We had a few weeks to spend in LA and the weather wasn’t too bad. However, October is the rainy season and it turned colder so our experience and pictures didn’t turn out as good as it could’ve been.

Channel Islands National Park

After seeing the Discovery Channel’s “Top Ten Wonders of the West” which featured the Channel Islands at number 7, I wanted to go see it for myself. We decided that kayaking along the shore and into the many sea caves would be a different way to see the islands. So we booked a kayaking trip from Aquasports and headed to Ventura harbor on a Saturday morning. Of course, we were late and almost missed the boat. Once aboard, it was a one hour ride to Santa Cruz Island. Along the way, we were hoping to see dolphins or whales. Only a couple seals came up to say hi. About an hour after arriving at Scorpion Landing on Santa Cruz we were in our kayaks paddling west along the northern shore. Because we were kayaking I purchased a cheap Radio Shack digital camera for $50, just in case we dropped it or flipped over we wouldn’t be too disappointed. The camera was only 1.5 mega pixel and had an old CMOS sensor so it’s pics weren’t very good. I also brought my other digital camera and camcorder but I kept those in a dry bag until we stopped paddling.

Going through the sea caves was a new experience. You don’t realize the elevation change as you float atop the water until you’re inside a cave. Enter a cave during the trough of a wave and the cave ceiling is 10ft. But once a wave comes into the cave you find yourself rising and the ceiling getting closer until you worry whether or not you’ll hit your head. Oh yeah, that’s the reason we all had to wear helmets. After the kayaking we went had lunch on shore and George and I took a hike while Jimmy slept. At 4:00pm the boat arrrived and we hopped on it and headed back to Ventura harbor.

Sail plane

A quick drive down to Warner Springs and we arrived at Sky Sailing. Sky Sailing had an acrobatic flight in which the pilot did loops, rolls and zero gravity dives. George hopped in the glider and was towed to a few thousand feet.

Yosemite National Park

Eddy had a conference to attend in Yosemite, so what a better time to tag along and visit another of the “Top Ten Wonders of the West”. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t seem to cooperate as there was a snowstorm a few days before and it was pretty cold. We arrived on Thursday night and stayed at the Apple Tree Inn, which was 2 miles from the south entrance.

The next morning, Eddy went to his conference, Shanda worked from the room and I planned to see the Mariposa Grove sequoias. Unfortunately the road accessing it was closed due to the snow, so I ended up hiking the Chilnualna Falls trail.

Later in the afternoon, we ventured into the valley. Glacier Point was also closed. After stopping and taking pictures of the usual stuff, El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls and Half Dome, we went on a hike to upper Yosemite Falls. This hike started with about 20 steep switchbacks and then steadily climbed until we stopped at a railing about 1.5 miles in. We stopped to take some pictures and kept heading up. Finally after another mile we could see upper Yosemite Falls. Eddy thought our hike had ended but Shanda and I had to point out that this trail went to the TOP of the falls. A nice 3500′ vertical elevation change. We kept going but soon we were racing against the sun. At about 4:30pm we decided to turn around and head back. We’ll get to the top another day.

Saturday morning, again Eddy went to his conference while Shanda and I went to the Mariposa Grove. The road was still closed so we hiked the 2 miles to the trailhead.

In the afternoon we went to meet George and Jimmy who had rented a house at Yosemite West. I don’t have pictures of the house, but it was a mack daddy party house. We definitely have to get it again next time we come back. So back in Yosemite we went to Mirror Lake, which wasn’t really full and this time of year, and then back to the bottom of the Yosemite falls.

Sunday morning, again after the conference, we headed home.

More Pictures

Short one minute video	Pictures slide show	Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
One tall tree	Mariposa roots	Near El Capitan
Mirror Lake trail		Upper Yosemite Falls
Near El Capitan again	Grizzly Giant	Mirror Lake	Upper Yosemite Falls