Traveling Home

I awoke on my 30th birthday to a chilly morning in the mountains of Yosemite National Park.

Madelyn enjoyed a celebratory cup of birthday cocoa with me. 

Before heading toward home, we made one more loop around the Yosemite Valley for good measure. 

 


Lulu posing with her vintage Airstream cousin. 

One more night camping on the way home at a very nice RV park. Again with the incredible bathrooms that no one but us seemed to be using.  Thanks to the smooth (and vertical!) new jack I had installed on Lulu, even Madelyn can help with the easy setup. 

We finally indulged in our traditional vacation breakfast of McGriddles (and now smoothies too!) on the last day of our trip. Madelyn often gets scared partway up the PlayPlace tunnels, but this time she mustered the courage to go ALL the way in and then down the extra-long slide! We were happy to see her having so much fun.

As an anti-climactic ending to our Road Trip, we spontaneously fulfilled Gary's lifelong dream (or something) to visit The Oregon Vortex and World Famous House of Mystery in Gold Hill, Oregon. If you have the time and inclination, it is mildly intriguing, but I wouldn't personally classify it as a not-to-be-missed attraction.

Our road trip to Disneyland and Yosemite National Park was really special. It was a great way to turn 30 too. I have to add now these two anecdotes I just remembered that simply cannot be forgotten!

Funny Anecdote 1:
We must have recently discussed the concept of car-sickness with Madelyn, or maybe sea-sickness (she likes pirates a lot), or possibly both. Because when Gary ardently declined to ride on the Mad Tea Party ride (spinning tea cups), Madelyn asked him, "Is it because you might get cup-sick?" It took us just a moment to grasp her meaning. And then we had a good chuckle.

Funny Anecdote 2:
Sometimes we use the public "family" restrooms, which typically have both the male and female universal signs on the door. When she inquired about these signs at an I-5 Rest Area, I interpreted the meaning for Madelyn using the word UNISEX. She asked if that was "like a UNICORN and INSECTS?" Oh how I love it when the internal workings of a child's mind are verbalized so we can all enjoy!

Yosemite National Park

After four amazing days of Disneyland Parks, we picked up Lulu at the RV Storage Depot and headed Northeast to an entirely different kind of vacation. We took a scenic route toward Yosemite National Park, and did have to spend one night in a campground along the way.  All of the reservable campgrounds were filled before we even made plans for this trip, and we were not oblivious to the possibility that the chance of finding a good (or any!) camping spot at a popular National Park on a Saturday morning may prove impossible. But we lucked out and were able to secure one of the last remaining spaces to camp in the entire  Park.


Lunch at our site with Lulu. We just love how easy and quick it is to set up camp and be ready to go!

While Gary rested up, Madelyn made her very own "Pixie Hollow" out of grass and leaves
for her new Tinkerbell doll. 

We spent some time enjoying Tenaya Lake on the north part of Yosemite.

Madelyn really had fun and I regretted not having her swimsuit and a towel so she could go all in.

Back at camp Madelyn played catch with Daddy.

She looks adorable in the bandanna that I bought to cover my nappy camping-hair.

Gary roasts a perfect marshmallow!

Another favorite photo from this trip! My desperate need for a shower aside, it's a great mother-daughter shot and spectacular scenery!

On Sunday we drove down to the Yosemite Valley, the main tourist area featuring towering granite cliffs, domes, and waterfalls. 

Yosemite Falls

On our way to the base of the waterfall we explored some rocky caves and found this tree growing out of the rocks, it looked really cool. 

At the base of Lower Yosemite Falls, Madelyn noticed people much closer to the waterfall and wanted to go there too. 

Approaching the waterfall required us to traverse some serious rocks. Some huge, some slippery, some balanced inside a rushing stream...it was definitely a challenge for an adult; we were amazed at Madelyn's four-year-old skill, strength, and bravery. 

Of course we helped her through the treacherous spots, but through it all she wanted to keep going further and further. 

Several times we had to chart out a course and work together to get all three of us across or on top of an obstacle. 

Family portrait as we neared the base of the lower fall, after probably 30 minutes of navigating and climbing.

Madelyn was like an Energizer Bunny.

Even as Gary wonders how much further we'll be going.

I stayed behind here to photograph the front of the waterfall and show how much further on Madelyn continued trekking. They are in this photo just above the darker colored boulder toward the left. So Madelyn got up close and personal with this waterfall!

Next we walked way down to the Tolumne Sequoia Grove to see some giant trees. 

Look at this giant pinecone! Or I guess is it a Sequoia cone?

Walk-through tree. Then we had to walk UP the long hill back to the parking lot. 

Later we decided to return to the water with our swimsuits. But along the way we came upon a group of deer and were able to get very close before they scampered away. 

I zoomed in for this shot. 

But not for this one!

See how close we are?

Next stop: creek walking! 

Then we went back to Lake Tenaya and found a sandy area to swim and play. 

I'm the only one who got in and enjoyed the beautiful lake. I felt much cleaner after that!

Mmm Corn!

And s'mores of course!

Disneyland, Day Four

Here is the official "where we stayed" shot. I made arrangements for Lulu to stay a few nights at a local RV storage facility since the hotel would not allow it. They were kind enough to prorate the monthly rate so it was about the same as a daily parking fee but in a secure area. We didn't camp in Lulu in Anaheim because we wanted to be in walking distance to Disneyland. The Carousel Inn was perfect--just across the street and one block up. 

After three full, fun days, we had experienced all the best stuff and done our favorites multiple times. It was so awesome. So by this time we were doing rides that we hadn't originally cared much about, like these Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters. 

You can see how exciting this ride is. 

Just a cute picture. 

It's a Small World

This is one of my favorite shots, standing in line for our #1 ride: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, with the train going right behind us returning to the "station." 

Madelyn loved the huge dinosaur fossil that the train goes through.

Ready to ride!

 

Want to experience "Big Thunder" for yourself? Well, here's the next best thing. On all of our previous rides the three of us wedged into one seat, but for the video Madelyn and I sat in front of Gary. It made me nervous the way she bounced and slid around in the seat though, which is why I keep putting my arms down and around her. This was our seventh out of a total of I believe nine rides total. 

Madelyn took this excellent portrait of her Dad. Which is a good time to mention how endearing I find it that Gary discovered a hidden love for Disney during our visit.  If you look beyond the commercialized corporate  beast, there really is something magical about the stories and the vision of Walt Disney. Probably because our Disneyland experience was so fabulous, we do have a new appreciation for the "magic of Disney."

I had read about "Hidden Mickeys" and Gary actually found one! On this air vent on the front of the Golden Horseshoe stage, one of the holes is mouse-shaped. 

We probably would not have worked "Billy Hill and the Hillbillies" into our touring plan if it weren't for the fervent recommendation in The Unofficial Guide. Just another reason I am so grateful we had that book! This performance was hilarious and the musicians were incredibly talented. They primarily performed classic rock tunes in bluegrass style. The fiddling was incredible.

Here's a tiny taste:

After nine rides, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was feeling a little tame, so I convinced Gary that we were ready for California Screamin' at Disney California Adventure:

While I went first (thank you, Single Riders line) Gary and Madelyn rode on the neighboring carousel again. Then during Gary's ride I let Madelyn hop in this fountain to cool down while my post-roller coaster shakes wore off. Hope no one minded too much.

Madelyn loved exploring the extensive Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island. 

Trapped in a skulls-n-bones cage--hopefully the woman at my 12 o' clock wasn't terribly offended at the indecent exposure afforded by her vantage point.

As the sun begins to set on the distinctive Sleeping Beauty Castle, we make our final departure from Disneyland Park. It was really an amazing four days. Maybe we'll get out to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando for our next Disney-fest. Gary's already talking about it. :)