YOSE-MIGHTY VIEWS

DAY 12: San Francisco to Yosemite National Park

Before we embarked on our 4-5 hour journey from San Fran to Yosemite we decided to visit the Golden Gate Park, similar in size to Central Park in New York.

Our main purpose was to visit the Japanese Tea Garden but when we go there although it looked lovely it was a little overpriced. Instead we opted for a Peet's (like Starbucks) so we stopped in Castro on the way out of the city. What sod's luck. We'd parked the car for three days near the hostel in the strip joint area of the city and had no problems. 20 minutes here and we get a flippin' ticket. $75!!!!! Ouch Charlie. I wouldn't have minded but we put money in the meter. The parking rules in the US are worse than the UK with their contradictory 'you can park between 6am and 2am as long as it's a full moon and your name's Dave' signs.

With that 'great start' out of the way, we got out of the city easily enough thanks to our Thom-Thom (JennyNav). The next three hours of driving were pretty dull as far as the views were concerned, so it was down to Usher, Flo Rida and Kanye West to keep us entertained.

As we started our incline into the mountains the views and the beautiful winding roads got better and better the higher up we went.

We were staying slap bang in the middle of the valley, right at the foot of Glacier Point and the iconic Half Dome for one night and as we entered some of the views were just unbelievable. The early evening sun made it look even more beautiful so we stopped by the river for ten minutes or so to soak up the views just in case the weather didn't hold up.

Arriving at Camp Curry, our M.A.S.H-style fixed canvas tent awaited us. It's got a wooden frame and door, but canvas top and sides. I suppose it fitted into the 'glamping' category, as any tent with a fixed heater would do. And come the evening we really did need it.

Now then, apparently bears live in Yosemite. Big Black Bears. And don't the national park do enough to scare you about them. There are signs everywhere telling you not to leave food or any scented items (such as shampoo and toothpaste - I didn't know bears were so hygenic) in your tent or your car - you have to leave it in the bear box which is right outside the tent! Then there are the signs telling you about the signs that tell you about the warnings and what to do if you see a bear. So what do they give you to make sure you're kept safe and sound in your tent at night? A tiny little flip peg-and-hole latch you wouldn't even put on a rabbit hutch. In fact, the best thing for flipping open one of these latches is a long bear-like claw. You couldn't even lock it from the inside, only the outside!!!

With the food, and pretty well much everything else we had, locked safely away in the bear box, we went to find some dinner. Now there are a few combinations of words that really excite men, and me in particular, and they are 'all you can eat buffet'.

Like a kid in a sweet shop, I plated up some stew, roast beef, seasoned chicken, mini corn dogs, some tatter tots, green beans, broccoli (just to balance out the beigeness), a cheese enchilada, some Spanish rice and roast potatoes. After that I had some chips with chilli on. And then I had a raisin pie and custard. Pretty damn full by the end of it, but got my $15 worth.

We went back to tuck in for the night and Jen finished educating me on Harry Potter, so looks like I'll be reading that soon.

Very excited about what we'll see tomorrow, just hope the weather's going to be good.