The Northwest was getting cold and so it was time to drive south. California bound we were; looking for warmth. Southern California in particular was our holiday destination to be with friends and family; this is where we were ending it.
Yosemite
Family bucket list destination for sure. I tried to get us here in 2021, but not knowing where we were going to be would make reservations impossible. So when November 2022 came and the possibility of visiting this park seemed doable, I kept my fingers crossed. I still wasn’t able to make reservations ahead of time as we never quite know dates of when we will be places.
So far though this way of travel has been working pretty well for us. It allows us to be more spontaneous. If we see or hear of something that interest us, we are free to check it out without reservation obligations dictating our next move. We are free to check out and really get to know a place before moving on (for the most part).
So if we were going to try for Yosemite, luck would have to be on our side, and we would have to hope that there would be a site for us. After the long drive into the park, I was relieved that there was. I think being in the season of Fall was very helpful because the busy season was behind us. Less people in the park and more campsites available.
What will always be remembered about this place was watching the climbers up on El Capitan and then watching the movie Free Solo. I’m certain some images have been etched into the kids minds that will bring them back here one day. Maybe they will get to finish our hike that took us to Indian Arch high above the valley. I hope they get to go further and look down into it as well. We were told from that high up, one could reach out to Half Dome across the valley and feel as if he were scratching at it.
Beaumont
One doesn’t quite think of Beaumont as a travel destination. The city definitely leaves much to be desired, but whey up high on the hill where we went, we had a gorgeous view that went on and on. One of the very few things we actually planned was coming here to help set up for an event. We were able to see friends we hadn’t seen in months and months, and met so many new and wonderful people as well. The kids had a blast running free and playing all week from sun up to past sun down. Plus Tyler fell his first tree here!
The crazy thing about high up on that hill in Beaumont was that we had the coldest and wettest weather that we had been in, in all of 2022. There was a day we could have blown away, a day we were all drenched, and a day of light snow that surrounded the higher up mountains around us. In true California style, we also had days of beautiful, clear skies with the sun shinning down on us.
Ending It
The Holidays were in full swing and that meant we needed to get to Grandmas! We were looking forward to celebrating a birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family that lived there. We were looking forward to seeing people we hadn’t seen in a long time and catching up with them. The kids were anticipating with great delight Christmas morning and the mad dash down the stairs to their stockings.
As Christmas drew closer we did our traditional trips to Balboa Island. Lights on the water and decorations never get old. It’s part of our Christmas. As is making sugar cookies and Listening to Christmas music around the clock.
We camped at El Moro campground which is part of beautiful Crystal Cove at the beach. We were even able to score a spot on Christmas day there! What a beautiful day that was and 80 degrees to boot. Every evening at El Moro as we looked out on the Pacific ocean, the sky was filled with yellows, oranges, and pinks, and we could see Catalina Island crystal clear.
Wrap up
Last year it seemed our travels spontaneously focused on the Pioneer Trail. This years theme has had a focus on friends and glaciers (in that order) through all 4 states we where in. We felt so much love from others while out on the road. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone we met and visited because we know we will see them again but it’s hard to say when.
With the above noted, It is beautiful to see how life unfolds in front of us. Sure it is true that we don’t make much of a travel plan, but we also know that we are and go where we are supposed to be. We know that we are extremely lucky to be doing what we are doing and thank everyone and everything that has helped make it possible.
Just part of the adventure:
While in Yosemite we were braked checked by a weasel of a fellow after coming down from Tioga Road. The elevation combined with a quick and somewhat steep decline lead to our brakes overheating and a scary stopping (or not) situation. We must have had someone watching over us as we were able to stop and not hit that fellow. A situation we won’t soon forget nor that night we slept in the Curry campground parking lot and even got free showers.