USA West coast road trip - Part 3 - Yosemite

 

Day 6

Sequoia

After a quick breakfast and a short stop at Avis, we finally take our new Dodge on the road to Yosemite. An hour and half later, we park at the entrance of Mariposa grove. The friendly rangers welcome us and give us some recommandation. Mainly on hygiene as, sadly, the hantavirus killed travellers just a few weeks before. Like people of  Chernobyl, I appreciate the honesty. 
It's already lunch time so we decide to take our icebox and sit on some fallen trees near the car. This was without counting on the bees who are so stubborn in their quest for our food we have to hide in the car. 

One of our many deer friends

In the afternoon we follow the two hours park's walk though the Tunnel Tree to the Fallen Tree. Amazed at the size of Sequoias, we keep on taking pictures where we look like midgets. It's like visiting a giant's house. Everything is out of proportion. Even the mountains we see in the back are impressive. Walking back we pass by a couple stopped. That's when a deer crosses the path two meters in front of us. We stop, amazed, and realise the others had spotted his friends still standing on the other side of the path. A thousand pictures later, satisfied, we leave the park for the day. Initially, we were suppose to spend days and nights inside Yosemite but after the outburst, we decided it was safer to sleep further away from the, otherwise, lovely rodents. 

Finding the Bug Mountain hotel was not an easy task. We drive around it for nearly an hour before being able to park under the many trees overshadowing the reception desk. We have diner in the all wooden restaurant. Its very cozy, big wooden tables, wooden chairs. A huge open kitchen in the back. Lovely. As always, the plate is huge. Caroline takes turkey and ends up with three breasts in her plate. That's what you call a light dinner in America.  

We take the hill up to our lodge. A couple is using the first room. Both rooms are separated by a bathroom. You need to come out, to the balcony to reach it.  In our bedroom, the furniture are cut in huge piece of light wood. There a little desk, a table, one double bed and a bunk bed, on top of which I set camp. 

Day 7

The next morning we have breakfast on the balcony. It's a morning full of beauty: Valley view, the sadly dry Bridalveil fall, the impressive moutain El Capitan.

Coyote

Squirrel in front of "Half Dome"

We pic-nic near the river. The quiet lunch is postponed again as we are "attacked", by ducks this time. 
We get more information from our Rangers friend at the Yosemite village and take a walk toward the lower Yosemite falls. Sadly, in September, the fall is more a tear. We continue to Cook's meadow where we cross path with mule deer again. Then drive though Tunnel view to admire the views over Yosemite of Washburn point and Glacier point. There's a coyote looking at us. He stays stills on the side of the road as all the cars slow down to look at this rare creature. Back at the restaurant, Caroline orders the same dish but this time we share it all together and it's enough. We're already filled with beauty.

Day 8

The upside of vising Yosemite in September is that you are sure to be able to take the Tioga Road. A beautiful drive where you can dip in the Tenaya or Tioga lakes, or if you have cold feet, admire the Cathedral peak amoung other mountains. We picnic in the meadow near Soda spring. For a change, we can eat, our huge sandwich bought at the hotel, without having to chase animals. They, though, have given us many laugh. When we leave Yosemite, as much as the impressive mountains, the clear lakes, the green forest and the clear meadows; we miss the deer, squirrels, ducks, coyotes we met during our days in this heavenly place. 

It is now time to see hell and enter Death Valley.  

To be continued...

USA West coast road trip - Part 2 - Finding a car

Day 5.2

The girls stepped aside and asked me to talk to the desk lady. I'm going all French on her.

-"What do you mean it's not in your system?!" 

-"It's not in our system, I'm sorry miss" she smiles apologetically.

I have to say, my natural hatred of what I call "The American fake smile" just kept on increasing along our journey and this occasion was no exception.

-"I don't need excuse, I need a car! So unless you have one you can keep your smile for yourself!" I blurt out. I am well aware that clients around us hear me. It's a French habit. People don't like the attention and they will go a long way to keep you quiet.

-"It's not in our system maybe you can contact the helpdesk..."

-"Look, I work with these systems, I know there must be a problem but we're not gonna wait for our complain to be dealt with in three month. We need a car today!"

She looks quite old and a left handed crocodile could probably use the computer faster than she does. She looks around, clearly she has no clues what she is doing here. Neither do we. The hard way won't do it, she's plain useless. I switch to another tactic.

-"Can you please call your manger?" I ask nicely returning her fake smile.

 The manager arrives and ask us what's the trouble. I explain the situation again and she apologies again. I repeat that I came to a car rental to get a car, not an apology. She tells us that our booking isn't valid as inexistant to their eyes but we can make a new one for three times the price.

-"You're kidding right?" I rhetorically ask.

-"No" she confirms. And I was told the American client service was amazing...

In the meantime, my friends are trying to reach the provider we booked through, Car del Mar*. But calling the French number of a German company whist being in USA is never easy. Especially when their hotline is asleep.

They can't find any alternative solution until...

Light bulb.

-"Merced is our next stop, is there an Avis desk there?"

-"Yes"

-"How much is it to get a car for one night?" 

I don't remember exactly her answer but it was satisfying so we agreed.

She takes us to a dark grey Mitsubishi (my guinea's pigs nickname). We are disappointed. We wanted to drive an American car but it will do for now. At least, we have a car and that makes us very happy. No time to be picky!

-"Who's driving?" Julie asks . I'm hiding, hoping that I won't be picked as I dread my first time driving in the States and would rather not do it in a city.

-"I don't mind" she adds. Caroline offers her hands too but she reckons if Julie is ok, then we're all good with it. She goes around the car to the passenger seat while I lazily drift out in the back ( Yes, I'm half a marmot, half a sloth, I know). 

We drive out of the parking lot and out of SF, sad and excited.

 At first, we're having trouble with the lanes and directions but Julie gets the hang of it pretty quickly. We've all driven an automatic before and we have a GPS which helps.

The car renting issue made us lost a bit of time. It'll be late when we get to our motel so we decide to stop on the road for dinner. Around ten o'clock, we see a Denny's in the distance. The girls know this chain so we agree to stop and try this well known American diner. After that, Caroline will be sick for two days and we will never step in one again.

After a two hours drive, we reach the Sandpipper Lodge. I'm excited about my first night in a motel. It looks exactly like in the movies. The parking is in the middle of a two floors high, white, U shaped building. There is a swimming pool on the side. We drag our suitcases up the stairs and open the door to a white old-fashion bedroom, half expecting to see a body there. Instead, it has not one, not two, but three double beds! For such a cheap price, our room is really clean, the internet connection is good, we're impressed! We go on the Avis site and book a car, for the same price we had before, ready to be picked up in Merced.

Finally, we settle for the night. Tomorrow is a big day for a us, we're going to Yosemite!

To be continued....

* At our return, after few phone calls and an official complain, Car del Mar will reimburse us the first car ordered and the extra from SF to Merced.