I did it

I finally hiked over 20 miles in one day!  Saturday I hiked 22.5ish miles from our campsite at the Lower Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley up the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail, across to Eagle Peak and straight to El Capitan (where Brit and Mark will spend a week climbing in October).  Horray! 

Off we go!

Half Dome, one mile up the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail

Close up about a mile up

There are crazy people swimming in the falls pools.  I left.

Half Dome from the top of the falls

It is hard to capture how vast it is

Half Dome from Eagle Peak

I'm terrible at selfies.

High Sierras

El Cap Canyon

El Cap Canyon.  It was breathtaking!

Umm....where is the trail?

Way down in this valley is the chapel I have hiked past and photographed before.  Brit and Mark were climbing the rock wall behind the chapel while I hiked!

Seriously, so bad at selfies.  Especially after 21 miles.

The evening was so beautiful.  A little cool as I hiked back into the campsite, the guys were already there with the campfire burning and cold water ready for me.  I'm so blessed!





xoxo

Upper Yosemite Falls Trail

I'm having difficulty with my computer and am trying to figure out how to share photos from my camera. For now, I'm sharing what I can from my phone.

Mark (Brit's climbing partner) and I made a very fun stove for our huevos rancheros breakfast!

I finally hiked over 20 miles Saturday, going roughly 22.5 miles in 9.5 hours. It was hot and the trail was my least favorite yet, but I'm very happy I did it!

Xoxo

I love Oakland!

http://www.movoto.com/blog/opinions/oakland-best/

Hopefully this link works, because it shows a little glimpse of what I love about Oakland! 

Xoxo

Work

I think it is pretty clear what my client is asking for, don't you?

Xoxo

Calm

It's hard to beat a midsummer's night

Xoxo

Afternoon hike

What a great way to spend a day!

Xoxo

This is my box

I convinced Mom to keep it for me forever!

Xoxo

Squaw Valley

Today we rode the gondola up to the high camp Olympic Village from the 1960 Olympic Winter Games. Learning about the games and seeing Lake Tahoe from way above was really neat!

Xoxo

Morning in Tahoe

I feel so fortunate to be here!

Xoxo

Quiet afternoon

I got up from the sofa... Pootz did not.

Xoxo

Port Saint Luis Boat Yard

Next stop: the pier for some people watching and fresh shrimp cocktail!

Independence Day Weekend

We traveled down the coast to Santa Maria to see Ellie's grandpa this weekend. Last night was the perfect night for grilling, laughing, walking the neighborhood, and a movie. After a breakfast of fresh eggs and juice squeezed from backyard orange tea, we're spending the day traveling from beach to beach. So fun!

Xoxo

Crafty

I made a t-shirt for work!

Xoxo

Bay Bridge Bike Ride

Brit and I took advantage of a calm, sunny Sunday and rode the Bay Bridge. I can't wait until it is open all the way to San Francisco!

Xoxo

Birthday flowers

We celebrated Brit's mom's birthday this weekend. It was a great time with family and friends, beautifully catered and organized. They sent us home with left overs and these beautiful flowers!

Xoxo

Downpour

Any excuse to delay the flight....

Xoxo

Auntie Nomey

Wake up and play with me!!!

Xoxo

Marrok snuggles

Love at first sight, made deeper by so many smiles and snuggles!

Xoxo

Millennium

Tom took me to the best vegetarian restaurant in the world tonight for my birthday! It was delicious! And.... They had a birthday horoscope book. I think it is pretty accurate.

Xoxo

Birthday hike

Selfie at Glacier Point for my birthday! I covered 7,200+ feet of elevation in 4 miles and then headed back down to Yosemite Valley for a wade in the river and Mass in a redwood grove. (More pictures to come). It was a great day, made even better by the love and messages I received once I had cell service again!
Xoxo

Birthday surprise!

Brit came by work today to bring me flowers! Unfortunately, I was tucked away building shower chairs and no one could find me, but they loved meeting him.

Xoxo

Wow

I feel loved! My friend Marie brought flowers and gifts to me at the gym this morning!

Make today great!
Xoxo

Requiem

Today we get to hear Verdi's Requiem performed by the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra. I'm very excited: I have never heard it live! Plus, my friend Anne is in the chorus and my friend Debbie is a vocal coach for them, which makes it even better!

Xoxo

High Sierra Video

I decided to post this video separately...I know there are very motion-sensitive people among us!  My phone wasn't allowing panoramic photos for some reason, so I took a video of the view near Half Dome of the High Sierras.  Pretty neat to be warm and sunny while looking at snow!

xoxo

Hiking in Yosemite

 Saturday I went hiking while the guys climbed difficult routes.  I had planned to start at Happy Isles and hike to Clouds Rest and back, about 22 miles.  About 3 miles from the end, the sense of foreboding I felt when I first read the sign about Clouds Rest being a "high bear activity area" got the best of me.  I had no protection on and my food wasn't properly stored for bear country.  I turned around and went to the base of Half Dome instead.  I didn't go all the way up because you need a permit: Hiking Half Dome.  These younger people told me there wasn't a ranger and so I could go...I think they missed the point!  It was a beautiful hike regardless with views of the High Sierras, redwoods, waterfalls and streams, and just good time in the sun.

Redwoods

Very peaceful

I'm terrible at selfies

Half Dome from a distance

Nevada Falls

I was able to hang out at Nevada Falls for a bit, met some interesting people along the way, and enjoyed a strawberry popsicle and a walk in the icy river when I returned to camp.  Pretty great way to spend a weekend!

xoxo

Half Dome Selfie!

I did not go all of the way up because I did not have a permit, but it was pretty cool regardless!

Xoxo