Pam and I made it to our very first REI Fresno used gear sale for members only on Saturday, January 3, 2009, starting at 9:00 a.m. As luck would have it, we didn't get to the parking lot until 9:45, but there was a line that serpentined behind the store. There must have been 200 people standing in line as we made our way to the end. Pam noticed as we passed by there wasn't anyone in the store except for some sales associates.
After seeing where the end of the serpentine line was, we went to Border's and treated ourselves to some hot coffee to start our day. We decided to wander and check out River Park as we headed towards the Edwards Cinemas. When we turned around, Pam noticed the line to REI was starting to move. We walked briskly back to REI. I glance at my watch...it is 10:00 a.m. Guess there was a misprint in the start time of the sale! Somebody goofed!
It was a zoo. There were two lines: one long and one short. We opted for the shorter line near the tents and packs! Go figure!
Customers, I should say REI members, were coming out from the warehouse with store bags full of gear. People were just grabbing not knowing what they needed, then brought it out to the main part of the store, then sorted it all out and then returned what they didn't need into the warehouse. Greed. What people would do to satisfy their needs. Wait until you hear about food riots on CNN! Clip and save.
The high "stake-&-take" item? Hiking and running boots and shoes. Then snowboarding equipment, then Yakima gear racks.
We make it into the warehouse. Wall-to-wall people. Pushing and shoving. There was nothing we needed because there was nothing in the bins or on the shelves. We walked out empty-handed. It was to be.
We found Pam a medium Osprey Aura 65 pack on sale for $189.93 (reg. $239.00). With this pack, Pam and I can go backpacking now! WOO HOO! She liked the color of the Aura 50, but the Aura 65 only comes in sapphire and the Aura 50 does not have a sleeping bag compartment. I only do the Sherpa thing to a point and carrying my wife's sleeping bag isn't one of my "honey duties. " She is pretty stoked about the pack! I think we will break in the new pack by hiking up to Little Yosemite Valley.
We drove to Whole Foods for a breakfast burrito. We decided to take a road trip so we drove up the 99. We got off at Merced and decided to go to Mariposa. We wanted to drive to Sonora, but we didn't have our snow gear and we didn't bring our Bass Pro Shops gift card should we have made a stop in Manteca.
The drive Mariposa was a good call. Although the fog limited the visibility of the surrounding foothills, the drive was remarkable nonetheless. The foothills were covered with outcroppings of Yosemite slate. I was tempted to stop the car and load up a few slabs to take home!
Then Pam noticed a for sale sign. 159 acres. So I pulled of to the side at this little rock shop and turned around.
We get to the gate and stop by the sign. No price listed but there was a phone number. Pam called it. Price? $475,000. Almost $3,000 per acre. Nothing but land. Hmm...
We proceeded to Mariposa. We drove up the main drag, turned around and stopped in front of this gift shop. We browsed around. Then we walked to the coffee shop to get warmed up. We stopped at this shoe and clothing store. Nice shirts and shoes and reasonably priced.
If we do go to Sonora, we are going up via Highway 49 and go as far as we can up Highway 108 to do some snowshoeing and possible some camping.
We may even look in to that 159 acres, too!
