h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I hope I haven't done so already; I've written so much about our holiday, so I'm not sure, but I must tell you about the guide who took us round Yosemite. We decided to take a tour as my husband and I were fed up with driving. It was not his idea of a holiday, driving over 300 miles a day, and he didn't feel rested at all.

So at 8.15 this little 10-seater picked us up along with two other people from our hotel. They turned out to be a very funny couple, Russian Jews in their 70s with typical Jewish humour. At another hotel on the way to the park we picked up the rest of the group - 2 English couples.

The driver and guide was a wizened old guy called Ira. He told us a little of his life story, including studying engineering and getting a good job; leaving NASA at the time of the moon landings because he objected to being told to come to work in suit and tie every day, then a period as a wedding photographer where he always got into arguments with the brides' mothers, and finally ending up living near and learning to love the park.

He gave us little talks along the way on the flora, fauna, rocks, natives and geological history, but seemed most fascinated by the climbers on the tall vertical rocks (El Capitan, The Sentinel, etc) and at most stops, would set up his telescope or binoculars on a tripod for us to get a closer look at the climbers and their kit, and follow their progress.

He took us to Glacier Point and several other Vista points, and showed us where to get the best pictures, all the time making politically not-so-correct comments on politicians, the people who run the park, and society in general. He was a great talker, and very witty, with a dry humour worthy of any Brit, and was continually teasing the members of the group with silly jokes.

But he certainly knew stuff and could talk for hours on any of the subjects mentioned above, if asked.

We stopped for lunch (the tour included a packed lunch with sandwiches, an apple, a bottle of water, etc., etc., just as if Mum had made it) and he gave us a demonstration of the types of stone - including gold nuggets - to be found in the area.

When climbing over rocks, he gave helpful tips as how best to do it (some of the group were quite fit, but not all of us, and it was a question of safety to do as he said.)

He pointed out plants and funghi that were best left alone, and stopped the bus, sometimes unplanned, if there was a sight to be photographed, for example a couple of coyotes crossing the road. He got us to the best views of the rocks which were reflected in the calm waters, just as the light was at its best to take the pictures.

He had a portfolio of photos that he had taken of the park which were beautiful and really professional. That, too, was the only way we were going to see Bridal Veil or any of the other falls, all of which had dried up to a trickle in the drought of the Californian summer, another topic he talked about at length.

The following day, without Ira, we crossed the park again under our own steam. We actually saw a couple of bears taking an early morning bathe in a lake. Quite magical. Just as we left, a whole busload turned up, but they were too late to see the bears.

I've forgotten to change the date again. It's the 10th today!

[Amy P]

The best so far - whatever day it is. Am really enjoying your journal this year