it's a long one

I had an awesome time in Redwood N.P. I left Portland around four in the morning. I was worried if I could have an available camping site, but there was no need to worry. When I asked at visitor center, she said it's highly unlikely to be full. It's not yet the season to be so. As I decided my camp site, I set my tent and started hiking in the woods where the redwoods are. Spectacular!! Those trees are really huge and old. Many moss were growing on them, some had moss all over so that the tree was colored in varieties of green. I like the place so much. It was like a jungle. Cool and wet air but it wasn't uncomfortably humid. I guess the wetness is the key for those redwoods to live so tall and long time. After walking through a forest of big trees, river surrounded by walls filled with ferns, I came out in front of the ocean again. That is the best thing about this park, beautiful jungle and pacific ocean together! And the camping site is by the beach. It's all good out there.
Cooked dinner and went to bed(sleeping bag/tent) as the darkness came. That day was very long.
Yesterday. After the lesson in Zion N.P., I slept okay. Strong winds woke me couple of times, but every time I could hear the sound of waves crushing into the beach. It was nice. Weather wasn't great yesterday. As I finished eating my breakfast, it started to rain. Left the place and headed for Point Reyes hostel. Maybe it was another six-seven hours drive, but it felt very long. Anyhow, Point Reyes was very peaceful place. Thick mist through the hills and forests made the place very mystical.
Today. I heard there was a monster in the room again. But I knew he was going to annoy me, so I had my ear plugs beforehand. But I bet the monster last night won't stand a chance against my monster. He'll breakthrough my ear plugs and shake my brain. Only HE is capable of such an evil deed. In a way, I miss his snore. Maybe I liked it…no, noway.
Gone for a morning hike in the morning and then drove to the next hostel, Fisherman's wharf. To reach there I drove over the Golden Gate Bridge. It was big and red. After checking in at hostel I walked to the bridge and had lunch. There were many dog running around joyfully in the water. I miss my brother Bob…
I'll have to return my mazda tomorrow. Sad, but happy in a way. Since I don't have to worry about a parking space, or a police, speed, traffic, it's sometimes easier without a car. Especially in a city like San Francisco or New York.
Last weekend in the U.S.

picture: the bridge and my bro'

In the City

I looked around downtown Portland this morning as I planned. The weather was fine again!
It was very green. Trees planted on the streets and many parks in or near the city. The thing I was most amazed was that there were electric vehicle charging stations!(picture below) Didn't see any EVs, but the way they are acting is very advanced.
I checked out the Lovejoy fountain park after walking around downtown. One of the few things I remember from my school days. Somehow I remembered teacher talking about Portland and the Lovejoy…. I think because the name was announced more than once, and the teacher was always recommending Portland. I was very excited to see the park, but the water wasn't there and the fountain wasn't fountaining. Still, some were studying, eating lunch, smoking a tobacco, talking…it is very nice that there is a place like that for people to gather.

Got cloudy and it rained a bit in the afternoon. It didn't last more than an hour. Made the street cooler and the temperature low. Nice.

I'm planning to wake up early and head south to redwood national park. I want to camp a night there since there are no hostels around, but maybe there won't be an empty space for me. That's the reason for the early rising, to enhance the chance of winning a space.
picture above: the magical see through building

Portland

I left Boise around ten. Shame I had to leave so soon, it was a very cozy hostel.
About seven hours drive and I reached Portland. It was another fine day, but it rained a bit. I only had storm or no rain at all, so it was very refreshing to have a shower rain. Smell and the greenness in Oregon is very spring like. Back in the west coast area.
I haven't seen the city yet, but the area where the hostel is looks okay. The hostel I'm staying at now is very "green". They think about environment a lot. Recycle, rain water reuse, green roof… it's nice to be green. I hear the city is also like that, so I hope I'll see how it's done tomorrow when I look around the city.

Stay here for two days, and hit the road again.
picture was taken yesterday at Yellowstone.

Boise

I looked around in the Yellowstone in the morning and drove west to a place called Boise. It was about six-seven hours drive.
Another fine day at the park. Many bison(=buffalo. I think…) and mule deers on the rode again. It was in a distance so a bit difficult to see, but the bird like thing perched on a tree on the right is a bald eagle. And her nest on the left. I rode the same road yesterday but there was no sign. Today was the lucky day. No bear though.
Short post. tired from the sun attacking me while driving. I think I'll go to Portland tomorrow. I here people saying it's a nice place. But I won't be spending a long time there since I don't have much time before returning the car.

Yellowstone national park

Yellowstone=incredible. It's so vast. And the park is well managed. They have a warning and stuff going on, but it's all up to us if we want to keep the nature as it is or not. No one would attempt to disturb the nature because it is so beautiful. All the animals are hanging around living their own lives. Buffalo was the most popular one. They were everywhere. Although, when they were walking on the drive way it was kinda scary. They were walking just outside the car, one window between us. They could easily smash a car or a man. So we wait quietly inside the car till they pass through us. So amazing!
Among many famous sites, I went to see the gazer. Cool! Boiling pond and super clear water. Time to time those gazers will burst with a huge steam cloud. Many people wait around it to see the unnatural sight. Groovy!
Also the weather was fine as shown in the picture.

in the picture above, those spots in the middle are buffaloes. beneath is the boiling gazer. there were active ones but I liked it's colorfulness.

Grand Teton

It is winter here. Nothing like Grand Canyon area. I hiked and drove around the park yesterday, sometimes snow was two to three feet deep. I guess it wasn't the best season yet. And also there was no sign of a bear. Maybe I was unlucky, but there weren't much animals about. Though the landscape was beautiful! Mountains covered by snow, blue clear sky, big lake(which is all frozen by the way), nice… I sure would like to comeback someday during the summer. I bet it's even more beautiful.

I checked out this morning, and now here I am at west Yellowstone. I didn't do much today. Tomorrow I'll enter the park and hopefully have another great day. I would like not to have a snowy weather.

cats and dogs

I was able to book two nights at the hostel I wrote about yesterday, so I left Salt Lake around ten. Weather forecast was right about the weather. Storm. When I started driving I wanted to stop because of the zero visibility. But after a while I got use to it and followed the others. Took the wrong road on the way to the hostel, but luckily the direction was right so it wasn't much of a problem.
It was another driving day so I didn't do much picture taking so the picture above was taken at Zion N.P. I think Teton and Yellow stone will be the place to encounter many animals. It's going to be good. I wish for a fine weather.

only ten days left till the day to return my car! fast!!!