California-Oregon National Parks Trip: Afterthoughts
I could think of no better way to feature the scope of my trip to the California and Oregon national parks than to use the GPS map generated by Piwigo of the photos I uploaded to the app. All of those photos are accessible at https://singin1.click/piwigo/index.php?/category/10. I try to learn from each trip, the things that go really well–sometimes despite me, I admit–and the things that don’t go well. Some of this is to set into writing for my own recollection, and some is for those of you who share in my adventures. Let’s get the not-so-good stuff done first. On One Hand,… I had purchased the Amtrak USA Rail Pass, honestly, to save money using a mode of transportation I usually enjoy using. I used my pass for the Washington to Chicago and the entire Portland to Washington trips (see the blue-marked routes on the map to the right).…
California-Oregon NPs-Return to Yosemite-0425-2626
When I visited Yosemite National Park for the first time in 2014, I was on day 14 of what had then been my longest driving tour, from Iowa to Fargo to Seattle to San Francisco back to Iowa. One of my favorite pictures was taken during that trip while I stood as close as I am ever likely to come to Half Dome. I arrived in the park around 8 a.m. Even though the date was April 25th, I was surprised that the line to enter the park wasn’t longer than it was. I had a reservation to take a scenic train tour on the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad that afternoon. This gave me about three hours to drive into the park and drive back to the railroad station. This time, I opted to start with the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Most visitors had to park their cars…
California-Oregon NPs-Joshua Tree-042226
I mentioned earlier that I had forgotten several items when I left for this trip, but I also intentionally left several regular items in my car, the Silver Bullet (SB). My game plan was to online order replacements for those items I really wanted to have on hand for pickup from a local Walmart. This included a charger I could plug into the rental, a 40-ounce thermos to hold water (never, NEVER, NEVER enter parks without an independent water source), and food that did not require preparation to eat. I also made sure the gas tank of the rental was filled. While this was normal procedure for me, I was especially concerned for that day because I had reserved a campground space in Joshua Tree National Park for the night. Joshua Tree was one of several parks designated as a Dark Sky site, and I wanted to be ready to…