Mount Shasta from the road as we entered California
At the beginning of October we headed into California. We had to rush through to go to a conference in Phoenix and did not have enough time to see everything we wanted to see. But we still stopped at a few fun places like Yosemite, Joshua Tree National Park, Ladder Canyon, stayed near LA, Palm Springs and San Diego. On a hike in Yosemite I hurt my knee so we did not stop at Kings Canyon and Lake Tahoe, both areas we really would have liked to see.
Max and Josephine at a road side stop overlooking Yosemite Valley
One of our first stops was Yosemite National park. The closer we came on our drive there the more beautiful it became. Once we drove up to the park, and I mean uphill, the road became very curvy and it dropped of quite steep on one side. I was not very comfortable and the van was struggling with the incline. But we made it safely to the top and from there it was only a short ride to Yosemite Lakes Thousand Trails RV Park where we stayed for four nights.
We stopped for a photo on our way to the valley
We arrived as the sun was setting, during California’s golden hour and barely made check in. It was dark when we pulled into our site. The park was nice with lots of green and a creek running along one side. This is a Thousand trails park without a swimming pool but we did not miss it as we wanted to discover Yosemite. Cell phone reception was terrible, so the only internet was the free wi-fi from Thousand Trails at the laundry room unless you have Starlink. At the playground our children made friends very quickly, some of which we met elsewhere in California again. Volleyball, basketball, fishing, a lodge with TV and game room were also available but we wanted to discover Yosemite of course.
A view of Yosemite Valley
Once we had breakfast and set up properly we headed to Yosemite valley. The national parks pass ‘America the Beautiful’ granted us quick entry and the drive to the valley was very pretty with plenty of pullovers for photo opportunities and look out points. Once we had arrived at the valley we drove past some the well known sights like El Capitan, Bridal Veil falls, Three Brothers and others. There are plenty of campgrounds and hotels in the area. The river running through was very low as it is fed by the melting ice and snow. All of the water features were pretty dry, the best time to visit for those is in spring. We stopped a couple of times so the children could run around and climb some of the rocks.
The granite wall of El Capitan is one of the most famous destinations for rock climbers
The next day we started a little earlier and headed for Mariposa Grove. It is the best place at Yosemite to see the giant sequoia trees. You have to leave your car at a parking lot and take a shuttle to the grove. It is a relatively long drive but there are plenty of scenic view points along the way.
We stopped on our way to Mariposa Grove
The grove has several hiking trails to pick from. As some of our little ones were not ready to walk a whole lot and we had to carry them we took a shorter hike that took us to some of the bigger trees like California Tunnel tree and Old Grizzly.
California Tunnel TreeOne of the giant sequoia trees
The trees are massive and one just stands in awe next to those giants. The hike was just long enough for us and we were happy to get back home.
On day three everyone was tired and nobody wanted to go out. Basti and I decided to hike up to Yosmite Falls, a trail that is about 3.5 miles one way and rises 2425 feet. It was pretty strenuous but the views are magnificent. On the first part of the hike we walked along switchbacks through the woods and could not see much. After about a mile we reached Columbia Rock and had the first great view of the valley.
A quick selfie at Columbia Rock
It was stunning. Halfdome was visible from there as well. We took in the view and had a small rest before we carried on. From here it was more rocky and almost like walking up stairs. Views of Halfdome kept popping up along the way over and over again. At some point we got to see our final destination, Upper Yosemit falls but there was only a trickle coming down. Yosemite Creek is fed by the melting snow and ice so must be a majestic sight in the spring. In October however the water did not make it to the bottom of the fall. The granite wall that makes the valley is huge though and we knew we still had to climb quite a bit.
We made it to the top of Yosemite Falls
Once we reached the top, we went to a couple of spots to look down into the valley. There was no barrier so one can walk right up to the edge. The creek was not moving very fast, the water was cold and very clear. The sun was very low so we had to hurry to make it down before it got dark.e
By the time i had reached the top my knee was hurting and I had to walk downhill pounding my knee with every step. I tried to compensate but that did not really work. In the next few days I was handicapped and we sadly abandoned plans to visit Kings Canyon. We knew through research that the hike was going to be a challenge which we gladly accepted.
The next day we headed South, fortunately on a different route than the one we came on. I don’t think we spent enough time in the area and could have easily spent another week. For me it was one of the best stops we have made and it is definitely a place I would like to revisit one day.
On our travels South along the West coast we spend about a month in Washington before we entered Oregon. Mount Rainier (YouTube) was our favorite hike possibly on our entire trip so far. Everything had been perfect for us, the weather, the time of year, we saw animals, found blueberries and most of all enjoyed that amazing scenery.
A family picture at Mount Rainier
Of course we wanted more like that but we knew Mount Rainier was going to be hard to beat. Mount Hood was close to the Washington Oregon border so we decided to stop and see what hikes were available for us. Dogs are unfortunately not allowed in the Mount Hood National Park area and we did not want to leave anyone behind because of her. So we decided to hike outside of the park where we could take Freya, our beautiful boxer. Mirror Lake Trail seemed to be perfect for our family. Its a loop around a lake with Mount Hood mirroring in it. It started near a skiing area with parking 5$ per vehicle.
Mount Hood from our boondocking spot
We were boondocking a few miles from the entrance. there were probably 15 campers in the strip off the main road, but everyone had plenty of privacy. there was a Thousand Trails RV park nearby but we had just left one in Washington state and could not get into the next one for about 5 days or so.
Pauline makes it look easy
We wanted to stay only for a few days anyway so boondocking was perfect for us. Mount Hood is one of about a dozen of volcanoes in the Cascade mountain range. It has not been active for a while and is a popular destination with close proximity to Portland. On the day of our hike we had breakfast, packed a few snacks and some water and headed to the trail head. The ski resort is right by the trailhead and you can see the lifts and the slopes.
Romi is carrying her own water and snacks and is doing well on the trip up.
We headed up towards the lake on a 2 mile trail with an elevation of about 460 feet. There were a lot of switchbacks mostly through the forest so there were not many view points but streams and bridges made the hike interesting enough.
All the kids had their feet in the water and some went in but the water was cold.
Once we arrived we walked around the lake and sat down to stick our feet in the water. It was a beautiful sunny day and the kids had fun splashing in the crystal clear water. I explored the area and discovered a few primitive campsites. It must be pretty quiet up there at night.
Mount Hood in the background
The view of Mount Hood was very pretty, too. After the children had spent enough time in the lake we headed back down got on our way back to the camper. We drove past a sign for Timberline Lodge so I had to stop there and have a look. Timberline Lodge is also known as Overlook Hotel from Stanley Kubrik’s “The Shining”.
Noah in front of the main entrance to Timberline Lodge
We parked the car and I went into the hotel to have a look. You are able to walk around the ground floor and there were a few exhibits. The axe or a axe with ‘here’s johnny’ written on it was one of them. Theodor Roosevelt stayed there with his wife as well and is remembered. Most of the movie however had been filmed inside a studio so the inside of the hotel did not look much like in the movie.
The skiing area at Mount Hood has the longest season in the continental US. It is open year round as long as there is snow.
Overlook Hotel as it is known in The Shining
We headed back to our camper and left after a few days. Mount Hood is well worth visiting, our hike may not have been as memorable as the one on Mount Rainier but it is a great place to spend time in the outdoors. definitely go visit if you’re in the area.
Last week, it was the beginning of September, I walked into Trader Joe’s and picked up, among other things, a container of black mission figs. In my opinion those are the most delicious figs you can get.
They were brought to California by Franciscan missionaries. With the establishment of the other missions the black mission fig was planted all along Southern and central California. I got introduced to the figs when I came to the US in September 2000 to work at one of the best restaurants in the US.
Black Mission Figs cut and marinating in cinnamon, sugar and olive oil
The Fig and Virginia ham salad was one of the favorites and I fell in love with this sweet fruit. I love it as a chef because it is very versatile as well. I can be served with salty meets on a charcuterie plate or with cheese, turned into a jelly, fig cake, roasted with honey served with ice cream as a dessert, served as a garnish with duck or other meats etc.
Griddled figs in a salad of Romaine lettuce, charred broccoli, goat cheese and crispy salami
After I picked them up at the store I tried to decide what to make with them. I came up with a few ideas and waited for the right time to make the food.
The first dish is a breakfast dish. We love yogurt in our family (full fat), and the sweetness of the figs works very well with the tart yogurt. I spooned some yogurt into a bowl, sprinkled it with toasted oats, cut some figs (and banana) on top and added chia seeds, desiccated coconut and honey for some more sweetness. It is just as good as another of our favorite yogurt dishes, the Birchermuesli.
Yogurt with figs, toasted oats, chia seeds, desiccated coconut and honey
In the Yogurt I used raw figs, but they can be roasted, baked or grilled as well. I have also stuffed figs with goat cheese, wrapped them in prosciutto and baked them, served with balsamic vinegar or a raspberry glaze they are delicious. Cheese lends itself very well for figs. Trader Joe’s has a nice selection of cheeses, triple creme like St Andre and my favorite Dlice de Bourgogne among others are great with figs. Paired with baked baguette and some of TJ’s red wine it makes a perfect lunch or dinner.
Crostini with brie cheese topped with roasted marinated figs, topped with balsamic glaze
I marinated the figs in cinnamon sugar and olive oil and cooked them on a hot griddle or cast iron pan. They can be served warm or chilled. Slice the cheese on warm baguette and place it in a hot oven for five minutes, top with the figs and drizzle with a berry glaze. This could be a nice little canape for a dinner party as well.
Figs are usually available at the end of summer, together with a load of vegetables and greens like butternut squash, beets, broccoli, broccoli rabe, carrots and more.
figs, goat cheese, beets, broccoli and crispy salami with a honey cider dressing
I had some roasted beets left from another day and charred some broccoli in a griddle pan. I also had some salami which I also cooked on the griddle until it was crispy. Now I had all the ingredients for a nice little salad. Just arrange everything nicely in a bowl and drizzle with your favorite drizzle or glaze, add some goat cheese, maybe toasted pine nuts, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, berries, dried cranberries etc.
At the end of July we arrived in Washington state so we made the trip from Florida to the opposite side of the country. It felt like a little achievement. (Un)fortunately we had spent way more time in Idaho than we had planned so that we had to rush down the West coast faster than we would have liked or than this part of the United states deserved. In Washington State we visited, among other things, the little German town of Leavenworth and Mt Rainier (check out our video) but missed the Puget Sound- Whidbey Island, San Juan Island, the Olympic Peninsula etc. In Oregon we went to see Mt Rainier, Mt Hood, the Oregon Coastline, went mushroom foraging and more. The last sight we went to see in Oregon was Crater Lake.
We parked our house on wheels on a forest road off of route 138 and stayed 3 nights. After driving a couple hundred miles and setting up we took it easy, discovered the area a bit and had dinner. With our T-mobile mobile internet we had a decent signal and were able to work online.
The next morning we set of to go to the lake. With our National Parks Pass – America the Beautiful – we had quick access but there was not a long line at the gate anyway. The road to get to the lake is quite long but when you drive up to the rim you are in awe with what you see.
The view is spectacular, there is a steep drop and slopes to the lake, the water is very clear and the sky is perfectly mirrored in the lake as there is not a lot of wind at the surface of the lake. Wizard Island is the center of attention. There are plenty of view points where you can park your car and take photographs.
Crater Lake was formed through an eruption and collapse of a volcano (Mt Mazama) and is the deepest lake in the United States at 1949 ft. The lake is 5 by 6 miles across and the rim is 7000 to 8000 feet high.
We wanted to hike the Garfield Peak Trail so we drove to one of the lodges and started our hike. It started of through trees and then got moderately steep and there were a few switch backs. We walked for about 50 minutes but two of our girls started slipping on the gravel and I was uncomfortable taking them further up. Along one side of the trail was a steep drop-off. So we turned around and drove a little more along the rim.
The next day we came back and drove in the opposite direction. We arrived at the trailhead of Cleetwood Cove Trail and parked the car so the kids could run around and have a look. I walked down part of the trail. It was steep and had switch backs pretty much all the way down to the cove. The trail is 2.1 miles long with an elevation change of 610 feet.
There is a boat that will take you to Wizards Island or just around the lake. The lake was stocked with fish until 1941 but fishing is allowed and welcome. Two species remained, Kokanee salmon and rainbow trout.
After that we carried on a little further but it started getting dark so we went back to the camper for dinner.
Crater lake is definitely worth the visit even if you just drive around the rim. I would love to go back one day to hike and maybe swim in the lake. But for now we are headed to California to see more of this beautiful country.
Last year in August we arrived in Washington State. We were happily surprised to find an abundance of blackberries. The children loved them and went picking every day. All of the berries were eaten right away of course.
One day we decided to pick a lot and make a couple of desserts – apple and blackberry cobbler and peach and blackberry crumble.
Both of them are very easy to make and taste delicious with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or even a creme anglaise. Apples are available year round but I love peaches when they are in season. Usually they get eaten before we can make anything with them.
The best apples for the dish are Tart apples like granny smith. Peal them cut out the core and slice them like you would for apple pie. Then cook them with sugar, preferably brown, until about half the juices released from the apples have cooked down. add a pinch of cinnamon, stir and add the washed blackberries – stir well but try not to break up the berries.
Take a deep cast iron pan or a pie dish, add the butter and place in the oven at 350F. When the butter is melted and the pan is hot add the batter. In the hot pan it will start cooking on the sides right away.
Spoon the apple and berry mixture over the batter, including any juices and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (optional). Place in the oven and cook 40 minutes or until the batter is cooked. When the dish is hot the cobbler will be very light so it may be hard to tell if it is cooked. just stick a bamboo stick or knive in the batter. It should come out clean when cooked.
Our tribe will not let the dish get cold. It will make it barely out of the oven before being attacked by the children. But it is good cold as well.
Ingredients
5 medium to large sized Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1 pint of blackberries 3/4 cup of brown sugar
4 oz of butter
for the batter 1 cup flour 1 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup of milk 2 Teaspoons of baking powder
Recent Comments