Yo-yo-semite!!!

As part of my recovery, Laurie and I decided to take a big trip. Yosemite had our name written all over it and we managed to sneak away for 6 1/2 packed days (including our drive to and from).  We were able to backpack for 4 nights and 5 days and it was such an amazing trip! We were a little bewildered after driving all night to get there, but we made the best of it! 

Here's a pic before starting our long, arduous hike up to the top. We planned to stay on the Pohono trail, which was sure to please with gorgeous views. We were not disappointed!!

The park has VERY strict rules about using bear cans. We had to plan carefully.

When we finally arrived to our campsite (Stanford Point), this was the view. I was SO tired, but it was hard to feel bad with this view!

This was the view from our tent!

It was amazing.

On day two, we headed to our next campsite, with amazing views on the way!

We ran into a couple with their horses. They wanted us to take a photo of them on their horses, just like the famous Roosevelt picture. I became buddies with this guy. He kept rubbing his head on me!

Our tent was very close to this beautiful swimming hole. I enjoyed a dip and some good reading. **sigh**

Laurie, getting some reading done.

I love wood!

We had a nice 12 mile hike on day 3 without our heavy packs! It was an awesome day! Here I am inching close to the edge at Taft Point.

A photo over the platform. This picture doesn't do this cliff justice!

Laurie seriously freaked me out here! She was applying a little too much pressure! This ledge is the same one that I'm standing on in the following pic!

I love this pic. It kind of helps the viewer gauge the magnificence of Yosemite!

There were super cool rock fissures everywhere.

If I were a tree, I'd want to grow tall in Yosemite.

Laurie and I resting after hiking 9+ miles. Time to head back to our campsite.

First, a cheesy pic of me inside of a tree=).

Contemplation.

Half Dome.

Yoga Fun.

More yoga fun.

Getting some much needed rest before more hiking on Day 4.

The wood picture opportunities were unreal in this park. I loved every little detail!

We stopped to eat some food at Taft Point. Laurie unpacked her bag and watched her sleeping bag roll off the cliff. We were in disbelief and sad because 1) Laurie loved her sleeping bag and 2) this meant we'd have to hike all the way to the car, cutting our trip short by one night=-(!!!! Not good!

Amazingly, I spotted her bag after one last visual sweep. It had hit a rock and rolled into a little hole! Laurie climbed down there (making me a nervous wreck) and she retrieved her beloved sleeping bag!!

SUCCESS!!!

I love this pic. No words!

We spent our last night at the same spot we started our trip. It was so peaceful.

Does it get any better than this? That is El Capitan across the way. At night, you can see the rock climbers head lamps as they sleep in their suspended hammocks.

Our last sunset.

Laurie doing a Sacral Chakra Dance!

Laurie waking up on our last morning.

I seriously did not want to leave.

The views as we were hiking down.

We made it!

Laurie had one beer and felt loopy! She was hilarious!

El Cap from the valley floor.

One last photo, driving through the rocks before hitting the freeway for the long ride home. This trip was a TOTAL success!!! I hope to go back someday soon!

baby birdies!

My house came with an old bird house that needed some TLC. I'm so glad I fixed it up and hung it back up in my apple tree, because this spring I was so happy to see these little babies! Nature is so cool!

Bday celebration with the fam.

I had a second BDAY party up in the Seattle area. My family had a party for me and it was great to see them all after the hardship of the previous months. What can I say? I love my family SO MUCH!

My twin, or niece, is growing up so fast! She's so pretty!

Handsome guys: Darren and his son Christian.

The Chamberlin Boys. LOVE THESE GUYS!

Mom and Ang.

Me and Gma Junette!

This is up there for one of my favorite pics! It's hard to look at this pic and not smile.

Saddle Mountain

These are pics of my first camping trip of the summer, to Saddle Mountain! I knew I needed to get out of town. It was my first trip after my surgery and I was a little nervous about whether or not I'd have the stamina. I felt something telling me that I really needed to get away and I felt supported by that intuition when I drove nearly 50 minutes through the Oregon coastal range and stopped to pick up a few things at small local store. I couldn't find my wallet. Turns out, I left it on my back bumper. It stayed there for my entire drive from Portland. Freaking Amazing. This trip was in the stars for me!

I got a chance to hike Saddle Mountain and also use my new Big Agnes Copper Spur tent. I'm such a lucky gal to have such cool gear!

I was surprised by how beautiful the terrain was around Saddle Mountain! Also loved that you could see the ocean from the top.

This is a species of succulent that is only found on Saddle Mountain. How cool is that! I had to fight the urge to follow the rules and NOT take a baby succulent home with me.

Stopped to lay on the beach before heading back to the city. The weather was unreal for this time of year! It was an unseasonably warm spring day at the beach! Great first trip of the summer.