Yosemite Valley

The thrill of a spontaneous adventure is really the uncertainty of the situation. These uncertain situations require an amount of adrenaline and quick-thinking in order to make the trip a success. Jolene and I love being spontaneous for this very reason. Hence, while we always wanted to go to Yosemite but never had the time, a last minute trip seemed the perfect escape to our ‘ordinary’ lives here in Dana Point. And as it turned out, it was the best idea we have had in a long time.
We arrived in the valley late Friday night, exhausted from the 7 hour drive and crashed on the air mattress. We awoke to a beautiful, but cold, morning on the valley floor. After breakfast Jo’s and I drove to “Four Mile Trailhead” and commenced on trek up to Glacier Point.
There are certain words that I reserve for only some of God’s creations. This one definitely deserved the word Epic. Climbing from the valley floor to the ridge really allowed us to admire the majestic valley as it unfolded below and around us. While the hike was definitely difficult (50+ switchbacks), its unveiling effect was spectacular. The view from the top promised to be amazing. And just as we were cresting the ridge, we see a parking lot full of cars.
“You can drive up here?!?!????” said Jolene.
It kinda killed the victorious feeling of hiking to the top of a mountain only to realize that it’s crowed with fat tourists but still the view was great. Our sore muscles thanked us when we got back to the bottom after the 9 mile round trip hike. We cooked dinner at the campsite and roasted marshmallows for s’mores before we headed to bed. The spontaneity of the trip made it a lot of fun and we couldn’t ask for a better pair of days. On the way back, Jolene and I were thinking “next time we drive this far we’re going to go skiing.”

Tequila and Wannabe

Jolene and I were invited to a murder mystery party for my brother back in October. The theme of the party was 20’s gangster. It was just before Halloween so there were plenty of stores that had stuff we could use but we went up to the Dufour’s just before and picked up a handful of items for make-do costumes. Jolene really got into it with the headband, opera gloves, a flapper dress and cheesy southern accent that went with her character ‘Donna Wannabe”. I was Capo Tequila decked out in a suit and gangster hat and while there was only one murder during the night it was pretty fun just being there. Here are some pictures.

Angles Game

My brother Jonathan walked to my desk at work at precisely 4:00 p.m. on the day after we returned from Colorado with four tickets in his hand marked with a substancially big A.
"What are those?" I asked.
"Tickets...What are you doing tonight say at 7:00 o'clock?" he said.
"Um...going to the game with you?" in a Ron Burgandy tone of voice.
Well, unfortunately Jonathan and Julie called us at 5:00 to say the wouldn't make it because of the kids. So Jolene and I were stuck with four $93 tickets to a game that started in two hours. We called nearly everyone we knew in the area and the one ones who could make it were April (Jolene's sister) and her roommate.
Now, I had never had a chance to use my boss's tickets but I had heard they were good. After picking up the girls, who by the way had never been to a baseball game, we exited the freeway at 6:52 p.m.
"We're never going to find parking before the first pitch," I moaned as we handed our parking tickets to the attendent. But apparently he the tickets that I gave him had a Go Straight to The Front, Pass all cars, Do not Collect $200. Besides the $200 I was thrilled. By the time we parked and stood under the big Angles helmets it was 6:58, and there was a long line to the gate.
"We're still going to be late." I whined again. I pulled out our tickets and looked up to to see a season pass line around to the right. We swung around the waiting people and entered the stadium and recieved a gift along the way.
It was 6:59 and we had just one minute to find our seats and I had no idea where we were suppose to go. I pulled out our thoroughly cool tickets and looked up again. There was a fancy glass-walled dining room with a nice looking lady checking tickets as people filed in.
"What the heck" I said as I marche the girls towards "club exclusive" and thrust our tickets out for the lady to see. She smiled like she thought we were lost but didn't stop us from walking through the doors.
"That was cool" I thought as I tucked the tickets back into my pocket. The girls were quite impressed. Had I been single and pulled this off I would have been trying to enjoy this moment of "suaveness" but all I could think about was sitting down before that Angles pitcher began his wind up. We exited club "too much wine" and were standing directly behind home plate. I heard the sound of a baseball hitting a mit "strike one!" yelled the ump.
"Ah no! I missed it." But really I was too awestruck with our luck that it didn't bother me too much. We found our sets which were the best I had ever had and I had to smile to myself.
"This is amazing, thanks Ron (my boss), thanks Jonathan, thanks Magic Tickets."

Colorado

Jolene and I spent half of our four-day Labor Day weekend traveling by car to and from the great state New Mexico (and Colorado). Josh Frederiksen and a few of his Medical School roomates met up with us at his parents house in Gallup, NM. The seven of us then ventured up Telluride, Colorado to climb the 14,000 ft Wilson Peak. Starting nearly a mile in elevation the summit our odd brood of wanna be trekers (sorry Josh and Ben) began the hike up the long rocky path. We stopped for lunch on the saddle of the mountain overlooking the vast green valley and the other peaks in the distance. From there, Jolene and I got a quick start towards the looming peak still some 1,000 feet above us. The trek up was more that either of us were really prepared for but amid our scrabbles and hand-over-hand climbing we over came the fear and succeeded in making the summit. Surprisingly only four of the original seven made it up that far as inexperience and sickness kept the others from reaching the top. Here are some pictures of our trip. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
(Oh, and good job to Jolene for topping a 14,000 ft peak. She says she wants to do them all now. I keep reminding her that that was not what she said when she was climbing the summit).

Spearfishing

Over the past several weeks, Jolene and I have made the trip down to the waters of Laguna beach just north of the reserve for spearfishing. Our routine would not be complete with out Joey Stalzer who brings the nessesary equipment and the motivational drive that allows us to get up before seven on a Sunday morning and shoot fish. Jolene has yet to join us in the water but that will change soon as she recently recieved brand-new gear for her birthday. Last week Josh Fox, joined Joey and I as we hunted the bigger fish of Laguna. Joey had a terrific day and shot a semi-large sheepshead and had good looks at other fish. I settled for a zebra perch which was just over the legal limit (12 inches).

I have included pictures of our skin dives over the past couple of weeks and the running talley for the biggest fish stands at David 1 : Joey 2. Gotta love the competition that never ceases between us. Jolene will be on that board soon.

Camping in San G.

After five and a half hours of hiking the seven mile trail to Dollar Lake in the San G. mountians, we finally arrived at our campsite. Loaded with heavy packs (we had to carry our own water), the trip had been slightly exhausting, especially for me since Jolene's back went out half way up and I had to carry it up to the campground. Josh, Michelle, Jolene and I wobble over to some fallen logs and let out a long exhail as our sore shoulders, knees and backs complained at us. I wipe the sweat from my soaking hair and I see Jenn with her pack still on looking unnessesarily perky. " I think I'm going to go back for Joey" she said with a smile. Joey started about three hours after us and while I was all for going to help Joey out I felt my aching muscles deserved just a bit of rest. "Ok, just give us a minute to rest and drink some water" I said, half panting for breath. Twenty minutes later, after Josh, I and the girls had unpacked , Jenn, I and Josh were preparing to get Joey, who in my mind was at least an hour down the trail. We emptied our packs and just as we were about to head back down the mountain, I look up and see the a goofy-looking Australian hat with Joey underneath chewing on a snack just as nonchalantly as if he'd just taken' a nap and was now ready to have some fun.

Well, needless to say the trip was a bit interesting from the late start and heavy packs, to the deers licking the dew off of our tents and Joey almost shooting a hole through his tent. Although we didn't make the top, like we planned, I had a great time just getting away from the work life and enjoyed spending time with our friends. Jolene's poor back was killing her on the way down, she almost didn't make it. But the Chiropractor on Monday straightened it out and she feels better now. Here are some pictures of our trip. Next stop Baja?