Grand view, pineknot trail, big bear, CA

It must be the altitude (over 7000 ft up here) and/or combination of sickness but I slept terrible last night (as I have done previous few but this was worse). Dry mouth/throat and bunged up nose.

So I awoke early (7am) and had to take babe out to go poop as she wouldn't go in her back yard. Walked around the neighborhood and it was chilly even though beautiful clear sky. Got back to catch second half of Liverpool game. Mediocre.

After everyone else was up we made packed lunches. Just as we were about to head off I managed to step on a wasp in the living room which stung me on the sole of my foot. Babe proceeded to eat the offending insect and mum was quickly on the scene with some anti histamine cream. Once the pain had subsided enough we headed off to the pineknot trailhead to the south of big bear lake. Near to the ski slopes. A 6.5 mile (3.5 hr) up and down hike ensued. We were on the same trail as the Kodiak 100 - 100 mile ultra marathon as there were loads of markers and a few water stations. But saw nothing other than other hikers and mountain bikers.

Babe enjoyed the medium difficulty walk. We reached the grand view lookout in 1.5 hrs. A view across the valleys behind big bear mountain. A spot of lunch and then the return journey. Babe was pooped by the bottom. Luckily it wasn't too hot so she was ok. Took her down to the lake for a swim before returning home to shower and head out for dinner at black diamond tavern. Not as good as last nights grub.

Picked up a bottle of vino on the way back to enjoy with a DVD from the 300+ collection. Then to bed and home tomorrow after a short hike probably to tire babe out for the journey home