Day 3 - Last Day in Yosemite

While I enjoyed being home and playing with my friends, everyone else enjoyed staying in this nice cabin in the only neighborhood located inside Yosemite National Park.

Great Mamaw and Mom relaxing in the recliners

after primping for family photos.

Can the see the excitement on Dad's face? He loves picture time!

As they were leaving the cabin for the last time, a fox wished them farewell and a safe journey to their next destination.

Then they went to church. (Well, more like stopping by to take pictures.)

After looking for wildlife throughout Yosemite, they saw a deer . . .

casually walking across the parking lot of the national park's visitor center,

which is where this was purchased. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

As Mom enjoyed putting the puzzle together, reminiscing over the beautiful scenery, I decided it was time for a nap.

Day 2 - Tuolumne Meadows and More

On their last full day in this magnificent national park, everyone knew that they had a busy day ahead. After leaving the cabin, they found themselves driving through the valley, which was covered by these beautiful tiny lavender flowers.

Here's Grandma, Mom and Dad looking up to catch a glimpse at the rock climbers hanging on the side of El Capitan. The nice gentleman with a tripod and high-tech binoculars informed them that it usually takes everywhere from 3 to 5 days to climb El Capitan, but one person scaled this 3,000 foot vertical rock in a couple of hours!

This is a picture of 2 climbers and their cargo hanging on the side. That is putting a lot of trust into a rope.

Next on the agenda was a long drive down Tioga Road over the Sierra Nevada.

Everyone enjoyed the amazing views at Olmsted Point. Mom and Dad said that they have never seen terrain like this before - just massive granite rocks amidst a few trees.

Here's an unusual view of the back side of Half Dome from Olmsted Point.

I just love this picture of this funky tree. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.

After a half a day of driving and taking in all of the earth's beauty along Tioga Road, they had a picnic at Tenaya Lake, one of the largest lakes in Yosemite.

After eating lunch, Grandpa, Mom and Dad took off their shoes and enjoyed the cool, clear water. Mom said that the bottom was not muddy like our lakes, but sandy yet firm instead.

With a full stomach, they arrived to their destination, Tuolumne Meadows at an elevation of 8,775 feet.

Again, Mom keeps saying that these pictures do not portray how calm and serene this scenery actually is. For instance, this is a close up of the water running through this colorful river. I thought Uncle Mark might like this since he enjoys abstracts.

Tuolumne Meadows is a popular place for black bears. Although everyone looked long and hard, especially Great Mamaw, no bears were to be seen. Can't you picture a black bear meandering by this river?

Here's Dad relaxing and taking it all in.

Family portraits were taken.

and another gorgeous view enjoyed.

After leaving Tuolumne Meadows, everyone enjoyed a nice meal at one of the oldest mountain resort hotels in California. The hotel was built in 1879. It has no telephones, no television, and most of the rooms share a bathroom with the other guests.

Another good day has came and gone.

Yosemite - Day 1

Toward the end of last week, everyone (except me) went to Yosemite National Park.

I was able to hold down the fort with Axle and Dash whereas Linnaea (Axle and Dash's Mom) thought she was in charge. We had the best time playing and lounging together while Mom and Dad were vacationing, enjoying spectular views including Inspiration Point.

First on the agenda was to see the highest waterfall in North America, Yosemite falls. Too bad there was no water. I sure am glad that I got to see Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls earlier in the summer when at least there was still some water falling. Click on the link above to compare the pictures!

This picture above is Lower Yosemite Falls. Since Mom had to stay with me last time while Dad climbed the boulders to the base of the waterfall, she was anxious to enjoy this pool of water herself.

Everyone patiently waited while Mom and Dad hiked to the base of the falls . . .

only to find a little tiny wet spot on the rocks!

Alas, there was a small pool of clear, cool water, which was refreshing after their climb up the rocks. (I am embarrassed of my mom's lily white legs! You would think that she could have at least exposed herself to the sun before this trip.)

Mom and Dad enjoyed the views while relaxing in the pool. Some spots were deep enough to swim in but they did not wear their swimsuits.

Then came the realization that they had to climb back down these boulders.

If you zoom in on the center of the picture, you can see some people standing on the bridge along with some others in the shade. This is where Great Mamaw, Grandma and Grandpa were still patiently waiting for Mom and Dad to return.

You can almost see the look of pure panic on Mom's face when she realizes that she has to climb down these huge rocks. (One would think that she would have thought about this as she was excitedly climbing up these slick rocks.) In some places, it was so steep that they just slide down the boulders on their rear ends, hoping that they could brace themselves for the landing without spraining an ankle or two.

After resting and drinking lots of water, the next stop was Mariposa Grove, the largest of the three sequoia groves in Yosemite National Park. These pictures do not portray how massive these trees actually are.

Here's Mom standing in front of the Fallen Monarch. Biologists suspect that this tree had been down several hundred years! Sequoias do not have deep root systems; instead, the roots spread out near the surface to get water. While the roots are usually no deeper than six feet, they fan out more than 150 feet, providing a stable base to balance the massive trunk

Grandma and Great Mamaw are walking toward a tree known as The Grizzly Giant. It is one of the largest trees in the Mariposa Grove. This tree is approximately 2,700 years old, one of the oldest living Sequoias. That huge limb blocking the sun is almost seven feet in diameter, larger than the trunk of your average tree!

Again, these pictures do not capture the size of these trees.

Mom and Dad are standing inside the California Tunnel Tree, which was cut in 1895 for stagecoaches to drive through.

Next, everyone went to Glacier Point, which sits at an elevation of 7,214 feet.

They enjoyed taking pictures of the sunset as a ranger informed them of the national park's history.

After that busy day, everyone slept well that night.