California - a description of our 'equipment' and an exploration of the valley
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OqDqH9JnaE3ecLhnMWJ4_iKEij2RZzgxOxl_y6FoDJOSFGRMSmfBG9jQKsRssPFfZr6D2DCR2gM-BOZ4VJVAdWQuBkaKSkXvESNs2kD-5blO28244MqubcTfNszHWQVwt5LMxE6QhPc/s1600/20141027-_DSC5482.jpg)
We woke early and had breakfast from the picnic bench on our site with the company of a few hopeful ravens. Here is the car we rented, a Dodge Grand Caravan, with Mairi standing next to it. There were two opposing sets of seats in the rear, one of which had been taken out and replaced with a wooden storage box where we kept our bags and the bed linen. At night a foam mattress was unfurled to give a double bed and it was pretty comfortable. In the 'trunk' was a small sink from which the plug was missing - we did not find one to fit until nearly the end of the holiday and made do with sponges squeezed in to stop the water flowing away. We also had a 2 burner camping stove and a box of rather battered bowls, plates and cutlery, one saucepan and a frying pan. Only one spoon unfortunately but we found a plastic one in the Yosemite shop to supplement. Also was provided one 5 gallon fresh water container and one for the waste to drain into. We rented a cooler box which ran from a 12 ...