California dreamin' - Tips for a summer trip, plz

[MadImmortalMan]

Ed- it is recommended if Dodger fan not to be wearing their jersey in SF and vice versa if at Chavez Ravine in LA.

One dude was beaten to death a while back for wearing Giants colors. There was probably some smack-talking as well behind that story.

[katmai]

If you mean the story from last year he thankfully didn't die and is recovering slowly.

[MadImmortalMan]

If you mean the story from last year he thankfully didn't die and is recovering slowly.

Yeah the one that was in the news. Glad he didn't die.

[The Larch]

I think this will be an awesome trip.

Try to speak Spanish to the local speakers when you come across them, and let us know how appalled you are.

I already assume that local Spanish speakers will only be marginally more understandable to me than the rest of the population. 

[katmai]

Whew, if we do somehow meet up I won't even try butchering the mother language and stick with English.

[The Larch]

I should ask Tricky Dick to see if he found any language barrier when dealing with colonials, it's a similar situation after all. 

[katmai]

[The Larch]

Damn!

2nd Yosemite-related hantavirus death prompts campsite closures
Yosemite officials send warnings to 1,700 recent visitors and begin rolling closures and cleaning of some cabins in Curry Village.

A second hantavirus death has prompted partial closures of a popular Yosemite National Park campsite and warnings to 1,700 recent visitors as officials try to understand what is being characterized as an "unprecedented" outbreak of the disease.

After learning that a Pennsylvania visitor's death was caused by hantavirus, Yosemite officials sent emails Monday evening to those who stayed in the "signature tent cabins" in Curry Village between mid-June and late August, said park spokesman Scott Gediman. Letters were sent to visitors whose email addresses were not on record.

The fatality marked the third confirmed case of the rare rodent-borne disease linked to the park — last week, park officials said a 37-year-old Bay Area man had died and an Inland Empire woman in her 40s was recovering after being exposed to the virus. Park officials believe there may be a fourth case but had yet to receive confirmation Tuesday.

All four stayed separately at the signature tent cabins in June, Gediman said. Officials have traced the outbreak to deer mouse droppings in the area.

We were probably going to stay on that campsite (although not on those tents). 

[MadImmortalMan]

You don't have to sleep in the park. Plenty of nice places nearby. Mammoth Lakes is probably the best, but there's also Mariposa on the Cali side.

[The Larch]

You don't have to sleep in the park. Plenty of nice places nearby. Mammoth Lakes is probably the best, but there's also Mariposa on the Cali side.

We'll be staying at least 3 days in the park and want to make the most of it, so sleeping inside the park seems to be the best option for us. It's not expensive at all.

[The Larch]

Btw, how feasible/worthwile would be a detour to see the Grand Canyon? One of the group members is HUGE on it and is trying to convince us to make an effort to visit it. Doing a rough calculation I'd say it's a 2 day detour if we go from the Death Valley-Mojave area straight at it, about 7 hours in each direction, so it'd be kinda tough for a relatively short visit.

[Tonitrus]

Btw, how feasible/worthwile would be a detour to see the Grand Canyon? One of the group members is HUGE on it and is trying to convince us to make an effort to visit it. Doing a rough calculation I'd say it's a 2 day detour if we go from the Death Valley-Mojave area straight at it, about 7 hours in each direction, so it'd be kinda tough for a relatively short visit.

If you can stretch that night before over to Vegas, you could probably bag it in a day trip.

Or if you're ballin', do a one-day helicopter tour from LV.

[The Larch]

Luggage prepared (I think I've packed too much stuff), ready for the trip. Tomorrow I leave for Madrid and on sunday we'll go from there to SF via Washington. I'm getting goosebumps. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIqESwzCGg4

[garbon]

Have so much fun.

[Jacob]

Have a good time!