the first look out a bit more. Back to the car, and headed down the hill as the rains came in. Back to the hotel for a late afternoon rest.
Then up into the Valley (Nancy driving) thru the longest tunnel in California to watch the sunset on El Capitan and Half Dome. It was fun to see the fog roll into the valley and the shadows on the mountains. Stopped on the way home to see more sunset and look for the ghost bear which Nancy thought she had spotted. Log or Rock bear. Shoot!
Thursday we headed outside Yosemite Park to see Sierra National Forest see a stand of Sequoia trees. We had debated driving to Sequoia National Park but the 3 1/2 hour drive one way just was too much.The forest road took us up into the mountains and was much closer. We noticed a few wild flowers on the roadside but kept heading up. Then off the paved road into the forest we went. We found the interpretive center at a camp ground where we set off on a hike to see the last standing Sequoia that was 2700 years old, 247.31 ft high and 84 ft around.
Then on to another trail. Here we saw lots of Sequoias. Hike was up hill and our necks got tired from looking up.
What a great hike. Then down we came to make a drive into town to repeat mac and cheese. But with the morning sun all the wild flowers popped open so the drive was lovely. We kept seeing new orange flowers but none near pull outs so no pics. We did get pics of many others.
Back to our place to relax and pack for Friday's departure.
Up early again today to have a nice breakfast with a sweet wait person from the Dominican Republic.
She charmed us all. Check out and hit the road to exit the park. It is a new adventure because we had entered in the South Gate and we are now leaving the West Gate. Oh, It is Nancy's birthday. Her birthday wish was to stop and buy a National Parks Senior Pass. The world's greatest bargain. But alas before we can do that we must see gorgeous scenery, wild flowers and waterfalls. Ho Hum, another gorgeous day in the Yosemite neighborhood. 
A stop and Nancy had her pass and a Yosemite birthday t shirt. HOORAY!
On the way to the airport. A misadventure trying to find lunch. No lunch and we better head off. Birthday cupcakes with a iPhone candle. Wishes work just the same.
Easy pass thru security, lunch and an on time flight. Home to find beautiful birthday flowers from Mel, Jacques and Eva in Brussels. Off to bed by 1AM.
Nancy was exhausted but loved every minute of it. Walked an average of 4 miles a day. Sue
is also exhausted and she does not have cancer!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for the new puzzles, Peg and Edie and the shirt, Jill.
Just so you know we weren't slacking before Yosemite--We went to two retirement parties--Jenny Keil from Hamline and Mary Margaret Smith from St Catherine's. Congratulations to both and we enjoyed both parties. We had fun at a Minnesota Jewish Theater Company benefit with a pirate theme. The speaker is a salvager who discovered a pirate ship off Cape Cod. Fascinating story. We got a Lynx game which was fun. And we spent three days in Madison helping Sue's cousin Nancy pack for her move to Hudson. Also met an old friend there for breakfast. We will go to Hudson this afternoon to help Nancy unpack.....Had to head home early from Madison to attend a funeral for Ralph Jewell, our good friend Kae Lovaas's husband. He was the sweetest man and will be missed by many.
Yosemite wildflowers......
Wow! What else can I say, you two are awesome!
ReplyDelete