Four Points by Sheraton Fresno

... we were being over cautious but we had to get out of that place, the guy could have been a total psyco for all we knew. I think we stick out like sore thumbs at times, and when we walk into a bar you can really sense heads turn in our direction. I guess as a foreigner you can become quite vulnerable if you aren't careful.

Anyway, yesterday at the beach was a wicked change, and the weather is so much cooler, and there is this ...

... eine Ecke mit Ledermöbeln für die Männer mit Motosport-, und Automagazinen....

So beenden wir heute einen gemütlichen sightseeingfreien Tag und fahren morgen über den Sequoia Nationalpark nach Bakersfield, das heißt, wenn wir nicht gleich nach Bakersfield fahren zum "Shopping die Zweite". Außerdem muss Sewy morgen noch was umtauschen, das passiert auch, wenn man den Mann beim Einkaufen alleine lässt....

Und heute eine bärenfreie gute Nacht...

... pass the time and we arrived at Yosemitie only to be disapointed that the main road into the valley was closed due to fires. We did however travel a different route which lead us up the mountains to see some amazing rock features and lakes.

Headed back out of the park and towards San Jose another 180 miles, with the radio bursting with soft rock we knew we were road tripping ...

... bear! Afterwards we went to Grant Grove to so see some Sequoias Trees. The following day we went to Sequoia National Park. The kids finished the young Ranger program and repeated their promises after the Ranger. They received a lovely badge and were really pleased with themselves. We saw the General Sherman Sequoia which is the biggest tree ...

... I have gained a couple of pounds this trip. Also learned that the place was on the news a couple of days ago, because somebody was suing him for not having accessible place for the handicapped, sad of what our society has come to, people are sue happy! We took our food to go and ate it in the car on our way to Lake Tahoe, approximately 2 hours to our destination. We checked into our hotel and basically just chilled out for the rest of the night.

... is amazing.

One of the days, my friend Jeff who's in the Marines, drove up to LA to pick me up and drive me back to San Diego so we could hang out. He took me to what was the best baby shower I have ever been to. It made me love Marines even more. We spent the whole night drinking and playing beer pong and I completely dominated. Who would have thought little me could beat a bunch of ...

... done up until about a year ago. Yeah, it's an accomplishment to graduate college and be able to work for a reputable accounting firm, but those types of things don't cause me to well up with pride or anything of the sort. I've consciously kept my bedroom walls clear of any certificates or records of academic and professional achievement because those things aren't what I want to be recognized and known for. Rather, it's the experiences away from home ...

... chains in the boot (in case the road conditions suddenly took a turn for the worse). I suppose we could have pretended that we had them in the back, but to be honest I didn't fancy recreating the downhill competition in the Winter Olympics whilst driving a Chevrolet. So with rather heavy hearts we turned back towards Fresno, stopping en route to eat our packed lunches in the car whilst overlooking a ...

... We ate in Barstow, and continued on to Fresno. We pulled into our house just after midnight.

So, was our Southwest trip a worthy substitute for the New England trip we’d originally planned? Looking back on it, I’d have to say yes. There are some areas of astonishing beauty to observe. There is also some powerful reminders of culture, both Native American and European, that are worth visiting. But, above all, a Southwest trip reminds a ...

... boring. Eventually, we could make out that the desert landscape was slowly being replaced by pine trees and tall grass. The change in landscape told us that we were getting close to Flagstaff. It wasn’t long before we saw the lighted sign of Flagstaff’s Holiday Inn. We pulled in and checked into our room. After a nine and a half-hour drive, we were ready for some serious sleep. The sleep was needed because we had plans to do some hiking at the Grand Canyon the next day.