26/09/18 I drove to Yosemite park to do some hiking and exploration. There was a bit of traffic and many road works so I only made it around midday. I realised I forgot my container with the freshly cut watermelon at the hostel, and I am too far to go back and get it ?. Or maybe someone stole it because I double checked the fridge when I left ?.
The visitor centre recommended me a quick trail then it was already time to leave to go to Fresno where I booked a room with Airbnb, much cheaper than anything in the park. I was pleased to see squirrels and deers in the wild, even a bear who crossed the road. And a nice sunset thanks to the scenic drive.
The Airbnb hosts were a Vietnamese family (a couple and a grandpa) but only the man was there when I arrived at 9pm. It was located in a quiet residential area where all houses are the same. I had to be fast and quiet as there is curfew in the community by 9pm. I stored my food in the fridge, cooked myself dinner, took a shower and went straight to bed as there was more driving the next day. I was a bit disappointed that the hosts don’t spend time with the guests. It would have been nice to know a little bit about them.
27/09/18 I drove to Kings Canyon to explore a second national park in the area. They charged me $35 again (same price as Yosemite) and I did the Buena Vista trail. I met an old couple who were worried about their friends, another couple, 73 years old who were not back at the car yet. It turned out they made it to the very top of the lookout and enjoyed it so much they stayed a while there before coming back down to the car park. I waited for them to be back before leaving so I was relieved they were safe.
Then I drove to Buck Rock, where a fire surveillance tower is operating, located at about 8500 feet high. The view from the top (after a long series of steps) is breathtaking and goes around 360 degrees.
I had a nap later in the car as I found a spot in the shade then drove to the camping site I selected on the way to San Francisco. Unfortunately, the site was closed due to hazardous trees due to recent fires in the area. So were 4 other campsites I marked on my map as a back up. After 5h of driving, with cows and squirrels randomly crossing those narrow roads, it was pitch dark and I thought I finally found an open site when I saw some light at a 6th camping spot. There was only a group of 4 man in their 40’s. I could barely see the road so decided to stop there for the night.
It wasn’t long after I turned off the engine that I realised I was alone, in the middle of nowhere, with a group of 4 men, with no mobile reception, with only my kitchen knife to defend myself if anything went wrong. Felt like a good start to a horror movie. Well they seemed alright as one of them came to offer food but I had my own and thought I would be safer in my car.
28/09/18 I survived the night and left by 7.15am. I explored a bit more of Yosemite Park and stopped by Glacier Point, which has amazing views (a couple was celebrating their wedding there) on the valley and the Half Dome, then drove to Tenaya Lake. If I ever come back I would love to spend the day here with good company, it is beautiful and peaceful. Then it was time to leave Yosemite Park and get closer to San Francisco. After 5h driving and a bit of traffic, I decided to stop in Oakland, close to San Francisco as Google Maps told me there were heavy delays (a Friday night you bet). I thought I could make it to the city to meet some of my colleagues around for the Dreamforce event, but it was too late. I checked a nearby McDonald’s for overnight parking and to have access to the restrooms but with so many homeless lurking around I did not feel safe so decided to book a hotel. Expensive but I had a king size bed and a big shower all to myself, parking was free and breakfast (with waffles!) included.
