Road Trip: Yosemite National Park
In between stays in San Francisco we went on a 2 1/2 day backpacking excursion into Yosemite National Park. Neither Mélanie nor I had ever been backpacking at that point (carrying your camping gear on you and camping in the woods, i.e. no campsite). We ended up hiking roughly 20 miles over 2 days including going up and then down more than 3,000 ft in elevation. It turns out the experienced backpackers we were travelling with had planned this as their “ass-kicker” of the year. We survived and had a lot of fun doing it.
Dog & Cat (and frog)
Maddie, my dog.
Billie the cat.
…and a frog found one night at my aunt’s house.
Road Trip: San Francisco
After a brief stop in Portland we flew down the California to San Francisco. We were there for 2 days followed by 2 1/2 days in Yosemite National Park and back to San Francisco before heading out. I was exhausted for a lot of our time there so I didn’t make a lot of pictures, but it was a great city and I am incredibly grateful to our friend Wes for hosting us while there and showing us a great time. Wes might judge me for the tourist stops, but it was great.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Lombard Street.
Golden Gate Bridge.
“Painted Ladies.”
Tom & Monica
Tom and Monica, during our last couple days in Chicago before leaving for France. They are awesome and I’ll miss seeing them.
Road Trip: Olympic National Park
After Seattle we made a detour to Olympic National Park. We thought we could just do it quickly on our way to Portland, however in the end it added nearly 10 hours to our trip and even then we barely saw any of it. The highlight of the park was Hoh Rainforest. Hoh was like nothing I have ever seen in the US and I think a truly one in a kind place.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
One of last days in St. Louis required a stop at an institution, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. As usual, I got an Oreo Concrete.
Road Trip: The Pacific Ocean
About a third of the way through our trip we reached the Pacific Ocean and of course the first people we meet after parking is a family from St. Charles, Missouri. My little Scion was a beast of a car, that thing saw both coasts and countless states.
Olympic National Park, Washington.
Mélanie Relaut at the Pacific Ocean, Washington.
Pacific Ocean, Washington.
Highway 1, California.
Pacific Ocean, California.
Rocks smoothed by the surf, Washington.
The Human Statue
Everyone needs a break.
Road Trip: Yellowstone National Park
In attempting to catch up on so many old pictures as well as going through new ones, I skipped over the most well known National Park, Yellowstone. It is a beautiful land with views you can’t imagine and, on top of everything, buffalos have more rights than the visitors. It is a wonderful place, just north of The Grand Tetons.
The Tivoli in St. Louis
The Tivoli movie theater in St. Louis, MO. If you use my blog as your source for new cultural events anywhere, you have made a terrible mistake.
