Today was about my other uncle and aunt, who live in nearby San Francisco.
They still run races every weekend, and last year my uncle won a national running award for his age group (80-84) for his half marathon time. 😳
Next up: the incomparable @publiclandlvr and fam. -S t.co/yYVZLM8mM… 
The first several days of this trip are all about re-connecting with others.
Day one was all about my pal @HubbardJeff and his better half, @mexcelentegirl.
Yesterday was about my aunt & uncle in Palo Alto, who brought me on my first big road trip and also love the outdoors. t.co/eAsvSmcUc… 
#LostNeededDirections t.co/Jry7SKXS2… 
Well…because it’s an objective for my Former National Park units quest. #GoQuesting1576
That’s right, for a dozen or so years in the 40-50s, NPS managed it as a national park unit. 🫣
Read more: nationalparkstraveler.org/2008/10/prunin…
My progress: rscottjones.com/quests/former-… t.co/bu9J4bfEu… 
Our first stop today was Millerton Lake State Recreation Area near Fresno.
It’s basically a reservoir with some shoreline recreation sites, and an old county court house. A simple water rec opportunity for local residents…
So why did we drive out of our way to visit? 🤔
And we’re off!
Highlight of our first day was hanging with our friends Jeff and Lupe. We always feel fortunate to spend some time with these two great humans, and it had been far too long since our last visit. t.co/6mxdxnJmU… 
It was very tasty! t.co/lUZCnQvxw… 
Had a nice stroll along the Potter Marsh Boardwalk last evening. Something we’ve been meaning to do the last 2 times we’ve been up to Alaska but could never really make work. -J t.co/BQFMYmCWv… 
Here are some pics from our drive up to Independence Mine State Historical Park! -J t.co/0RkkaXf70… 
Here are some views from along the Glenn Highway t.co/d3mXMpxIN… 
A little wild moose action on the side of the road. -J t.co/x2UAb63pG… 
Our evening ended with ice cream, and all were pleased… t.co/YbS93dmYV… 
Huzzah! Tomorrow we celebrate the “fresh clean pants” day of the trip. –S
We also came across a pod of Orcas, which I got a little video of. Scott got the baby breaching in pictures (Jen saw with her own eyes only because she had put her camera away). During one of the breaches the baby orca was squealing! #Adorable t.co/IQEuQ5PHK…
Here is a video of the humpback whale bubble-net feeding from the first breach to diving down again! -J t.co/7PtRewvjj…
We had the experience of a lifetime yesterday, watching a group of 15+ humpback whales using a bubble-net feeding technique a dozen times. Incredible! t.co/ElFSBMJ2P… 
Today’s highlight was my mom’s flightseeing tour of Denali, which included a glacier landing! Glad we booked this when originally planning this trip, as wildfire smoke obscured the usual viewpoints. –S t.co/Btznb2p7J… 
Still #lostneededdirections t.co/YmaZhu0YF… 
#Lostneededdirections at Denali Brewing. t.co/C9inRQrxg… 
Also saw sea lions, otters, porpoises, big mountains, lovely forests, and amazing vistas.
Pretty sure today was my mom’s favorite travel day of the last decade or more. She’s astounded and thoroughly in love with the state. -S t.co/S4Efet76f… 