Chad picked me up from my last assignment. The car was packed to the gills and despite the early time the kids were bright eyed and bushy tailed. Coffee and some breakfast was our next stop. I would like to say I stayed awake long enough to see Victorville disappear in the rear view mirror, but I can’t be sure. Sleep was calling my name quite loudly. My neck, sore from quirky sleep positions had me waking up periodically to change positions, so the change of scenery was noted every time my eyes popped open. Just about noon we pulled into Yosemite National Park. We started at the southern end at Mariposa’s sequoia grove.
We took a short hike to get some fresh air, stretch our legs, and see a large fallen tree.
The fallen tree was pretty impressive and oh what a beautiful walk to it.
We hit up the bathrooms and then went in search of an open visitor’s center. Yosemite village was 35 miles up the road….what a beautiful drive.
When I am over tired I find myself quite sensitive to the cold so Chad has most of the scenic photos as he would pull over and jump out at every scenic overlook to take pictures. What a camper and hiker paradise. We didn’t have time to get out and do any long hikes, but now on our life to do list is spend a good week (at least) hiking different trails in Yosemite including halfdome. The visitors center was another cold (50 degrees which is normally perfect) half mile walk and was worth the time. They had several museums, a theater, and a gift store.
We were sad to leave , and are already making plans to get back. No wonder it was the first land in the United States set aside to be protected for the public to enjoy for generations to come. A grant signed by Lincoln during the civil war in 1864 was a start, and in 1890 it became what it is today through the promotion and renown provided by the popular drawings/writings of John Muir, a national park.
Owens Endeavors 