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Tyler and Blaise visit California +start: 2021-05-29 +end: 2021-06-05 + +<p> +Tyler and Blaise used the Memorial Day holiday as an excuse to take off work for a week and explore California. +This vacation was especially special coming off of COVID-19. +The timing was perfect and both travelers greatly enjoyed their vacation! +</p> + +<hr> +<h2 id=2021-05-29><a href=#2021-05-29>2021-05-29 Saturday</a></h2> + +<p> +Saturday both Tyler and Blaise traveled to San Fransisco, rented a car, and made their way to Jim and Tracy's house. +All the flights were packed and masks were required everywhere. +Still, signs of COVID restrictions being lifted were everywhere during the trip. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./blaise-packs.jpg"> + <figcpation>Blaise packs as lightly as possible for the trip. This is his first time camping by plane.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./blaise-airport-mask.jpg"> + <figcpation>Blaise prepares to board the plane in Milwaukee.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./rental.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Blaise sits in the rental car as they pick it up.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./banana-leaf.jpg"> + <figcpation>Tyler and Blaise enjoy a wonderful meal at Banana Leaf restaurant in Milpitas.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr> +<h2 id=2021-05-30><a href=#2021-05-30>2021-05-30 Sunday</a></h2> + +<p> +On Sunday Tyler and Blaise visited Claire Till & Family in Napa. +Afterwards they traveled to San Ramon, where Tyler lived until middle school. +The sunset was wonderful passing over Grizzly Peak on the way back to Jim and Tracy's house. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./grizzly-peak.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Blaise looks across to San Fransisco from the top of Grizzly Peak.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p> +Later Sunday Night Jim and Tracy returned from Hawaii. +It was good for everyone to connect. +</p> + +<hr> +<h2 id=2021-05-31><a href=#2021-05-31>2021-05-31 Monday</a></h2> + +<p> +On Monday Tyler and Blaise traveled to their first campsite: El Capitán State Beach. +They drove down along Highway 1, experiencing the majesty of Big Sur. +It's absolutely incredible how many miles of unspoiled coastal road there are. +It was a little bit foggy, but still stunning. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./big-sur.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Big Sur as viewed from the car.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p> +The El Capitán campsite was great. +Very private and a great location close to the beach. +The only regret was showing up to late---by the time Tyler and Blaise explored the beach it was already dark and setting up camp was challenging. +Tyler slept in the car since they needed to leave very early the next day. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./tyler-beach.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Tyler views the ocean from the small beachside cave.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./blaise-beach.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Blaise enjoys the beach.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./sunset-beach.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Sunset at El Capitán.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr> +<h2 id=2021-06-01><a href=#2021-06-01>2021-06-01 Tuesday</a></h2> + +<p> +On Tuesday Tyler and Blaise woke up very early, with much travel to do. +The pair first drove to Ontario CA, where Tyler's father lived. +They met with Tyler's uncle Ralph and family for several hours. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./tyler-ralph.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Tyler and his uncle Ralph at Ralph's home in Ontario CA.</figcaption> +</figure> + +</p> +After leaving Ralph's house around 13:00, Tyler and Blaise headed to their second campsite in the Sequoia National Forest. +It was another stunning drive through the valley and up into the hills. +Cows sometimes stood on the road. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./pair-seqioua.jpg"> + <figcpation>Tyler and Blaise pose in-front of one of the many picturesque valleys of Sequoia.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./cows.jpg"> + <figcpation>Cows block the highway at sequoia national forest.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> +Finally, with time to spare, Tyler and Blaise arrived at their second campsite: Holey Meadows. +There was no running water, but the site was quiet and gave the pair a real forest experience. +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./holey-meadow.jpg"> + <figcpation>The meadow of Holey Meadow.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./holey-car.jpg"> + <figcpation>Tyler and Blaise first arrive at Holey Meadow.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./holey-camp.jpg"> + <figcpation>The campsite with both tents and hammock setup.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr> +<h2 id=2021-06-02><a href=#2021-06-02>2021-06-02 Wednesday</a></h2> + +<p> +On Wednesday Tyler and Blaise were able to sleep in and have an easy morning. +Once packed, they made their way to the Trail of 100 Giants, a famous destination in the area. +As promised, the trees were huge. +The pair visited Dome Rock (not the famous one) on the way out of the park. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./blaise-roots.jpg"> + <figcpation>Blaise poses in front of the root system of a fallen tree.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./tyler-tree.jpg"> + <figcpation>Tyler poses in front of a giant tree.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./tyler-dome.jpg"> + <figcpation>Tyler sits on top of dome rock.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p> +Leaving Sequoia, Tyler and Blaise traveled to a hotel in Ridgecrest CA for the night. +East of Sequoia felt like the beginning of real desert. +Ridgecrest is a funny little town, and the pair were able to get supplies at WalMart and a meal at Denny's. +The hotel was a little sketchy, including a painted-over sign. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./ridgecrest-driving.jpg"> + <figcpation>The drive to Ridgcrest really felt like desert.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./ridgecrest-hotel.jpg"> + <figcpation>The hotel in Ridgecrest.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr> +<h2 id=2021-06-03><a href=#2021-06-03>2021-06-03 Thursday</a></h2> + +<p> +Waking up early, Tyler and Blaise head to Death Valley---their final destination. +Checking the internet one last time gave warnings of extreme summer heat. +The pair chose to camp at a somewhat remote campsite with a slightly higher elevation: Mesquite Springs. +They drove directly to the site and set up. +Amazingly, they ended up having the entire campsite to themselves! +It was windy and 113 deg F once the pair were done setting up camp. +Luckily the wind never returned. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./death-valley-sign.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Tyler and Blaise pose on the Death Valley sign.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./mesquite-arrive.jpg"> + <figcpation>The travelers arrive at Mesquite Springs and choose a campsite.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./mesquite-tyler.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Tyler poses next to his tent at Mesquite Springs.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p> +Tyler and Blaise visited the welcome center and came up with a plan for their two days in the park. +They spent the rest of Thursday visiting Dante's View and Badwater Basin. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./dante-blaise.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Blaise poses on Dante's Peak.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./dante-tyler.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Tyler views Badwater Basin from Dante's peak.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./badwater.JPEG"> + <figcpation>The water of Badwater Basin.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p> +Returning to the campsite, Tyler and Blaise were able to enjoy showers using the campsite hose (a huge luxury in Death Valley!) and a wonderful desert sunset. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./mesquite-sunset.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Sunset at Mesquite Springs.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr> +<h2 id=2021-06-04><a href=#2021-06-04>2021-06-04 Friday</a></h2> + +<p> +At around 4 AM Friday morning Blaise saw a lightning storm in the distance. +There was no rain, as far as he could tell. +</p> + +<p> +The campers woke up at sunrise Friday morning for their second day in Death Valley. +They needed to be on the trail early to do some hiking before the heat of the day. +Their first destination was Ubehebe Crater. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./mesquite-sunrise.jpg"> + <figcpation>Sunrise at Mesquite Springs.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./crater.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Ubehebe Crater.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./crater-caution.jpg"> + <figcpation>A caution sign along the edge of Ubehebe Crater.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./crater-tyler.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Tyler poses at the edge of Ubehebe Crater.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./crater-baby.JPEG"> + <figcpation>A smaller crater nearby.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./crater-baby.JPEG"> + <figcpation>A smaller crater nearby.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./crater-blaise.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Blaise walks along the edge of Ubehebe Crater.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p> +Next, the pair visited the sand dunes. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./blaise-dunes.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Blaise visits the sand dunes.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p> +Finally, Tyler and Blaise drive through Titus Canyon. +Along the way they visit the small town of Beatty NV for cocktails. +Titus was surprisingly wonderful and definitely worth it despite the rough driving conditions. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./titus-car.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Tyler poses next to the car at the entrance to Titus Canyon.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure> + <img src="./titus-tyler.JPEG"> + <figcpation>Tyler poses in-front of a rock formation in Titus Canyon.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p> +A family from France were the only other campers Friday night. +They stayed in a rented "Minnie Winnie" camper. +With no clouds in the sky, the stars were absolutely amazing at the campsite. +It was a fitting end to a wonderful trip in CA. +</p> + +<hr> +<h2 id=2021-06-05><a href=#2021-06-05>2021-06-05 Saturday</a></h2> + +<p> +Tyler and Blaise woke up early to put down camp and drive to Las Vegas to catch our flights. +Even though masks weren't being worn in most places, signs of COVID were still to be found. +The gambling machines at the Vegas airport were socially distanced. +</p> + +<figure> + <img src="./gambling.jpg"> + <figcpation>Socially distance gambling machines.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p> +In total the travelers drove 1806 miles. +In total Blaise spent $1,565.97 on this vacation, not including durable supplies that will be used again. +</p> + +<hr> +<p> +<a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/">CC0</a>: no copyright +</p> + diff --git a/memories/tyler-and-blaise-california/mesquite-arrive.jpg 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