Surfs up in Californ-I-A

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- Since our last log-in at Twentynine Palms, we traveled through and camped in Sequoia National Park and Yosemite. From Twentynine Palms, we left with temperatures soaring to 108, then two days later we woke up at Yosemite's Glacier Point to temperatures below freezing. It was great on every point through the national parks - great to see trees again, and both parks feel incredibly like home to me. Heather also got see her first brown bear up close and personal as it stuck its head out of the bushes as we were driving by.

Our problems began as we were exiting Yosemite when another tourist side-swiped our car. We have got to get some major repairs done but are trying to postpone the repairs until we get to Washington State so we can have a place to stay while the repairs are being done.

At any rate, we arrived at San Francisco and there was no room in the inn. State parks were filled up, and the rates at the KOA and some hotels were far beyond what we were up for paying, so we camped in the car at a state park, got up extra early and headed for the beach. We spent about three hours crawling over the rocks and frigid waters, taking pictures of crabs, pelicans and a group of harbor seals, for which Heather got within about 20 feet of them taking some great photos.

So we've meet and ate with Heather's cousin Brian, coffee is loaded, and as soon as the pictures get finished uploading, we will be on our way up the California coast.