The scale of everything here leaves you dumbfounded.
America is a vast country. I know, I have driven across it three times and can attest to that fact. Miles upon countless miles of drama unfold along endless sunbaked roads sizzling in the heat and disappearing into a pinprick in the mirage like distance. It seems never-ending, infinite. How those early settlers survived the trip across this country in their wagons day after day never ceases to amaze me. They would do at most ten to twelve miles a day. That is a long, hard time on the trail with ever present dangers along the way. And the depressing sight of their previous nights campfire way off in the distance in the evening.
Now the trails are highways. Less romantic, less solitary, but trails nonetheless. The scale of the distances we have covered are difficult to convey. Our recent weekend to Yosemite is a case in point.
Basically we drove the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’groats twice to get there and back in a round trip. Taking in Big Sur and San Francisco on the way. It’s mind boggling. And that was a relatively normal excursion here. Acceptable Distance over size of country multiplied by 100 minus the hypotenuse of fuel price is a rough estimation of how willing people are to drive a thousand miles to see a pretty view or ‘the world’s largest ball of string’.
I am certainly not complaining. Every mile is inspiring.
Yosemite is one of my favourite places. Big and beautiful. We would have liked bears but it was a bit early in the season, they’re still waking up. However, we did get views and vistas and sketchy roads clinging to mountainsides. I saw my first bear here in 2004. Well, he tried to get in my van actually. I had spilt maple syrup the day before and I guess that wasn’t a good idea. He gave up luckily. And walked away, but I got a great shot of his behind.
It is a wondrous place. One can only imagine what it was like before all of us. When it was native, and perfect. Now there are roads and people and signs and rules. All for good reason, but they detract from the natural beauty everywhere. If you are inclined you can go off into the wilderness, but bears are grumpy buggers and rattle snakes frequent many hidden spots, so that’s at your peril.
We left, prepared for a long six hour drive back to LA. Which actually went by very quickly. I think there is another formula there regarding time, distance, quotient of scenic beauty and how many drivers. But I forgot most things I learnt in school.
