We were lucky that the accident didn't disrupt our plans too much – after all, every day was scheduled, and all our accommodation was booked. The only time we left finding a place to stay until the last minute was the day of the accident. The thing is, as avid campers, we couldn't resist spending the night right on the ocean shore. We bought tents, sleeping bags, a stove with gas canisters, utensils, food in advance... Camping romance, in a word.

Breakfast at the campsite

For those inspired, I'll clarify right away: in the USA, you can't just take a tent and set it up for the night in any random spot. Officially, all beaches have operating hours, and you either need to book a spot at a campsite or choose your location carefully if you don't want to talk to the police. We were lucky to find a fairly wild beach, but sleeping by the water turned out to be nerve-wracking. Who knows when the tide will reach the edge of the tent...

Good morning, Pacific Ocean

San Francisco greeted us with dampness and fog. The architecture of this city can hardly be called interesting, but the landscape... You can walk a lot here, but you need to be prepared for endless elevation changes. A solution could be the same car or a scooter – there are many rental points in the city, and you don't even need a driver's license to ride them.

Typical San Francisco street

Twin Peaks hills, cable cars, Ghirardelli ice cream, sea lions at Pier 39, and, of course, the legendary Golden Gate Bridge – in short, you definitely won't get bored here.

I think it needs no introduction

After San Francisco, we set off to conquer the national parks. First on the list were Yosemite and Sequoia National Park – we spent one night in each and hiked several trails. You can't just set up a tent in protected areas, and campsites need to be booked a month or two in advance, so plan your visit ahead of time. Regarding developed domestic tourism: not all public establishments in Moscow have such cool restrooms as the campsites do. Seriously. It's useless to talk about the beauty of nature – just come and admire it...

Yosemite Valley is stunning with its colors

The most powerful impression was the climb to Upper Yosemite Fall – I look at the photos and can't believe we made it up there. But don't repeat our mistake: don't go on trails in the evening. Two hours uphill without stopping ended not only with a stunning sunset at the top but also with a descent in absolute darkness.

Think you can climb to the top...

At the top of the mountain

We must not forget that forest fires often occur, because of which the only route you need might be blocked. That's exactly how our journey from Yosemite to Sequoia Park increased from three hours to eight!.. It's better to talk to the rangers right before you leave; they are always aware of what's happening.

In Sequoia, the routes aren't that long – you can see everything interesting in a couple of hours. Tired after the long road, we set off to the ancient trees the very next morning and didn't regret it: at 9 a.m., the sun is especially beautiful, the humid air is saturated with the smell of the forest, and there are quite a few tourists.

It's unlikely you'll be able to climb a sequoia, but it was worth a try

A favorite spot for tourists for photos

Las Vegas is no longer in California – the road to it took us about 9 hours and was very exhausting. The city starts to impress long before it appears on the horizon, as it is located in an absolute desert.

Typical Nevada landscapes

The most famous street in Vegas, the Las Vegas Strip, attracts tourists from all over the world. Be sure to watch the fountain show in front of the Bellagio casino – I would call it one of the modern wonders of the world – and buy some chips at the establishment itself. You're unlikely to play big, but it's definitely worth bringing as a souvenir for friends. In general, the city is only impressive at night, and, honestly, you need to have the desire and the means to spend money to truly enjoy it.

The fountain in front of the Bellagio isn't visible in the photo, but it gathers real crowds of people

The last point of the route on the West Coast was, of course, the majestic Grand Canyon. The best time to contemplate it is sunset and sunrise. Just keep in mind that at five in the morning, there might be even more people than in the evening.

Probably the most beautiful sunrise of my life