100 degrees Fahrenheit

Spent Sunday at the Orange County Fair Ground in Costa Mesa. There is a weekly swap meet where you can buy all manner of cheap stuff from sunglasses to barbecues. The photo shows us quietly melting in the 100 degree (38 c) heat. A real test of endurance. Even the locals felt it. The cool thing was the Stadium off road truck racing next door. Even the girls were impressed. 

To Mammoth via the Trona Pinnacles

Left L.A today for Mammoth. Turned off in the Mojave Desert to see the Trona Pinnacles, ancient calcium carbonate towers which grew from a now dry lake bed. The heat was hot and the ground was dry. 

Drove north through Lone Pine and Bishop up the Eastern Sierras as a local rain storm brewed over the Sierra crest. 

Finally arrived at Mammoth on dusk. 

Pack Prepping

Spent the day sorting food and gear for my assault on the Sierra Nevada mountains. My food works out at about just over 3000 cal per day with a total pack weight of 9.8 kg which includes the nearly 1 kg bear canister.  I'm happy to keep it under 10. I'll refine it further on Wednesday in Mammoth once I know the latest weather forecast. So far it looks fine and mild. (Doesn't it always?!;-)

Thursday I start on the Pacific Crest Trail out of Mammoth, heading north to Tuolumne Meadows then on to Yosemite Valley, a trip of about 100 km. All going well I'll be out late Sunday with a pickup from Katrina. 

My pack fully loaded an raring to go. 

Found the coffee!

Katrina's dad took us to this great little cafe in Tustin called Keans where they make real coffee. 

My triple shot espresso. 

Percy admiring his large latte. 

A Day at Disney

Crazy Tom driving me around the bend. 

Saw Mike Mouse and Don Duck and some fairy. Here are a few other sights on a hot Southern Californian day. 

Our own plane

Well, almost. We were the first on board.