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Yosemite
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From Patterson we drove to Mariposa and set up shop in the Mariposa Lodge, our first American Motel - much better than they're made to look on My Name is Earl.
We headed to the local supermarket to buy a packed lunch, which was made difficult as the selection was enormous. Most people opted for a freshly made sandwich but I went for a selection of salads and the hiking food of champions - sushi.
We started with a gentle hike between the huge Redwood and Sequoia trees, stopping to take plenty of photos in the arches formed underneath the roots.
After we'd hiked for 90 minutes or so we came across a road, up which a trailer full of American tourists were being dragged by a tractor. This led to some comments on their laziness which were probably recorded by the previously unseen local news camera crew. We tried to repair the damage to the UK-US special friendship by telling them we were French. In English. Which they seemed to accept.
Quick note about US National Parks: They're great. They've all got decent park and ride systems using gas powered buses to avoid environmental damage from all the cars and fully stocked rest room and waste facilities which manage not to stick out like a sore thumb in the natural surroundings.
Back to Mariposa for a great meal followed by a trip to the only bar in town. This was fun until the locals started arguing and we continued playing pool and skittles praying for a lack of gunfire.
--- Next day ---
Mariposa is full of Mexicans so I headed to the local Mexican diner for a great breakfast of eggs with shredded beef, salsa and refried beans. Unfortunately curiosity got the better of me and I ordered 'biscuits and gravy'. The description was scones and country gravy, made from sausage and bacon. Instead I got a bread roll, microwaved until it had gone tough and slathered with boil-in-the-bag pepper sauce that Captain Birdseye would be ashamed to put on a square of cheap fish. It's recommended that this be eaten as soon as prepared. I'd recommend not eating it at all.
Unfortunately the chef and waitress were so please that someone had finally ordered their special they came out to watch me eat it. All of it.
We took the van up to the top of the mountain with the aim of walking down for 8 hours. (Un)fortunately the road near the top was closed by snow so we drove back to the bottom with the new aim of walking up to see the waterfalls instead.
After walking about a third of the way up a sprightly old lady bounded down telling us that it really wasn't worth it as the waterfalls had dried up. Some carried on but I was happy to take her sage advice and walked back down to sit amongst the wildlife instead and enjoy the picnic I'd prepared earlier. I say picnic but I'd been a bit rushed so it was just BabyBel and Beef Jerky. Thankfully after the biscuits and gravy earlier nothing had much appeal so I quite enjoyed it.
Back in town we headed back to the same (the only) bar and 6 of us played tournaments at table football and pool. Despite some stiff competition from the Aussies, Welsh, Irish and English (Northern), I'm happy to report it was a joint win for the plucky Southerners and Swiss.
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