Day Eighteen - Lundy Lake to Yosemite to Big Sur

​6:30 am. Awoke. Took a picture and fell asleep.

7:30 am Tiny needed to go to the bathroom. George got up to take her. Made breakfast in the form of oatmeal packets for the girls. Officially out of their mix. Biscuit played with the baby in the tent while Tiny and Bubble ate. ​

 I have learned what I can live without. Running water. That is about a two day limit. ​

9:15 am Car completely packed and ready to go. Another record for us. Offspring are in pajamas but still good time. 

Sprekles- Goblet Family word for the markings of dirt mixed with sweat on your body. Found public showers to remove our sprekles. All six in a 2x8 room. George describes the shower as fun and family centric. It was definitely a family bonding moment. Paying $3.50 for 5 minutes of hot water. In the moment I turned the water on, it was decided to only wash girls' bodies. Mine included. Hair would have to wait. A $7.00 shower never felt so good. And let the record be set here. 4 girls split 5 mins and 2 boys split 5 mins. Who is the spoiled one?

Quick market trip for crackers and pepperoni for my breakfast and south to find Tioga Pass to cut through Yosemite. Girls love the views. And want a picnic on a blanket. All the other picnics we have do not count in their eyes. Annual pass gets us in and has officially paid for itself. Girls on a high to become Junior Rangers. ​

Stopped at Visitor's Center. Picked up postcards, stickers, and Junior Ranger guides. Bubble scoffed at how little it was. More like a newspaper than a booklet as the others. Everyone in the back ate an orange. George had his expensive jerky. Decided not to let them out at Olmsted's point which lead to chanting 'bad momma' all the way to May Lake Trailhead. ​

Moseyed through the park, George pulled over at least four times to let the built up traffic pass.   It is a long drive from the High Sierras to the Yosemite Valley.

To become a Junior Ranger, you have to attend a ranger led program. Last 15 min one was at 4:00. We parked at the Valley Visitor Center at 3:30. No time for a picnic. Threw them a bagel and we trucked it to the talk. I might have looked at another child's paper for answers and filled them in for the girls. Announcement that the center was closing in 10 minutes right after they were sworn in. So close to missing that one.

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Traffic standing still and rain made leaving Yosemite slow. Biscuit asked for a Wendy's cheeseburger for dinner. Makes her own plans for where to eat it. Inside the restaurant is first, if that is full then a park, and if it is dark, then in the car. I still do not have service to know where a Wendy's is to get her a burger. ​

Elders like the one lane bridges that lead us out. Out to a gas station. Handed the elders a fig bar and Bubble cried, "Nooooo, I wanted a real meal."  They really like Wendy's. Together, it is decided to pass the Burger King in leu of a Wendy's in Merced. 

Woke Biscuit up with her Jr Bacon Cheeseburger. Tiny had her chicken nuggets and French fries. Bubble went in with me and ordered a plain Jr Bacon Cheeseburger and milks for all. George and I had the In-n-Out across the street. Back on the road with the aroma of agriculture production all around and the sounds of 90s rap on XM. ​

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Bubble had a way of knowing the 30 minute countdown to arrival. Wherever we go. She starts whimpering and whining like a wounded animal. We have tried all different methods in calming her. George pulled the car over this time and took her walking. While they did I looked out over the Pacific Ocean. We made it. We made it to  the farthest west we could. No matter what now we will be heading home. 

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Campground full. Don't buy that. Creep around. 138 says reserved for tonight but it is empty. Set up tent and get all children in by 1:15 am. 

Steps taken: ? Tiny broke the Fitbit
Miles driven: 326.8