Yosemite reflections

I wrote this piece below while sitting by the campfire in the Sierra Nevadas, the night before we left to travel home. It was a time of reflection. A time of peace and fulfillment. Yosemite, in all of its glory causes one to give pause, give thanks, and to think about the future.

So, at 62 years old, it is all about legacy. I am no longer productive. I am not going to work this year. I have signed up for Social Security. I am now a burden to society. Am I going to slide out, let the government take care of me, or am I going to continue to do something that leaves a lasting and positive legacy? Is it for my children? My community? My country? My planet? My grandchildren? Is it that I want them to remember who Grandpa Norm was? What can I leave behind so that they, especially my grandchildren, can remember me as a productive person?

Sitting by the fire, in the Sierra Nevadas, at four thousand feet, the campfire does not distract from the stars above. The only noise is the occasional airplane at 30,000 feet. I am not so sure that John Muir would be proud of me. I would like him to be. He is one of those persons that I would most like to talk to, around this fire. Muir is right there with Jesus, John Adams, Madison, Lincoln, Gandhi, Mohammad, Buddha, Bush, now President Obama and many others. They offered insight and vision. One might argue specifics in regard to each of their ideology but each did/does leave a legacy.

Tonight I tried to be there with him, Muir. But the hulking RV, something I am sure he would disapprove of, lingered near me. I rode some of the trails he forged. I admired the valley, waterfalls and peaks that he described so well. We traveled, albeit by car, to a promontory point that was one of his favorite refuges. He hiked it. Thanks, John, for the legacy that you left. You enriched me. If one truly wants to leave a legacy it is not who you are or what you have. It is what you do.

It is what you do.

Thanks, John Muir

Home

We learned in the "RV University" our Life on Wheels Workshop at the University of Idaho in Moscow in 2004, that as a RV driver, one must remember the "three 3's": don't drive 3 hours without a break; never stay more than 3 days at a friend's/relative's home; and keep your day's voyage less than 300 miles. We broke the last rule today. We drove home. After the casino stop at Rolling Hills near Red Bluff, I was ready for home. Trucks rolled into what I thought would be a casino RV parking. As we exited our RV this morning, I thought our door may hit the truck parked next to us. It was that close. However, it was free.

We are home. Almost 600 miles today and gray skys welcomed us at Roseberg, Oregon and the rest of the trip home. As I exited the RV in Puyallup I still had on my summer sandals. The rain was falling.

We bought a "low-end" RV. Our Seabreeze has performed so well. Another adventure has been completed and we thank the Lord for safe travels. Thoughts of this experience will follow. I wrote some material around the campfire in the high CA mountains when no internet connection was possible. For some reason it will not allow me to transfer to this blog. I am tired. I will transpose tomorrow.

Toward home

We left the campground mid morning, this time Barb driving the Jeep behind me as we dropped 3,500 feet in the first 20 miles. The rest of the drive was easy, mostly freeway. Tonight our campsite stands in stark contrast to last night's pristine setting. We will still have the stars and temps are in the 70's. However sitting on pavement and hearing the din of diesel engines is far from hearing the sound of birds and a babbling stream. We are in the parking lot of a casino near Redding. We are not gamblers but we did go into the Casino briefly. We gave into temptation. $10 each. Barb lost hers. I walked out with $43. Yep, a big wheeler/dealer I am.

Linger Longer

It is Friday and Barb and I will linger at the campground today in preparation for our trip home. The campground has a stream running through it which does draw some fly fisherman. We could have left this a.m. as we have little left on our agenda, but the sunshine, blue skies and the ambiance convinced us to stay. (Yes, Janie and Jens, the beauty of this area even overwhelms our yearning to see you soon.) Diane and Gary left mid morning for their trip back to their home in Sacramento. We had such a fine time with them. Tentative plans are for us to meet in May in north eastern Oregon.

Barb and I plan to arrive home on Tuesday, giving us 3 days for the drive.

Last day in the Valley

October 22

God Speed to you, Nathan, on your trip to Uganda.

On our last day in the Valley we wanted to soak up everything again. Yosemite falls continued to dwindle but she continued to indicate to us as to why we were here. The grand and the natural. Barb and Diane boarded shuttle buses to view some sites again. Gary and I boarded our bikes. Mirror Lake, near the base of Half Dome was our destination and just a short ride. Half Dome is such a unique feature. Is there anything like it in the world? It sure gave us pause as we lingered at the base and looked into its face. We revisited several sites then headed back to the campground early as Gary and Diane leave tomorrow.

Vistas and meadows

Picture on right: El Capitan on left, Half Dome barely visible in the distance, center of picture. Climbers ascending vertical walls of El Capitan can be seen in two pictures below.



October 21

We again walked and drove the valley floor. Yosemite Falls, North America's tallest, was a bit wispy today, not showing the volume of water as yesterday. At almost every junction, we stopped, paused and viewed the waters dropping some 3000 feet. El Capitan, looming 3000 feet above the valley floor (valley floor elevation is 4,000 feet), it's vertical face revealing at least two parties of climbers. The climb, based on the climbers expertise, usually takes 1 to 3 days. The evening found us at one of Muir's favorite spots, Glacier Point. We stood on the 7,000 foot ledge and gazed at Half Dome across the valley, and the Yosemite Valley village below.

Old stories, Older Mountains

We gathered for dinner last night and retold the many experiences from our 40 years since our college graduation. After a leisurely morning in which my main activity was trying to keep Loki from jumping on Tule, Gary and Diane's dog, we drove to Yosemite. This time the sun shone intently and not one cloud blocked our views. The water falls were dry just last week but the recent storms brought the stream flow back, giving us views of curtains of water cascading off the giant cliffs. We drove and walked in awe throughout the day, sometimes just sitting in silence in respect to the Creator and to likes of Clark and Muir, who had worked so diligently to successfully save this valley from exploitation and possible ruin. The night found us again sitting around our campfire, cooking over the flames. Magical and mystical, this valley.