Oakhurst-Yosemite NP-San Francisco-Santa Barbara

Hello everyone,

I finished my last message talking about the trouble with my eyes. I had since than no more problems with it. I still ware glasses and not my contacts but everything else is good.

So I left Oakhurst on tuesday, november 4th, and cycled in 1 day to Yosemite NP. After the storm there was stil some snow left. Not so much on the road but beside it. It gave some very beautifull scenery and I enjoyed but it was also very cold. The canyon cycling in to the NP was just magnificent.

I stayed with McCray, a host from CS, and he invited me to a election party. We followed the result on a big screen and to my big surprise most people were very emotional.
In Belgium we have to vote by law so we get 99% of the people voting. Than we hear that in the US only 50% is voting and we think that nobody is interested in politics.
In Belgium we discuss it but it allmost never get personnal. Here it is always personnal.
I saw 1 Afro-American man of 45 years old crying when his father called and told that he remembers the time that Afro-Americans were not allowed to vote.
I hear people saying that they didnot talk to some relatives for months or years because they voted for Bush in 2004. Some people were talking of moving out US if McCain would win.

Another thing is the winnar takes all principle. These are called the electoral votes and here Obama had a big victory but if you count the personnel vote the victory was not so big.
It was also this principle that let Bush win in 2000 even when Gore had more personnal votes.

On wednesday I hiked to Glacier Point and had an amasing view of the valley with the Nevada and Vernall falls. The road to this point was still closed because of the snow and only 5 people were there so I enjoyed it without the mass.
The next day I hiked to those falls and had again a good time. On both of these hikes I met Debra and Bill and they invited me to there home if I was in the neighborhood. Unfortunally I will not be coming close.

That evening we had a barbeque. The americans love the BBQ so mucht that they even do it in the winter in freezing temperatures. I also saw a BBQ in every campsite I was in. There are not so many vegetables as back home but more than enough meat. Here it is not necessary to have a table and chair for everyone. Most people eat standing and with their hands.

On friday november 7th, I left Yosemite. I had hoped to cycle on the Tioga Pass which is 10 000ft or 3000m high but because of the snow they closed it for the season. I did cycle on elevation of 6000ft and saw enough snow to agree that that is a very wice decision.

Very soon I was in the San Joaquin Valley and here it is warm but also crowded. I changed a few my route in an attempt to avoid the traffic but had no succes with it. I saw a lot of orchards and vineyards. Allthough very beautifull I could not really enjoy it.

On saturday I lost some time because I took the wrong road and didnot find a decent camping spot and was forced to camp in a vineyard. Luckily nobody noticed me but I was allready cycling at 6.30 am.

On sunday I took another approach and talked to a lady in a fire station and after a few phonecalls I was allowed to camp on a small airfield.
It happened several times that the HW where I was cycling became a freeway where I am not allowed to cycle. At one time I knew it was just for a few miles and I did not see the sign. What I didnot know was that after the next cornor there was a weighstation for trucks and yes, a police officer was there. I played stupid and rode straight to him and asked the way. I got away with a verbal warning to leave the freeway at the next exit. So I did. I took me almost 2 hours to find a way to the right HW.

On monday I stayed with Bunny, a host from WS in Santa Rosa, and had a good time. She likes history just as me and she even had a book about king Leopold 2 from Belgium and his colony Congo in Africa. Now, you have to know that back home it is not common to have any criticism for the royal family. I was taught in school that we helped out the poor black africans and civilized them.
This book more or less called King Leopold a massmurderer. I intend to read it when I am home.
Bunni showed me also the fault line which causes the earthquakes. (bad english???).
I just had a wonderfull time there.
Bunni, thank you very much for hosting me.

From here I cycled to the coast which is beautifull. With the help of some local people I could camp near the beach and had a long strawl on it.

On wednesday I had 1 of my highligths of my trip when I cycled over the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco.
There was some fog so the views were fenomenal.

Because there is so much place here and because of the earthquakes there are only a few highrises and most buildings are not higher than 2 or 3 floors. It gives SF an good vibe and I liked it there. I some of the touristy spots like Chinatown, Fishermanwharf,....

I stayed for 1 night with Derek, a experienced touring cyclist who has been in 22 countries. I met Derek in Capitol Reef NP and he showed me around to twin peaks. Took me to a beer tasting pub and so one. Thank you Derek.

Next I stayed with Brendt and Thom which I met in Kings CanyonNP. They were looking to buy a house and I joined them for an afternoon. The american houses are much bigger than in Belgium. Here 2 bathrooms are normal back home that is rather abnormal and everything else is also bigger. From fridges to cars and so on.

I saw my first pelican here. I did not know that they stayed here for the winter and was very surprised.
The beaches here are also known for the big waves and there were a lot of surfers out there. Even when everybody sais it was cold. Only high 60s or low 70s. (meaning 20degr C). I have had summerdays back home who were colder.

South of SF there is Big Sur state park wich was beautifull. This time I really mean WAS because it was for a big part damaged by a fire in august. I could not hike to the sykes hot springs. Normally you hike 10 miles and camp at the hot springs and take a nice long bath but not for me this year.
Here I had a very nice meeting. I met Olivier again. We met before in Yukonterritory almost 3 months earlier. I knew he was cycling down the coast but I thaught he was further south. We had a pleasant evening talking and cooking.

I hiked for 2 days there and then cycled further south where I saw sealions and also a very big elephant seals colony. The adults were still at sea and only the teenagers were there. If you know that the adults can weigh more than 2200kg or 5000 pounds the "tiny" teenagers are impressing enough.

All of the coast is very beautifull here but some is private and other pieces are to crowded to be fun to cycle. Especially Monterey bay was hard for me.

On saturday, november 22nd, I am lucky to be able to camp on high rock overseeing a small bay. The sunrise and sunset were just amasing.

On tuesday I reach Santa Barbara and this is the day I have my first rain in some weeks. The next day it is the same and I have a lazy day at the home of my host Tim.
On thursday, it is thanksgiving and I can witness this famous american holiday with the family of Tim. I have a great time.

Tim, thank you for taking me to the family party.
In Santa Barbara you can see many influences from the Spanish ruling. There are a lot of plaza and the city is not build like a typical american city. In this region there are several nice missions.

So here I will end my message. I hope to give you on update soon about what happened afterwards.

greetings,

nico