Day 2

We did not get up very early and we felt no need to pack up quickly. We even got a couple of showers before we packed everything into the car and took off.

We had granola bars for breakfast again and snacked for lunch. The day and the scenery slowly passed by.

Suddenly, Dad announced that we had entered California! We had to go to an inspection station before we got far, though. What with Dad's rugged biker look and beard, we had a little bit of trouble. Plus, we got a little confused and moved into the wrong place. The inspector thought we had tried to get away! But with a little explaining (and some searching of the car on the part of the inspector) we were once again on our way.

It was then that the ride got really interesting. First, the road started rolling up and down very steeply. It felt like a roller coaster ride! We all got butterflies in our stomachs and had a fun time, guessing how steep the next dip would be and finding we had under estimated it.

But all too soon the dips ended. We saw mountains up ahead and I finally learned we were going to drive through Yosemite National Park! In one distinct moment we went from endless grassy flat lands to pine-tree forest, with huge mountains and lakes placed beautifully beside the road. Emily, Grandma and I all had fun trying to take pictures of the amazing landscapes with each of our cameras. The ride as a whole was amazing and I don't want to forget it.

After about an hour (or at least that's how long it seemed to me) we exited the national park. But that didn't end the breathtaking ride. We drove on squiggling and unpredictable roads that scaled the sides of mountains. We went from almost ten thousand feet in altitude to almost sea level in one day. It was hard to get bored.

The land flattened out and turned grassy, like we had never gone through Yosemite in the first place. It was getting late in the day, so we stopped for the night at a rather expensive hotel. There I enjoyed an evening of swimming, watching TV and resting.