Together is a great place to be: Price family reunion: Yosemite and Rocklin

Written by Katelyn:

This week I had the opportunity visit with my cousins’ and grandparents and meet them at Angel’s Camp. We had a spectacular, one of a kind, unforgettable time! The drive took approximately two hours and 15 minutes, so our Grandparents and my family should arrive at Angels Camp at about 4:00.Sadly we could only greet our cousins at 7:00 p.m.):

Once we finally got to Angels camp, we checked in and drove a short ways to our timeshare. We actually had three timeshares. There was one timeshare for the girls, one for the boys, and one for our Grandparents who were so kind to be paying for the trip. The timeshare was very nice looking. It was two stories with four beds and two bathrooms. We claimed the bedrooms we wanted and unpacked our suitcases. Three hours goes by a lot slower than you think. All we could do was sit and wait. And watch TV. Until finally, the little hand of my watch was pointing at the seven, and the big hand was pointing at the zero! I screamed. We ran out the door only to greet my cousins! Now everyone screamed! Once all the hugs were done, and everyone settled in their rooms, we ate a delicious meal of yummy chicken and a salad .For dessert we devoured a delectable homemade oreo cookie! Mm-mm. That night we got a good nights rest because the very next day, we were going on a one hour drive to Yosemite Valley.

The next morning, we ate homemade baked oatmeal with fresh strawberries placed on top. It was delicious! We also packed lunches and yummy snacks so we could have a picnic. We gathered everyone up and we were on our way to Yosemite Valley. We had to drive out of our way because there was a fire blocking the closest entrance.

After we got to the park they gave us a junior ranger program sheet to fill out so we could get a junior ranger badge. It was 11:30 so parked we were parked and ready to have our picnic. After a scrumcious lunch, we packed everything up, and started a short hike to what was supposed to be a gorgeous waterfall! We got to a certain point where you had to climb some slippery rocks. At the end of the rocks, sadly there was no beautiful waterfall. We were kind of bummed out, but it was okay.

After all, we were going to lots of other great things. We stopped along the drive through the park for several view points and did a three mile hike to mirror lake. There were lots of fun and big rocks to climb. It took about 22 minutes each way. At the end there was a lake and a huge rock. The lake was very shallow. The way back seemed way shorter than the way there. Our last stop was the visitor center. There each of the kids got a junior ranger badge. Lastly, found a spot to eat our chicken salad on a crossaint roll. It was delicious. We even found two pieces of wood and made a see- saw. After dinner we packed up our stuff and we were on our way back to Angels Camp.

Once we finally arrived at Angels Camp, we got ready for bed, and went right to sleep.

In the morning we had a delicious breakfast of a Carmel Apple Oven Pancake (baked by my grandpa) and spent a few hours at the time share playing tennis and basketball.

And then we swam and swam and swam.

And our Dad's threw us up in the air a million times.

After lunch we set off to Big Trees State Park. Thirty minutes later, we walked into the visitor center of the state park. One room had all the souvenirs, but the next had all kinds of sounds and figures such as foxes, snakes, bears, birds, and replicas of the tools the people used to cut down The Discovery Tree. They were called long handed augers and wedges. The job took five men and 22 days to drill the hole; but it took several days for the gigantic tree to fall. The tree stump was even big enough to be a dance floor and a two-lane bowling alley and a bar! Amazing! We started the hike with finding hiking sticks. After all, there were 26 sights to see. Our first stop was The Discovery Tree. 16 People could fit all the way across the tree!!! There was even part of the upper tree right next to it! It had lots of marks from the tools they used to cut down the tree.

There were lots of places to explore and climb.

Grandpa Kerry was a good sport, but we may have made him tired.

There were lots of fun landmarks for the kids to see! One of the trees was originally one individual tree, but was burned halfway and is now called “The Twin Tree”. There was another tree that exactly the opposite; it split at the bottom and was one by itself at the top. It was called the Pioneer Cabin Tree. The bottom half was actually quite wide. Along the way, the group saw lots of giant (and by giant, I mean giant) sequoia trees. Without all of the tree there were gorgeous birds making squeaky and annoying noises. We had a great time at Big Trees State Park that day.

The whole family drove home and we finished baking our dinner of my dad’s special and yummy tri tip, a salad, and some delicious rolls! Mm-mm. That dinner was great and everyone loved it!

After dinner Grandpa Kerry had a special surprise, mustache straws for all of us! We all liked them and he thought it was especially funny since we always tease him about his mustache.

Later that night everyone watched a movie. The kids watched “Rise of the Guardians”, and the six adults watched a movie too. After a long tiring day, we went straight to our beds, and fell right asleep. The next morning, everyone went straight to my Aunts and Uncles timeshare for eggs and bacon for breakfast. We loaded up the car and organized the seating arrangements’ and we were on our way back home. We had an unforgettable, one of a kind time at Angels Camp!

Once we got back in Rocklin we had a few days to play together.
We had a picnic at the Folsom Temple,