We had the opportunity to go back to California from Arizona to spend a fun and special weekend with family in San Diego. We walked along the beach in La Jolla and cheered on UW Husky baseball. Go Dawgs!

We then traveled to Joshua Tree National Park. I have been there one other time and was unimpressed with the scrawny trees. Probably because I am used to the lush green trees and landscapes at Mt. Rainier and Olympic National Parks, but I appreciated it more this time. Besides the small trees, it’s got cool rocks and mountains. And maybe those trees aren’t so bad. They definitely have character and are quite interesting. 🙂

Our Arizona visit started Monday February 21 with a definite splurge – a stay on the rim of the Grand Canyon that Larry booked over a year ago. After we had spent a number of days sightseeing and driving, we spent the day Tuesday without using the car at all. We were able to walk from the lodge to various viewpoints, shops and hikes. It was very cold and windy when we arrived Monday, and continued into Tuesday, with the threat of snow as well. Wednesday morning we woke up to snow! What a beautiful sight!

Our next stop was Sedona. We started out through the snow, figuring the roads we were traveling on were used enough we would have no problems. This did not turn out to be true! Good thing we have all wheel drive on the MINI! Good thing also Larry drove and not me! We made it but had some whiteout conditions, and some white-knuckle conditions too … it was not an easy trip!

It was worth it once we got to Sedona! Such a cool place to explore for a couple of days. We met some friends for dinner. Catherine and Wayne gave us some great tips and suggestions on places to visit. We went to the historic town of Jerome, and through a ghost town.

Jerome

After my tooth situation was taken care of in St. George, we were able to spend some time in Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. Both places have such amazing scenery and beauty. Again, the weather was fantastic! Beautiful blue skies and sunshine. The temperatures were quite chilly, dipping down to the teens at night. But during the day the sun did a nice job of warming us up! While I took a little recovery time, Larry went on a few hikes.

According to our criteria, Nevada is our 3rd state! We got out of the car, purchased gas, and an alien. But more on Nevada later, we’ll be back!

A lot has happened in the last week! We arrived in California very late Tuesday night (February 8th) and stayed in a hotel near LAX. At 9:00 Wednesday morning our Uber driver was ready and waiting to take us to the port in Long Beach to pick up the car. At the Matson terminal, we saw a lot full of cars waiting to be picked up – and in the middle of all the cars, there was the MINI. It looked great! Things are continuing to go as planned.

After picking up the car, we went to the Academy of Motion Pictures Museum and the Reagan Presidential Library, neither of which we had been to before. We also met with some longtime friends. SoCal was a bit toasty with temperatures close to 90°!

Yosemite! Never one to disappoint, we have been treated to beautiful clear blue skies and sunny weather. The scenery was spectacular! Spike (the MINI mascot) has been enjoying the trip and scenery too.

Death Valley was next. The landscape and geography were incredible. I really didn’t know what to expect, I just knew it didn’t rain much ever and it’s super hot in the summer. It’s been fun reading and learning more about this area. Yes, it did get its name from two groups of 49ers who died while trying to make their way to the Gold Rush.

While staying at these wonderful national parks, we have had limited cell and Wi-Fi service. I apologize for not getting this post out sooner. It’s a little tricky to try to send multiple pictures with 3G and slower connections. We have had to rely less on our phones which has made for some evenings of rousing and fun Scrabble games. Real Scrabble on a real board!

Real life decided to creep in on our adventure when I developed a very intense toothache. I am so grateful for Advil! I was able to get an appointment with a dentist on our way from Death Valley to Zion. I am so grateful for anesthesia and oral surgeons (and emergency appointments)! Turns out my tooth was cracked in half, so I had to have the tooth removed and an implant put in. Don’t worry though I have not included any detailed pictures of that experience!

Our first state is America’s 50th state. We have been here on Oahu for almost a month, and it has been amazing. Lots of sun, relaxation, beautiful scenery, interesting trips to historical sights, gardens, beaches, and Larry even got a couple of hikes in. We had a few visits with friends and family that made our time here even more special. It will be a bit sad to leave this paradise, but we have many adventures ahead!

Tuesday we will be leaving here and flying to Los Angeles. We have received confirmation that the MINI is in Long Beach, California waiting for us, and we are feeling ready to be reunited!