DON's Deal: Visiting Pinnacles

I'm back in town after a quick trip home to drop off my dogs with my parents until Thanksgiving (sadz) and a weekend stay with my sister at her park. Some vacation photos after the jump, then I'll get back to the celebs...

Upon arriving, I got my own dorm room. She lives inside the actual park and there is a small community of housing for many of the park employees.

 On Saturday, I had her take me on the most difficult hike they have. All of her co-workers made faces when we said which trail we were taking and I was excited for the challenge. After all, I wanted to know what a work day was like for her, albeit without carrying all the equipment required for tracking animals.  Gaining elevation and a first peak at the fog rolling in from the ocean. 

 The reservoir in the morning. On the way back down it was absolutely covered in boy scouts on a picnic hike.

 The stairway down into the caves probably made me the most nervous. That handrail came up to about my knee and I had fears of toppling right over the side to my doom.

 Approaching the last stretch of the hike and feeling the burn.

 Hot and gross but very happy to be overlooking the entire park.

 Made her jump for joy. She tried to do the same for me, but after ten shots of me in various forms of awkward launch/barely off the ground, my legs were dunzo. Nine miles clocked and ready for a beer.

 That night there was a "dorm formal". Things got hilariously weird and this is my favorite photo. My sister is holding a whale as a stand-in for her boyfriend and the pup Gus is photobombing.

Sunday morning I dropped by her office to say goodbye. Isn't that the cutest little cabin of an office? So proud of my sis for following her dreams and living the life that makes her happiest while protecting an endangered species.  She will be joining me once again in Mexico next week to schmooze with my co-workers in a slightly different setting.

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