I was probably no more than 50 metres away from the shaggy lump skulking around the low-lying waterlogged meadow. Its sodden brown fur shimmered in the morning sun as I watched on in disbelief. Remarkably, I was tracking a black bear. My road trip from the Bay Area saw me traverse Sacramento, Yosemite National Park and the San Joaquin Valley on a loop from San Francisco. At the time, Yosemite had experienced heavier than usual snowfall for February and March, and the national park had to be evacuated. When it reopened, I was one of the first back in.
California is versatile and holds a special place in my heart. Most of my fondest US road trip memories are in the Golden State — whether it was bear spotting in Yosemite, cruising along Highway 1 blasting The Beach Boys, or eating juicy peaches at family owned roadside fruit stalls in Modesto. Driving is not often the greenest method of travel, so I offset this by eating seasonal produce, buying local and getting around by public transport. I’ll also try to stay longer in one place to avoid driving daily.
