Oot & Aboot: Farewell Clean Airs

I woke up this morning preparing myself to say good bye to Yosemite in the afternoon. I had to pack up, again, and get my 40 kg’s of luggage down the two flights of stairs and onto the bus. I still felt croak and decided to go find the clinic in Yosemite Valley in the afternoon before I left. It wasn't a exceptionally hot day which was good news as I was hoping to fit what I can in before the bus came to pick me up and take me back to San Francisco. Several hundred fires are burning across California at the moment, so the sky is quite hazy and you can’t see that far into the distance. This is a bit of a shame as I booked a tour to see all the vantage points!

Once into Yosemite, I checked out one of several gift shops to get a small token of my time in Yosemite, before I went on my tour. I had booked the two hour Valley Floor tour to take me through the valley and check out anything I had missed the day before. I was looking forward to the tour as it meant I could just sit and check the valley out without having to walk it as I really wasn’t feeling well enough for it. A park ranger was our tour guide and I must say – I love their hats! I don’t know why, but they look like a cartoon, it’s too funny. The tour is on trolley with bench seats, much nicer than a bus. Our first stop on the tour is Yosemite Falls. I had already seen this and with the haze, you really couldn’t see much of it today. The Park Ranger tour guide is SUPER excited about nature, quite funny for someone like me who is much more city than country. We slowly pass El Capitan, which is a huge granite rock on the outskirts of the valley. We stopped to see if we could locate any rock climbers on the rock face. It’s hugely popular for rock climbers and takes about two weeks to climb, imagine carrying two weeks supply of stuff…not for me. Some of the folk spot rock climbers but I have

No such luck, I’m struggling with short sightedness I think. We move on to a vantage point for Bridalveil Falls. Another waterfall that is slightly smaller in size to Yosemite Falls but equally stunning. As we start to move on from that after 5 minutes we travel past a coyote who is out and about collecting lunch, which might explain the squirrel in it’s mouth. That was kinda cool to see. No such luck in seeing another bear, I might be pushing it for another sighting. We stopped again at Tunnel View after the tour guide empathized again not to eave food out because of the bears. Okay, okay, I get it!

The tour was nearing a finish, but not before a saw a dear in one of the meadows. It was a very bambi moment, but another cool sighting. We got back into Yosemite Valley Lodge and I went on the search for the clinic. After a couple of buses and some help at the visitors centre, I located the clinic. It’s quite a big clinic, but I guess given the amount of people that go through Yosemite every day, there must be quite a few Dr visits. As it turns out, there were already several people waiting to see the doctor. I was rather nervous doing the doctor thing in another country. Stupid really as it’s basically the same! Long story short, I had a stomach bug and dehydration. I was offered an IV drip but given I had a bus to go on I took the other option; drinking HEAPS of water. I was also given anti-nausea tablets to take straight away. I was rather excited about that.

Back onto the bus for the 5 hour trip home. I slept through most of it, thank you drugs. We made a stop, where I got some KFC for dinner. I was happy that I had finally felt like eating something. Things were looking up. So back onto the bus, waay behind schedule, thanks to the hour late pick up from Yosemite, and we I finally get back into Union Square in San Fran at 10.30pm. I was exhausted and very keen to hit the sack, so I hailed down a taxi quickly to the airport hotel I’d be staying at. After a short trip I got to the hotel and I have two words for you; Bates & Motel. Seriously. It was a dingy, creepy, motel. You might wish to avoid Travelodge San Fran Airport if you can. It had one of those beds where all you can feel is the springs and it was just really creepy. Maybe that was the double locks! Managed to sleep and get ready for another day.

What I learnt in Yosemite today:

If you go overseas; get travel insurance. I had it but if I didn’t I’d be out of pocket $160 for basically nothing.
DON’T stay in airport hotels if you can afford, ick.
Overall, Yosemite is amazing and I recommend getting to it if you can.