Matthew's web log

Again this year we decided to go to Yosemite in the spring.  April has the advantage of reduced crowds and traffic, with enough daylight to enjoy exploring the park.  This year it also marked us surviving two cross country flights in the last couple weeks.  After this weekend, we are looking forward to not getting on a plane or any long drives for awhile.

The drive to the park was uneventful.  Since we left early enough in the day and took advantage of the carpool lane when available, we had few slow downs.  We stopped for dinner in Merced.  Merced is home to the newest UC campus (that’s University of California) and it has a quaint downtown.  We strolled the main street to stretch our legs and found what looked like a nice place for dinner.  All was fine, until it had been fifteen minutes and we still hadn’t ordered.  All told, the food was good, but it took almost an hour and a half for a two course meal.  That’s slow, even on my scale.   So much for avoiding all the mountain driving at night.  Despite it getting dark, the remaining drive to the park was smooth and we arrived at a reasonable time and then went to sleep.

After our included breakfast at the cafeteria (Mmmm, cocoa-puffs), we “geared up” and were on our way.   We decided on hiking to the top of Yosemite Falls.   It’s 3.5 miles (each way) with about 2700 feet of elevation gain.  I wasn’t sure if I was up for this, but L’ said it was well graded and we did have all day.   It turns out, that while  it is well graded, there are a couple caveats to this.   First, it’s not just a dirt path- it’s a bit rocky in places.  Second, because we’ve had a wet winter, there was snow on the ground as we got towards the top.    In any event, we made it to the top after about four hours (including numerous photo and snack stops).   The view down the valley is good from the top and it was fun to see the snow.  They really do need to put in an ice cream stand at the top.  We hung out a bit to rest and the weather was pleasant.  

The hike down, as usual, was faster and we made it back to our room in time for quick showers and to clean up.  We had dinner reservations at the restaurant in the Ahwahnee Hotel.  We caught one of the shuttle buses from our hotel and arrived in time for dinner.  The hotel is spectacular and worth a visit if you are in the park.  The dining room was magnificent with huge windows and a piano guy at the entrance.  The food was good, too, although we couldn’t really tell that it was that much better than the restaurant by Yosemite Lodge (although it has higher prices).   Still, it was an experience to do once and we enjoyed it.  By the end of dinner, we were tired, so we went back to our room and quickly fell asleep.

Opting for a different activity on Sunday, we went snow shoeing,  This is something I had not done before (it’s not a big activity back in Florida).   After checking out of the hotel and loading up the car, we drove towards where highway 120 is closed in the winter.  There’s the start of a short trail that goes to a giant sequoia grove (the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias).  We put on the snow shoes at the start of the trail  and head out.  The snow shoes make walking in the snow nice and easy and you  really do feel anchored in.  It’s not like regular walking, but once you get in the groove, you can move about as quickly. 

The trail starts off downhill and winds around through the trees for a mile or so.  We then get to the nature trail where there are some signs about the trees.  It’s very pretty with all the snow out and the it’s warm enough that for the walk back, we’re only in our t-shirts.  Getting back to the car, we let the shoes dry off and put on new socks so we’re nice and comfy for the drive back, which is uneventful.  We pick up our usual pizza pie at home to end a fun weekend in Yosemite.

All the photos are here (note that there are five panoramas which are indicated in the captions, along with links):

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/YosemiteApril2010/index.html

It had been awhile since we went away for the weekend and were getting a little antsy.  We squeezed in a night away last weekend to head a couple hours south.   On tap this time was a night in Salinas and a visit to Pinnacles National Monument.

We had last been to Pinnacles a couple years ago during a rare cool Memorial Day Weekend (staying in San Juan Bautista).  Pinnacles can be brutally hot in the summer, so springtime is usually the best time to go.  March and April is also wildflower/allergy season.  We were hoping for good weather and lots of flowers and we lucked out on both fronts.

There was little traffic heading down to Salinas on Friday night.  Salinas is not even a couple hours drive and with the carpool lane, it was an easy drive.  We checked in to our hotel and headed to “Old Town” Salinas where there were a few restaurants recommended by Lonely Planet.  Not having a local map, we just continued on the highway and immediately after getting on 101, saw a sign for Old Town at the next exit.  We easily found the area and also the Steinbeck Center that we’d stop at tomorrow.

Old Town was quaint.  Some of the buildings date back around a 100 years to when the Salinas Valley was first starting out.  When the Dust Bowl hit the Plains, people headed West in search of a better life (and better soil).  Salinas now calls itself the “Salad Bowl of the World” for all of the agriculture that is grown here.  It is a several billion dollar a year industry in the area.  I’m amazed that, as big as that is, it’s roughly on par with the annual revenue of my company (which employs far fewer people).

Saturday morning we enjoy the included breakfast in the hotel and then go to the National  Steinbeck Center.  John lived in Salinas, hence the museum.   The museum was mostly devoid of visitors.  The exhibits were well done.  It was like confronting all of those horrible high school English reading assignments in museum form.  JS was an interesting character- aside from writing, he travelled across the country, took a cruise of Baja California, and was even a war reporter during WWII. 

Heading out from the museum, we drove towards Pinnacles National Monument, stopping en route for a quick lunch.  The road into Pinnacles on the west side is a one lane road, which was interesting the few times another car would be coming.  It’s really wide enough for both cars, but I generally prefer my own lane. 

We both agreed that the west side of the park was prettier than the east side that we visited the last time.  The flowers were out in full force and the rock formations were easier to appreciate than the last time when it was raining.  I did my usual duty of slowing down the hiking pace by taking lots of photos.  The hike was up about 1200 feet of elevation in around 1.8miles and a total loop of around 4.5 miles– a nice workout.

We made it back to the car and hit the road back home.  As we did on previous road trips, we called in a pizza and picked it up on the way home.  Amazing how just 36 hours away from home really can feel like a vacation.

The full photos are here:

http://sanjoseabrams.com/photos/PinnaclesMar2010/

We decided to head out of town for a weekend in October. Not wanting to spend too much time getting to our destination and also wanting some decent weather, we decided to head down to the Monterey Peninsula. We were originally thinking of going to Mendocino, but rain was forecast there; we chose well since the weather in down south was spectacular.

Leaving after work on Friday, we encountered just a little traffic. Making a french fry snack stop about half way there, we arrived at the hotel an hour or so before sunset. Our accommodations were in Pacific Grove which is adjacent to the ocean and the hotel was just a few minute walk to the water. After checking in, we walked to the beach and did a nice loop along the coast. It’s pretty at sunset and I scoped out some photo possibilities of the lighthouse in the event we’d be back there at dusk again (turns out, we weren’t).

Eventually making it to the restaurant for a late dinner, we enjoyed Passion Fish in downtown Pacific Grove. The food was excellent, service a little slow, but overall a good restaurant. We’re often disappointed that dining in our travels is not as good as what we get down the street from us, but that was not the case this time. We walked back to the hotel after dinner and slept well.

We started Saturday with breakfast (stale bagels) in the hotel. We then went back to the ocean near the hotel to take in the views. By mid-morning, I was already racking up the photos on the scenic coast. As I’ve said before, we are spoiled to have such beautiful scenery so close to home. After wandering the coast, we hit the 17-mile drive through Pebble Beach. It’s about $10 for the drive. We made various stops along the way, taking in the sites – coast, golf course, sea lions, birds, the Lone Cypress, future residences (why not take both $24M houses- it’s so hard to choose), and overall pretty scenery.

By early afternoon we were nearly done with the drive so we stopped at the Lodge for lunch. They have a nice restaurant overlooking the putting practice area and one of the tee off areas. Since the weather was spectacular (mid to upper 70s), we ate outside (added bonus- heckling golfers).   The food was very good and not too expensive considering the location. Most importantly, I saved room for a $7 chocolate milkshake. To partially quote Pulp Fiction, it was a good milkshake.

Now properly hydrated and full, we exited Pebble Beach and returned to Highway 1 southbound. Aside from the scenic drive along the coast with a few photo stops, we headed to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The main attraction there is a waterfall that is right off of the ocean. It’s only a short hike to it and is neat to see. We wander around the park a little bit, but need to head back north to clean up in time for dinner in Carmel.

After an evening in Carmel, we returned there on Sunday. Our first stop is another California Mission, the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. Like most of the missions, it is mostly rebuilt and not original. Being the non-Jewish Sabbath, there is mass going on so we can’t just roam the inside in our t-shirts and transformer pants. We take a quick peak and wander the grounds, courtyard, and exhibits. We return to downtown Carmel and notice on the drive what our guide book had pointed out- there are no addresses in Carmel. The houses just have names and people navigate there by cross street. I suggest that we should start referring to our house in this way, but L’ is less than enthusiastic. We wander the galleries and shops of Carmel and get some lunch and snacks for later.

Leaving Carmel we again head south, this time towards Garrapata State Park. It’s a short drive and the weather is still sunny. The top of the trail has a view of the ocean. We start hiking and there are minimal signs and no paper maps available. It’s a straightforward loop so we just start going. After winding up at a river instead of ascending, we back track and find the unmarked fork in the trail that we had missed earlier. Now we go up, and up, and up and up. It’s very steep (20-30% grade, I found out later) and the traction is poor. It’s a struggle, but we make it to the top. The view is good, but not worth the effort to get there, in my opinion. It’s about an hour past when we had planned to head home, but we finally are back in the car and on our way. We pick up pizza once we get home and are just glad to have had a fun weekend out of town.

View all the photos from the weekend:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/MontereyOct2009/index.html

About a month after our wedding, we spent a weekend up in Napa Valley.  It’s a reasonable drive for a weekend and gave us some relaxation time.  We left after work on Friday (or my work), stopped in St. Helena for dinner, arriving at our B&B as it was finally getting dark.  On Saturday we went to the winery that was built like a European Castle.  The tour was neat and the wine just okay.  We bought one bottle of a tasty dessert wine.  Following lunch, I proceeded to take an afternoon nap.   I got up in time for dinner.

On Sunday we got some exercise hiking in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.  We finished around lunch time and grabbed some unsurprisingly mediocre pizza.    We did another round of wine tasting  which was very disappointing.  For twenty bucks, none of the wines we tasted was even as good as the ten dollar bottles we buy at Safeway. Oh well.  We then headed home.

The weather was nice and warm (since June was unseasonably cool)  which was a pleasant change.  Here are the pictures:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/NapaJune2009/index.html

Loyal readers know that we went to Yosemite back in April.  It’s been a crazy few months since then.  With a move and a wedding, there’s been precious little time to update the blog.  I had some time last weekend to sort through pictures from recent adventures.  They are slowly making their way online.

The Yosemite weekend was great.  It was my first time in Yosemite Valley, despite having lived three hours away for all these years.  We are truly spoiled to live so close to such a spectacular place.  I can see why photographers the world over trek there and go through way too many rolls of film.  We stayed in the Yosemite Lodge which is highly recommended.  The walls are thin, but the location can’t be beat.  You can see the tallest waterfall in North America from your doorstep (This is not an exaggeration).    We did our reququisite hiking (including an "advanced" hike that L’ lead me on to Sierra Point).   The weather was cool, but comfortable, and it was a needed break from a very unpleasant couple days. 

I took about 400 pictures over just a couple days.  Many of these were panoramas and multiple shots of similar subjects. I tried to whittle it down to just the highlights.  I’ve also made several of the panoramas and posted those online.  Links are below.

Photos:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/YosemiteApril2009/

Yosemite Falls:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/YosemiteApril2009/YosemiteFallsPano1/yosemite025_stitch.html/

Yosemite Valley and Falls:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/YosemiteApril2009/YosemiteFallsPano3/yosemite252_stitch.html

Sierra Point (the only place in Yosemite where you can see four waterfalls) 360 degree panorama:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/YosemiteApril2009/SierraPointPano/yosemite142_stitch.html

We’ve had lots of days with near record highs and sunny weather recently.  It’s a perfect time to call our relatives in the frigid northeast and enjoy ourselves outside.  We went back to Almaden Quicksilver Park in San Jose for a few hours.  Overly ambitious at the start, we had planned on a 6 mile loop.  That would have been possible except for the steep uphill climb at the beginning of the trail that lasted a good half an hour.  We still saw interesting remnants of the old mining days which was our main goal.  Photos from the hike are here:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/AlmadenQuicksilverJan2009/

While we are busy with wedding planning, house hunting, and moving preparations, we still squeeze in some entertainment.   Long on my list of quirky local museums to visit was the Pez Museum in Burlingame, CA.   L’ indulged me with a stop there before heading to her school’s production of Peter Pan.  Here I am with the world’s largest Pez Dispenser:

And speaking of house hunting, we spotted something I always suspected while driving between possible future residences: that Deer Crossing signs really do work:

While we’ve done a little hiking in the last couple months, it has not been as frequent as earlier this year.  As some of you know, we’ve had other things going on (to be updated on this blog later).  I’ve got some other pictures in the queue, but for now here are some from a couple weeks ago. 

After a day of rain, Sunday cleared out for a beautiful day.  We took advantage and went hiking in around the Stevens Creek Reservoir.  It was pretty, but not spectacular.  The highlights are online:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/StevensCreekNov2008/

Additionally, there is a great new panorama stitching program available from Microsoft.  While I’m normally not a fan of Microsoft programs, this one is great.  It’s called the Image Composite Editor, or ICE for short.  You can download ICE for free.  It is much better at making panoramas than even Photoshop Elements which is what I usually use.  It’s almost magical.   You just throw at it your pictures hit the button and presto, you’ve got a panorama.  Here’s one that I made from this hike.  Note, you’ll need to download a plugin to view it, if you haven’t already done so:

 http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/StevensCreekNov2008/pano/stevenscreek11_stitch.html

 This entry is likely one of my most anticipated entries since it’s about finally going camping with L’.  It’s also a bit longer than my usual posts, but I’m sure my loyal fan club has built up their stamina.  Feel free to pace yourself.  If you want to skip to the photo album, scroll to the bottom of this entry.

Saying that L’ enjoys camping is like me saying that The Simpsons is just a tv show- it’s a gross understatement.  While L’ has a shirt titled "Bed & Breakfast" with a picture of a sleeping bag and a skillet above a campfire, I normally think of camping like my Aunt does: a Holiday Inn without cable tv.  I am definitely out of my element when it comes to camping.

We left the Bay Area Friday afternoon and headed to Strawberry, California.  This gets us most of the way to our destination and breaks up the drive.  Since we wanted to get going fairly quickly the following morning, I didn’t have time to look for any fields.  The Strawberry Inn was a clean and comfortable stop for my last night on a regular mattress for two nights.  After checking out of the hotel, we grabbed some snacks across the street and headed out.

When people asked me where we were going camping, I either replied with "I don’t know", "The middle of nowhere", or "Somewhere in the Eastern Sierras".  While all were correct, I now had a better idea of the destination having consulted the map.  We were heading towards Bridgeport for lunch and then to the trailhead parking area.  En route, we stopped at some scenic overlooks such as the Donnell Overlook, Sonora Pass, and Leavitt Falls.  These were all very scenic and broke up the morning drive.

We stopped for lunch in Bridgeport (a small town off US-395) and then picked up our permits at the ranger station a short distance away.  I learned that if you want to spend the night in the wilderness, you’ve got to sign up because they limit the number of people in the area.  Theoretically, a ranger could ask you for your permit while you’re out in the wilderness, but this didn’t happen for us.  I found it disturbing that the rangers at the station were on a first name basis with L’.  I get food around the corner from home every week and they don’t remember me.  More evidence that L’ is one of a kind (and nuts).

I only had a few concerns about the whole backpacking thing: wearing a heavy pack that strains my back, adjusting to the altitude, sleeping on the hard ground, and pooping without the benefit of 19th century indoor plumbing.  As the story develops, you’ll see how these come into play.

With permits in hand and a photo taken with a bear, we drove to the trail.  Where we parked was at about 8000 feet of elevation.  The area we were heading to to set up camp is at about 9000 feet and 3 miles in from the trailhead.  We unloaded all of our stuff from the car and L’ hid some extra things in a bear can away from the car.  There are these containers that are bear proof for storing anything with a scent.  To avoid a bear ripping the the door of the car, it’s wise to not leave the bear can inside the car or trunk.  It was now early afternoon and we were ready to go.

L’ took care of packing the backpacks.  We borrowed one for me (thanks GG) while L’ chose one for herself from her extensive collection.  As I was unloading them from the trunk, I was amazed at the weight of L”s backpack.  Before going on the trip, I had said to L’ that I’ll go camping, but she gets to carry all the heavy stuff.  I had no idea there was this much stuff and I was impressed she could hike with her pack on.  (Some have commented that letting her carry the heavy stuff is not "macho" or that I should show off my strength and carry lots of stuff.   To those people I say- "What’s wrong with you?" and "Enjoy your hernia. ").  With everything ready to go, we waived goodbye to the car and hit the trail.

We were on our way up.  I could tell that we were not at sea level, but was doing okay.  L’ is much more used to the altitude and carrying a backpack.  After we had gone for a bit, I needed to stop.  My back was uncomfortable and I was getting hot.  L’ took a look at my pack and made some adjustments.  This shifted the weight towards my hips (where it is supposed to be) and off my back.  I was now much more comfortable.  I had some snacks on the way up, but since I was a little stressed about the whole weekend, I wasn’t excessively hungry.  After periodic stops on the hike up and lots of photos, we made it to the area where we wanted to set up the tent.  L’ had been here before and had already selected our spot.   We lucked out that no one else had already taken it.

We proceeded to setup the tent which is pretty easy.  We unloaded some stuff inside that we would not need now.  It was getting later in the day so it was time for dinner.   We pumped water from the lake (the pump filters the water for drinking) and began cooking.  Since as soon as the sun goes behind the mountain it begins to cool off quickly, we wanted to be sure we’d be done with dinner and in the tent as close to sunset as possible.   

As I got comfy in my sleeping bag, I was glad that it was not that cold out.  I didn’t even zip up the sleeping bag most of the way until the middle of the night.  It was windy so I popped in ear plugs so I could sleep.  When nature called in the middle of the night, I was surprised how bright it was out from just star light (it was right around a new moon) and how much colder it had gotten from when we went to sleep. 

I slept okay, but as expected, it’s not the most comfortable accommodations for your back.  By mid morning we got up and started breakfast.  I had my usual cheerios while L’ made her coffee and hot cereal.  Today we were planning on doing a day hike to West Lake.  Since L’ didn’t think taking me from sea level to 9000 feet in less than 24 hours was enough, we were going hiking today that would take us to nearly 10,000 feet.  I begin to wonder if, contrary to her claims, maybe she was  trying to kill me?  I was feeling a little better at the altitude but still wasn’t that hungry.  Fortunately, my very slight headache from the previous night was gone. 

After breakfast, we packed up things for the day and headed out.  It was again sunny and pleasant.  I was feeling the altitude a bit more on this hike.  It’s "only one mile" as L’ would say, but uphill and a decent workout for us normal folks.  We figured out that my water pack was the issue behind some of my discomfort since it was limiting how much water I could suck down.  Because the valve was malfunctioning, it was causing me to suck in air a lot of the time which is rather unpleasant.  After fixing that, I downed a whole bunch of water and felt a lot better.  It’s incredibly dry here and you’ve got to drink mind boggling amounts of water. 

We made it to West Lake, coming very close to 10,000 feet in altitude during the hike.  The lake was pretty and we had some lunch, wandered a bit and then headed back to camp to make dinner.  I was feeling much better and we dined on some macaroni and cheese and our secret stash of wine.    We again went to sleep shortly after sunset.

The second night was much cooler, but I was still warm enough in my sleeping bag.  It was again windy, but I slept okay.  It’s not exactly my new plush mattress, but I could still walk upright in the morning so it couldn’t have been too bad on the back.

This morning we had our breakfast and packed everything up.  After taking a few last photos, we started the hike down that would take us back to the car.  While the packs were slightly lighter now since we had less food, going downhill was the main cause of a much easier hike.  We made it down in about an hour and a half (more than twice the pace of our ascent along the same trail).  When we got to the car, we saw a few guys who we saw hiking up a few days ago.   They graciously offered us some beer.  L’ was driving so she declined, but I was happy to accept and surprised that these guys were able to keep beer cold in their car for two days (and proving that L’ has at least one thing to improve on next time).  I figured a celebratory drink was well deserved after two nights in a tent.   We loaded up the car and returned to civilization.

Since I had yet to make it to Yosemite after living in California for 9 years, L’ opted for the return route that would take us through the park.  We made a few stops before getting to Yosemite- the RV park for a bathroom stop (ahh, indoor plumbing!) and a 5 minute timed shower, Mono Lake for a photo op, and the Mobil Station for lunch in Lee Vining.  Yes, the gas station has this great restaurant next to it.  It was good to be clean, sitting down, and eating well.  After lunch, we drove through Yosemite making several stops including Toulumne Meadows and Olmstead Point for a view of Half Dome.  We then headed back home after a fun and adventurous weekend.

I’ve pruned my 300 pictures down to just the most brilliant ones which can be found here:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/BackpackingAug2008/

P. S.  (Warning- body function alert; squeamish readers stop now).  Astute readers will now know how my initial concerns about camping came into play during the adventure, with the exception of pooping in the woods.  While not nearly as convenient as the loo, it wasn’t too much of an issue.  And while MW said I should enjoy the great view compared with a normal lavatory, I don’t multitask well enough.   And to Maverick, the bears now have their answer, and it’s a "yes!".

The weekend of May 31st and June 1st was one of contrasts (as far as the hikes go).  Saturday we went hiking in El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve.  While it was sunny yet cool, at home, the hike was up near Skyline.  The fog bank was settled in right around there.  As we drove up, the road got wet and we were inside a cloud.  The fog kept us cool, but I could have used some sunlight.  The hike was really neat.  L’ played leader and directed us on about a 5 mile loop.  Along this loop, we saw a large sandstone outcropping and plane crash wreckage from the 1950s. 

On Sunday, I really wanted to get in some sunlight.  I’m careful to not have skin exposure, but the bright light and blue skies were a welcome change from the day before.  We just did a quick loop at Edgewood County park.  Short and sweet, but still scenic.

Photos of El Corte de Madera Creek:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/CortedeMaderaMay2008/

Photos of Edgewood County Park:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/EdgewoodJune2008/

Contrary to my usual method of advanced travel planning, we decided on Wednesday to go out of town for a night over Memorial Day Weekend.  I suggested San Juan Bautista because it sounded interesting (another one of California’s Missions and they filmed Vertigo there) and was conveniently located just an hour away.  With cool weather forecast, we could add on the Pinnacles National Monument (which on average would be too hot to hike this time of year).

Leaving Saturday in the early afternoon, we drove towards San Juan Bautista.  In my research for the weekend, I learned the fact that San Juan Bautista is "St. John the Baptist" which in retrospect is obvious.  I never was an expert in Catholic Saints though.  There is a lot of history in California and not growing up here, I don’t know much about it (I don’t remember a whole lot from the elementary school project I did on California).  Arriving at the Mission on a gray, cool May afternoon, we squeezed in a tour before it closed at 4:30.  The mission and some surrounding buildings are available for visiting.  We saw one of the original stretches of El Camino Real (which connected the original Spanish Missions).  It was a dirt road here with nowhere near the traffic of El Camino closer to home.  It’s come pretty far.  The Mission was neat and looked just like in the movie (except no Bell Tower).  There were some old stage coaches to see, an old hotel and building and a big plaza.  We finished seeing everything shortly before the official closing time and then headed a block over to the hotel to check in.

We cleaned up in the hotel, the Posada de San Juan.  While just a two diamond according to AAA, the bathroom was very nice.  It had a large jacuzzi tub and a stereo shower (two shower heads on opposite walls that were both on- I kept spinning in circles).  After the stereo shower, we wandered out for dinner.  It was nice not having to drive to go for dinner.  The town seemed deserted around 6pm.  It was kind of eerie.  I guess SJB isn’t a popular getaway (then why isn’t the hotel cheaper?).   We wandered the one main drag and saw a couple restaurants that were mentioned in Via magazine.   The lady in the hotel recommended the Cutting Horse.  It’s a steak place, but she said the halibut was very good (leaving L’ with at least one dinner option; we know what happens if she doesn’t get food).  After surveying our choices we chose the Cutting Horse and there was a one man band playing at the front of the completely empty restaurant.   Strange, but we took a table and the place had a few more customers later, but was never even half full.  I got a steak which was decent.  Even the top restaurants in a small town like this are only average when compared with the restaurants in the Bay Area.   The chocolate mousse cake was excellent.  Since we had a full day coming up and there wasn’t much going on in town, we just relaxed in the jacuzzi and called it a night.

Sunday we were up at a reasonable time to pack up and get breakfast around the corner.  Then it was off to Pinnacles National Monument which is about an hour south of SJB.  We picked up some bagels and cream cheese for lunch and arrived at the park around 12:30.  To our dismay, it was cool and rainy on the drive and in the park.  Since the normal rainfall for the month is less than 0.5 inches, this kind of weather is very strange.   We were willing to adjust our hike length based on the weather. 

I didn’t know much about Pinnacles.  It’s a geologic formation that is on the remains of a volcano.  Basically, a volcano was straddling the fault line.  It exploded.  Over the passage of time the plates moved and half the volcano remnants are here and the rest are over a hundred miles to the south.  The remaining stuff at Pinnacles is neat rock formations and pretty topography.   As is normally the case, I let L’ navigate and she picked a nice 5 mile loop for us.  The weather is really just an exceptionally light mist so we press on.  Part of the loop is warned to be "steep and narrow" and we learn that they are not kidding.  Nothing too difficult, but it was a steep, narrow staircase.   Even with the clouds and poor weather, I take some pictures and imagine that on a blue sky day, this would be spectacular.  We’ll have to return.  We do our full hike of a little over 1300 feet of elevation gain of which the last two miles were down hill.  We make it back to our starting point, make a quick stop in the visitor center and then hit the road to head north and return home.  We get back to my place in the late afternoon where we can shower, grab dinner, and sleep really well from our long day of hiking.

View the photos from the two day trip:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/SanJuanBautistaMay2008/