Day 7: Yosemite National Park to San Francisco

Nevada Falls our view when we circled back on the John Mierer Trail 

Yosemite is breath takingly beautiful. It looks like you have entered Jurassic Park, just as Wilma had described. We set our alarm for 6 a.m., to avoid crowds of people. Quickly, we packed up camp made some oatmeal and coffee and dropped Bums off at the Kennel. We took the mist trail to Nevada Falls and then down the John Mierer Trail. There were two waterfalls on the way. At the top of the first fall, we met a man who offered to take our picture. He told us about all the people who die here each year trying to swim and slip in. At the top of the second fall, we met a different man, who told us of a guy who just three weeks ago had slipped off of a rock, which he pointed out, and they were still looking for his body. It’s a good conversation starter, in fact I might just use it next time I hear someone compliment beauty. Maybe with Bumble – “That’s a beautiful dog.” “her, yeah she killed someone just three weeks ago.” So we made it down in record timing and set of for a town the Filippo affectionately refers to as Frisco.  

Bumbles morning routine

We arrived at our Bumble friendly hotel, The Golden Bear Inn. The friendly person at the front desk gave us a map and told us some good restaurants. We decided to check out a place known for its BBQ called Smokes. When we entered Bumble was welcomed with a fresh bone. Filippo devoured his bbq sandwich and me my spicy mac and cheese. We dropped Bumble off at the hotel and went to catch the Bart to the city. 

After figuring out how to buy our tickets, we sat and waited with the other more experienced riders. Two trains came and went and suddenly we were the only people in the station. A ladies voice came over the loud speaker, "if you are trying to get to San Fransico  you'll have to get on the ______ train and switch for your connection." Filippo turned to me and asked if I had ever read the book about the country mouse and the city mouse. 

Bumble at her Hotel

Bay Bridge

Day 6: Lake Tahoe to Yosemite National Park

Life in a Tent with Filo and Bums

Giant Cat

Wilma, the ranger at Falling Leaf Campground told us about a hike we just had to take as she was swiping our credit card. “I won’t swipe it anymore or it’ll scratch, “ she said after three swipes. “Once a man did that to me and it is the only time I have used that four-letter curse word. I had to get money out of the atm and oh I told him.” We had learned Wilma’s ultimate pet peeve and about a really good dog friendly hike.

Packing up camp, we set out for Cascade Lake Falls. This was about a four mile round trip hike. The best part of it was that dogs just had to be under voice control. We kept Bumble on the leash until we realized how loosely the term “voice control” was being used. When we got to the falls we could see both Lake Tahoe and Cascade Lake- very beautiful.

Lake Tahoe

The roads to Yosemite traveled along side mountain cliffs. I gasped and screamed like I was on a run away rollercoaster. This was a pretty dramatic drive for me even though I have yet to drive. I can’t say that any of my behavior was helpful in getting us there safely but luckily Filippo is used to driving on roads like these and was expectant and some would even say encouraging of my fear.  We arrived at Yosemite National Park around 5pm. The campground was packed with people, RVs, and small houses. For the first time our fear of bears diminished, there were much more vulnerable prey out there. We smelled meat cooking and lunch boxes left on the tables as bait. After our neighbor reprimanded me for trying to saw apart a dead branch, we went and purchased some firewood. In front of the fire we enjoyed some cous-cous, our every other day meal.

Filippo had done some research and wanted to see a rainbow at Lower Yosemite Falls. This was a flat hike on a paved trail so we were allowed to bring Bumble Bear. The falls were loud refreshing and vacant. The solitude and peaceful beauty was worth the fear of bears I felt on the walk back. If peeing my pants and refusing to go any further would have made the hike back faster, I would have done it.

Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe in the background

THE road

Day 5: Twin Fall, Idaho to Lake Tahoe, California

After a nice warm shower and some underwear washing in the hotel sink, we were ready to plan the next couple days of our trip. Getting on the Internet we found an opening in Lower Pines Campground in Yosemite. This was pure luck; people usually book these sites months in advance. Then we found another campsite in Tahoe where we wanted to stay. Next up… Nevada

Bumble in Nevada

Nevada: So our friend Corey warned us about Nevada. He said don’t stop go right through it as quickly as possible. We entered Nevada thinking about how wrong he was. The desert was beautiful. He must think this because he isn’t legally allowed in this state. Well our thoughts quickly changed and like always we realized Corey was right. The trip was long. I helped Filippo get through this trip with small surprise gifts I had packed him. Which ranged from whisky and chocolate to a small American flag bag. This is a trick I learned from my mom (happy birthday). In her large purse she used to pack us surprises for when we were really behaving well- not stabbing each other with pencils. She never packed whisky but Filippo has never stabbed me with a pencil so I went all out.

Fallen Leaf Campground

Lake Tahoe: Now we know why Jimmy moved out here and stayed for so long. It was absolutely beautiful and the people were almost too friendly. On the way into the campground a man stopped us to see if we needed help and we did. When we asked if we could just take any campsite, he informed us he was only a guest. While we were out scavenging for wood a man asked us if we were scavenging for wood and… we were- So he gave us a box filled with wood.

Day 4: Grand Tetons to … Twin Falls, Idaho

From Grand Teton to Yellowstone

We started off our day earlier with a cup of coffee sand some of that instant oatmeal shinned up with some dried fruit.  Our goal was to make it to a random place in Nevada that was halfway between here and Yosemite. Right as we were about to enter Yellowstone, which is about 40 miles from the Tetons, our engine went all the way to hot. We pulled over to let it cool down. Then the same thing happened. I examined the car and realized that our coolant container had a leak- no not really a ranger did that but had I known where the coolant was and that it was empty and sprayed all over, I am sure I would have came to the same conclusion.

The Tow.

We ended up having the car towed to grant by a nice young man. “You’re very lucky, usually when I pick cars up it’s without people,” his opening line was. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Well there are about 8 or 9 people who don’t make it a year.” He informed us to make our situation seem much better. I am not sure how many of those people had a leaky coolant container but I am guessing the percentage was high. He later told us that they do 900 tows a year. After the 10^th fact he rolled off his tongue, I asked him where he learned all of this information. He said that they are kind of like tour guides so that people don’t feel so bad about being towed. They have a little cheat sheet but he had taken it upon himself to also stop by the road signs and read them so he could give a little extra information. This made me question his first fact about people usually dying. He needs a new opener- possibly one of his real facts.

A moose and her two babies

We got to talking about how long this fixing may take. He told us we could pop our tent in the back of the garage for the night because the campsites there weren’t open. After exchanging some basic information about ourselves we learned that he was also from Wisconsin, Steven’s point to be exact. We told him about our hike and that we had seen a Moose this morning with her young. He ALSO had seen an animal this very morning. It was a bear, a grizzly bear. He saw this grizzly bear behind his garage… the exact same spot he offered for us to camp. 

Enjoying the lake as we wait for the car.

After 2-8 hours are car was patched and ready to hit the road. One mechanic (in training) reckon'd it would make it all the way back to Minnesota while the other thought maybe we would need a more permanent fix in California. We stopped at the geysers in Yellowstone and were pleasantly impressed. We also witnessed some of the most beautiful and quickly changing Idaho skys. . . and possibly a buddying tornado. 

Well we made it all the way to Twin Falls Idaho where we treated ourselves to a dog friendly hotel... and you guessed it Applebees. A place that I haven't entered since 2006 when I gave a two week notice and left crying after being insulted by two food friendly ladies. 

So here we reenergize and get more excited about the rest of our journey! 

Day 2 & 3 Badlands to the Grand Tetons

“ This car ride is going faster than I would expect” – Jenna

“ You have been sleeping for two hours”- Filippo

It’s true, my hands have yet to touch the wheel but I have been very helpful in setting up the GPS and picking out the next “This American Life” story. This is our longest drive- 10. 5 hours. We arrived late in the evening and went to work trying to figure how to get a campsite. We found that all we had to do was drive to the site and see if they had open spots. Since Jenny Lake was full we made our way to the least popular campsite- Gros Ventre. As we were setting up camp, a neighbor dog came and visited. Soon after, we met the neighbors. They were three men from Colorado on their way to the oldest man’s family vacation in Jackson, according to the oldest man who awkwardly came to our fire and sat down and started talking. The two other men worked for him. Anyway they weren’t there the next day, which was a relief and Filippo was no longer required to sleep with a knife.

We woke up early and took Bumble to Dog Jax. We were greeted by the world’s friendliest dog lover. They had three areas for dogs where they could go either inside or outside. Bumble had the time of her life!

Hiking: We decided to take the boat across the lake to save some time on our long hike. Little did we know the first mile of the hike was EXTREMELY popular … for the common folk. Like the competitive people I strive for us to be, we raced the first mile up mountain and left the others in the dust. When we finally had some land to ourselves, we stopped to take some pictures and enjoy the scenery. When we reached our final destination, we pulled out the small bag of dried fruit that Filippo had rationed us to because of bears. I hope bears ate all the other people who were eating full lunches because only that would justify the hunger I felt. On the way down we ran into the flock of perfumed women and jeans wearing men AGAIN slowing down our descent. A couple people even had the audacity to budge in line for the boat. I pret-near said something to them but then reminded myself “holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting other people to die.” (something I read in my Real Simple Magazine on the way up that has really helped calm my senses). 

Tent: THE NEW TENT IS AWESOME! We both have never slept so great. The down comforter doesn’t hurt either. Both nights the temp dropped below 30 and we slept like babies in a womb… who aren’t related… with a dog. Except when I woke up convinced that a cat had gotten in and turned out the overhead lantern. Filippo was startled and I was a little upset that he wasn’t equally concerned about this cat. As we discussed this miscommunication on the way to Yellowstone it became clear to me that I hadn’t communicated that this dream was about a mean cat.

St. Paul to the Badlands

The three best friends anyone could ever have.

The trip we have been waiting for has finally started! We left Sunny St. Paul after about a week of rain. The drive is mostly flat until we passed the Missouri river. We stopped for a lunch break in Salem, South Dakota where the motto was " A good place to grow." After locating the towns only restaurant, a sports bar, we ate lunch and hit the road.

We arrived at Circle View ranch where we had rented out their 1880's homestead cabin once again. This is a cabin that we stayed in and loved last spring break. There is no running water or electricity. It is located about a mile from the main ranch. After exploring the grounds with our over eager companion we enjoyed some couscous and wine by the campfire.

1880s homestead cabin

When we went to bed a storm was passing over. We saw flashes of lightening in the distance. Filippo described this sight as "both awesome and scary". I was impressed with his use of adjectives   In the middle of the night, one unnamed individual awoke to a dream about the dog being attacked by a mouse. After Filippo patiently investigated the homestead for mice, we went outside. What we found was the most beautiful night sky. We could see the big dipper and the milky way ... and any other constellation out there. We enjoyed this view until a bat crossed our path. At this time, we both ran inside to get a couple more hours of sleep.

Next up... coffee. Then we head to the Grand Teton in hopes of getting a camp site.

A morning view from Circle View Ranch

Preparing for Our Very First Honeymoon

The Plan
We knew we wanted to start our trip at home, make it to the badlands, go up the coast, stay in Kim's brother's cabin that he generously lent to us, meet my family in Montana and make it back home in one piece. The steps in between included routing our trip through some of the most beautiful spots in the United States. But first we had to make sure we were ready. We had to test our survival skills.

Step 1: Test on Land- Apostle Islands, WI
We decided the best way to see if we were ready to go camping was to camp. So we loaded up our camping gear, our faithful companion (in training) and headed up to northern Wisconsin. On our trip we hit a deer, totaled our car, saw a bear (a fox and an eagle), bought blankets from a local thrift store to stay warm, bumble ran away with a local dog from an outdoor bar and we accepted an invitation from a stranger to spend our last night at a vacant cabin he owned. From this experience we learned that we would need a few things before our trip.

1. a new car
2. a real tent
3. a saw
4. some bear spray
5. a tarp
6. a 4 week cat sitter
7. and some organization.

Step 2: Preparation on Water- St. Croix River, MN
Our friends Callie and Corey invited us on a last minute canoeing trip, which was perfect to fine tune our water traveling skills. So we grabbed our rain coats and bumble and joined them for this short trip. We perfected our patience and our balance as Bumble made her way from side to side of the canoe. She, shockingly, had not grown our of her dislike for a canoe. We made a few stops on land to adventure through the wooded area. I froze when I saw a five leafed plant, not knowing if it was five or three leaves that were poisonous. A garden snake sent me into a screaming run, making me question if I was a real freezer or if my instincts had evolved to flight. After walking through stinging nettles and receiving 7 or more mosquito bites, I split from the group and turned back. "I hate the outdoors", I heard Corey say in his best girly voice as I walked away. That is when I realized we needed a couple more things to make this trip a success.

1. bug spray
2. water traveling restrictions
3. and some hotel reservations

We concluded step two with some strong cocktails from Ol' Mexico and some trip planning with our favorite West Coasters. Corey and Callie told us all the hot spots to stop on our way up from the coast but also let us know that anywhere we stopped would be beautiful. Jotting notes on their Atlas, we prepared for our Journey!