ECV

It has now been more that a month since leaving Atlanta-- although I’d count my time in San Fran as my old routine. Such is the reason I have left. One particularly dull and woozy night at Unkie’s place we hatched a plan to do a little exploring: Yosemite, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Joshua Tree and LA. It would take a week. The trip would end on the 4^th of July. A particularly fitting date as, in the most unsentimental of terms, one cannot imagine the natural wealth of this nation. This is what I have discovered.

We loaded up the “red wiener” (the Mercury) and left early in the morning. Across the vast strip malls and highway exits just a few hours from the coast lays the inspiration of Ansel Adams. Yosemite National Park is positively breathtaking. Irrespective of the ipod in my hand or the reception of my cell phone I could not help but think of the first people to cross this place. The awesome sight of both towering mountains and gushing streams must have been, and remains, sublime.

Around 10:30am we found the only bar in the park. There at the Ahwahnee Hotel Unkie talked about the Redwoods in California. “You know Rob the largest tree in the world is in California… and, here is the greatest testament of 19^th century thinking, it took them a year and a half to figure how to cut it down.” The second largest tree was removed of all its bark by Brits on scaffolding for reproduction in England and consequently it died. Finally, the third largest has a hole cut in it for cars to travel through. It too will die soon.

The first night we stayed in Lone Pine, CA. It’s an old western/mining town. Unkie insisted on staying there. That night at the Double LL bar he revealed why. We are honorary E Clampus Vitus members. I'm thinking of starting my own chapter. E-mail me about membership inquiries.