I believe in bears. Faith in the unseen

Having just come to the end of a week long camping tour, I will highlight two things:

1. The Bears of Yosemite National Park (an analogy)
I did not see a bear in the park.
I met people who claimed to have seen a bear.
Experts described when and how a bear would arrive.
There were signs 'proving' the existence of bears, and even pictorial representations of bears.
Copious written material was evident on your relationship with a bear (If a bear stands at your door and knocks, get out of the house)
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/scarebears.htm

Yet I did not see a bear.
Ergo: I do not believe in bears

2. Camping tours and sleeping (not an analogy)
USA is big, I mean really big. Also, it is large.
Why would this be a concern for a camping tour? sleep. don't expect any.
A typical day is spent driving for a number of hours (it's big remember), arriving at the campsite and setting up tents, followed by dinner (dark at this point); and topped off with a 5.30am start the next day to do it over again.
But what is that you say? what about when you remain in the same place the next day?

Good question: Our second day in Yosemite, the entire day is free to do whatever we like.

Wake up time = 4.15am. We were up so early, that I had completed a 6 hour hike before lunchtime.

As for Las Vegas; do not attempt to combine early mornings with Las Vegas. Vegas starts at sunset and doesn't stop until all your money is gone. One member of our tour finished his night at 9am, ready for breakfast and started the next day again.

Why?
It's hot, I mean really hot (you thought I would say big didn't you). So hot that in Arizona (the hottest, final night), in order to be cool overnight, you would have to sleep in the lake.

Why?
It is worth it. You'll see when I get the pictures.


PS: For those who were wondering how Alcatraz was - it is amazing. If you go to San Francisco you must do 'the Rock'.