Day Five

Quite a long driving day today, stopped for our first group shopping as we have to take it in turns to cook and wash up etc.

Arrived at YosemiteLakes campsite mid afternoon and then went on a short walk near the river. A few of the group got slightly wet when they slipped in. We are now in bear country which scared the living daylights out of Charlotte, Glazer didn't help by telling bear stories!

Had a pretty chilled night playing cards and drinking beer.

Day Six

Today was our first proper walking day in YosemiteNational Park. We hiked upto Yosemite Point which was 4.6 miles all up hill - I think we both realised how unfit we had become!

The waterfall on the way up was amazing and the views from the top were fantastic, there was even snow at the top so of course a few snowballs were thrown and snow eaten!

It took us about 4 hours to walk up and 2 hours down, Charlotte didnt feel very well due to lack of sleep and eating the snow!

Day Seven

Left Yosemite today and visited the giant Sequoia Groves, Sequoia Trees- they were massive and you can see Charlotte hiding in the bottom of one of them in our photos. Drove for about 400 miles today- surprisingly it doesn't get boring in the van, think its because the music is different to what we're used to and really enjoying it.

Was really warm today and camping in the dessert was lovely.

Day Eight

Arrived in ZionCanyonNational Park and set up camp for the night.  We caught the shuttle into the National Park to the Temple of Sinawava.? Started off on a gentle walk until we came to the river which we had to cross it was freezing, extremely slippery and came to about our knees- was good fun but in Charlottes words - she nearly drowned. Wayne ended up with very wet boots after dropping them along the way.

After dinner that evening we had a campfire and Glaze showed us how to make the traditional American camping dessert. "Smores" - these were biscuit and chocolate and then you melted a marshmallow on the fire and squashed it between two biscuits- scrummy!? Charlotte was extremely funny as hers caught fire and instead of blowing it out she bashed it on the fireside and screamed!

Had a few beers and played cards with the usual crew- Carston, Wayne, Glaze. Our new game is Pasoy poker which Glaze taught us how to play... warming up for Vagas nicely.

Day Nine

Packed up camp and headed for another hike in Zion National Park- walked to the point in the park where all the postcard pictures are taken from- Canyon overlook point it was a great view.

Drove to Bryce National Park- the drive was very entertaining as talking to Han and Ann about films, most fanciable actors and future boyfriends.

After lunch we hiked around the rim of BryceCanyon- everyone admitted that this was pretty awesome. Completely different scenery to Yosemite. We also walked down into the canyon- I fell and a 5 year old boy asked me if I was ok- bless him!

The campsite tonight was Kodachrome, this place provided me, Charlotte and Sandy with hours of laughter and discussion as one of the rock formations here was like a giant willy!! We had to bow down to it when we woke up in the morning!