Into the woods

This week I made two brief excursions into the woods.

The first trip was a whirlwind 24 hour visit to Yosemite. Ryann's family was going down there for the day as part of the summer of California fun before moving to Utah in a few weeks, and I was invited along. Seeing as I had never been and even a quick trip to the mountains was better that no mountains at all, I decided to go.

Ryann and I left after church on Sunday once she had packed her things and we caught up with her family in Elk Grove. Almost right away Ryann (who was in my car) said she was tired. I told her to go ahead and sleep now because I might nee her awake once we got into the mountains. The drive went surprising quickly and about 10pm we where at the Mariposa KOA outside of the park.

In the morning we drove for an hour to the parks south entrance then went hiking in the giant sequoia grove for about two hours, Then it was more diving to Glacial Point which offers a spectacular view of half dome, Nevada falls and the valley. and ate lunch their. I had told every one earlier that I would need to leave from their around 1:30 to get to work and Ryann was going to stay with them. Well Ryann decided she wanted to stay with me but at the designated time we couldn't find her family so she wrote them a note and stuck it one their car and we were off again. We drove through the valley and out the north entrance. Before leaving we said a prayer that we would travel safely, that her family would not worry about her and that I get to work okay, then we bought the most expensive gas I have ever seen (3.99 a gallon, uck) and drove home. We made good time, Ryann slept again and when she was awake she read to me, I was glad to have her along. I went straight to work and got there a few minutes late. Almost exactly 24 hours after leaving.

The next day I described Yosemite as "a lot like nature, but with traffic jams" It is a very pretty place and even though it was a short trip spent largely in the car I am glad I got to go.

The second trip into the woods was Saturday with Tammy. Early this summer she had asked if we could go on a hike before school started back up, she figured if I picked a good hike around ten miles or so, it would give her something to work for when she exercised. I of course had been very happy to oblige. I picked the Loch Leven Trail up near donner summit, an 8 mile round trip with 1200 feet of elevation change and three lovely sierra lake to stop at.

We left around 7:00 and got to the trail about and hour later, the hike up was very peaceful and we only saw three people. One was hiking out, one was camped at upper lake and one was a wonderer following the railroad tracks who I told that there was a ranger station by the trailhead where he could by a map. We got up to the last lake around 11 I have been on the trail several times but never to the third lake it is very pretty and there is a near by hill with a very impressive view. The weather was just right cool with a bit of a breeze. Tammy had put some birthday candles and a hostess cupcake in her pack and she sang me happy birthday while we were up their. As we hiked down the hill we saw about fifty people hiking in. It made me very happy for the early start.

I would like to head back up there before the season ends because there is another lake about two miles beyond where the trail ends that I would like to go cross country and camp at.

Two hike this week is a good start to a late hiking season. Maybe I can get two more in next week.

Girl Friend

For the first time in quite a while I have a Girl Friend, not a "girl friend," or a friend who is a girl, but an actual Girlfriend. About three weeks ago we decided that our relationship was at the point where we should be using those titles even if they can seem a little juvenile, if for no other reason, because it makes it easier to discuss. I have been a little surprised that other things began to charge once we went from just dating to "going out," I suppose it had been a little naive to think of it as just a convenient way to describe where things are at in a relationship.

So far things are going very well between us, we do a good job communicating with each other and we have fun together, she says I actually go and do all these things that she wants to go do but never does. She also sets a wonderful example for me on spiritual things, when we are together we always pray over our food, no matter where we are, something I often over look when alone. I had been concerned at first because she hadn't seen much of my sillier side, the one that puts army men on door steps and loves HHG2G, but she seems okay with what she has seen of it, and I think Rosie or Crystal may have warned her as to how bad it can get.

I had also forgotten how much input I would get on the subject of Ryann. I knew My Grown Ups would tell me what they thought of her and want to talk about her with me, but I hadn't thought about the fact that Rosie would want to come to church with me so she could me her and Jordan would write home with his two cents on the subject, or that I'd get an email from Spain about how good from me somebody thought she would be.

For now I will try and be inclusive of that part of my life in this record with out be mushy or seeming a gossip.