Monday, June 2, 2008

SouthernEdge of the Sequoias, by M Arrreeebba

Wow, I never thought I'd get this footage loaded. Er, pictures. The woods were an idyllic time, utterly devoid of conflict. All challenges such as building fires, rigging tents, and cooking meals were done with an unparalleled ease. One skirmish did arise in regards to mom contaminating the drinking water with gross tasting tap water which nearly crippled the last hour of the trip until we got to Bakersfield and I could get a diet pepsi. Also she didn't believe me when I said that there was bear "skat" surrounding our campsite, but she contends it was healthy skepticism to her daughter who knows everything and is always right. Of course the park ranger set her straight.
I can best describe us as a mostly well oiled machine. We kept our cores warm, despite various degrees of inclement weather, read a book, had movie night each night, and "studied" in the car when we wanted to warm up a little bit and didn't want to waste firewood. I do recall at one point falling unconscious in the car but then mom woke me up and it was time for dinner. So everything was okay. We did make the unfortunate mistake of sleeping slope down in the tent the first night, and i kept waking up thinking, oh god i'm in a tomb! but then reasoned at myself to shut up and go back to sleep. The next night we switched and I was no longer the panic stricken one. Which is all that really matters.
There was occasional trepidation that we might get eaten by bears or at the very least surprise one on our way to the bathroom and it was so dark that we couldn't see the hands (anyone's really) in front of our face. Though I will not regret my anti-light-pollution stance. Due to the bears however we didn't stray across the stream to the boggy meadow to the otherside of the slope...
Below: We were camping just to the left of Johnsondale, which is sort of to the right of the orangish stain in the middle of the map there. I mightve reconsidered my daily activities had I known we were so close to a casino. Nevertheless,
Penelope thinks that I need conflict, but I assert that, such a mell0w trip full of pleasantness needs action. I was very much the girl in the country, who takes daily constitutionals and nothing whatever unpleasant ever happens to her- and yet, ultimately longs for country dances, and perhaps a good game of croquet or archery... wouldn't you? I mean I relax at work all the time. I crave adventure... but we are pretty cute and awesome regardless. Enjoy.
























4 comments:

penelope said...

Awwww, you guys ARE so cute! I want to go camping with you! But I need more information about the bear skat and the cow leg.

Anonymous said...

Pen, you are totally invited to come camping with us! (And any of you other intrepid readers who would speak up and risk being uncomfortable are totally invited too; I will require that you be prepared to tell at least one story at the bonfire.)And did we mention that we do manage to eat well?
I carefully looked at the ground for sign of bear foot prints,but found none; that is why I was puzzled at the bear scat being everywhere... that is why I doubted M. Of course, I should know better.
Ah, the cow leg. No carcass, just the leg. That is what we found on the other side of the creek, adjacent to the meadow.

Kurt said...

Hey - I've been there, and it was wonderful. Great pics.

Anonymous said...

Hurrah, pictures! Tasty looking fruit, nice big trees, decomposing body parts. What more could one want?

Makes me wish I could have gone...although I have a suspicion I would have been in the car the most :)