California and Hawaii Chronicles: Day Five – Chasing Cars and Dodgy USBs
Adjusting to the Pacific Time – and Other Adventures
Ah, California and Hawaii – where the time difference feels like you’ve stepped into a quirky time machine, leaving the UK behind by a cool 8 hours. But hey, who needs sleep anyway? Certainly not me, though my body was still wrestling with the concept of time when the clock struck 05:30. Nevertheless, I managed to defy the sandman and drift back into the dreamland.
After conquering the art of time travel, we decided it was time to conquer breakfast, an important quest that commenced around 07:20. The breakfast line, a mere 10-minute queue, became the stage for an unexpected rendezvous with the couple from Portsmouth again. Joining forces at a table for four, we shared a morning feast and bid farewell. They were lingering in San Francisco for another day, while we, intrepid adventurers, set our course toward Mariposa and El Portal.
The Uber Chronicles
To embark on our journey of the day, we summoned the noble Uber steed to transport us to the Budget rental car palace, all for the princely sum of $12 – cheap as chips and twice as satisfying. As we navigated the undulating streets, my travel companion, Michele, peered at the hills with a mix of awe and trepidation. These inclines, reminiscent of rocket launch ramps, sparked a momentary reconsideration of our choice of transport.
The Budget battleground greeted us with a 30-minute queue, a bustling scene with folks snagging cars left and right, celebrating the Labor Day weekend. After some paperwork acrobatics, we were handed the keys to our chariot. “What is it?” Michele inquired, her face transforming at the mention of a Kia Forte – apparently not her cup of automotive tea. A couple of checks to ensure it was more four-wheeled friend than foe, and we were ready to roll. Or not.
The Car Tango
Ah, the technological ballet ensued. Android Auto, the prima donna of our road trip, refused to take the stage. A brief fling with Apple Play revealed a connection, but alas, my meticulously planned routes were imprisoned in my Google Pixel, far from Michele’s iPhone gaze. The garage guru’s suggestion of Bluetooth felt like advising a fish to climb a tree.
Undeterred, we hit the road, San Francisco unfolding before us like a digital map on an iPhone. Navigating the city proved as smooth as butter, especially with the Oakland Bay Bridge ushering us toward our destiny – or at least the direction of Mariposa and El Portal.
Heat Waves and Dodgy Connections
As we ventured further, the mercury inched its way up the thermometer, the temperature rising like a phoenix from the ashes of a cool 33/34 degrees to a scorching 39 degrees. Stepping out of the car was like stepping onto a runway in the Sahara; heat and sun embraced us with relentless enthusiasm. Lunch provided a momentary reprieve, and as I tinkered with the car’s USB port, a eureka moment – a dodgy USB connection was the culprit. Android Auto finally graced us with its presence, and suddenly, our journey felt as smooth as butter on a hot skillet.
With the dodgy connection behind us, we cruised toward Yosemite, the flatlands yielding to the majestic hills. Alas, much of the park remained off-limits due to recent fires, leaving us yearning for another rendezvous.
Lodge Living in the Furnace
Our arrival at the chosen Indian Flat RV Park was met with a car thermometer screaming 43 degrees. Exiting the air-conditioned sanctuary of the car to reach the campsite office felt like a short sojourn through Dante’s inferno. Check-in complete, we were ushered to a wooden lodge, where the heat inside mirrored the temperature outside, if not exceeded it.
Desperate for relief, a plunge into the pool beckoned. Armed with beer and water for Michele, we spent a glorious hour cooling off, basking in the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the water.
A Stroll, A Meal, and Some Gin
In the dwindling hours of daylight, I embarked on a leisurely stroll, though the heat insisted it be nothing more than a lazy saunter. Dinner beckoned at the site’s restaurant, accompanied by a couple of cold beers and an unexpected encounter with an Italian couple. Conversations flowed, laughter echoed, and new friendships formed.
Returning to the lodge, I opted for a refreshing gin and lemonade, while Michele sought solace in front of the air conditioner – a valiant effort to cool down after a day spent in the fiery embrace of California.
The Signal Saga
Regrettably, this chronicle of our adventures finds its way to you fashionably late, blame it on the elusive signal in the heart of Yosemite. But hey, better late and well-documented than never, right?
