A package full of wishes

It was magical last night at Seattle's Benaroya Hall.  I was there to attend The Last Wonder of the World, a charity concert to benefit Seattle Children's Hospital.  This concert was the 14th year the Symphony Guild had put on this event, led by the efforts of composer Mateo Messina.  The Grammy award winning Messina...he won for the Juno movie soundtrack...is a passionate supporter of Children's Hospital, often visiting the facility to play piano for the kids and staff.  For this year's concert, special guests included the band Civil Twilight, NBC's The Voice finalist, Vicci Martinez and my main reason for attending, Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik. The artists would all be performing songs with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Chorale and Northwest Boychoir.  Now, this was the first time John had played on stage with a symphony orchestra, and I was excited to see this.  I knew I was in for a treat. 

I arrived at Benaroya Hall early to take some photos of the building...I had never been there before, let alone attend a symphony concert.  I made sure to get the marquee to record the details of the special concert.

I was hoping to perhaps see John before the concert, but it didn't happen.  After a nice dinner at Cheesecake Factory, I returned to the Hall for the pre-concert reception.  There was a silent auction, but I didn't see anything that interested me.  The concert was divided into two parts, with an intermission in between.  I noted John would be performing in the second act with his songs 100 Years, Hope, Superman and World.  As the auditorium slowly filled with attendees, the orchestra soon took their seats and warmed up.  I recognized some of the notes...excerpts from Superman!

The lights dimmed as the show began.  Messina walked out on stage, along with conductor Anthony Spain.  Messina played piano along with the orchestra, performing pieces entitled Wonder and Arcano.  In addition to light effects, the music was enhanced by a large overhead screen which projected images and action from the stage.  In between songs, Messina would animatedly talk to the audience with cheerfulness and humor.  It wasn't hard to like the guy.  Next, Civil Twilight played their set...they were really good...with Messina backing them up on one song.

At the intermission, almost everyone went back out to the lobby.  I hung around the auditorium, hoping to maybe catch a glimpse of John.  Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find out one of John's Five For Fighting band members had made the trip.  Greg Suran came out on stage and started warming up a bit with his acoustic guitar.  I walked up to the front of the stage to exchange hellos with him...I'm pretty sure he remembered me from all our previous encounters.  As people returned to their seats, I thought I recognized a familiar face...but, I wasn't quite sure if it was who I thought it was.  I'm a fan of the Seattle indie-rock group Barcelona, and I thought the guy I was looking at was the lead singer.  Not having actually attended a Barcelona show, and only relying on photos and videos of him, I wasn't 100% sure.  As the second half of the concert was about to begin, I decided to try talking to the guy later.

After a brief introduction by Messina, John walked out on stage, and took a seat at the piano.  He went right into 100 Years, which sounded just awesome with the orchestral accompaniment...oh, and Greg played his guitar, too.

Before his next song, Hope, John made note that the audience was dressed much nicer than a typical Five For Fighting show...people tend wear fancier attire at symphony events.  As John sang, the orchestra played music arranged by Messina...it sounded great! 

Up to this point, the audience had reacted enthusiastically to John's songs, and it was no different with Superman...I think everyone knew this one!  John's final song of the night was World, made more special with beautiful portraits provided by world famous photographer...and Seattle's own... Art Wolfe.  In addition, the wonderful vocals of the NW Chorale provided a fitting backup to the symphony and of course, John's fantastic performance.  It was definitely my favorite moment of the night.

As John was leaving the stage...and before introducing the final act of the night, Vicci Martinez...Messina jokingly said that John would be famous one day.  As we all know, John has already made a name for himself...who HASN'T heard Superman, 100 Years and his latest hit, Chances?  Martinez performed the inspiring song, I Am Strong One More with a Children's Hospital beneficiary, young Joanita Nambassa.  The concert ended with all the performers taking the stage for a rousing rendition of the Rolling Stone hit, You Can't Always Get What You Want.  What a terrific way to end a most amazing evening!

While everyone was filing out of the auditorium, I didn't forget that guy I wanted to talk to.  I spotted him chatting with some people, including one of the stage hands.  Then, I noticed the jacket he was wearing.  I had seen the Barcelona front man wearing that exact same jacket!  It HAD to be him, but I couldn't for the life of me remember his name!  Then, he started walking toward me and I asked politely if he played for Barcelona.  He said yes...I knew it!  After introducing himself and shaking my hand...his name is Brian Fennell...he asked my name.  I told him, then went on to mention donating to Barcelona's Kickstarter campaign, which pleased Brian immensely.  I added not only that, I was one of the $500 donors, which really excited him.  Brian confirmed what I already knew...I was on the band's VIP list for life.  I asked Brian if that really meant I could attend any Barcelona show in the U.S., and he said yes.  He was curious how I heard about their music, especially considering I had never been to one of their concerts.  I explained how I read a review of a Barcelona song, where it was described as sounding like a John Ondrasik tune.  I had really liked what I heard, and after listening to other Barcelona songs and liking those, too, ended up buying their CD.  Brian was very appreciative to hear that, and was even more so when I praised his music and expressed my faith in their talent.  Before parting ways, Brian said he was looking forward to meeting me again at a future Barcelona show.  Likewise for me!  What a nice guy.  Meeting Brian was an unexpected bonus to any otherwise spectacular night.  I encourage you to check out Barcelona...they're awesome, and their new album will be coming out soon! 

Right place, right time

Another beautiful day at Yellowstone National Park. I took it easy by revisiting areas I enjoyed last year. I started out at the Upper Geyser Basin...that's the area around the Old Faithful geyser. As soon as I entered the visitor's center there, I noted the sign indicating the next scheduled eruption of Old Faithful. I got there just in time...it was in the next 10 minutes...give or take 10 minutes! Old Faithful is pretty faithful, but not pinpoint on the dot accurate. I then realized I forgot my camera in the Blazer. I rushed to the parking lot and got back just in time. But, it was early morning...around 8:30 am...and the cool temperatures created a lot of steam that obscured much of the fountain. That was okay. I figured I could probably catch another eruption later on...Old Faithful goes off about every 90 minutes.

As I walked back into the visitor's center to pick up a trail guide, a ranger announced that the Beehive geyser was going to erupt in about 20 minutes. Now this was an unexpected surprise. This particular geyser can erupt about 2 or 3 times a day...or just a few times a week. It has no set schedule. I quickly made my way out on the boardwalk to the geyser. Sure enough, the Beehive erupted...and put on a spectacular show! Because the Beehive has such a narrow cone, the water shoots like a fire hose. I captured the moment on video...the image below is a screen grab.

 

The rest of my day had more of the same...being in the right place at the right time. Some geysers erupt pretty often, or you can view pools that are constantly churning and spouting. Others may take awhile and most people don't like to wait around much...myself included. Next, I made my way of the Observation Point trail...and Solitary Geyser. This geyser was not that exciting...it spurted up a couple feet...but, it was a nice walk through a wooded area. Because I was all alone and kind of isolated from anyone else, I used my bear bell for the first time. It rings a little as you walk, and just lets bears know that you are around, which is a good idea in Yellowstone. When I returned to the main geyser basin, I was lucky to be there when the Plume Geyser erupted. And, the Sawmill Geyser put on an impressive display.

 

At noon, I was ready for lunch. Rather than the usual packed lunch, I decided to splurge a bit and eat at the restaurant in the Old Faithful Inn. It was my first sit down meal on my entire road trip! Afterward, I had one last chance to see Old Faithful...and the timing was right. Things went much better the second time aroung...I got a nice view of the geyser's famous plume.

 

I spent the rest of the afternoon viewing other hydrothermal sights at Black Sand and Biscuit Basins, and also Midway and Lower Geyser Basins. More small geyser eruptions, Fountain Paint Pots and beautiful pools...I love the blue ones the best!

 

My road trip is just about over...making the long drive back home starting tomorrow! Nothing on the agenda, just drive, drive, drive. I hear it might rain tomorrow night...now that's welcome news. The sunny skies that I've enjoyed throughout my trip has been nice, but I miss the rain...and cooler temps...and my own bed.

A whole lotta hot water

The weather was just beautiful at Yellowstone National Park today. Temperatures hovered around freezing as I entered the park and took the road north to Mammoth Hot Springs, but warmed up later. My first destination was the terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. There was a nice boardwalk that allowed visitors to see the geothermal activity, both old and current.

 

After inquiring at the visitor center in Mammoth, I headed a couple miles up the road to see the Boiling River. A short hike brought me to literally to a river of hot water bubbling out of a bank, which joined the adjacent Gardner River. Where boiling water meets cold mountain water...a natural hot springs! There were about a dozen people in the soaking pools fashioned out of smooth river rock. I didn't join them, but I DID feel the water...yeah, it was comfortably warm! When I backtracked to Mammoth, there was a minor commotion in town. Sitting on the lawn next to a building was an adult bull elk! In the fall, male elk can get pretty aggressive, so the Park Service tries to keep people safe. In this case, traffic cones were set up to create a perimeter around the elk. After snapping a few pics, I left the elk still sitting there.

I spent the rest of the day looking at a petrified tree, seeing more geothermal features at Artists Paintpots and admiring the various falls around the park. One especially picturesque sight was the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It has been said this canyon is as impressive as the real Grand Canyon, but I just know it made for a great photo!

 

Tomorrow, I revisit Old Faithful. The last time I saw the famous geyser, I saw it erupt from afar. This time, I want to be right there. I just hope I time it right...it only goes off approximately every 90 or so minutes. And, I don't want to wait that long!

Grand Tetons: Above The Timberline

When I left my hotel in Jackson, WY this morning, it was chilly...38 degrees! Brrrr! I had to put on my Five For Fighting hoodie, at least till the sun was up for a couple of hours. I was excited for my first visit to Grand Teton National Park. I knew the mountain views would be awesome, and I was looking forward to getting some nice photos. My enthusiasm was dampened a bit when I noticed a smoky haze in the sky. It appeared the park service was conducting a prescribed burn, which took away what should have been pristine views. Oh, well. I made the best of things, and it actually cleared up as I traveled north through the park. I managed to get some pretty decent shots of the peaks.

 

While at Grand Teton, I decided to have an early lunch. I stopped at a picnic area and found a table in the sun to eat the supermarket sushi I had bought yesterday. When I entered the park, I got the latest copy of the newspaper given to visitors and I looked through it as I ate. It mentioned being careful about bears, and said they might even show up at picnic areas. I found myself looking around me occasionally during my lunch. I didn't want a bear to sneak up and try to steal my sushi!

As the afternoon rolled around, I drove north and crossed into Yellowstone National Park. I had visited this park last year (see blog Geysers Are Cool, But Bison Rule) , but only had one day to look at the most popular areas, such as the Old Faithful geyser basin. This time around, not only would I have the rest of the afternoon, I had another two days to hopefully see everything I missed last time around. I saw some interesting volcanic features by taking the road less taken in the eastern side of Yellowstone. No spouting geysers, but a lot of steaming and bubbling pools.

 

Tomorrow, I'll be seeing more of Yellowstone that I've never laid eyes on before. Even though I'm not planning on doing any real hiking, I'll still be negotiating the paved trails and boardwalks around the hydrothermal features. Only four more days of road tripping...

Hello, Wyoming!

Left Vernal, CO with an easy day on the agenda...just a couple of museums to visit. As I crossed the Wyoming state line, I saw what you would expect from the Cowboy State. Actually, it's officially the Equality State, but the miles of open range on either side of the road made the Cowboy State more fitting. I hadn't gone that far when I spotted my first real herd of wild pronghorn. Yeah, I saw some pronghorn at Bryce Canyon National Park, but those were transplanted there. I pulled over to the side of the road, and tried to snap a photo of the 15 or so animals, but they were moving pretty fast and I could only manage one shot.

 

I stopped by Pinedale, WY to visit the Museum Of The Mountain Man. During the heyday of fur trapping, western Wyoming was the center of action, and this museum displayed much of that history. Later in the afternoon, I arrived at Jackson, WY, my pit stop for the night. It was here that I checked out the Jackson Hole Historical Museum. One exhibit I found most interesting was a list and map of movies filmed in the area. Not surprisingly, many western films were produced nearby...Shane was one of them. Also, more recent and well-known flicks, such as A River Runs Through It, Every Which Way But Loose and Dances With Wolves.

When I got to my hotel, I was pleasantly surprised to find I had a suite reserved for me. I had booked my room online and selected a room with a couple of queen beds. But, it wasn't costing me anything additional...hey, I'll take it! Tomorrow, I'm looking forward to my first visit to Grand Teton National Park. This afternoon, as I traveled to Jackson, I noticed many of the trees were already showng their fall colors. I hope to see more of that at the park. My camera is ready!

Old bones are good bones

Compared to my previous week, today was a relatively easy day. For one, the weather was a little cooler...mid-80s. I visited Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado with the hope of seeing a few fossils. Unfortunately, their new visitor center was still under construction, meaning their main dinosaur quarry exhibit was not available for viewing. I settled for the alternate plan...a short ranger-guided tour of the Fossil Discovery Hiking Trail. This was actually pretty cool because not only did I still see dinosaur bones embedded in rock, I could actually touch them, too.

 

After the tour, I did a short hike to a box canyon, then checked out some nice petroglyphs. Tomorrow, I'm planning an even easier day...museums! I've been doing a lot of hiking...I need a break. In fact, I think I might be done with the all-day hikes for the rest of my road trip. From now on, slow walks and auto touring! Oh, speaking of auto, I forgot to mention a couple days ago that my trusty Blazer hit 200,000 on the odometer! She has taken me on many great road trips, and hope my groupie mobile has a few more left in her!

Death defying day

I wanted to get an early start on my day at Arches National Park. Mainly to beat the heat...90 degrees was forecasted...but, also to beat the inevitable weekend crowd. When I visited the park last year (see blog post "The Real Golden Arches"), I saw a lot of arches, but I missed some, too. Those arches would require some hiking...and a bit of risk taking on my part. I arrived at Arches promptly at 7:00 am, the sun just coming over the horizon. My first hike of the day was the 3 mile round trip to the park's famous Delicate Arch. I left the Wolfe Ranch trail head at 7:30 and made good time, the biggest challenge being a very steep walk over slickrock...that's bare stone that can be slippery when wet or icy. But, the slickrock was dry, and an hour later, I made it to the end of the trail...and Delicate Arch!

The view from the arch was awesome, and I had to be very careful walking on the rock to get closer to it. One misstep and over the edge I would go and...well, it's best not to think about something that didn't happen. The hike back went much faster as it was pretty much all downhill. When I reached the parking lot, I quickly hopped in my Blazer and headed north to the Devil's Garden trailhead. By now, it was 10:00 am and temperatures were well into the 70s. Last year, I only walked about a mile to Landscape Arch. This time, I planned to go farther, hiking the full 5 miles to Double O Arch and back, with side trips to Partition and Navajo Arches. I knew the trail was going to be a bit challenging, but I almost changed my mind when presented with a huge...and potentially dangerous...section of slickrock. I mean, it was REALLY steep!

That little hump of rock right above the tree was the most frightening for me. Hard to get around and over going up, and even harder when coming back down. In fact, it was the descent that could have been fatal. It's a good thing I'm not afraid of heights. But, it was all worth it in the end. Partition Arch was particularly beautiful.

It was at this arch that a humorous incident occurred. It was right before I took the photo shown above. Three guys with pretty fancy cameras were taking photos of the arch. They were all moving around trying to get the best shots. I was getting ready to take some shots of my own when I heard one of them talking about how people just stand in the way and ruin the shot. He kept at it, and I realized he was directing his comments...but not directly at...a young woman standing right next to the arch. I finally told him why he just didn't say something to her. I guess he was just being too polite, so I decided to do it for him. I got her attention, and made it clear that the guy was trying to take a photo without her in it, and to please move to the side. I think she may have been a foreign visitor because she initially didn't seem to comprehend. But, when I added my hand gestures, she moved enough for the guy to get his shot. He complimented my technique...admitted I said it better than he would have. Afterward, he laughed and said the photo probably wouldn't be that great anyway!

After 8 miles...and about 5 1/2 hours of hiking...I was hot and exhausted. Yes, it was 90 degrees when I finished my ordeal. I'm seeing cooler temperatures are just over the horizon. It can't come soon enough for this Pacific Northwesterner.

A road...and a trail...less taken

I left the tiny town of Torrey, UT, having spent a very nice night at the Days Inn there. I'm staying at a LOT of Days Inns on this trip, but some...like this one...are better than others. A perfect shower set up and SOFT towels can make all the difference in the world. Oh, and then there was the small rubber duck in the bathtub...don't know what that was all about.

I drove about ten minutes east to the park of the day... Capitol Reef National Park.  Never heard of it?  It sits between Bryce Canyon and Canyonlands, but I have a feeling most people just pass it by.  That's a shame.  Capitol Reef has some awesome rock formations, too and really nice trails.  I had two such trails on my agenda today.  The first...Capitol Gorge trail...is located at the end of the main park road, then another two miles more along a dirt road.  My Blazer handled the sometimes rough road just fine.  The Capitol Gorge trail proved to be a wonderful hike. A 2 1/2 mile round trip, the walk takes you up a dirt and gravel wash with steep canyon walls on either side.

 

Along the way, you can see petroglyphs both very old and somewhat newer.  Rock drawings done by ancient ancestors of the Fremont Indians, and graffiti placed by Mormon settlers  in the late 1800s and early 1900s. As I was returning to the parking lot, I encountered a group of guys walking in the opposite direction. From their accents, they sounded like Australians or New Zealanders.  They asked me if I could take a couple of photos of them. One guy handed me his smart phone and another his digital camera.  I happily obliged, and they were very appreciative!

My second planned hike was the more challenging trail to Hickman Bridge...a natural stone arch. The first part of the two mile hike consisted of a series of ascending switchbacks up a dirt and rock trail. It gave me quite a workout, made even worse by the increasing heat of the day. The payoff was worth it, though...the view was impressive.

 

After taking pictures of the arch, the return trip to the parking lot was easier, mainly because the trail was mostly downhill. I met an older couple on the way back and chatted with them a bit. They said they were from Wisconsin, and like myself, they were not used to the heat either. I guess where they live, the weather is similar to what I'm used to. Tomorrow, I'm planning a couple more hikes at Arches National Park. It's supposed to be another scorcher. So, what's new?

Bryce is nice

Beautiful weather for Day 7 of my road trip. I left Cedar City, UT and made the short drive to Cedar Breaks National Monument. It was downright chilly this morning...40 degrees! I had to put on my trusty Five For Fighting hoodie. The park was almost deserted...it's a pretty small one. It was kind of early for really good views of the rocky vistas...the sun wasn't quite right yet.

I took a few pics and went on a short hike on the Alpine Pond loop trail. It was a pretty easy walk except for one steep section. I had to rest a few times, probably because the 10,400 foot altitude affected me a bit. My high point of the day was a visit to Bryce Canyon National Monument. Personally, I think this park is even better than Zion, with scenery that rivals even the Grand Canyon. I drove along the park road to the very end, then backtracked, stopping at vista points along the way. Awesome scenery and perfect weather...what could be better? Oh, I saw my first wild pronghorn antelope!

One thing I've noticed after a week on the road and seven national parks visited. Most of my fellow tourists have consisted of retirees and foreign travelers. Almost no kids...except for the occasional baby. I guess it makes sense, since families tend to vacation during the summer, and everyone is now working or going to school. It makes it easier for me...less crowds, for the most part. It looks like another couple days of hot weather, then...cooler temps for the rest of my trip. And, NO RAIN in the forecast!

Knight in shining armor...or a ranger

I was hoping to leave my worst day ever behind and start afresh today. I got up extra early to do a little shopping. I visited the Walmart Superstore in Hurricane, UT at 7:00 am. It was pretty deserted at that hour. I had noticed I was consuming my bottled water faster than expected, thanks to the terrible heat I've been experiencing for most of my road trip. So, I picked up a case of water. One special item I needed to get was soda. Now, you're thinking I could get that anywhere, anytime. Unfortunately, they don't sell my favorite Diet Code Red Mountain Dew in Washington...or Oregon or Idaho or even northern California! I picked up three half cases for myself, plus another three for a friend who can't live without it. The heat also made me realize I could use something for my head. I selected a visor to shield my face from the sun. Finally, I grabbed a sandwich for lunch. When I got to Walmart, it was still dark. As I exited the store, the sun was coming up.

I got to my destination for the day... Zion National Park...around 8:00 am. It was still pretty early. I had no problem finding a parking space. Zion utilizes shuttles to transport visitors from one end of the park to the other. They are numerous, so you never have to wait more than 5-10 minutes at each stop. I opted to ride the shuttle to the final northern stop to hike the popular Riverside Walk. When I started out on the paved trail, I noticed it was a little chilly! I'm thinking low 60s with a breeze. Actually, it felt pretty good to this Northwesterner who prefers temps like that!

It was about 1.5 miles round trip and pretty much flat...I like easy trails. As I was making the return trip, the serenity was broken by the sound of chattering...kids! There is no such thing as a quiet child! It was a school group going in the opposite direction. I'm glad I got there early!

I took the shuttle south to the half mile Weeping Rock trail...short, but a bit steep. As I was going back down, I couple of older women greeted me. They had seen me on the Riverside Walk, and noted that I walked faster than them! They were cheerful and very friendly. My final hike of the day was the Lower Emerald Pool trail. This one was about a mile in length. By now, it was getting rather hot, and this trail didn't have as much shade. There was a humorous moment when I saw the two ladies again...and again while I was leaving and they were arriving. Again, they made note at how fast I walked! Oh, I guess I should mention Zion is most famous for its steep canyons and beautiful red rocks. And, I DID take a lot of photos!

After lunch and a visit to the small park museum, I was ready to leave. When I got to my Blazer, it was blazing in the hot sun. The door handle was very hot...ouch! As soon as I opened the door, I knew something was wrong. I didn't hear my auto cooler operating. Sure enough, I tried starting the engine and the battery was dead! Great! My cooler drained the battery in the five hours I was away. My other auto cooler actually had a feature that turned off the cooler rather than drain the battery...obviously, this one didn't do that! I knew it would take AAA awhile to get to the park, so I decided to ask the park staff for help. I went into the visitor center, and asked the ranger at the information booth if I could get a jump start. To my relief, she made a call, and told me another ranger would arrive in about five minutes. I returned to my car, and in no time, he arrived. Hmm...he was kinda cute! His truck had a built in plug in the bumper and a couple minutes later, I was in business. Oh, I must mention he saw my FFF FAN license plate, and asked me what I was a fan of. I explained to him... Five For Fighting...musical artist...Superman and 100 Years? The nice ranger was totally clueless. Oh, well. That's nothing new. Not everyone knows who Five For Fighting is. I guess I should have played my 100 Years CD? On the other hand, he probably had other visitors to rescue.

I had one more place to go before my nightly pitstop. Kolub Canyons is officially part of Zion National Park, but since it is in the far northwest corner and away from the main area, most people bypass it. They really shouldn't. The Kolub Canyons overlook is only five miles from the interstate, and provides equally awesome views of the red rocks.

 

Tomorrow...more rocks! Cedar Breaks National Monument and Cedar Breaks National Park. The weather forecast says the 70s. Ahh, finally...cooler!

When it rains, it pours

I got a late start this morning. Before leaving Reno, I wanted to fill my gas tank. I located a 76 station via the internet...I have a 76 gas card...and used my GPS to direct me. When I got there, I found it WASN'T a 76 station, at least not anymore. Not wanting to search around for another, I went ahead and filled up. Next, I planned to pick up a quick breakfast from Burger King, but when I got to the location...yes, using the internet again...it was nowhere to be found. Two strikes already, and I hadn't even left town yet!

I had a long day of driving ahead of me...about nine hours worth. I would be traveling about 2/3 the length of Nevada...desert country. Things continued to work against me as I encountered two construction zones before the halfway point. Now, I didn't need this! My day would be long enough as it was with the long drive. Construction delays wouldn't make it any easier! At my midday pitstop in the town of Tonopah, I filled the tank again...my Blazer is kind of thirsty...and decided to pick up lunch. I went to a Subway, hoping to try out their new...and highly advertised...oven-baked crispy chicken sandwich. But, when I placed my order, the counter girl checked something behind her, then disappeared in a back room. When she returned, she told me they were out. HUH? It was 12:30 pm! How could they be out already! They had the whole day to go! Reluctantly, I ordered something else. At this point, I realized the planets were not aligned for me on this day.

As I continued south, my journey was slowed two more times by construction. One wait was almost a half hour! Needless to say, I was getting extremely frustrated. I had been planning to get my Blazer washed and make a necessary shopping trip. Now, I would be lucky to get to my hotel before dark...and I hate to drive after the sun goes down. Oh, another downside to the traffic stops for construction. When that happens, vehicles bunch up, particularly the big rigs and RVs. It makes it that much more challenging to pass the slower vehicles on the two-lane highways I was traveling on.

About 10 hours later, I checked into my hotel. What a day! I was hot, exhausted and hungry. When I got to my room, I found it warm and stuffy. Great. It took about an hour to get it comfortably cooled. To top it off, the free hotel internet is sluggish and forgot that I crossed over into the Mountain time zone. Which means I lost an hour AND I missed Survivor because prime time starts an hour earlier! Sigh. I'm ready for this day to be over. Tomorrow has to better! On a bright note, my Blazer performed beautifully in the 100+ degree weather. The air conditioning worked perfectly and it didn't get overheated. Pretty good for a ride pushing 200,000 miles. I love my groupie mobile!

To Hell and back

When I left Redding, CA this morning, I wanted to get to Lassen Volcanic National Park early to beat the heat. I decided to tackle the hiking part of my visit first, while it was still cool. I arrived at Bumpass Hell to an almost empty parking lot...I counted only six cars. Bumpass Hell is one of the main attractions of the park, consisting of a 3 mile (round trip) trail to an area of hydrothermal activity. It was 60 degrees and sunny when I started walking the trail...perfect weather! The site was pretty impressive...steaming pools of different colors, a large steam vent and bubbling liquid mud, with the pervasive smell of sulfur in the air.

It was similar to what I had seen at Yellowstone last year, but still interesting. I got to talking to an older lady, who like me, was road tripping solo. The walk back up to the overlook was a bit more difficult than the descent. Not only was a little steep, but I had to contend with the 8000 foot elevation, which made the air a bit thin. During the walk to the site and back, it kept seeing chipmunks running around. One appeared to ask for treats, but Iike the chipmunk at Crater Lake, I ignored its plea. I DID get some nice photos of other chipmunks. I love seeing wildlife!

As I made the return trip, I passed a lot of people going in the opposite direction. Sure enough, the parking lot was almost full...I beat the crowd! I visited two other attractions at Lassen...Sulfur Works and Devastated Area Interpretive Trail. Sulfur Works had more hydrothermal features, but on a smaller scale. The Devastated Area outlined the history of the violent volcanic eruptions in the area in a half mile interpretive trail. My day done, I drove to my pit stop...Reno, NV. No, I won't be doing any gambling...not my thing since I always seem to lose anyway. Tomorrow will be a travel day...on my way to Utah to check out some of the parks there. There are two things I just have to do tomorrow...you'll find out in the next blog!

The Descent: NOT The Movie

Enjoyed my stay at the Days Inn in Klamath Falls, OR last night. Most impressive...at least to me...the big refrigerator in my room! The refrigerator section was roomy, but the freezer on top was huge, too! Anytime I can freeze FOUR water bottles at one time is a big plus! Oh, and the bed was nice and comfy. The only irritant was a dog barking briefly sometime in the early morning. After I got up, I went outside to load up my Blazer, and found out the noisy dog had spent the night in a pickup belonging to a lady in the room next to mine. I didn't say anything, although the dog started barking while she prepared to leave. No matter there might still be other people still sleeping at 7:30 am!

I made the drive south, crossing into California...no agriculture inspection on the county road I was on, not that I had any fruit anyway. My first stop was Petroglyph Point, officially part of Lava Beds National Volcanic Monument, but outside the main park boundaries. I took photos of the rock art, which didn't appear to have a lot of human or animal images. It was still pretty cool, and there was no one around at the remote site...I had it all to myself.

The main focus of my visit to Lava Beds was exploring some of the lava tubes, which it is most famous for. I had purchased a stylish but inexpensive helmet and a headlamp for the lava tubes. Since time was of the essence, coupled with the fact that I was alone, I wasn't too keen on going TOO deep inside the caves. I chose some of the short and easy caves, which still gave me a taste of cave exploration. Although the temperatures were hovering around 80 degrees, it was cool...almost cold...inside the caves. A couple of them were supposed to have some ice, but I didn't see much in the near darkness.

It was a bit creepy walking through the caves with just my headlamp and a small, but bright flashlight. I kept thinking about the movie The Descent about a group of female spelunkers trapped inside a cave inhabited by killer mutant people. I didn't take many photos while inside the caves because they don't come out anyway...too dark!

Before leaving the park, I took a look at Mammoth Crater...it really WAS a mammoth crater...then headed south on a gravel road. I was thinking I would quickly reach a paved road, but it didn't happen. The gravel soon turned into more or less a dirt and rock road. Needless to say, I was a bit concerned! My GPS kind of warned me about this, but I naturally assumed it was talking about the gravel park road I was on. With about ten miles to go before the next junction, I was praying I wouldn't suffer some sort of mechanical problem. I wasn't concerned about the capabilities of my trusty Blazer...it's a REAL truck, not one of the new wannabe SUVs...but it IS eleven years old and pushing 200,000 miles. After about three miles of slow going...MIRACLE! The dirt road turned to pavement...almost a fantasy road. It was so beautifully paved, it was almost unreal...kind of a dream road. A Twilight Zone road. When I reached the junction, I finally turned onto another paved road...thank goodness...with LINES! I was off the hook. I learned a valuable lesson today. Don't rely totally on the GPS and do research on my roads...the fastest route may not be the best route!

Blue skies and blue water

When I left Vancouver, WA this morning, it was overcast, but no rain. I had checked the weather forecast, and I knew it would be sunny at my destination... Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. I drove all morning, taking the most time after I left the interstate. Almost five hours later, I reached my destination. After showing my annual pass at the north entrance booth of the park...love the convenience AND the value (only $80, good for ALL the national parks, plus other federal recreation areas)...I soon found myself at the Merriam Point overlook. The view was breathtaking...the water was SO blue!

There was some people, but considering how busy it COULD be, it was not bad at all. The traffic along the park roads was extremely light. At the next viewpoint, as I approached the stone wall overlooking the lake, I was immediately greeted by a very friendly chipmunk. It came running up, jumped on the wall, and sat in front of me. It was begging for food!

Now, this was very bad. Park visitors are not supposed to feed the wildlife, but obviously, this one was used to getting handouts. It ran around, and kept returning to me, but it ended up leaving empty handed...or rather, empty pawed. There were a few other chipmunks around, but they probably noticed their friend bombed on the treats, so they didn't come to me. I continued driving around the lake, stopping at other viewpoints, and taking more photos. There was an interesting rock formation known as Phantom Ship that proved popular with the visitors.

Truthfully, it was hard to take a BAD picture. The weather conditions were picture perfect, varying from 60-70 degrees, depending on your location around the lake. I only took one short hike...the 1/4 mile Sun Notch trail...which allowed me to get the best view of Phantom Ship. Tomorrow, I'll continue on my theme of volcanic areas...yes, Crater Lake was once a volcano, Mount Mazama. I'll be spending the day at Lava Beds National Monument. Looking forward to exploring the lava tubes, with a few petroglyphs thrown in.

Mt St Helens revisited

I woke up to rain this morning, the first day of my national park road trip.  But, I wouldn't let a little rain dampen my spirits.  As I drove through Seattle, it continued to rain on and off.  By the time I reached Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument, the rain had eased up.  I traveled up Spirit Lake Highway to the terminus point...Johnston Ridge Observatory visitor's center.  After purchasing an annual park pass...it will get me into all the national parks for a whole year...I went outside for my first close-up look at the volcano.

When Mt St Helens erupted, I was attending college at Washington State University in Pullman, WA...about 250 miles to the east.  You can read about my experiences back then in my blog Remembering Mt St Helens. Years later, I had only briefly stopped by the Seaquest Visitor Center, about 5 miles from the interstate. Well out of the blast zone, it only provided a very long distance view of the volcano. Since then, I had been looking forward to a more closeup look. Exiting the visitor's center, I walked out to the viewpoint...and was instantly disappointed. Not only was there overcast skies, low hanging clouds obscured the mountain from view. The wispy clouds were constantly moving, but the crater remained hidden. I went ahead and took photos anyway...at the least the valley below was clear. I was able the see the devastated areas damaged when the mountain exploded.

After taking my photos, I was ready for lunch, so I ate in the parking lot. When I drove back down the highway away from Johnston Observatory, I glanced back at the mountain...and saw it was now completed visible! While I was eating the clouds blew away, exposing the volcano. I stopped at the next nearby viewpoint, and snapped many nicer photos than the ones I had taken earlier.

About an hour later, the clouds moved back in and the mountain was once again hidden from view. I guess I really lucked out! When I returned back to the interstate, the rain started up again, but stopped before I reached my pitstop for the night. Tomorrow's park adventure...Crater Lake, OR! I hadn't been back there since I was a teenager, and I don't remember all that much. Maybe feeding a few chipmunks...not that I would do that now.

The heart of rock and soul

Yesterday, I went to Bumbershoot in Seattle.  It's the city's big music and arts festival held over Labor Day weekend every year.  Now, the last time I went to Bumbershoot was in 2004, specifically to see Seal.  That year has proved to be a sore spot in my life because that was the same year Five For Fighting performed at the festival.  That was on a different day that Seal was there, so I missed out on what could have been a life changing experience.  Actually, it only delayed it for a year because I discovered John Ondrasik's music the following July, and the rest is history.  Still, it would be interesting to know if things would be different if I had been exposed to John's music a year earlier than I did.

But, I digress.  This year, my big plan for Bumbershoot was to see Hall and Oates.  Call it another opportunity to fulfill my neverending quest to see the musical artists I have missed throughout my lifetime.  And, Hall and Oates have been around for a LONG time!  I actually have three of their albums ON VINYL that I purchased back when they were released.  I also decided that the festival was a great way to experience my first rap concert, care of the artist Big Boi.  I'm no fan of rap music...in fact, I don't like it at all.  But, I was curious to see what the atmosphere of such a concert was like. 

When I got to Seattle Center...the site of Bumbershoot...I spent the first few hours walking around, taking in the bands playing at the different stages.  I wasn't real interested in the comedy acts or the short film festival, but I did check out the visual arts exhibits.  One building was devoted to Flatstock...music poster artists displaying and selling their art.  But, alas, there were no Five For Fighting posters, so I went away empty handed.  The mainstage acts this year were performing at Key Arena, which was a big improvement from the usual outdoor Memorial Stadium.  It was there that I saw Big Boi...and only stayed for two songs.  That was enough for me.  Just not my thing.

I left Seattle Center to check into my hotel and freshen up.  When I returned, after grabbing a bite to eat, I got into line early at Key Arena to score a good seat for the Hall and Oates show.  There was standing room on the floor of the arena, but I decided I would rather sit.  I got there early enough to see another musical act perform first... Fitz and the Tantrums.  As soon as the band took the stage and went into their first song, the bass player immediately caught my eye.  Hmm...he looked awfully familiar!  The band sounded great...they really got the crowd into the music.  Throughout their set, I kept looking at the bass player...was it or wasn't it who I thought it was?  Finally, the lead singer introduced the band members, including the bass guy.  Yes!  I was right!  It was Joe Karnes, who toured with Five For Fighting last year!  I got to know him when I followed John''s tour for six shows, and now he was playing for a pretty awesome band.

 When I heard that Fitz and the Tantrums would be doing a meet and greet after their show, I decided to try to see Joe.  I walked over to the merch booths...people were already lining up.  Luck was with me.  When the band appeared, Joe was trailing the group.  I greeted him and Joe seemed to remember me.  After all, I think you would remember someone who made cookies for the Five For Fighting band and crew!  I congratulated Joe for hooking up with such a great band, and told him that I was there to see Hall and Oates but was happy to see him!  Such a great guy...and a talented bass player, too!  I rushed back to my seat in time to see Hall and Oates take the stage.  Wow!  They hadn't lost their touch!  The set list included most of their biggest hits, and there were TWO encores!

Maneater
Family Man
Out Of Touch
How Does It Feel To Be Back
Adult Education
Say It Isn't So
She's Gone
Sara Smile
I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)

Encore
Rich Girl
You Make My Dreams

2nd Encore
Kiss On My List
Private Eyes

One interesting thing I observed during the Hall and Oates performance was a woman signing the words for a group of deaf people sitting in a section below me.  It was cool to see them enjoying the beat of the music and watching the woman passionately signing the lyrics.  There were a lot of young people on the floor enjoying the music, and everyone provided the appropriate hand clapping during the song Private Eyes.  Hopefully, the younger audience who didn't know who Hall and Oates was...they do now!  It's been 37 years since their first hit single, She's Gone hit the charts, but their music will remain timeless!  Long live rock and soul! 

Game day

Yesterday, I crossed off yet another item on my bucket list.  Nothing overly challenging, and something I can definitely see myself doing again in the future.  A friend of mine regularly buys football season tickets for the Seattle Seahawks.  I had made it known to him that I had never attended an NFL game and that I would love to do so.  Well, turned out he couldn't go to the August 20th Seattle-Minnesota matchup and asked me if I was interested in the tickets.  I checked my calendar and to my good fortune, I was free that day!  He sold me the tickets for half price.  Now, it wouldn't be fun going alone, so I found a female friend who had also never been to a pro football game, so it was perfect.

After a Korean food lunch in Lynnwood, we drove to the Uwajimaya food store near CenturyLink Field, site of the night's game.  Uwajimaya is a great place to pick up food and snacks if you're going to either CenturyLink Field or Safeco Field for Seattle Mariners baseball games.  We were lucky to find a free parking space along the street just a few blocks away and soon joined the other eager football fans streaming into the stadium.  Our seats were up in the 300 level and we had a great view of the field.  It was a bit far away to get really good photos, but I still managed to get a few decent shots of the action.

There were Minnesota Vikings fans scattered throughout the stadium, including in my section.  During the game, I overheard some good natured banter between Seahawks and Vikings fans, but everyone was having a good time.  That's one thing I've observed while attending Mariners games in the past and this game, too...Seattle fans are polite and display good sportsmanship.  With the violence that occurs all too often at sporting events in other cities, it's nice to see that rarely happens in Seattle.  Well, the Hawks ended up losing the game, 7-20, but I still enjoyed myself.  I would love to go to more games in the future.  I think that will happen.

Turning a new page

As some of you know by now, my Five For Fighting Fan Central website is now frozen in time.  For those who don't, here's the story.  Last year, my web host quit supporting my site builder.  That caused some momentary panic, considering it IS my website that was affected...my FIVE FOR FIGHTING fan site!  After a quick call to Tech Support, I got access back to the site builder, but I was on my own using it.  Not a big problem, considering I never had much trouble with it.  At that time, I knew my website's days were numbered, and I would eventually have to rebuild the site.

Well, that time finally arrived about a week ago when the other shoe fell, so to speak.  My web host informed me that my site builder was being removed from their systems.  Now, that won't affect the existence of my fan site...that will still be available for everyone to visit and enjoy.  But, for me, I will no longer be able to edit or modify the site.  Needless to say, when I got the notification email, my stomach turned flip flops.  I knew the day was coming, but I was totally unprepared to create a whole new website!  I immediately started looking over the list of site builders my web host had available and found one to my liking.  It had some nice features that my current one doesn't have, looked simple enough to use, and it was FREE!  There was some uncertainty on how to install the new software and use it without interfering with my current website.  So, I called Tech Support again...love the 24/7 service...and the nice guy I spoke to talked me through the process. 

With that done, I felt a sense of relief...and anticipation.  The old site builder I had been using was super easy...but, it was also at times, very time consuming.  I had to create much of the site BY HAND since there were only minimal templates.  That meant a lot of inconsistencies...nothing was perfect from page to page since I moved things around myself!  Yeah, it still looked good, but it always bugged me...I'm kind of an obsessive perfectionist.  Well, with this new software, there are site designs to choose from, and ways to edit everything.  AND, every page has templates!  Still, since it was new software, I had some learning to do.

Actually, this was the best time for all of this to happen.  There is not a whole lot going on in Five For Fighting land.  John Ondrasik has been doing some shows in the past month and has a few more to go.  But, he'll be spending most of the rest of this year and into early next year writing new songs and preparing to record his new album.  That gives me several months to work on my new fan site.  Today, I spent about six hours familiarizing myself with the new site builder. The software company has many helpful video tutorials to help make the journey a less bumpy one.  I even managed to start working on my fan site home page a little bit.  When I called it quits for the day, I felt encouraged and optimistic.  It will take awhile to create my new site to my picky satisfaction, and there will be a lot of tweaking along the way.  But, I hoping everyone will enjoy the results of my labor when it's all done.  Stay tuned Five For Fighting friends...

All roads meet in Seattle

Had a terrific day...and night...at Seattle Center!  I started things off by visiting the Experience Music Project, better known as the EMP.  I was particularly interested in their special Avatar exhibit.  There were the usual props and costumes from the film, but the stuff about creating this awesome movie was even more interesting. The EMP also had another science fiction exhibit on the Battlestar Galactica TV series, and music related stuff on Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana.

After grabbing a quick bite to eat, I was hoping to see John Ondrasik before the Five For Fighting show. Knowing that John always does soundchecks before every concert, I walked over to Mural Amphitheatre.  I was surprised to find two people waiting at the entrance.  In the course of our conversation, I learned that Candy and Jeremy drove up from Portland, OR just to see John perform.  They had actually started waiting there at 9:00 am!  I'm a dedicated Five For Fighting fan who loves to be first in line, but not THAT dedicated!  Usually, 2 to 3 hours before doors open is sufficient for me!  I told them about my plan to see John, and immediately noticed a side entrance in the temporary fence.  I decided to stake it out, and told Candy and Jeremy I would let them know if anything panned out.  Well, my suspicions proved correct!  At around 2:30, I noticed a black town car drive up...then John exited the vehicle!  I approached him and said HI, and John replied, "Hi Wynne."  I asked him if he could possibly have a chat with my new Portland friends at the front gate.  John said that he was running a bit late, but would try to make time.  I returned to Candy and Jeremy, and gave them the optimistic news.  For the next 20 minutes, we enjoyed the wonderful sounds of John warming up his voice.  As people walked by, some stopped to have a listen.  A few inquired who was singing, and I told them it was Five For Fighting.  I also added that tickets were just $25 for tonight's GreenNote show.  Hey, I'll support John any chance I get, and trying to sell tickets for him is what a loyal fan would do!  After John finished with soundchecks, we eagerly waited to see if he would come visit.  Alas, John ended up exiting through a different fence opening without coming to see us.  Oh, well.  Hopefully, John would do a meet and greet after the show.

My plan foiled, I left my new friends and checked into my hotel.  They said they would save a place for me in line.  An hour later, I returned to the entrance, and the line had grown to about a dozen people.  Included was a nice family from Coeur d'Alene, ID.  This would be their second Five For Fighting show.  Their first was actually my first official Five For Fighting show, too...November 2006 at Seattle's Showbox Theater.  To my delight, I discovered they were frequent visitors to my Five For Fighting fan site.  When gates opened at 5:00 pm, we all made our way to the area right in front of the stage.  Candy and Jeremy to the right of me...they shared my blanket...and the Idaho family to my left.  Shortly after we settled in, a guy in a Five For Fighting hockey jersey stopped by to say HI to me.  Turns out we met at a previous Five For Fighting show in Seattle...I gave him one of my fan site business cards!  If there's one thing I really enjoy, it's meeting other Five For Fighting fans at John's concerts!

There were two opening acts preceding John tonight.  The first was a local gal, Jerin Falkner, who played piano and guitar.  The second was pianist Jon McLaughlin, who was accompanied by Dylan Williams, who played electric guitar on a couple of songs.  The openers were both quite talented, but it was John who I was really waiting to see.  When he finally took the stage, I was SO ready to hear his wonderful voice!  Here is John's setlist for the night and a couple of photos that I took.

World (piano)
The Riddle (piano)
Chances (guitar)
Slice (guitar)
'65 Mustang (guitar)
Superman (piano)
This Dance (piano)
Easy Tonight (guitar)
If God Made You (guitar)
Freedom Never Cries (piano)
I Just Love You (piano)
100 Years (piano)
Hope (a capella)

After John did 100 Years, there was a short question and answer period...a GreenNote thing...then John closed with Hope.  At that, the majority of the crowd left, which surprised me and the Portland couple.  A LOT more people had lined up to see Jon Laughlin.  Hmm.  Well, their loss.  The 20 or so fans who DID stay were rewarded with a meet and greet with John!  After Candy and Jeremy got their autographs and pics with John, it was my turn.  John saw me and said, "Hi, Miss Wynne!"  John is so sweet!  As I got my photo with him, I thanked John for singing This Dance.  It was nice to hear him perform a song he hasn't before.  John agreed it was nice to play a new song, and added he was practicing Note To The Unknown Soldier with the band.  So, you lucky folks who will get a full band show coming up will be hearing this song!  Before I left John to his next fan, he apologized for not seeing us after the soundchecks.  Aww...John you are REALLY sweet! 

Before leaving, I said my goodbyes to my new Idaho and Portland friends.  I told Candy and Jeremy that I would look forward to being at the front of the line with them at the next Portland Five For Fighting show!  So, now I'm in for a long wait till the next Five For Fighting tour.  John needs to get to work writing those new songs! 

Summertime in Seattle

Summers for me are usually fairly non-eventful.  Work mostly, choosing to let everyone else have their vacations when the weather is warmest...I hate the heat!  Thankfully, the weather up here in the Puget Sound area of Washington is nice during the summer...70s and 80s!  Things are also normally pretty slow when Five For Fighting is between tours.  John Ondrasik is busy writing songs for his next album...or should be!

This month and the next, John is doing a series of shows around the country.  Those of us who are blessed to be close enough to attend one of them can consider ourselves lucky!  I'll be one of those fortunate Five For Fighting fans when John performs at Seattle's GreenNote Acoustic Music Festival.  Matt Nathanson is headlining tonight's show, and John will be doing an all-piano concert tomorrow. It will be an outdoor lawn show at Seattle Center's Mural Amphitheatre, and tickets are still available.  The forecast for tomorrow is for mid-70s and NO RAIN, which will provide for a perfect night of awesome music!  I'm hoping to see John before the show, but regardless, I'll be posting a blog afterward on the day's events and of course, the concert. I'm ready for a rockin' good time!

Facing off with John Ondrasik: The interview

Last month, we heard from John Ondrasik that he signed a new record deal with his current label, Wind-Up Records.  That means another Five For Fighting album, which is great news for his loyal fans!  John will once again be teaming up with his friend, music producer Gregg Wattenberg, who produced John's hit album America Town.  Together, they also gave us the greatest Five For Fighting song of all, 100 Years.

So, while John is busy working on writing songs for his upcoming album, that doesn't mean he's not doing a show or two...or three...or more!  John will be performing a series of shows in July and August.  Don't miss your opportunity to see him perform live this year, if you can! 

Even though things are kind of slow in Five For Fighting land, that doesn't mean I'm resting on my laurels!  I FINALLY found the time to transcribe the interview I did with John before his November 4th Brixton South Bay show last year.  John graciously answered the questions I put before him...many of which John has NEVER been asked in previous interviews he's done.  You can read the interview at my fan site,  Five For Fighting Fan Central. I sure learned a lot during my conversation with John, and I hope you enjoy reading the interview! May this be the first of...at least another interview in the near future?

All creatures great and small

When I left my hotel in Crescent City, CA this morning, I decided I couldn't leave town without doing something about my filthy ride. I found a self-serve car wash and spent $2 to wash off all the mud on my beloved groupie mobile. Feeling better afterward, I traveled north to Bandon, OR and the West Coast Game Park. If you've read my previous blogs, you will know this is my favorite zoo. This facility is devoted to breeding endangered animals to perpetuate species should they become extinct in the wild.

When I got to the zoo, the parking lot was pretty full...something I had not encountered in the past. I think part of the reason is because Oregon schools have their spring break this week. Thus, the presence of many families at the zoo today. It made it a little harder to enjoy the close encounters with the animals with so many people there. Still, I was able to pet Cadence, the caracal or African wild cat, and hold their old opossum and a ferret. There was a 10-month-old tiger cub named Sheriff, but because he was too big, we were only able to take photos of him...no petting! With West Coast Game Park, the animals available for petting or holding are all a matter of timing. I had some great experiences in my past visits...not a whole lot this time. But, that will not discourage me from future visits because it's such a cool place. And, I got a lot of nice photos of the other zoo animals, including the young ring-tailed lemur that you see above.

After a quick Thai lunch in Bandon, my only other destination of the day was Siuslaw Pioneer Museum in Florence. This small museum presents the history of the area in the form of photos and personal items donated by local families. Many objects reminded me of things I had seen in antique stores, but these told stories of the generations of people who settled in Florence and made their lives there. So, tomorrow I make the day long drive home. My road trip has been tiring, but fun. I'll be posting a wrap-up blog or two when I get settled back in my old routine and take a breather. I can't wait to see my cat!

Wapiti and wet boots

As I left Santa Rosa, CA this morning, I was expecting a nice day. I spent the entire morning driving north on US Hwy 101 in northern California...better known as The Redwood Highway. There are a lot of opportunities to see the redwood trees along this route, but that wasn't on my agenda. I only had time for one thing...visit Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. When I turned into the road leading to the canyon, I was immediately presented with an obstacle...one of many on this afternoon. Just off the highway, the road was flooded. As I debated driving through the water, I noted a couple of other vehicles parked on the opposite side. The people were observing and taking photos of a small herd of Roosevelt elk...also known as wapiti.

Just then, a small car drove toward me through the standing water. Well, if a car can do it, my Blazer certainly can, too! I slowly crossed the flooded road and made it to the other side. I joined the others admiring the elk, and took a few pics myself. I then continued on my way to Fern Canyon. The paved road soon turned to compacted dirt...then, compacted mud. My Blazer's tires are supposed to be mud and snow tires. They had seen snow, but never mud, so this was a good test. After about four miles of winding through the trees, I was suddenly presented with another challenge...driving through a stream! Now, there were no signs warning that it was not passable, so I held my breath and drove forward. My Blazer rolled down into the water, and I slowly accelerated to the opposite bank...I made it! My euphoria was short-lived because soon after celebrating my first successful stream fording...I came to ANOTHER stream! This one was almost identical to the previous one. With new found confidence, I negotiated the second stream without any problem. The remaining road to the Fern Canyon parking lot was filled with water-filled potholes, which I did my best to avoid.

When I got to the parking lot, there were a few cars there...and a California Department of Corrections vehicle. As I started walking the trail to Fern Canyon, I encountered a number of what I assumed was low risk inmates dressed in orange jumpsuits. They didn't seem to be closely supervised as they worked on trail repair. I found them to be rather pleasant and friendly, talking to them as I passed by. I soon found out my biggest challenge of the day was yet to come. It turned out the normally graveled and fairly dry Fern Canyon trail was currently a wide, gentle flowing stream! I took another trail to the opposite end of Fern Canyon, but discovered in order to see it...I had to walk in the water. I told myself, I wasn't about to drive through the mud, streams and potholes only to be defeated by a little water! I scanned the stream to pick out the best route...then, got my feet wet! My leather hiking boots immediately filled with water, and stayed that way for the length of my hike.

The Fern Canyon trail is about a half mile long, traveling through a canyon with fern-covered walls. It has a prehistoric feel to it, which is the reason it was used as a location for The Lost World: Jurassic Park. But, I'm pretty sure the canyon floor wasn't covered with water for the film like it was now. As I walked through the canyon, the trail would appear here and there. I would alternate slogging through the stream, and climbing over logs and branches. At one point, I miscalculated a branch and tripped over it. I banged my shin good on another branch as I fell down. I was lucky I didn't smash my face on something. With my leg smarting, I continued my ordeal until I reached the end of the trail...if you want to call it that. The canyon was a bit disappointing, not only because of the water, but because the ferns weren't at their peak yet. Still, I got some nice photos. Maybe someday I'll return when things are not quite so wet.

As I walked back to the parking lot, I encountered other people going the other way. At one point, I asked a family if they were planning to see Fern Canyon. They said they were, and I warned them about the water, which like me, they weren't expecting. When I got back to my Blazer, I removed my boots...pouring out the water...and my soaking wet socks. Thankfully, being on a road trip, I had spare dry socks AND more than one pair of extra shoes to wear. After I put my shoes on, I noticed a group of five Japanese girls exiting a mini-van, and looking ready to take a hike. I went up to them, and asked if they were going to Fern Canyon. Like the family I spoke to earlier, the girls were also unaware of the water-filled canyon. After talking among themselves, they asked if one person with rubber boots could walk in the water. When I inquired about the height of the boots...barely mid-calf...I told them that it wasn't high enough for the water. I think they decided just to walk to the nearby beach.

The journey back to the highway was uneventful, but still an adventure. I drove around the potholes, through the two streams, and on the muddy curves. Before going through the final flooded road, I took a few more pics of the elk, which were all leisurely sitting in a field. The bull elk were magnificent with their full racks of antlers. Tomorrow is my last full day of sightseeing. After 18 days on the road, I'm ready to head on home.