Page - San Francisco on Route 66

[Mark Sedenquist]

Are you sure that is the correct name? (Aglatha Peak). I will have to look at my photo log, but that doesn't seem right. But, OH MY, what a great play of light across the face -- excellent work. I did a photo exercise where I shot a sunset progression on a nearby cliff face over a 90 minute period -- nearly 300 images -- someday I will post some here...

Gouldings is the choice for conventional motel-like lodging -- but my personal choice is always going to be this hogan.... It's not inexpensive -- but it is very authentic and cool!

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Great pictures!

It is Agathla peak, it lies about 8 miles North of Kayenta off the 163.

[roadie]

Yeah, my spelling is botched up. Agathla Peak as SW Dave spelled is correct.

The FireTree B&B looks really novel. I'll have to look that place up the
next time I'm in the area.

[Yeehaw]

That " famous view seen all over the world" is at milemarker 13 on 163 north of MV and is best seen in the morning. The view on the Mittens is best seen in the afternoon imo.

[jasz]

Hello fellow trippers

In march i am going on a small roadtrip and was thinking of doing the above leg.

Leave Oakhurst in the morning, take the 41 into yosemite and then take the 120 out and head for SF... is this a scenic drive ? are there lots of photo opportunities ?

Will it be possible if i expect to catch SF in the evening... i know its a 250 mile drive, but i would guess that there would be a lot of stops on the way.

Looking forward to your answers

Sincerely

Jasz

[Southwest Dave]

Hi jasz, welcome back.

As you know the high ground in Yosemite will still be closed due to snow so you will be restricted to the Valley floor. There are numerous photo opportunity's here [I hope you will share some pics with us on your return ;-) ] and Yosemite falls could be flowing well.
Expect to spend 4 or 5 hours just driving the loop road and taking short strolls [although you will regret not having more time here]. On the way in to the valley you also have Wawona grove with giant Sequoia trees that's worth stopping at but will take more of your time.
HWY 120 is scenic and a pleasant drive through to Yosemite junction which includes the Priests grade section, great views but with hairpin bends to keep an eye on !

From there a straight run to S/F is possible but to do Yosemite any kind of justice, I wouldn't expect to get there untill later in the night and be ready just to "hit the pillow".

[Yeehaw]

A word about Agathla Peak. Best views on Agathla Peak are from 160 at the junction of Bia59 just east of Kayenta. Afa as I know the photo's are taken from that place.
Yeehaw

[jasz]

Yes, we are back, and in one piece

I know that some americans say that the europeans are crazy, and you might be right sometimes

The trip went like this

Leaving Europe Saturday morning and arriving in San Francisco saturday afternoon (short trip on the clock, but the 9 hours time difference does a lot)

Straight from the plane to the car rental company and after that a small drive to Lone Pine and then catch the first vacant hotel...

Next morning up early and after some quick breakfast head for Kanab through Death Valley







Panorama picture, should be viewed separately http://www.jasz.dk/rta/ZabriskiePoint_Panorama.jpg









Reach Kanab in the evening just in time to get some food at some mexican restaurant.

Next morning i drove to the Kanab Field office along with a lot of other tourists to be a part of the "Wave" lottery, unfortunately we did not win permits - damn... but that is the way life is - then Plan B was in action now. Monument valley was the spot to reach, with a stop at the Escalante and at Lower Antelope… did the Upper last time – like the lower better than the upper – fewer people, better photo opportunities

Panorama picture, should be viewed separately http://www.jasz.dk/rta/Escalante_Panorama.jpg













After Monument Valley we drove to Flagstaff to stay for the night, we stayed at Best Western which we found out was about 3 inches from the railway – all night the trains tested their horns in our bedroom, literally

Next morning we ate breakfast at the hotel and headed for Las Vegas on the old Route 66, we stopped at Hoover Dam, which, to our surprise, was very crowded – we did not see many tourist on our trip, reached Las Vegas in time for some shopping and some photographing.















Wednesday was Convention day, we headed for the PMA ´09 and stayed for 3 hours before driving to Oakhurst to stay for the night before going into Yosemite.

Thursday morning, headed for Yosemite on 41, only to be stopped at the gate and asked to use another entrance because we did not have snowchains.. we then drove downhill again and then took the entrance through Mariposa – when we got into the park the signs said to wear snowchains .. !!! which was very weird as there was no snow on the road at all… there was snow at the parking lots, but not on the road, so we drove through the valley without snowchains and drove out of the valley on 120 still with no snowchains …. The only thing we saw at the road was water.





Panorama picture, should be viewed separately http://www.jasz.dk/rta/Yosemite_Panorama.jpg


Late afternoon we reached San Francisco, found our hotel, threw our bags and headed straight for the Battery Park to take pictures of Golden Gate



Friday morning we got up early as we wanted to see a bit of San Francisco before heading home, we got on the Cable Car and visited Pier 39









After a few hours we headed back to the hotel to check out at 12.00 and to pack up the car for the last time before returning it at the car rental center… the flight was on schedule and we got that little nap on the plane that I think was needed.

We drove 2396 miles / 3854 km. in 6 days (the 7th day was only 20 miles as we only drove to the airport) – so, with a little planning you can get a long way on a week, but it was a lot of driving but we saw a lot and had a great time – could have spend a few more hours some places, but the plan was to see more places in less time – and it worked.

Thx everybody for a great forum which have helped me out a lot on planning

Jasz

[Southwest Dave]

Hi jasz, welcome back.

Thanks for dropping in and sharing your experience with us, good report and those pics are fantastic, well done.

Dave.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Those are some great captures, -- excellent work -- thanks for sharing (their size is tweaking our pages somewhat -- I wonder why the auto-sizing didn't work this time.)

Anyway, nice job.

Mark