First Family Vacation

We finally went on our first family vacation. Last year, Ralph got sick the day we were leaving and had to stay home. We spent the first half of the week at a friends condo in Mammoth. It was very nice of them, but a small 1 bedroom condo with horrible weather wasn't pleasant with 2 bored kids. Kid you not, the weather finally hit 50 degrees for a high. We went to the top of Minaret overlook, and it was balmy and windy 41 degrees. It was snowing just slightly above us. Ralph also had to go home for the night since the housekeepers left a window open and our cat Clyde escaped. We honestly thought he was coyote food, but he had hid under the deck for two days. We had workmen at our house who cut a hole through the deck, only to find out he wasn't there. Few hours more of searching and Ralph found Clyde under some antique farm equipment. Of course Clyde thought it was great fun and Ralph was less than impressed.
Our final day in Mammoth finally warmed up. We had pictured spending the entire time there hanging out at the beach, which of course didn't go along with the 40 degree weather. But the last day was beautiful, and of course since it was Saturday, there were tons of people. Our hilight was going to the top of Mammoth Mountain in the Gondola. We hiked to the top of the peak and admired the views at over 11,000 feet. The only scary part was taking the gondola back down. After you load, it kind of sling shoots you over the edge with a thousand foot drop. Little scarry seeing that while holding Anna.





We decided to finish our vacation in June Lake, 30 minutes from Mammoth and one of our favorite places. Much smaller and not crowded. It was our original plan to spend the week in June Lake, but the offer of the condo in Mammoth seemed to good to pass up. So we upgraded to a newer 3 bedroom condo looking over Carson Peak. The extra rooms are upstairs so Anna is sleeping in our room. But, nice kitchen with new appliances, new furniture and a nice deck. It finally feels like we are on vacation. We spent the day at the beach yesterday then relaxing at the condo. We are headed back to the beach today, then to walk around town and out to dinner for our last night.








Tomorrow we plan on visiting Bodie Ghost town on the way home. And lunch at the Mobile Gas station. Yep, for those of you who don't know, it's the best place to eat lunch. Tri-tip Ceasar salad, buffalo meat loaf and my favorite, lobster taquitoes.