woofing at Bears, Yosemite National Park

Some of my french friends traveled in Australia as a Woofers and told me all the advantages of that kind of  "work", I was really interested and I started learning more about Woofing (world opportunities on organic farms). It's actually a large community of farms that helps volunteers to live and learn on organic farms. Woofers work few hours per day and can eat and sleep for free. I immediately thought that it will be a great experience for me and though the website Help X I met this incredible guy, Bear, better known as the double rainbow guy. We started sending mail when I was still in France about farms details and his lifestyle, I was so excited that I decided to meet him beginning of march and to stay with him for one week in his farm in the middle of Yosemite near Mariposa. 

We had a great time, we visited the National Park, we worked on rebuilding his garden for vegetables, I met several people : he had 2 couch surfers and one friend who came to visit him.... And I also discovered that he was famous! He posted a video of a double rainbow on YouTube 2 years ago and has now more than 32 millions view... Sometimes people in Yosemite recognized him and took some pics with him. He has a channel on YouTube where he posts everyday a video about his life  http://www.youtube.com/user/Hungrybear9562?ob=0&feature=results_main

So anyway in his farm he has 3 dogs and 7 puppies, chickens and roosters, vegetables and fruits, he lives in a trailer and enjoys a amazing view every days and nights.... I felt cut of the world and I enjoyed my week in this place because firstly after one month in this big city of L.A it's important to take some resources in Nature and secondly because just before coming to the USA I read a book called "Rencontre hors du temps" of Eric Vali about american people who lives "off the grid", that means living with the basics stuff : no job, own food, nature and some thousands of dollars per year (at least 5). I wanted to meet this kind of people so bad and when I went to Bears I realized that I met one of them!

To get there I first took the Amtrak train from L.A to Fresno (around 4hours) and one friend of Bear picked me up at the Fresno station and brought me at Bears. The easier way to get Yosemite is to get Merced by train and to take the YARTS bus (important to check schedules) which goes to different places in Yosemite like Mariposa.

The view from the living room....

The trailer from backside. He built everything around it in order to make more space

 

CHICKS & ROOSTERS, I used to take eggs mornings

one of his dogs feeding her puppies!

Bear brought me and Martin (guy from Czech Republic who spent few nights with us) to the Yosemite Valley

this only gas station in Yosemite...

 Martin, Bear and me at the Tunnel view on the Hwy 41. This place offers the best view of these incredible mountains: El capitain (7 569) foot and the Half Dome (8 842 foot) 

JUST ONE PART OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST WATERFALLS OF NORTH AMERICA

The rooster that wakes me up every morning at 7am....

His garden that we rebuilt for vegetables.
So pleasant to work in this farm with a amazing view and nice weather!











 Mail boxes on the main road for all the people who lives around

 

KELLY AND OUR NICE NEIGHBOUR



Kelly and me ready for the night: 2 jumpers, 2 blankets, hat, gloves ... good night Yosemite!