Today was another early rise. We checked out of San Fran and headed south to San Jose, but not before driving by the Mrs Doubtfire house on Steiner St. Sim really wanted to check that out and so we did a quick drive, flash and drive.
We then headed out on the freeway past silicon valley to San Jose, where we visited the Winchester Mystery house. The house was, well crazy! It was built by the widow of the inventor of the Rifle in the late 19th century. She was do racked with guilt and felt cursed that she saw a psychic who told her to build a large house and keep doing so. So she did, an ended up with a 160 room mansion, decked out with expensive timbers, papers furniture and glass. Pretty amazing but really kooky. The interesting thing was her fascinating with 13, everything was 13, 13 stair risers, 13 candles on chandelier, 13 everything.
The gardens and grounds of the house were also impressive - really quite beautiful.
We then hopped back in the Dodge and headed for the mountains. It was a nice drive up towards Sacremento then up into the snow capped mountains of Yosemite. It took us 3 or so hours to get to the park entry. It was now snowing and the roads were covered in icy snow. I'd never driven in snow sobi was a bit tense and nervous driving the rental car up into the mountains. When we got to the park entry, we were told we required snow chains for the tyres, so we drove back 5miles to the gas station and back again.
Putting the chains on was quite something- we got there in the end and continued on our way. The view wasn't much due to the snow mist, but sun broke through sporadically revealing the shear rock faces of Yosemite valley.
We were bow in the valley floor and the visibility had improved, we could see a few waterfalls and make out the mountain tops now. SPECTACULAR is all I'll say. Cue Jurassic Park theme music
Was like a winter wonderland. Granite mountains, with rowing waterfalls, tall forests covered in snow, and a crystal clear river slicing through the blanket of white snow on the ground. Sim and I were both pretty excited. We checked out a few more sites and tried to drive up to the famous Ahwahnee Hotel, its this really cool stone and timber mansion. Unfortunately it was closed due to renovations so we then checked into our Lodge.
Was a quaint, cabin like lodge with bars, restaurants and entertainment halls. Kinda had a ski lodge feel to it.
For dinner we headed to the restaurant, where we had to wait for over an hour to be seated. We had a drink in the bar in the mean time by the fireplace. Was a nice atmosphere, kids roasting marshmallows, while people ate and drunk. Was nice!
We finally got seated in the restaurant, after waiting nearly an hour and a half. They were apparently really busy due to the Ahwahnee being closed, bloody Ahwahnee strikes again.
The food however was worth the wait. The complimentary bread was one of the best we have had in the US and the steaks sim and I had were awesome. But the best thing was dessert. Apple pie, crumble, ice cream and caramel. Amazing! Was just the meal we needed on an icy winters night.
I can't believe how cold it is, and to think we were in Rio just a few says ago. Crazy!
- Blog from iMat
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