No Vacation Is Complete Without...

In spite of the government's worst efforts, we had (as mentioned) a lovely time on our vacation.  After many years of family road trips, several recurring features have become a predictable part of our vacations.  Here is the 2013 edition of that broad rhetorical question "Would it be a vacation without..."  (and the implied answer is "Absolutely not!").

... ice cream almost every day?  (Thank you Reimers and The Forks).
... a movie almost every night? (Why else would there be a DVD player in our room?)
... a hike that is just a bit too long, for somebody, well almost everybody, except Dad?  (Nelder Grove and Lewis Creek Trail.  Which is why we have ice cream).
... a museum docent who is absolutely thrilled to discover someone willing to listen? (Thank you to the  enthusiastic hosts at California State Mining and Mineral Museum and Mariposa Museum).
... at least one restaurant that becomes a new family favorite?  (Thank you DiCicco's).
... a few hours at the local bookstore?  (Thank you Branches Books.)

'Our' Government - Our Vacation

'PUBLIC' LAND

What we did not see on our vacation.
This was from our anniversary trip in 2011.

Unless you have been living on another planet the past couple of weeks, you certainly know about the 'shut down' of the U.S. Government and how the U.S. Park Service has been particularly aggressive in keeping people away.  Several months ago we reserved and prepaid a week of accommodations just outside of Yosemite National Park starting on September 30th.  Of course, we began hearing news about the impact of the pending shutdown as we neared our destination.  We arrived early enough on the 30th that we could have taken a drive into the park.  But, after 10 hours on the road, we just wanted to find our place and get settled before dark.

Having a great time anyway!

The next morning, October 1st, hoping against hope, we made the drive to the gate.  We could see that some people were being let through and on the advice of our host, had a destination picked out that would take us through the park.  However, our 'helpful' park ranger pointed out that there was an alternative route that was actually shorter and consequently they could not let us drive through Yosemite.  [The park remains closed as of October 12.]

We weren't as bold as some of our fellow citizens, partly because there was a line of cars still in front of us and there really wasn't an option other than to turn around.  We found plenty of other nature experiences in the area outside Yosemite during our week there and our family had a splendid time being together.  But, seeing representatives of our government actively work to keep citizens out of public land is a lesson our children will not soon forget.


POSTAL 'SERVICE'
Prominently displayed on the wall in an alcove in the post office in Oakhurst, California is the unofficial postal service slogan:

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night

stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

While on vacation, we needed to send a package with guaranteed overnight delivery. There was no Federal Express office in Oakhurst that we could find, but we did locate the U.S. Post Office. The staff was very helpful in getting our package put together and mentioned more than once that the $19.95 fee guaranteed next-day delivery or we would be refunded.  So, we paid our fee and handed over the package.  When we called the destination the next afternoon -- no package.  The tracking information on the USPS.GOV site showed it was in the main postal hub in San Diego, about 30 miles from where it needed to be.  The package finally arrived the second day after it was sent.  That is the next, next day from the original day, not the guaranteed next day -- got it?  So, we made a trip back to the post office where they happily gave us back our $19.95, after we filled out the requisite form.  This is why the postal service continues to lose money.  They delivered a package in two days for free because they could not fulfill their promise to deliver in one day.

We never found out just what it was that delayed the package.  Though hazardous weather is no challenge for the postal service, perhaps absolutely gorgeous Southern California weather is.