Memorial day—Ahwahnee report

1. No sign of the bobcat.

2. A neighbor has put up an official-looking sign near a sideroad (maybe it's been there longer than I think):

3. Hiked up to Chilnualna Falls with Cole, Emma, Lloyd, Evelyn, and Colin, who wanted to do a six hour hike, instead. We got up there just as before, in just under two hours, and came down.

Cole at the summit

Near the summit, on the descent, meeting a guy and his girlfriend, I said "only 20 minutes to the top!" as we passed. The guy said "THANK GOD!!" but his girlfriend just smiled.

Cole and Emma on the descent

4. Lots of deer, quail, Canada geese, and rabbits (as usual).

5. There's a Starbucks in Oakhurst, guaranteeing the availability of the New York Times in an outpost that could hardly be depended upon to sell it a few years ago.

6. Still didn't find the time to play poker at the Chukchansi.

7. On the drive home, noticed many more photoops off Highway 99. It's hard to commit to pull off the highway, circle back on a side road, and wheel into position just to get a photo of a crappy sign that looks cool (and only to me). Maybe Jim and I can go up there with our impressive Canon outfits and fully commit to prowling around there between Modesto and Merced sometime.

8. Played quite a few hands of The Great Dalmuti. With eight players, the cards deal out equally to all players. Ascending to the throne as Dalmuti, I was ejected immediately by a revolution.

Life isn't fair... and neither is The Great Dalmuti! One round you're at the top of the heap, and the next you're peasant scum in this fast-paced card game of medieval one-upmanship.