California dreaming of sinister motels and noisy critters

HAVING just got back from California, some friends of mine asked me if I was sorry to be back in cold, damp Wales.

“Not at all,” I replied, “I love North Wales.”

For some reason, that seemed to surprise them!

There’s no doubt that California has gorgeous weather and the Pacific Ocean is stunningly beautiful, but the landscape is bare compared to our's.

Well, it would be wouldn’t it? They haven’t had rain for around four years.

But credit where it’s due. Yosemite is something else. I was wowed by the stunning scenery: booming mountains and endless forests where you have to be wary of mountain lions and bears.

Unfortunately I didn’t see any bears, probably because they were gearing up to hibernate in late October. We were told that November in Yosemite can be freezing with heavy snowfalls.
The inn where we stayed was more than a bit depressing. It was a family-run business with limited accommodation - which is why I chose it!

 I wanted to stay in the middle of nowhere and experience the peace and quiet of the forest at night.

We were booked in for three nights, but left after two. Our room was dark, even during the day. In fact everything about that room was gloomy. The curtains, rug, bedspread and even the shower curtains were black.

There were stuffed birds on top of the wardrobe and weird pictures on the wall. One in particular freaked me out: it was a picture of a smarmy looking man sat with his legs crossed and smoking a cigar while glancing down at a woman lying on an old fashioned bed.

You could see it was meant to be set in the 1920s. On closer inspection I could see that the woman resembled me.......

That was it, the final straw: I’d already made up my mind that I didn’t want to stay and this just confirmed it for me.

The first night was the worst - I never slept a wink. Well, actually, I almost dropped off to sleep around 3am - until the coyotes began to howl. That was followed by was an eerie sound like a woman singing soprano.

It turned out to be a very large owl, which was a great relief.

Yosemite itself was definitely worth a visit. I loved the autumnal colours. The forest was breathtaking in shades of deep pink, mingled with green and gold.

Breathtaking: Yosemite in all its glory

 Around every corner was a surprise. Then there was Glacier Point, one of the most awesome sights I’ve ever seen.

The temperature in Yosemite was freezing cold that first day, but 94C the day after.

Talk about extremes.

I think one of the most memorable sights we saw was a deer with her baby. They were both in amazing condition.

Back in the trees there were critters galore. I even saw a skunk, though Bob swore it was a racoon.

Believe me, it was a skunk!

Back in the airport, Bob had fellow passengers in stitches by describing (with a straight face) the inn we stayed at near Oakhurst: a cross between the Bates Motel and the Adams family residence.

He solemnly described how he felt the need to put the heavier suitcases up against the patio doors just in case someone tried to break in.

All in all the holiday was a real adventure. We travelled over 3,000 miles and experienced many different places.

Would I go back for another holiday? Not sure! The flight was hellishly long and I can’t sleep on an airplane.

But if we could afford it again, I might be tempted to return, if only to see what Yosemite looks like in Springtime..... and to catch a glimpse of those elusive bears.