|
July 17, 2012
Last night we stayed in Fresno, which was about 1.5 hours from the southern gate of Yosemite National Park. We didn't want to find ourselves stuck in horrific park traffic, so we headed out early - 8 am!
 |
|
When we arrived at Yosemite, we made the strategic decision to skip the Mariposa Grove where some very famous Giant Sequoias stand (since we got to see so many of them yesterday at Sequoia National Park). Instead we headed deeper into the park to our first destination -- Glacier Point. It was only about 25 miles from the southern entrance, but with the speed limit set at 25, it was about a 1 hour drive. The scenery along the way was fantastic and the time passed quickly. Right before we arrived at Glacier Point, we had the good fortune of spotting a big black mama bear and her two cubs! It was so close and really an amazing thing to see. She wasn't bothered at all by the picture snapping and continued about her business as we kept a safe distance from her and the cubs. The cubs were precious and we watched them digging for ants and grubs in the fallen logs in the forest, plus tumbling and playing with each other. What a special treat for us to see!
The views from Glacier Point are unparalleled. Absolutely stunning! We sat up there for a good while, just soaking in all of God's amazing handiwork!
After a while at Glacier Point, we ventured down to the Yosemite Valley below. Only abut 4 miles as the crow flies, it was another hour in the car to reach the valley. We originally planned to raft the Merced River, but learned that the lack of snow pack this year meant the water falls and subsequently the streams and rivers were very low. They had to close the rafting for the year earlier this week so that wasn't possible. The next best thing was biking so we rented four bikes and set off. What a great way to see the valley. We went from one end of the valley to another enjoying water falls, streams, lakes, mountains and meadows! Wiped out from the long ride, we grabbed an ice cream at Curry Village and then headed to the Visitor's Center to watch the film entitled, "The Spirit of Yosemite". It was a great documentary on how the park was first discovered and then the part John Muir played in expanding the protected areas to include all the watershed around the park ensuring its preservation for generations to come. The park received its first protection early, during the civil war, when President Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant into legislation. It wasn't until about 30 years later that the park officially became a national park and included the areas John Muir thought so important. It was a highly educational day and gorgeous weather (75 degrees and clear). A good time was had by all!
When it was time to head out, we headed west on CA Route 140 through El Portal towards Merced, where we stayed for the night. After we settled in, we dined at D'Angelo's Italian Restaurant just next to the hotel and it was delicious. Full tummies and tired feet, it was soon time for all of us to turn in. Off to Carmel and San Francisco tomorrow!
|
