So 2011

I have declared 2011 my year of the adventure.

First, and most obvious, blogger has forced me to update my template. Adventures in Technology. I hope you find the new pictures, colors and format pleasing. Thank you blogger for launching me into 2011!

Second, I discovered I love car washes. Adventures in modern day advances. After an unforgettable weekend in Yosemite (see #4 below), dirt and salt and fun absolutely morphed my blue car into a brown blob. This prompted me to try the new $6 car wash that opened down the street last week. Remember your first car wash? And the absolute adrenaline rush? I sat in my car, shift on neutral, as the wash moved the car through various contraptions. Suds blocked my view and I had to trust the car wash as I moved forward into more and more washing contraptions. At the end some huge hair dryer like devices dried my blue beast, a sign told me it was okay to drive, and off we went. But not too fast or you'll miss the free vacuums. A car wash is an urban mini roller coaster ride. I love 2011.

Third, the Los Angeles rain has subsided and my provisional hike is rescheduled for Sunday. Adventures in Hiking. Join us if you're interested in a moderate to easy afternoon stroll.





Fourth, here I'll discuss the earlier previewed Yosemite weekend. Adventures in Snowboarding. We traveled to Yosemite National Park, the second National Park dedicated in America, to enjoy the winters so loved by John Muir. Instead of camping or hotels, we opted for the middle ground of Camp Curry where we could stay in a heated canvas tent with wooden walls. Even the bathrooms were heated - anyone can do winter camping Camp Curry style! On Saturday, we hiked only about 3 miles total on ice and snow covered trail to Mirror Lake for a great view of Half Dome at dusk. At night we enjoyed a Ranger Program about the Merced River - its origins in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and its contribution to the California farmland. On Sunday, we took Snowboard lessons at Badger Pass and found ourselves having a blast. I highly recommend it! But be prepared for bruises and sore forearms from falling. Sunday night we checked out a fine dining establishment in Yosemite Valley that specializes in local and socially responsible food. Mac and cheese never tasted so good. Before parting for the unpredictable highway drive home on Monday, we hiked to lower Yosemite Falls (pictured) and partook in a photography walk from the Ahwanee Hotel with a docent from the Ansel Adams Gallery in the park. Yosemite in the winter gets four stars for meeting the adventure goal - snowboarding, hikes, photography, good food, and fun accommodations.

2011 is off to a great start. Here is a list of other adventures I'm hoping to embark on in 2011: surfing, rock climbing, more photography, lots of hiking and backpacking, and community volunteering. Do you have any ideas to add to the list?