Cosmic Charlie

Manzanita Jam!

Posted by Tolchinsky , Monday, May 3, 2010 4:08 AM

Today was great. I woke up this morning feeling rested and headed over to lunch. After lunch (and after a quick meeting with my boss who is awesome!) I went exploring/hiking with Kristina, Dan, and Tristan. We went past some untouched meadows with babbling brooks and dappled sunlight by Mather, and then cut across past Birch Lake. We were looking for a path to a lookout point over the valley, but we ended up adventuring and bushwacking our way up the side of the mountain, which was more fun. Once we reached the top we heard a weird sound and followed it, where we found the path and finally reached our viewpoint. As everything here is, it was breathtaking. There below us was a deep craggy valley with the Tuolumne River running through the bottom, sparkling and lined with giant trees. We sat and talked for a while and then headed back to dinner.
After dinner a bunch of us went down to a nearby river where we sat in the fading sunlight and told rowdy stories. I came back and did some watercoloring with Kristina, and then we all hung out in the tavern/restaurant. When Dan got off work it was time for band practice. Our band name is Manzanita Jam. Dan got the idea for the name because one of the chefs went Manzanita blossom picking today. This time of year the Manzanita flowers are sticky and goopy, and if you pick them and brew them into a tea you can turn it into a delicious jam. So Manzanita Jam it is. Our band practice went so well! I play ukulele and sing, and there are two amazing guitar players and two other girls that sing and a guy that plays bongos. We wrote a really epic pirate song (we're the Sky Pirates of Yosemite!!) and another one called "Five O'Clock Shadow" and I finally overcame my fear of jamming! Everyone here is so friendly and supportive and talented. I even felt comfortable enough to jam a bit on the bongos. We sang some Old Crow for a while, and then headed to bed. Tomorrow we're having band practice in a nearby meadow under the light of the moon after we all get off work. We're all lucky to work here.

Lodgingly,
ET