Yosemite | Half Dome | El Capitan
Yosemite National Park: We had an easy day
today - driving North on 99 to Fresno and taking Highway 41 to Bass Lake. We
are staying at a private (membership only) campground on the lake. I know
that sounds lovely, but it really is a bit dumpy... especially after the
Lake Havasu paradise. The folks here are friendly though and the weather is
nice - warm and sunny. Unfortunately, we arrived too late for the Ice Cream
Social and had to amuse ourselves by taking a walk along the lake and having
our own "wine social". I made a very lovely potato, onion and Gruyere au
gratin and we called it a day.
24 April 2000 | Yosemite National Park: Another day,
another National Park! Ahhhh, but today was not just any National Park, it
was Yosemite - DT's
boyhood backyard and one of his favorite places on Earth. It also was the
day we entered a National Park "free" - our National Park pass has finally
paid-off! Of course, as in keeping with the rest of the trip - not all roads
are open yet and we had to confine our visit to the Valley floor. Roads are
still closed because of snow and other roads are only open for a few hours
each day, due to continuing repairs on roads washed-out in the floods a few
years ago.
DT and I spent the entire (long) day in the park, accompanied by our
faithful companion, Snickers. As usual, Snickers drew as much attention as
El Capitan. The entire park was gorgeous - as pretty as it gets in Yosemite!
Warm and sunny. No clouds. No winds. Brilliant blue sky. DT and I seemed to
be the only Americans in the park - everyone was English! (The English are
quite fond of beagles.) It is half term break in the UK and the entire
country chartered a flight to Yosemite. We met an 18-year-old boy (at school
at Glasgow University) who had just come down from climbing El Capitan! This
sweet young man had hung from ropes in a sleeping bag for 4 nights! (I
wonder if his Mother knows.) We were picnicking at the base of El Capitan
and he was very grateful for our handouts! (I wonder if his Mother knows he
takes candy from strangers.) He said it took him four days to climb the rock
and 4 hours to repel down. He needed a shower.
Half Dome
Bridal Veil Falls (with Half Dome in the back left)
El Capitan
Here are a few photos - so you can see how clear and
beautiful it was in Yosemite today. Postcards should look this good! The
only wildlife spotted today was the usual squirrels and Stellar Jays, a few
mule deer and a very large, healthy coyote. I see these same animals every
day from my back porch... ho hum! We hope you enjoyed our adventure today -
tomorrow we are going to do NOTHING...