Vacation blogging: Fresno
Alien Fresh Jerky. Weird little store in the desert. The jerky was mediocre, but we just had to stop to check the store out. Plus, we needed to use their restroom.
Interesting fact. In the deep end of a swimming pool, Laurie floats with her head above the water effortlessly. I sink effortlessly, and have to constantly paddle to keep my head above water. Something to do with density and different ratios of lung and fat to bone and muscle. Oh, and getting water in my ear is one of my least favorite things ever. It's no wonder I'm never as excited as she is when the hotel we're staying at has a pool.
Staying at the Four Points Sheraton. Pros: Large clean room. Free wireless internet. Comfy memory-foam pillows. Clean pool. Cons: Loud, annoying, rude tour group of French tourists making a racket on the floor above us, idling their tour bus right outside our window early in the morning, and overloading the breakfast buffet. And the ice machine is in a different building.
Drove up into the mountains to see the Sequoias. They were sufficiently majestic. Hiking was cut short as neither Laurie nor I are in shape for hiking in the mountains at high elevations.
Bears! Mama bear and two baby bears crossed the road right in front of us. It looked *exactly* like the silhouette illustration in the animal crossing warning signs. And later Laurie spotted two larger bears asleep on rocks. Didn't manage to get a picture either time.
Kings Canyon is disturbingly vertical. Driving the winding road with sheer rock wall on one side and sheer cliff on the other, I am once again reminded that I am somewhat afraid of heights.
The national park was not on fire when we were there, but we saw ample evidence of past forest fires. The fires don't actually bother the sequoias much. They have thick, fibrous, relatively non-flammable bark, and few low branches. The fires hug the ground, clearing out the brush (and open up the pinecones of certain trees that need heat to germinate) but don't bother healthy full-size trees.
Driving back to the hotel. Oops, the cops have blocked the road. Wonder why. Oh, must be for the elephants. Elephants? Bwuh? Yep, line of half-a-dozen elephants crossing the road. That's something you don't see often. People, horses, and trucks with them. Circus must be in town.
Interesting fact. In the deep end of a swimming pool, Laurie floats with her head above the water effortlessly. I sink effortlessly, and have to constantly paddle to keep my head above water. Something to do with density and different ratios of lung and fat to bone and muscle. Oh, and getting water in my ear is one of my least favorite things ever. It's no wonder I'm never as excited as she is when the hotel we're staying at has a pool.
Staying at the Four Points Sheraton. Pros: Large clean room. Free wireless internet. Comfy memory-foam pillows. Clean pool. Cons: Loud, annoying, rude tour group of French tourists making a racket on the floor above us, idling their tour bus right outside our window early in the morning, and overloading the breakfast buffet. And the ice machine is in a different building.
Drove up into the mountains to see the Sequoias. They were sufficiently majestic. Hiking was cut short as neither Laurie nor I are in shape for hiking in the mountains at high elevations.
Bears! Mama bear and two baby bears crossed the road right in front of us. It looked *exactly* like the silhouette illustration in the animal crossing warning signs. And later Laurie spotted two larger bears asleep on rocks. Didn't manage to get a picture either time.
Kings Canyon is disturbingly vertical. Driving the winding road with sheer rock wall on one side and sheer cliff on the other, I am once again reminded that I am somewhat afraid of heights.
The national park was not on fire when we were there, but we saw ample evidence of past forest fires. The fires don't actually bother the sequoias much. They have thick, fibrous, relatively non-flammable bark, and few low branches. The fires hug the ground, clearing out the brush (and open up the pinecones of certain trees that need heat to germinate) but don't bother healthy full-size trees.
Driving back to the hotel. Oops, the cops have blocked the road. Wonder why. Oh, must be for the elephants. Elephants? Bwuh? Yep, line of half-a-dozen elephants crossing the road. That's something you don't see often. People, horses, and trucks with them. Circus must be in town.