US Holiday Day 14

Lake Tahoe to Yosemite
Difficult day for blipping. Start the day with a hot air balloon, finish with arriving at a world famous National Park, in between visit a wild west gold mining town and some hot springs. So which one gets blipped. Difficult choices to be made.
The day started very early, 4.00am as we had an hour long drive to the hot air balloon lift off site. Well, not the actual site because we were going up in the only ship launched balloon in the US if not the world. After the meet and greet and health and safety stuff we boarded the boat. This looked like a small double decker aircraft carrier with a lot of booms along the top deck with hooks on the ends. We were given a very nice breakfast and started the "cruise" round the lake. We were told the wind, that was not strong, was a bit erratic, a series of little weather balloons were sent up to test the directions. Finally we got to a corner of the lake and the captain gave the go ahead to inflate the balloon, the blip showing the early stages of the blowup. This process reminded me of getting a tent out of the bag and sorted; there were lots of ropes, lots of material and a lot of twists kinks and knots. At one point one of the crew climbed inside the balloon to straighten it, and could not work out how to get out. Could have been part of a Carry On film. There were a dozen passengers and we were all at the far end of the top desk supposedly out of the way. When the balloon was almost completely inflated we were being pushed by the envelope, it was big. Finally the top ropes were released and the balloon went up and floated above the boat and the basket attached. The passengers boarded (difficult action climbing over the side) and we were given final instructions and then........... The captain aborted the flight, he was worried the winds were too erratic. Out we got down went the balloon, eventually and it was eventually all packed up and we returned to land. Sad we could not fly but we still had all the excitement and pleasure of meeting the other passengers. From when we landed in the US lots of people said to us that "they loved our accents". On this trip was a couple from Alabama and it was my chance to say that I loved his accent. Smiles all round.
Another breakfast and then on via the Hot Springs to Bodie, A western mining town that was abandoned and left as it was decades previously. A sign at the car park said this village was being maintained but not restored, so it was shabby and dusty and very realistic. You could not go into the building but could look through the windows, three of the extra pictures are taken this way. The school room still had books on the desks, maps on the wall, a globe all covered with dust. The fire station had fire engines, buckets, hoses and tilly lamps on the wall. The coffin maker had a number of boxes in production, including a small white one. There were several old cars rusting in the grounds as well as mining machinery large and small. This place was not a museum, it was so real you could picture people living and working here. It was not well advertised and we were told about it earlier today on the boat but worth driving the 10 miles down a partially made up road to visit. Kids would love it.
On to Mammoth Lake in Yosemite, via Mono Lake, a strange salty expanse of water. Booked in the hotel and out again into town to eat at a Trip Adviser recommended restaurant. Recommendations well deserved.
Back to bed ready for a busy day tomorrow.