We couldn’t get a car as they were all booked out for the holidays so Christmas was looking a little bleak. But, in the end, it turned out to be rather lovely.
We discovered Grocery Outlet and bought salmon, vegetables, panettone and a bottle of wine. After a late breakfast Christmas Day we went to the cinema to see Wild, about a woman trekking the Sierra Nevada. Then we went home to open the presents Heather had given us, Skype a few family members and eat our dinner, along with the usual Christmas treats of choccies etc. Very laid back, relaxed and simple.
Boxing Day and we still couldn’t get a car so we went to the Merced Court House museum. This is a beautiful building and gave us a good insight into the early residents of this area including American Indians and Mexicans who settled here before California became part of America. We also got an understanding of the hardships of the first modern American pioneers and settlers making their way over the Sierra Nevada. On the way home we went to the Branding Iron Steak House and had . . . steak!
Today we got up at 6 and caught a bus to Yosemite for a steep uphill 3 mile hike to the Yosemite Falls. It seemed very recognisable from numerous Westerns, including Django Unchained. Blue skies, sun, snow topped mountains, ice and giant sequoia trees. Quite stunning!
We’ve also been planning our mini road trip down the Pacific coast, which will now start on Monday.
backpacksandcraic 
Really enjoying reading about your travels,Jane. We were in Yosmite in Sept and then travelled down the Pacific Highway One. It’s really beautiful. Let me know if you need any recommendations. Allow loads of time – it’s so beautiful, you just have to keep stopping.
Are you going any further inland? I loved the canyons, especially Bryce.
Happy new year and hope your 2015 is as exciting as this year has been.
Jo x
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Hi Jo, glad you’re enjoying the blog. We just started it for our own records but it’s great to hear that people are enjoying it. We’re renting a car for three days tomorrow and heading off down route 1 too, so any tips for ‘not to be missed’ would be welcome! We’re in California a few more weeks then flying out of San Francisco to Singapore on Jan 20th. We may go to Sacramento but if you have other recommendations for north/west of SF that would be good.
Happy New Year!
Jane
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Hi Jane,
We went south, not north, of SF. But if you do change plans: We started from Carmel (just south of Monterey). Carmel is very pretty but full of rich people with their pedigree pooches. Stunning drive down to Cambria – where we stayed on Moonstone beach which was really nice. Then another lovely drive down to Santa Barbara. I hadn’t really expected to like Santa Barbara but it was a lovely end to a fab holiday.
Very jealous you’re still there! And all you’ve got to come!
Jo x
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You did it! Yea! Isn’t Yosemite stunning?
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Really glorious! ☺
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