USA - Pacific Crest Trail - II.
From Tuolumne Meadows to Kennedy Meadows South.
26/Aug/2023 to 23/Sep/2023, 20 hiking days.
26/Aug/2023 to 23/Sep/2023, 20 hiking days.
Saturday 26/Aug/2023.
Home to San Francisco journey.
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| First leg of the journey, from Amsterdam to Dublin. |
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| Second leg of the journey, from Dublin to San Francisco. |
Transportation:
---- Aer Lingus flight EI0603 from Amsterdam (AMS) to Dublin (DUB), 09:35-10:20, 1h45, 696€ (all four flights).
|---| Motel, Marina Inn, Berkeley, 146$/n/2p.
Sunday 27/Aug/2023.
|---| Tent setup, near to Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (mile 1711.8), 37.8775N 119.3387W.
FIRST PART: from Tuolumne Meadows to Bishop, 135.3 trail miles (217km).
Tuesday 29/Aug/2023.
---- Bus from Mammoth Lake trailhead (Agnew Meadows) to downtown Mammoth Lake.
|---| Motel, Motel 6, Mammoth Lake, 155$/n/2p.
Thursday 31/Aug/2023.
|---| Tent setup at Purple Lake (mile 1760.4), 37.5973N 119.0618W.
|---| Tent setup near Silver Pass Creek. (mile 1771.6), 37.4425N 118.9216W.
Sunday 03/Sep/2023.
VVR - Vermilion Valley Resort.
Monday 04/Sep/2023.
Thursday 07/Sep/2023.
Sunday 10/Sep/2023.
|---| Motel, Townhouse Motel, Bishop, 94$/n/2p.
SECOND PART: Cottonwood Pass to Kennedy Meadows South, 52.3 miles.
|---| Tent setup at the Trail Pass (mile 1908.7), 36.4267N 118.1762W.
Thursday 14/Sep/2023.
|---| Tent setup at an unnamed saddle (mile 1917.6), 36.3701N 118.1376.
Friday 15/Sep/2023.
|---| Tent setup near Gomez Meadow (mile 1925.0), 36.3083N 118.1208W.
Saturday 16/Sep/2023.
|---| Tent setup at the second bridge over the South Fork Kern River (mile 1947.4), 36.0791N 118.1238W.
Monday 18/Sep/2023.
---- Transit at Dublin airport, 2h30.
---- Aer Lingus flight EI061 from Dublin (DUB) to San Francisco (SFO), 12:50-15:50, 11h05.
---- BART train ride from the airport to Berkeley.
|---| Motel, Marina Inn, Berkeley, 146$/n/2p.
Sunday 27/Aug/2023.
Berkeley to Kennedy Meadows journey & HIKE 0.
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| Awaiting the taxi from the motel to Emeryville's train station. |
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| Emeryville. |
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| Merced. |
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| Bus from Merced to Yosemite NP. |
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| Yosemite NP, Visitor Center. |
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| Bus from Yosemite Visitor Center to Kennedy Meadows Store. |
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| Bus to Kennedy Meadows. |
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| Dinner at the (closed) store. |
---- Taxi ride from the motel to Emeryville, 15$.
---- Amtrak train 710 "San Joaquins" from Emeryville to Merced, 07:46-10:35, 2h49, 55.10$/2p (whole trip except the "Hiker Bus").
---- Layover in Merced, 0h20.
---- YARTS bus 8412 from Merced to Yosemite NP Visitor Center, 10:55-13:36, 2h41.
---- Layover in Yosemite National Park, 1h08.
---- YARTS "Hiker Bus" 8662 from Yosemite NP Visitor Center to Tuolumne Meadows Store, 14:44-16:39, 1h55, 16$.
---- Hike 4 miles south of Tioga Road.
|---| Tent setup, near to Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (mile 1711.8), 37.8775N 119.3387W.
FIRST PART: from Tuolumne Meadows to Bishop, 135.3 trail miles (217km).
Monday 28/Aug/2023.
HIKE 1.
From Tuolumne Meadows tent setup (mile 1711.8) to Lyell Fork river crossing (mile 1721.9), 10.1 miles.
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| Campsite. |
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| Lyell Fork River. |
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| Lyell Canyon. |
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| Lyell Canyon. |
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| Lyell Canyon. |
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| Campsite. |
|---| Tent setup, some 200m before the Lyell Fork River crossing (mile 1721.9), 37.7805N 119.2626W.
Tuesday 29/Aug/2023.
From Lyell Fork crossing (mile 1721.9) to Island Pass (mile 1729.4), 7.5 miles.
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| "Leave no Trace" practice, proud to leave the site clean. |
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| Campsite. |
|---| Tent setup at a small pond near Island Pass (mile 1729.4),
Wednesday 30/Aug/2023.
Wednesday 30/Aug/2023.
HIKE 2.
From near to Island Pass (mile 1729.4) to Mammoth Lake trailhead (mile 1739.0), 9.6 miles.
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| The small pond. |
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| Someone left his giant gloves! |
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| Thousand Island Lake. |
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| Thousand Island Lake. |
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| Here the PCT exceptionally separates from the John Muir Trail (JMT). |
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| Shadow Lake. |
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| Descent to Agnew Meadows. |
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| Agnew Meadows |
Mammoth Lake.
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| Motel. |
---- Bus from Mammoth Lake trailhead (Agnew Meadows) to downtown Mammoth Lake.
|---| Motel, Motel 6, Mammoth Lake, 155$/n/2p.
Thursday 31/Aug/2023.
HIKE 3.
Bus rides from Mammoth Lake downtown to Mammoth Lake trailhead Agnew Meadows (mile 1739.0) and hike to Boundary Creek (mile 1749.4), 10.4 miles.
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| Breakfast. |
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| Bus rides from Mammoth Lake back to yesterday's trailhead (last ride out of the 3). |
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| Mammoth Lake trailhead (Agnew Wildflower Loop). |
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| South Fork San Joaquin River bridge (mile 1743), severely damaged, forcing a major detour. |
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| Devils Postpile unstaffed ranger station. |
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| Devils Postpile. https://www.nps.gov/depo/index.htm |
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| Devils Postpile. |
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| Soda Springs bridge |
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| Outlook to Devils Pospile. |
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| Stock bridge. |
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| Hillside gooseberry (Ribes Californicum). |
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| Leaving the Ansel Adams Wilderness for the John Muir Wilderness. |
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| Deer. |
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| Campsite. |
---- Bus rides (3) from the Motel to Trail head.
|---| Tent setup 200m before the trail bend near Boundary Creek (mile 1749.4), 37.5973N 119.0618W.
Friday 01/Sep/2023.
Friday 01/Sep/2023.
HIKE 4.
From the tentsite (mile 1749.4) to the Purple Lake (mile 1760.4), 11.0 miles.
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| Crater Meadow. |
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| Duck Lake. |
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| Purple Lake. |
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| Campsite. |
|---| Tent setup at Purple Lake (mile 1760.4), 37.5973N 119.0618W.
Saturday 02/Sep/2023.
HIKE 5.
From Purple Lake (mile 1760.4) to Silver Pass Creek (mile 1771.6), 11.2 miles.
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| Lake Virginia. |
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| Detour around Lake Virginia (such to keep our feet dry). |
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| Coffee break along Fish Creek. |
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| Fish Creek footbridge, first meeting with Oli. |
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| Silver Pass (3275m). |
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| Warrior Lake. |
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| Silver Pass Lake. |
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| Campsite. |
|---| Tent setup near Silver Pass Creek. (mile 1771.6), 37.4425N 118.9216W.
Sunday 03/Sep/2023.
HIKE 6.
Silver Pass Creek (mile 1771.6) to Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR), 8.5 miles.
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| Quail Meadows (mile 1775.3), junction with the Edison Lake Trail towards VVR (6.2 miles). |
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| Edison Lake Trail trailhead. |
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| Lake Thomas A Edison. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Thomas_A_Edison |
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| Burned area. |
VVR - Vermilion Valley Resort.
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| VVR, Vermilion Valley Resort. |
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| Campsite at VVR. |
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| Awaiting a burger dinner. |
|---| Tent setup at Vermilion Valley Resort.
Monday 04/Sep/2023.
HIKE 7.
Vermillion Valley Resort to the Bear Creek Twin Falls, 8.1 miles.
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| Dropped at the Bear Ridge Creek Cutoff Trail. |
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| Bear Ridge Creek Cutoff Trail. |
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| Thomas Edison Lake. |
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| Bear Creek. |
|---| Tent setup at the Bear Creek Twin Falls, 8.1 miles from VVR, 37.3631N 118.9310W.
Tuesday 05/Sep/2023.
Tuesday 05/Sep/2023.
HIKE 8.
From the Twin Falls to the Rosemarie Meadow (mile 1785.9), 7.4 miles
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| Campsite. |
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| Twin Falls and a nice inaccessible beach. |
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| Junction with the PCT, 3.1 miles from the Twin Falls (mile 1781.6). |
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| Campsite. |
|---| Tent setup near Rosemarie Meadow (mile 1785.9), 37.3208N 118.8697W.
Wednesday 06/Sep/2023.
Wednesday 06/Sep/2023.
HIKE 9.
From the tentsite (mile 1785.9) near Rosemarie Meadow to the Muir Trail Ranch tentsite, 9.6 miles.
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| A gorgeous view over Marie Lake. |
Muir Trail Ranch.
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| Muir Trail Ranch, the hiker resupply store. |
|---| Tent setup, near Muir Trail Ranch, 37.3208N 118.8697W.
Thursday 07/Sep/2023.
HIKE 10.
From the Muir Trail Ranch to the Evolution Lake tentsite (mile 1803.1), 8.5 miles.
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| Campsite. |
|---| Tent setup near the Evolution Creek ford (mile 1803.1),37.1955N 118.7815W.
Friday 08/Sep/2023.
Friday 08/Sep/2023.
HIKE 11.
From the Evolution Creek ford (mile 1803.1) to the Evolution Lake tentsite (mile 1910.8), 7.7 miles.
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| Campsite. |
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| Evolution Creek ford. |
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| Unstaffed ranger station. |
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| Evolution Meadows. |
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| Evolution Lake. |
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| Campsite. |
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| Kitchen. |
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| Sunset at Evolution Lake. |
|---| Tent setup at the Evolution Lake (mile 1810.8), 37.1664N 118.6921W.
Saturday 09/Sep/2023.
Saturday 09/Sep/2023.
HIKE 12.
From the Evolution Lake tentsite (mile 1810.8) to Middle Fork Kings River campsite (mile 1819.1), 8.3 miles.
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| Muir hut at the Muir Pass. |
|---| Tent setup at the Middle Fork Kings River (mile 1819.9).
Sunday 10/Sep/2023.
HIKE 13.
From the Middle Fork Kings river campsite (mile 1819.9) towards Bishop Pass campsite, 8.7 miles.
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| Campsite. |
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| The Monster Stone. |
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| Junction with Bishop Pass Trail (mile 1823.0), 11.8 miles from the Bishop Pass trailhead. |
|---| Tent setup about 1.8 miles before the Bishop Pass, 37.0963N 118.5580W.
Monday 11/Sep/2023.
Monday 11/Sep/2023.
HIKE 14.
From the Bishop Pass campsite towards the Bishop Pass trailhead, 6.2 miles.
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| Campsite. |
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| Bishop Pass. |
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| Bishop Lake. |
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| South Fork Bishop Creek. |
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| Long Lake. |
Bishop Trail trailhead to Bishop ride.
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| Trailhead parking, (11.8 miles from the PCT along the Bishop Trail). |
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| Obtained a ride from two norvegian section-hikers. |
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| September 11 2001 terrorist attacks celebration by the local firemen. |
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| Thunderbird Motel, also visited by vintage car collectors. |
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| Bishop local Brewery. |
|---| Motel, Thunderbird Motel, Bishop, 124$/n/2p.
Tuesday 12/Sep/2023.
Tuesday 12/Sep/2023.
Zero Day at Bishop.
|---| Motel, Townhouse Motel, Bishop, 94$/n/2p.
SECOND PART: Cottonwood Pass to Kennedy Meadows South, 52.3 miles.
Wednesday 13/Sep/2023.
HIKE 15.
Ride from Bishop to the Cottonwood Pass trailhead.
And 3.7 miles hike to Cottonwood Pass (mile 1903.8) and 4.9 miles to Trail Pass (mile 1908.7), 8.6 miles.
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| Ride from Bishop to Lone Pine, then to Cottonwood Pass. |
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| Thank You for this ride, Rob and Patty !!! |
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| Poison Meadow spring. |
|---| Tent setup at the Trail Pass (mile 1908.7), 36.4267N 118.1762W.
Thursday 14/Sep/2023.
HIKE 16.
From the Trail Pass (mile 1908.7) to an unnamed saddle (mile 1917.6), 8.9 miles.
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| The very first Campsite without mosquitos. |
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| Snow flower. |
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| Dutch Meadow spring. |
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| Campsite with campfire. |
|---| Tent setup at an unnamed saddle (mile 1917.6), 36.3701N 118.1376.
Friday 15/Sep/2023.
HIKE 17.
From an unnamed saddle (mile 1917.6) to Gomez Meadow (mile 1925.0), 7.4 miles.
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| Campsite. |
|---| Tent setup near Gomez Meadow (mile 1925.0), 36.3083N 118.1208W.
Saturday 16/Sep/2023.
HIKE 18.
From Gomez Meadow (mile 1925.0) to a Panoramic View tentsite (1936.3), 11.3 miles.
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| Deer. |
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| Crag Creek. |
|---| Tent setup, mile 1936.3, 36.1966N 118.1364W.
Sunday 17/Sep/2023.
Sunday 17/Sep/2023.
HIKE 19.
From the "Panoramic View" tentsite (mile 1936.3) to the second bridge over the South Fork Kern River (mile 1947.4), 11.1 miles.
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| Campsite with a panoramic view. |
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| First bridge over the South Fork Kern River (mile 1937.5). |
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| Burned area. |
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| Second bridge over the South Fork Kern River. |
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| Pity... the last campsite. |
|---| Tent setup at the second bridge over the South Fork Kern River (mile 1947.4), 36.0791N 118.1238W.
Monday 18/Sep/2023.
HIKE 20.
From the South Fork Kern River tentsite (mile 1947.4) to Shermann Pass Road (mile 1951.8) and 0.7 miles to Kennedy Meadows General Store, 5.1 miles.
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| Check-out. |
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| A crazy thru-hiker, moving with a heavy wooden stick on his shoulder. |
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| Crazy dangerous local driver. |
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| Joshua tree. |
|---| Motel, Howard Johnson, Ridgecrest, 79$/n/2p.
Tuesday 19/Sep/2023.
Thursday 21/Sep/2023.
Alice in Wonderland atmosphere B&B.
Native American day.
|---| The Dylan Hotel at SFO, Milbrae, 146$/n/2p.
Saturday 23/Sep/2023.
Return journey.
---- Air Lingus flight EI060 from San Francisco (SFO) to Dublin (DUB), 17:45-11:45, 10h00.
Sunday 24/Sep/2023.
Tuesday 19/Sep/2023.
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| Finaly, after half an hour, found a decent coffee shop. |
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| Gun shop. |
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| Betty Boop and Cars nostalgic bedroom. |
|---| Apartment, My Oasis, Bakersfield, 74$/n/2p.
Wednesday 20/Sep/2023.
Wednesday 20/Sep/2023.
Bakersfield to San Jose journey.
Mission San Miguel Arcangel.
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| Mission San Miguel Arcangel. |
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| Dos Hermanos restaurant. |
|---| Americas Best Value Inn San Jose, San Jose, 105$/n/2p.
Thursday 21/Sep/2023.
Silicon Valley & San Jose to Sacramento journey.
Intel.
Google.
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| Alice in Wonderland falling into our bedroom. |
|---| Harbinson House, Sacramento, 115$/n/2p.
Friday 22/Sep/2023.
Friday 22/Sep/2023.
Sacramento & Sacramento to San Francisco journey.
Sacramento.
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| Tower Theatre and Tower Cafe, an excellent breakfast place. |
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| Tower Bridge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge_(Sacramento,_California) |
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| Sacramento River. |
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| Crest Theatre, Crest !!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crest_Theatre |
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| Cathedral. |
|---| The Dylan Hotel at SFO, Milbrae, 146$/n/2p.
Saturday 23/Sep/2023.
Return home journey.
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| San Francisco, Union Square. |
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| The still famous Cheesecake Factory. |
Return journey.
---- Air Lingus flight EI060 from San Francisco (SFO) to Dublin (DUB), 17:45-11:45, 10h00.
|---| Airplane seat.
Sunday 24/Sep/2023.
Return home journey (cont'd).
---- Transit at Dublin airport, 2h.
---- Air Lingus flight EI0608 from Dublin (DUB) to Amsterdam (AMS), 13:45-16-30. 1h45.
|---| Home.
MAPS
MAPS
(Please ignore the section numbers and the leg numbers from these maps).
Part 1.
Part 2.
Thanks for having watched my PCT blog post !
