.....We drove approximately 80 miles from Merced to get to Yosemite. It cost $20 to enter the park but it was so worth it. We saw the worlds largest monoliths inc, El Capitan which is the one Jack Osborne climbed down, in his programme. The scenery was breathtaking from every angle and no more so, than when we travelled down the very windy roads to Glacier point AWE INSPIRING !! I had never appreciated nature as much until this day. Altogether we did about 250miles driving today, to and from the park and alot within the park to capture as many of the recommended 'must sees' as possible. The nights stop was in Oakhurst, where we had to go up class into a Comfort Inn as hostels and Motel 6s didn't exist in the area but we needed a good night sleep as we predicted another long drive the next day - not that we had entirely worked out what our next destination was. ( Hope you all noticed that I didn't have anything sarcastic to say about Yosemite).

Day 21 (Thurs 5th) We woke up to pouring rain, we had planned to drive back through Yosemite on highway 120 but when we got there we were informed it had been closed due to the storms, a bit of a spanner in the works but we had a plan B. It would add an extra 100 miles or so on the clock but also allow us to do the route we had planned yesterday, with today as an added extra. 4.5 hours after our plans were rained on, we arrived in Sacramento, which is obviously another tick in the box as it is the capitol of California. However, as we were so exhausted from our drive all we saw, of what I'm sure is a fine city, was a chinese buffet and our Motel 6 room. Also what I didn't mention previously was, after our long drive to Sacramento, it took a further hour to find our Motel, as we got lost. Then instead of learning from our mistakes we got lost the following morning too, ( we seem to be so good at reaching our destination yet so bad at navigating ourselves through and around it, but it adds amusement to the journey as long as we get on track before we are ready to murder each other).

After momentarily getting lost in the morning we headed towards our next stop over, Lee Vining. Not really a place that would be highlighted on anyone's map but a stop needed to visit Mono Lake and Bodie Ghost town. What a drive again, the views were breath-taking to the point that a tear almost came to my eye as I was so in awe, (but, being the ice-maiden I am, it froze before it could develop). We checked into a cheap, basic but nice motel and went out in the rain ( yep, it was still raining), in search for the 'toofah' the funny rock like forms which grow in the lakes making Mono Lakes famous. We found them, photographed them went to find a place to dine. As recommended we went to Tioga Toomey's Whoa Nellie Deli ( yes, that is its name, no, I'm not making it up). It is apparantly famous for its jambalaya and fish tacos, which anyone who knows me, knows I wouldn't have sampled, so no surprises I didn't. All these activities took a whole hour or 2 to complete, so it was back to our room by 9pm for a double bill of Law and Order.

Next day was cold but dry and we took a slight detour to Bodie Ghost town on route to Death Valley. Eerie but fascinating Bodie is apparantly Americas biggest Ghost Town, deserted since the 1940s, it was a goldmine town which was discovered by Mr Bodie himself, who unfortunately died in a storm on the way back from getting supplies to dig for the gold - gutted. ( Check out my knowledge). Houses and hotels and a general store where left as they were as if one day there was life the next none ( bottles and medicenes still on the shelves in the store) and do you know what we couldn't get over the most?!  There was snow on the floor and it was freezing, where's the blxxdy sun?

Back in the nice warm car ( not sure if the roof actually comes off now as have'nt been able to test in since San Diego), we journeyed to Death Valley and as it was Death Valley, guess what? The sun was out, we went from 44 degrees to 89 degrees in 1 day ( sorry don't know what that is in centigrade) and our roof did come off. The drive was long, flat, hot with fabulous views of the desert which were different around every corner. The road went on for miles as you looked on and there seemed to be water on the road, but as you reached the spot it disappeared. We actually drove through more of it today than we expected as motel after motel ( there only seemed to be 2 in the park) were fully booked. With only a quarter of a tank of petrol and no clue of how many miles the next motel or even sign of life was ( other than the wildlife), we understod how people could be stupid enough to run out of petrol and over heat in Death Valley - oops !! But being the tourists we are, this didn't stop us stopping and starting the car every couple of miles or so to take as many snaps as possible, ( you'll be pleased to know we refrained from taking a pic of the strange man cycling through the middle of Death Valley, with no hands on his handlebars, wearing speedos).........