Amateur Hour

Amateur Hour

(this is my blog during the "black out" no internet in Yosemite~ so I'm taking you back to Monday morning)

I don’t know what’s come over me! This tour is exactly like my first…the only difference is I know how to answer the questions better. What happened?! I got the van all checked out by Joe and then got the trailer hooked up and was 15 minutes late picking up my group!! Ack!! I had just lectured them about being on time! I had forgotten the cooler 1^st of all and then got stuck in morning traffic getting to the hotel so there was no way around it. I couldn’t believe it! How embarrassing! They were all waiting for me.

After being so late, I got them all loaded up and on the road and I was on the right street headed in the right direction, towards 80 East-Bay Bridge, I was even in the right lane…to get onto 101 South!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, I’ve never taken 101 South so I had to get off at the first exit which was Cesar Chavez West…oops, I’ve gotten lost and taken that journey before!! It looked really familiar, but this time I found a street name I recognized and turned on it and it led me right to the freeway, what a happy accident that was! So almost 30 minutes later we were on the road!

I’m finding time management and eating are challenges again. Something about a group that can’t fend for themselves, I don’t get a chance to take care of business for myself. I HATE that!!

We stopped at Denise’s for some fruit and then lunch at Hilmar Cheese Factory. They did well there. I guess, they didn’t say.

This has been a really challenging group! They are very much into standing there until I say 3 times “get in the van” or “get out of the van” it’s been really difficult. The van is deadly quiet! It’s like I’m driving a bunch of cold fish around. I’ve never seen anything like it. Not one peep out the entire 12 people!! 12 people, no one has a thing to say?

I don’t like awkward silences. It makes me REALLY uncomfortable! When I look back they are all awake, that’s the other thing! Not a single napper in the group, so I see their quiet sullen faces when I look back, I finally stopped looking.

The thing is, these people really great people, very interesting and nice and lots to share and the minute they get into the van they all clam up!

I am so inept at conversation starting that I just drive the van. I hate that! If Jan A were here she would have these people talking in no time!!

I finally turned the radio on and made them listen to country music. That really went over. Guess what they did and said? Nothing! Boohoo!

I was trying to get fuel today and the card reader was sending me inside and the guy behind me needed me to move up and then there was a guest reminding me about ice and then she lost her crown and where’s a dentist and I just wanted to get fuel and go pee. That was a near tears moment. I ate something.

I thought for sure once I got them out of the van and we went for a hike (in Mariposa Grove) that they’d wake up and feel better and come around…but no. There was no talkie…just silencio. I took them up to Glacier Point and on the way I realized that I should have read the dossier to see if Mariposa Grove was even listed. And for that matter Glacier Point. Hmmm I made the whole day WAY longer than it had to be because the trees ended up not being on there…oh well, bonus. And Glacier Point was a disappointment for them, as I’d gotten there just before sunset only to discover that the restaurant at the Cedar Lodge stopped serving earlier now so we couldn’t stay. Oh my photographer was really bummed! I told him it was either dinner or photos.

Then I had to do that drive in the dark!! And Tunnel View was pitch black. Wah!!

By the time we got to the hotel it was time to eat for sure!

Dinner was super fun. They all stood there and I finally turned around and said “why don’t you guys find a table and sit down” I mean…hello! It makes me laugh really.

~ I'm just now back online so I'll catch up once again. This has been challenging. Its like the first tour all over again. I think its the questions they ask or something?! I mean, I know how to answer them but they ask over and over again the same thing. I'm also sucking at time management again. Not sure how that happens. 

I did a good job getting them into Yosemite for the big hike day. I dropped them off, got them oriented to the shuttles and then off we all went. I started and finished with a good sized group of people for the Mist Trail hike. They are good hikers. Very steady and the one guy can out hike me, you should see his pace. I keep a pretty good pace but he had more stamina than me. He finally passed by me and I had to catch up. I'm sending him on a tough hike in Zion! Without me of course! I'm doing Hidden Canyon anyways. So, back to the hike. We all got to the top and then turned around and I went back to Curry Village with the guy and we had an ice cream and then walked up to Mirror Lake which was almost totally dry!! We came around the corner and there was no water and he just looked at me...I had told ALL of them, it could be a puddle by now since it was drying out in the valley. Sure enough, we had to keep walking to find the water. It was pretty funny! Totally figures that I sent all the "walkers" to that place not knowing it was THAT dry! Sheesh! You can't win, its kind of funny actually! 

We managed to find a bunch of people at the ice cream place after that hike and someone else bought me another ice cream. So I basically ate lunch and and dinner at the Curry Village Ice Cream Shop. Wow. Good thing I'd hiked nearly 10 miles that day! 

We got back to the hotel and I met a few of the gals and one guy at the bar for a drink and we had a good chat and some laughs. They are really enjoyable people its just when they get together for some reason...

This group is quiet about everything that I don't quite know what they are thinking or feeling. They suffer through a lot without a peep so I try to compensate. Its really stressing me out. So weird to feel that way again when I know this tour so well. 

This one guy was sitting on the very edge of the seat because he didn't want to ask the other guy to scoot over. I turned around twice to ask the others to move for him and finally decided he could do it for himself and he never would. 

Since they are so quiet and giving little or not great feedback, I think I need to be more assertive, that is what David said on my first tour. He said "just tell us what you want and when and on and on. We're going to complain possibly but we understand how it goes". Today I got them into Upper Yosemite and stopped at Tenaya Lake, which is a really really pretty place, very peaceful and the lake is pristine. They wanted to picnic and swim and then one guy says, now if you were a good tour guide you'd have whipped out a barbecue and we'd have really enjoyed our stop. Ugh. That hurts. I just wanted to say, if Explore would put money in the petty cash for that I'd LOVE to do that! Its too bad that all these great fun little extras go by the way side because it comes out of my pocket. They don't know that. I can't say it to them either. Picnicking is hard because the time doesn't quite work out and supplies are a challenge too. Otherwise yeah, sign me up!

Anyways. They were upset that I hadn't told them they could swim and there are no other lakes to swim in. I'm thinking....its not even in the itinerary that was stop here so get over it. What a bummer. I took them to my favorite meadow and they just sort of sat there. It was just really a tough day. They just didn't seem satisfied. I'm not sure how to tackle that?! I think they are doing alright but at the end of the day they are reviewing their itinerary. I finally started doing that so I'd be on track! This 2 weeker is done a bit differently and I hadn't realized until the Mariposa Incident.  I've had to really help them with seat rotations also. I didn't realize it would be so difficult and they ALL suddenly have developed car sickness of some kind and no one wants to go to the back. And they want to rotate seats every half day. I'm thinking, get over it people. Its my way or the highway. Ha! That makes me laugh. They all told me at the beginning they all carry meds, take them and move to the back of the bus...

Tomorrow we do Death Valley. The A/C doesn't work very well in my van, its going to be a tough day. I'll just have to remember my happy face! I've warned them so we'll see. They are not happy about the early rising but its a 7 hour drive all together tomorrow. We go through Death Valley, past Las Vegas and then to Zion (Springdale) Phew! 

We got to Lone Pine finally this evening and I took them to the Taco Truck, of course! I love that place. They all bought fruit and some ventured a taco, which I love to see them do. It was really good meat this time too! They were all really happy. And you can't beat 2.00 per taco. Then we hit the grocery store and off to the hotel we went! They were all anxious to get back and get to bed. Its okay, not much going on in Lone Pine tonight anyways! 

I haven't even got a photo to upload as I've not been taking any. Feeling uninspired for sure. There is the one guy who is a photographer (again, I had one on my last tour too) he is doing alot of things like laying down in the grass or climbing out on a ledge etc so its been challenging me to try what he's doing and see what I get. Its not nearly as good as his pics are but maybe I'll learn something.

Phew. I just still don't know if this tour thing is for me and I know I always say that when I'm having a tough time but what is the deal with struggling AGAIN?? It doesn't make sense! I should be over it by now. I just need to cowboy up I guess! 

I can't wait to get into Death Valley tomorrow and see what 110 degrees feels like instead of 120!