The Adventure Begins

"Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space." - Ansel Adams

Our adventure started on Thursday, when we said goodbye to our friends, and to Aunt Bets, and boarded the plane in Honolulu. This flight was especially great because since the Army paid for our flights, all four of us got a seat, instead of trying to fit the 4 of us in to 2 seats like usual. The girls did wonderfully, of course. They are becoming expert travelers. We figured out this is Nova's 5th flight from Hawaii to the Mainland (9th flight if you count the round trip returns). Juneau has 1 less than that, but she also gets to claim the trip home from Vietnam, so they are about equally as accustomed to sitting in the airplane for 6+ hours at a time.

We flew in to Oakland, and spent the night at a hotel until we could pick up our car in the morning.

The Girls after arriving in Oakland, all tired out!

The double crib setup in the hotel

After picking up the car we started the roadtrip through California, Nevada, Utah, and into Colorado. First stop was Yosemite! I have never been to Yosemite (or out west at all for that matter), so i was thrilled that we would be able to spend some time visiting. Yosemite is Cris' all-time favorite place on the planet, so he was of course totally thrilled about the trip. Cris lived in Northern Ca for several years, and spent many weekends climbing at Yosemite. He was especially excited to re-visit El Capitan, on which he spent 4 days eating, sleeping, and climbing on the face of El Cap while he climbed The Nose in 1998.

We spent the day doing some driving and hiking around the park, and then checked in to our very cool hotel in El Portal just outside the park. We had an awesome balcony overlooking the Merced River. The girls loved standing on the balcony and watching the water rush by.

Our view from the Hotel Balcony

Juneau and Nova enjoying the view

Friday we woke up bright and early and headed back into the park for some more sightseeing.

I love these next few pictures of Nova. She looks so sweet and cute.

Yosemite Falls

Another view of Yosemite falls

Nova was obsessed wtih taking off the tank top she was wearing. We were chasing after her all day trying to keep her shirt on!

Nova in front of El Cap

Sisters

Me and the girls exploring El Cap Meadows

This one's for Grandpa Stickley - Juneau found some Milkweed in the meadow! Cris snapped this photo just for you!

Check out that mouth full of teeth!

Juneau in front of El Cap

Half Dome

Not sure if Juneau is hugging Nova or Choking her in this one.

Cris sitting in El Cap meadows reminiscing (and Nova getting ready to try to take her shirt off...again!)

Dad and Nova climbing rocks

Dad and Juneau in front of El Cap. Juneau impressed some visitors by pointing right at the rock and saying perfectly clearly "El Cap!"

Juneau loves being thrown up high

Dad teaching Juneau about Rock Climbing while watching the climbers on the face of El Cap

Hanging out in the meadow

Watching more climbers

This picture is for Uncle Casey. Casey apparently got quite wet several years ago in the water surrounding this boulder.

We then headed out of the park and onto a road that leads literally into the middle of nowhere. I grew up in rural west virginia, so i am by no means a city girl, but i have never ever seen anything as desolate as the road we took through california and into Nevada. After hours and hours of nothing we finally arrived into the crazy little town called Tonopah.

This is a brief glimpse at the scenery for our 4 hour drive from California to Nevada.

We are currently checked into our Motel (cris claims it is actually a hotel because the room entrances all face the interior of the building, but i think calling it a hotel is a real stretch), and we are rather enjoying speculating at what it would be like to live such an increcibly simple life out in the middle of nowhere Nevada.

Speaking of simple lives, we are getting used to living out of our suitcase. I have found myself having to be creative and settle for washing the sippy cups and bottles with shampoo if there isn't any alternative. it's funny the things you take for granted!

The girls found this round pillow in the hotel and have had endless fun with it!

Tomorrow we are headed to Utah, then on to Colorado.