The Valley of Awe – Yosemite

YOSEMITE FALLS



SAM AND TOM AT GLACIER POINT

Until last weekend, I hadn’t been to Yosemite since I was about 12, even though I’m a native Californian. At twelve, it’s all very pretty and grand, but - come on - at that age there was much more on my mind, like a cute redheaded boy.

This time I found myself in complete awe, turning around at every curve in the roads that wind through this magnificent park and emitting noises of joy or being stunned into silence. I took my two nephews, Tom and Samuel, with me and they seemed to appreciate their surroundings almost as much as I did. Perhaps they're more mature than I was at their age.



Yosemite National Park doesn’t require a lot of selling. Most people know it is a wondrous place. But there are a few tips travelers might appreciate.

1. The admission fee of $20 per car is good for seven days. The park is far too vast to take in during the course of one day, so plan for at least two, three if you can spare the time. I went for one day and barely scratched the surface.

2. Get there early. We arrived at 8 a.m. and were only 4 cars back from the front of the line. By about 10 a.m. the park began to fill up and cars lined many of the roadways.

3. Take time to ride the shuttle bus in Yosemite Valley. It’s about 45 minutes to go round to all the stops, but you’ll get a sense of where everything is and can hop off at any stop. A new shuttle will show up in about ten minutes.

4. I know nothing about the Tuolumne Meadows area, because we didn’t make it that far, but I do know you must not miss Glacier Point. It’s a long drive to the top – 32 miles – but well worth it. All along the way there are viewpoints, each more more spectacular than the next. However, once you look out over the insanely beautiful, almost surreal grandeur of Yosemite Valley, across at Half Dome and beyond, you’ll think the other views that went before so much smaller in scale.

5. Bring lots of water. Drinks are expensive at the stores and you’ll find yourself gulping down bottles at an alarming rate, between the walking and summer heat.

Every thing else you need to know is available online at the park’s website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/

Go, enjoy, take pictures and remember.

Way, Way Beyond Sacramento – Prescott, AZ

I know this is really stretching it, but I couldn’t resist doing a piece on my vacation destination of Prescott, Arizona.

Over the week following Memorial Day, my daughter and I ventured north from Phoenix to one of my favorite little towns, Prescott, about an hour and a half from Phoenix, depending on what part of town you start from and how fast you drive!

You start up Interstate 17 towards Sedona and Flagstaff, then head west on Highway 69, winding around through thoroughly desert terrain, until suddenly you head out of Prescott Valley and begin to enter a more alpine area.

Prescott was the first capital of Arizona, so it is rich in history, but what I find most intriguing is it’s curious mixture of old and new, alpine and desert with a touch of “red rock” thrown in. Within a five-mile radius, you can travel to several small lakes, stroll along quaint old town streets, visit a handful of museums and go to the mall.

The Sharlot Hall Museum, named after and founded by the territory’s very influential woman, is a nice diversion, and explores the pioneer area of Arizona. There are other choices, such as the Smoki Museum, but we didn’t have time for all that was available.

Several of the town’s streets are tree-lined and hold little architectural treasures of their own, with both tiny and palatial homes that step right out of the past.

The downtown is built around a square, with the county courthouse at its center, a relic itself, and provides a wonderful variety of dining choices and enough shops to keep a shopaholic busy for most of the day.

My very favorite spot, which I will return to whenever I visit in the future, is Lake Watson, an idyllic laying down of water amongst gorgeous, awe-inspiring juts and valleys of red rock. Just sitting on a bench and staring at the lake brought my blood pressure down a few notches, I’m sure.

So, if you pass that way, take a trip to Prescott. You’ll find yourself slowing down and relaxing, in spite of yourself.

Ironstone Vineyard In Delightful Murphys

Looking for a place to simply wander with your thoughts? Well, you can’t go wrong by taking a side trip to the Ironstone Vineyards, just outside the main section of the charming little burg of Murphys.

Ironstone offers beautifully landscaped grounds, with walkways to wander with lots of places to sit and contemplate. There are ponds and picnic areas, gardens and of course, vines to look out on.

The amphitheatre area is a lush green and hosts many top-flight entertainment acts. This summer Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs, the Moody Blues, Alan Jackson, Dianna Krall, Chris Issak and Brian Setzer, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Crosby, Still & Nash will all take the stage on various weekends.

There’s also a restaurant, the Pit, just inside the beautifully appointed tasting room, which offers special Thursday dinners. Additionally, there are many events throughout the year at the vineyards, from car shows to barbeques, which you can check out on their website at www.IronstoneVineyards.com.

If you travel to the vineyard, be sure to stop in at the Heritage Museum to view the gold rush era artifacts and a huge nugget about the size of a dining room chair back. It’s actually a “crystalline gold specimen” that weighs 44 pounds and is the largest of it’s kind in the world. It’s rightfully called “The Crown Jewel.”

Ironstone Vineyards is located at 1894 Six Mile Road, Murphys, CA. For more information, you can visit the website or cal 209-728-1251.

I'm Back!

There have been a couple of inquiries lately as to when I planned on getting back to my blogs. Well, today’s the day! Although, I won’t post this until Monday, I’m sitting in Wanda, my RV, enjoying an absolutely beautiful Sunday. It can’t be more than 85 degrees, if that, at least here under the trees.

Having returned from vacation in Arizona three weeks ago, I’ve really appreciated the climate here. It was already 105 degrees in Phoenix on Memorial Day, but my daughter, whom I was visiting, and I did get away to Prescott where the temperatures were 25 degrees cooler, day and night.

I think it was the temperature changes that brought on the Mother-of-All-Colds. Yow! I was really miserable for two weeks solid.

That, however, has no relationship to why I’ve been away and frankly, I’m not really sure what the whole story is, because I truly love writing my blogs. Two things coincided – I finished the novel I’d been working on for three years and I started therapy. Did my brain just decide I was finished on one hand and occupy itself with figuring out the complex workings the Kathy-being on the other? Don’t really know, but I do know just typing this is relieving a certain stress and giving back to me what it always does – a sense of expression.

So, now it’s onward, as they say! Glad to be back and don’t be too surprised if you see a lot more action on my two-blog sites. A good friend suggested I market them a little more and I plan to do just that. So, hang on for what I hope will be a wild and happy ride!

Thanks for hanging in there with me, all you faithful and regular readers, who number over one hundred by the way!

In These Recessionary Times

This past weekend I had planned to go to an event at the Folsom Library. A former correctional officer has written a book about Folsom Prison and was there to promote his book, joined by a Johnny Cash tribute artist. It sounded interesting and best of all it was free.

Unfortunately, a family situation arose and I couldn’t attend, however I realized that it’s a natural reaction when we are low on cash (I’m saving up for a long awaited vacation) to feel deprived because we can’t do what we normally would – like take in a movie or go out to dinner.

Along comes the Free Stuff Genie. Seriously though, if you are struggling because of a job loss or reduction of circumstances of any kind, it is time to look around a bit for all of the things that can be enjoyed with little or no cost. The alternative is to sit in your house and watch endless hours of television and ultimately end up depressed. Come on, get up and explore.

Here are a few ideas:

• Libraries – have lots of free activities, like lectures, slide shows, and travel presentations. Stop in a pick up one of the numerous fliers at almost any library. For the kids there are always the storytelling hours.
• The American and Sacramento Rivers are accessible and free to those who would enjoy wiling away a few hours watching kayakers paddle by or perhaps, doing some fishing.
• For the kids, most malls have a separate play area – unless going to the mall without purchasing anything makes you feel deprived, in which case you should avoid this suggestion at all costs.
• The parks in the Sacramento area are amazing. Got some stale bread? Why not feed the ducks at McKinley Park?
• The walking trails in the Folsom area are very beautiful and created for everyone to enjoy. Come, park your car and stroll among the trees.
• Have a picnic anywhere. You have to eat don’t you? Well, pack it up and visit Capitol Mall, any park, Old Town – wherever there’s a picnic table or a patch of picnic-friendly grass.

When in doubt, Google “Things to Do in Sacramento.” You’ll probably find a list of things you’ve never, ever done.

Remember, just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s boring. It can be the best time you’ve had in years.

Broadway Adventures

When the sun peeked out on Saturday, I couldn’t resist. I abandoned my computer and headed out for a drive. I really had no agenda, but I will admit to having an idea swirling around in my brain.

I listen to National Public Radio and a few days before they had a feature piece on an Ethiopian restaurant on Broadway – Queen Sheba. I’ve always wanted to try Ethiopian fare, but never had the opportunity at the right time. So, I headed for Broadway and 16th Street, knowing the restaurant was nearby.

I found Queen Sheba, one block down, at 1704 Broadway, easily located from its brightly painted exterior. It looked welcoming. As I was turning around to head back I spotted another ornate exterior - R5 Records - right on the SE corner of 16th and Broadway. I quickly pulled into the parking lot and took this picture.


MURAL by Shaun Turner

The easily identifiable musical greats like Jimi Hendrix and Nina Simone were wonderful. Finding it on a driveby - incredible. The other side of the building features a portrait of Billie Holliday. Worth stopping to look at and while you're there, check out the store. R5 has a great selection. I found myself stuck in the Jazz section where I found John Coltrane and Thelonius Monk CDs for great prices.

After wandering the aisles for a few minutes I headed back out to the parking lot and realized that one of my favorite destinations, a bookstore, was just across the asphalt. I stepped into The Avid Reader and found it to be a quiet, roomy place, in spite of being a fraction of the size of a Barnes and Noble. There weren't any trendy types there at the time, including myself, and I found that relaxing. There was a good selection for the real estate they occupied and they were right on the money with a display for Black History Month. It covered an interesting number of angles.

Back to my dining experience though. I expected the food to be a bit more exotic, but it really wasn't that different from what I would fix myself - if I had the time and/or inclination. I ordered the Chicken Tibbs, which were cubes of chicken breast cooked with mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli and bell peppers in wonderfully tasty spices, including turmeric, which gave it a lovely bright yellow color. Along with the dish, I ordered the Ethiopian hot spiced tea. I believe I enjoyed this as much or perhaps even more than the food. It was really fragrant and lovely.



SARA in Queen Sheba

I spoke a bit with Sara - pronounced SAR-uh - who was pleased at the recognition the restaurant had received from NPR. She and my server, a pleasant young man whose name I forgot to get (unusual for me), were both solicitous a pleased that I enjoyed myself.

For more information, visit the restaurant's website - www.queenshebas.com. I highly recommend the experience.

Remember an adventure is always just around the corner.

Looking for Adventure? Try a Windstorm in an RV

It’s 3:45 a.m. on Sunday morning and for several hours I’ve been trying to ignore and sleep through a windstorm in Wanda, my RV.

Each time the wind whips through there is massive shaking accompanied by the rattle and flapping of her awning. If a gust is strong enough, it swoops under the cab-over portion as well and tries to lift it off the chassis.

Yes, it’s noisy, but even more impressive is the sense of doom you must live through until you finally understand that the whole kit and caboodle isn’t going flip over with you inside. Because, believe me, it feels like it.

I slept through some minor windy nights when I first moved back to California and was camping at Folsom Lake. It was my first time and then too I felt as if we would simply fall over. But during those nights, it didn’t take long for the winds to die down. Tonight, this has been going on since about 10 p.m.

I don’t hear the neighbor’s awning flapping so loudly and have gotten up, in part, to spy on hers through my kitchen window and see if it’s also threatening to rise with the next blow.

Here comes another one. No - her patio cover is actually more stable, perhaps because hers has poles that are anchored to the ground. Mine hangs from the top with supporters that angle back to Wanda’s base. Oh, well, makes for more drama our way.

Now that I’ve recorded the windiest night in Wanda’s and my history, I may be able to drift off again.

Sweet dreams. May you survive this night and go on to other adventures. I suspect I’m making this blessing for myself and not those of you who will safely read this in the morning.