Day 121

Yosemite National Park

Sep 4, 2013, 7:40 PM

Oh it was a good day. We went to Yosemite National Park and really had a good time. We had no traffic whatsoever on the way over. We drove out of the campground and down the road right out front past orchards, rolling hills, full of twists and turns. There were times we were the only car for as far as the eye could see in any direction. We wanted to see the giant sequoias first so we went to the Mariposa Grove. You know us, by the time we were pulling into the park it was lunch time so we had a nice lunch at the Wawona Village. The Village had the Wawona Hotel with a restaurant. After lunch we took the bus to the Mariposa Grove. We could have taken a tram tour and I wonder if we shouldn't have, but we wanted to be able to look around, I wanted to take pictures, I know I know you're shocked that I wanted to get pictures, we knew the tram wouldn't stop so we just decided to walk the .8 mile lower grove trail. It was grueling!! Steve and I first and foremost are sea level dwellers, the higher altitudes are tough. The Lower Grove trail was straight up till we got to the California Tunnel Tree. Oh my gosh, we could have died, but we made it I'm happy to say. These trees are so beautiful and that is so lame to even say. They are majestic, they stand so straight and tall in spite of damaging fires, bugs, birds, tunnels being carved into their trunks and they go on for more than 1,800 years. Almost two thousand years!!!!!!! The seed that started the Grizzly Tree came from a tree that would have been standing when Christ walked the earth. That is astounding!!!!!! There was a limb on the Grizzly Tree that was 7' in diameter, which is larger then the trunk of any non-Sequoia in the park. Just a few days ago here in California there was an 18 year old girl sitting under a tree and a 14" diameter limb fell on her and killed her. Oh my gosh, what would happen if the 7' limb fell. 

From the Mariposa Grove we drove to the Valley Village. That is where you are ringed by garnet mountains. Giants like El Capitan, Sentinel Dome, Clouds Rest, and Cathedral Peak. It was so amazing. The rock is so stark and shoots right out of the ground. Just so beautiful to see and another great day on our trip. 

Tomorrow we head to the coast, I can't wait. Enjoy the photos and have a good night.