Yosemite National Park

Into the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  After spending time in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, we head up to Yosemite.  This is a view on our way up.  It wasn't in our initial plan to come, but bad weather and closed passes over the mountains pushed us south.  How lucky we were that it did!

We find snow on the side of the road, and the kids rush out to play.

It had snowed a few days before at the higher elevations.

Our first view of Half Dome in the distance (middle background), we have to stop and look.  Little did we know, we would be very close to Half Dome and many other iconic views.

Galen Clark an early explorer of the area and John Muir the naturalist, were responsible for getting the Yosemite Land Grant passed by congress and signed by President Lincoln, protecting the land and paving the way for the United States national park system.  Later John Muir helped to convince Theodore Roosevelt to create Yosemite National Park.

There are several waterfalls and mountains that can be seen from the main road into the Yosemite Valley.

  It was easy to get around by bike.  At each turn there is a new spectacular view, such as this one of the Yosemite River.

Neal and the kids stop to read an informational plaque.  We are in the center of the Park here where you find a museum, theater, shop, post office, lodge and cafe.  There are also several camping areas.

The kids practicing their rock climbing skills.

Our RV, to our delight, is just the right size for our trip.  If it had been any larger, towed a car, or we had towed a trailer behind a car, we would have never made it up and down the winding roads to and from Yosemite.  Nor would we have managed Big Sur and friends' driveways.  We see many tourists from abroad in similarly sized RVs at Yosemite and other national and state parks. 

Being here gives me pause.  I wonder how much a place can shape how you think and feel and who you become.  Can just being in a place, especially one so beautiful and peaceful, change you?  

I took many pictures of Yosemite's waterfalls.  The ones posted here are only a few of them.

Going back down to earth again after our unforgettable journey.  Good-bye Yosemite!