06.11.09 - From Los Angeles to Vallejo
The call came in on time - our son Felix had landed. Only half an hour we were waiting for the small car park, near the Airport, and are then slowly drove off. On the access road we were stopped by the Airport Police and controlled. After close inspection of the interior space and stowage compartments, we could go to the arrivals terminal.
parking was banned here and the car parks was our hobby too high. Slowly we left the whole arrival area - no sign of Felix. A back there was not and so we had to leave the airport area and to start round two - of course only after careful review by the Airport Police.
Again, it was in slow speed between taxis, buses and private vehicles on the one way through the huge arrivals area of the airport. Hundreds of travelers were waiting for their shuttle service, crowded into the taxis and buses - just our Felix was not there. Petra kept trying to call, but without success. Well then, to round three - of course with the mandatory security check. Some passengers waved and laughed at us, we were now known - but Felix was not there. What can I say, there was also a round of four, but this time everything was different. And today, we also recognize the Airport Police and waved through without inspection, Felix answered the phone and a short time later we could take him in our arms.
The honesty of our son was the reason for the time-consuming handling. To make us a pleasure he had a big glass of German mustard, brought a bottle of argan oil and some spices, and the question of food imports, with "yes". It took almost an hour, the customs officials then to be convinced of the innocence of our son and his luggage.
While Felix told us that we have rolled over the city-highway to Malibu, where we could end the day in glorious sunshine on the Pacific.
After a leisurely breakfast - there was so much to tell - we started the next day at noon only to San Francisco. We had driven the same route a few days before in the opposite direction and knew some of the highlights that we still wanted to visit once common. For this, the lovely Santa Barbara counted as Morro Bay with its 176 meter high striking rocks off the coast. We spent another night on the small car park, high above the cliffs, and we could also be the second time, difficult to disentangle from the observation of sea elephants (Elephant Seals).
These large marine mammals were a hundred years ago in danger of extinction until they were in Mexico until 1911 and then placed under protection in California. Elephant seals live 11 months of the year in the sea, it dive down to 2000 meters and up to an hour to remain under water. On land, they only come to mate to boy to give birth and to recover. The normally live as solitary animals feel at this time in the colony well. Unfortunately, we have the pairing can not see it is a special experience. Early December will weight up to 4 tons Seeelefantenmännchen to the colony and bitter struggles to provide the right to a harem. 75 females and more, there remains a champion bull, the bull go, most of it empty. Nature is just unfair!
On the other Felix was driving by the rugged and unspoilt coastline as excited as we are. As the Big Sur Country bezeichnete Küstenabschnitt zwischen San Simeon und Point Lobos ist so unwegsam, dass die Küstenstraße erst 1937, nach 18 Jahren Bauzeit fertig gestellt werden konnte. Großartige Ausblicke auf die Steilküste und auf versteckte Buchten vor dem blauen Meer entschädigten uns für die Fahrt auf der engen serpentinenreichen Strasse. Erst in Carmel beginnt wieder die Zivilisation mit Tankstellen und Einkaufsmöglichkeiten.
In Monterey, der früheren und ersten Hauptstadt Kaliforniens haben wir noch einen ruhigen Tag verbracht, bevor wir zum Fährhafen Vallejo an der nordöstlichen San Francisco Bay are gone.
12.11.09 - Sightseeing in San Francisco
to drive with caravan to San Francisco would be more than unreasonable. We would have no chance of parking in the city and the narrow and sometimes steep streets are not at all friendly mobile home. A good alternative is the ferry from Sausalito Larkspur and Vallejo to San Francisco as the city is called by the locals.
Vallejo has a large free and guarded parking lot where we could stand over night and a nice little "old town". So we started our sightseeing tour of San Francisco in Vallejo. The catamaran ferry took us in just one hour, past Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and Tresure Iceland to Downtown.
San Francisco is for many the most beautiful and interesting city in North America. In Financial District near the Ferry Terminal we felt like not much. The modern office towers of the banks, the high-rise buildings and street canyons, in which hardly a ray of sunlight falls differ little from those in other North American cities. But on Union Square is typical San Fran. We sat in the sun and watch the colorful life around us. People strolled various nationalities and races across the square, sat in the street cafes or devoted to the extensive shopping. Next to us a huge Christmas tree was set up, what did not fit in our view to the warm late summer weather.
From here it was not far up to China Town. We went through the Dragon Gate, a colorful Chinese gate, and found ourselves in another world. It smelled of exotic spices, noisy traders blocked with overflowing vegetable stands and displays the sidewalks, Chinese of all ages crowded between the stalls and shops. In the food stalls hung dripping fat poultry and all kinds of indefinable, which dampened our appetite for Chinese food.
Only a few streets away, it smelled like oven-fresh Pizza and espresso. The self-conscious at every street tree attached green-white-red stripes would not have been necessary to recognize that we were in the Italian District. As interesting as China Town was also here at North Beach, we felt more comfortable and let us taste the cappuccino in the sidewalk cafe.
We had planned for San Francisco only one day, far too little for this great city. So we did not try to tick many attractions but only took in our brief walking tour to as many impressions of the typical life. About Lombard Street, which was a straight road layout too steep and was therefore built with nine hairpin bends strolled, we at Hyde Street Pier. Here is a station of the cable cars where the cars are still shot like 140 years ago with muscle power.
Alcatraz was before us in the bay and we could hardly believe it was since 1934 the most secure prison escape in the USA. Although it was located close to the mainland, especially the insidious current in the bay responsibility to ensure that any escape attempt failed.
"most famous" prisoner on Alcatraz was the Mafia boss Al Capone, who had to serve the tourist-oriented, but still typical and worth seeing at Fisherman's Wharf for all sorts of souvenirs. At Pier 39, we could enjoy that delicious seafood and strolling in the power of the many visitors on the pier, past the tourist shops and stalls overflowing with offers.
Then it was time for the return trip. The catamaran ferry, we were quickly back in Vallejo, where our Basko was waiting for us in the hobby.
14.11.09 - The Yosemite National Park
Only 300 miles from San Francisco is the Yosemite National Park, one of the most popular and most visited national parks in the USA. The track was gone quickly, so we arrived early afternoon at the Camp Ground on Greenley Hill and used the time to bake delicious brown bread and to prepare a nice barbecue.
Despite our strong fire we had to retreat now in the hobby. It was very cold and at night the temperature fell below freezing.
our hope that the Tioga Pass (3000 m) is open to the east was still disappointed. A few days ago there was heavy snow and the mountain pass, as was also the road to Glacier Point is closed. It thus was blocked at this point the route over the Sierra Nevada. were accessing the Yosemite Valley with its beautiful hiking trails and the southern park exit.
The Yosemite Valley, then added the crown jewel of the park, takes up only 1% of the total area of the National Parks - but just come here most of the approximately 4 million visitors annually. Here stands the El Capitan, a 1000 foot high monolith, almost perpendicular to the plane and the Merced River meanders through the lovely valley.
The National Park is known for its large number of waterfalls that are among the highest in North America. Started collapsing the Ribbon case, the water 492 meters deep. During our visit led the falls, however, little water and were not as attractive as when the snows melt in spring.
With spectacular views from the Tunnel View to El Capitan and Half Dome, we left the park to the south. Our next destination was Death Valley. Because of the blocked mountain pass we had to drive around the Sierra Nevada long distances, because only at Baker Field diverted the next open road link to the east.
16.11.09 - Durch das Death Valley
Wir verließen in Bakersfield den Highway # 99 und fuhren über schmale Nebenstraßen in die karge Bergwelt der Sierra Nevada. Gut bewässert wuchsen hier üppige Orangen- und Zitronenbäume bis uns schlagartig wieder unfruchtbares und trockenes Land umgab. Der schön gelegene Lake Isabella war ideal war für eine Übernachtung bevor wir am nächsten Morgen über Ridgecrest ins Death Valley fuhren.
Irgendwie hatte ich die Entfernungen falsch eingeschätzt und verpasst in Ridgecrest vollzutanken. Zur Sicherheit haben wir in Panamint Springs, an der letzten und einzigen Tankstelle, nachgetankt und statt 2,80 $ stolze 4,20 $ pro Gallone bezahlt. Mit vollem Tank und einem ruhigen Gewissen fuhren wir weiter hinein in das Tal, in eines der trockensten und heißesten Gebiete der Erde.
Eingebettet zwischen zwei Gebirgsketten der östlichen Sierra Nevada, fast ohne Luftbewegung und mit weniger als 5 cm Niederschlag im Jahr herrscht hier ein menschenfeindliches Klima mit Temperaturen bis zu 50 Grad Celsius.
Der November ist in Death Valley is a preferred travel month. The midday temperatures were still in hell, and our walk through Golden Canyon, we could sympathize with, is why warnings against the heat and possible dehydration. Off the beaten track there is a breakdown or injury life-threatening risk. Just a few days, the skeletons of a missing pair of Dresden in 1994 were found. We stayed exclusively on the more frequented ways, and crossed the valley in two days. We were impressed by the sparse but varied landscape. The jagged rocks are at the Artists Drive stained by deposits of minerals and the colorful canyon walls eroded form bizarre shapes.
At Badwater point we reached the lowest point in North America. 85 meters below sea level of prehistoric Lake Manly dried, the floor is now mostly covered with coarse salt crystals. High up on the rock wall is the marker for the sea level.
At dusk we left the Death Valley toward Nevada.
18.11.09 - Las Vegas
While driving through the monotonous desert, we were again in Thoughts of the two last visited national parks, could hardly be more different and are only 250 km apart. Similar contrast was also the transition from the barren Nevada desert to the mega metropolis of Las Vegas.
this is most evident when we arrive at night in Las Vegas. For many kilometers before the town saw the glow on the otherwise dark sky.
The outlying areas were happening quickly and as if a curtain opened were we suddenly to the Las Vegas Boulevard, better known as the Las Vegas Strip, and are dazzled by the huge illuminated panels, the lighting and the bright almost effusive lighting effects. Every hotel, every casino wants to stand out and make an even more elaborate light show attention. Die Summe dieser Nightlights ist wohl einzigartig.
Viel Zeit blieb uns nicht zum Staunen, der Verkehr rollte und wir mussten unseren Campground finden, was sich als nicht sehr schwierig herausstellte.
Natürlich ging es am Abend noch mal auf den Strip. Zum ‚Treasure Island’ kamen wir gerade rechtzeitig um die Show „Sirens of Tresure Islands“ zu erleben, am ‚Mirage’ wurde mit vielen Effekten ein Vulkanausbruch simuliert und das elegante ‚Bellagio’ empfing uns mit gigantischen nach Musik tanzenden Wasserfontänen.
Bis zum ‚New York-New York’ sind wir an diesem Abend noch geschlendert und dann den ganzen Weg zurück. „Für den ersten Tag reicht es“ meinte Petra, als wir weit nach Mitternacht auf unserem Campground beim Hotel ‚Circus-Circus’ ankamen.
Der nächste Tag war "Filled" with nothing - so lazy, swimming in the pool, sunbathe, read, and we tune into the second week in Las Vegas.
This began in the 'Wynn', which with a construction cost of 2.7 billion most expensive hotel in the world. Everything here is pure luxury, from the 18-hole golf course, artificial lake and the water Revue Le Rêve to art exhibition with works on loan from owner Steve Wynn or the in-house Ferrari and Maserati motor pool for hotel guests. In the hotel's internal shopping mall, one could spend much money on luxury items. We especially were interested in the watches of A. Lange & Söhne from the Saxon Uhrenmanufaktur in Glashütte. Die nette fachkundige Beraterin hat sich sehr um uns bemüht – und dann haben wir doch noch Geld im Wynn gelassen. Aber nicht beim Juwelier sondern am Roulettetisch. Unser 20 Dollar Spieleinsatz, kurzzeitig auf über 30 Dollar angewachsen, hatte dann aber doch innerhalb kurzer Zeit den Besitzer gewechselt.
Als nächstes sind wir auf wenigen Metern von Venedig nach Paris gelaufen – zumindest in der Kulissenwelt von Las Vegas. Am ‚Venetian’ steuerten Gondoleros singend ihre Gondeln auf einem nachempfundenen Canal Grande durch die Rialto-Brücke St. Mark's Square. Right alongside, we were under the Eiffel Tower, which is 1:2 scale of the Paris Opera and the Louvre.
Here everything is so cheesy that it has been interesting again - and the Americans and their guests are delighted. "Why should I fly to Europe for a lot of money, we've got them all here," said an American tourist us laughing, which meets several times each year to Las Vegas and feel at home here again.
For us, it was also a great experience - but two nights in this city are completely sufficient.
21.11.09 - The Mojave Desert to Los Angeles back
So sad for us all it was, the brief visit to our son was almost over. For the return trip to Los Angeles we have chosen the route through the Mojave Desert, a 6500 square kilometer desert landscape with sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones and rocks. The road led by Baker uns durch ein Gebiet mit unzähligen Joshua-Palmlilien, die hier den extremen Bedingungen trotzen.
Mitten in der Wüste liegt Kelso, ein kleiner Ort der heute aus kaum mehr als dem Bahnhof besteht. An der Bahnstrecke zwischen Salt Lake City und Las Vegas gelegen war der Ort ab 1906 als Versorgungsstation schnell gewachsen und in den 50er Jahren zur Geisterstadt verkommen. Der 1923 im Stil der spanischen Missionszeit erbaute Güterbahnhof wurde unlängst von der Nationalparkverwaltung übernommen und grundlegend restauriert. Er ist heute wieder ein Schmuckstück und das Zentrum des Mojave National Preserve.
Also Calico is a ghost town, which is marketed for tourism. Founded in 1881 and it grew very rapidly to over 1,200 residents. 500 silver mines were operated in the vicinity of the town until the silver price drop no longer capable of profitable operation. As quickly as it had grown degenerated Calico end of the 19th Century to the Ghost thown - a typical development in the western United States. The city, however, was worth the short detour from Interstate # 15 and gave us a welcome change to the monotonous highway. Late in the evening we arrived at Corona, where we spent one last day together with Felix.
The farewell at the airport dropped us back very difficult. For all of us a nice time together came to an end, and Felix was already thinking about when planning his next holiday - of course with us in the hobby motorhome.
