Perspective

How do you wrap your brain, let alone your arms around a Sequoia? Hundreds of years old...one even estimated to be 1800+ years old!

We stood in wonder, we hugged them tightly and gazed skyward...so did they.

Our big friends withstanding the test of time and patiently wait while mankind figures out how to undo damage and let nature do what it does best.

Nothing like a walk in the woods to give you a little perspective.

Of water

What is it about clear, cool water that fascinates us so? We are drawn to the crashing sounds through the woods, not quite knowing what we'll see. Higher, higher up the trail...following the sound, following our heartbeat, following the mist.

The hike up to Vernal Falls...up the Mist Trail, as it's so aptly named, was breathtaking. The view back down the falls was even more so.

Then there are the creeks, strewn with colorful rocks, many worn smooth by the turbulence over time.

So, what is it about this stuff? Stirs our souls and soothes our soles.

The Majesty

Words cannot begin to capture or describe the wonders of Yosemite.

So, we'll let the pictures speak the thousands upon thousands of words...and even then, doesn't come close.

El Capitan - where the climbers scale daily...taking days to reach the top. Their gear seems pitifully incapable of holding the load.

Cathedral - with it's spires seems to point toward heaven.

Half Dome looks different from each angle and we tried valiantly to capture it's face at sunset but were denied by a bank of clouds.

Day 2 - Down the Pacific Coast to Pebble Beach

Day 2: After a lot of begging and pleading, Jeff got to check an item off of his "pail" list (said he preferred that to the "bucket" we were working on). We found our way to Oakland to see Raider's Stadium...for a quick pose in front of their logo. A little souvenier shop happened to appear next to Starbuck's so he could purchase something to remind him of the moment.

Then, we made a bee-line for the coast and fulfilled the next item on the list: Pebble Beach. the weather looks a little gloomier than it really was. It was actually beautiful: breezy, misty and the whitecaps out on the Pacific made for an interesting backdrop to those emerald-hued greens. The guys walked the course and watched a few foursomes hack their way out of the rough, which was rough! We finished that excursion with a shot at the Lone Cypress...quite stunning.

We lunched at the Tap Room there at the Club and swore we saw Ben Crenshaw having a burger with his mom. Maybe not, but it made for good conversation.

We found a good little spot in the lobby of the Embassy Suites in Carmel-by-the-Sea where we enjoyed a few cold ones and some hot cards. Resting up for our trip to Mariposa and the great Yosemite.

Stay tuned for Day 3...you won't believe the next couple of days!

Catching you up

Between traveling, limited Internet access and lots of stomping around, we post.

Day 1: Sights of San Francisco - Lombard Street, Coit Tower, China Town, Cable Car, Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods and much, much more.

The ride down Lombard Street was a thrill, lined with pricey real estate, flower boxes dripping with color, and touristas at the top and bottom, snapping away.

We climbed to Coit Tower and paid the extra to ride the oooold elevator to the top where the 360 degree view was pretty spectacular-both Golden Gate & Bay Bridges, Alcatraz (which we opted to only view from various distances), the cityscape of downtown, and the rolling hills of the various neighborhoods. Hanging onto the side of the cable car as it rolled over the highs and lows was harrowing, especially as we passed another cable car.

We hopped off in China Town and dined at the G&R Lounge...very authentic. We wandered back through the streets, winding our way through paper lanterns strung over the alley ways, laundry drying out on balconies and through the "village square" where old men played a few unfamiliar-looking games and women howled to the accompaniment of a band of Chinese instruments. We were definitely in the minority and felt as though we had beamed to another country. Cultural diversity was the name of San Francisco.

Escaping the craziness of traffic and people, we ventured over Golden Gate to Muir Woods...thank you, John Muir...for your vision and passion. Deb and Jeff marveled at the base of a beautiful redwood and we were surrounded by the falling shadows as evening crept through the forest. A very humbling place...a natural cathedral.

Ending the day with a drive over the Golden Gate to catch the setting sun was a feat, maneuvering the one-way streets through SF. We finally reached some pretty amazing vantage points and caught the bridge in the background. Note the bridge is not "golden" at all but painted a rusty red color. If you know me, you know my theory: it's never over, just like the Golden Gate Bridge...painted every day of the year...they reach the end and must start all over at the beginning. Like our adventures... never ending.

Stay tuned...Day 2 forthcoming.

Pebble Beach - course of dreams

Some of the lushest greens...the lone cypress...readying for the US Open 2010. The guys had a wonderful time chatting up the caddies and cheering the golfers struggling out of the rough.

First few days

The flight - cards at Harry Carey's in Chicago. San Francisco - cable cars, Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower and China Town. Muir Woods - nothing more need be said. Pebble Beach, lush course and foggy coastline...what a great start.