Thursday 14th May – Yosemite National Park

We drove from Castro Valley, California to Yosemite National Park, California, then on to Oakhurst, California.

Day

Bronwen and I awoke and drove to Pleasanton Walmart for milk then to the nearby Owens Plaza Park to eat some breakfast cereal, and then to Yosemite National Park.

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t very good and we were subjected to rain, sleet and snow depending on the height and the mood of the gods. Nevertheless we managed to wander around a bit, see some cool clouds with the occasional mountain or waterfall (including Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls) poking through, and I got to drive through a minor snowstorm.

We went for a walk through some of the world’s largest trees in the Mariposa Grove (seeing Grizzly Giant and California Tree) just before dark and got snowed upon, before driving out of the national park and spending the night at the Oakhurst Branch Library in a nearby town.

Looking out over YosemiteThe temperature reaches 1°CClouds at YosemiteClouds and cliffs at YosemiteA model of Yosemite ValleyYosemite FallsNed and Bronwen at Bridalveil FallsA ferocious animalA fox jumps through the grassYosemite Falls through the cloudsBronwen at Yosemite National ParkClouds in Yosemite ValleyLooking down Yosemite ValleyA few photographers enjoying the viewYosemite ValleyNed driving through light snowBronwen by a fallen Giant SequoiaNed in front of a Giant Sequoia at Mariposa GroveBronwen with a Giant Sequoia at Mariposa GroveBronwen in front of Grizzly GiantNed in front of Grizzly GiantBronwen inside California Tree in the Mariposa GroveBronwen inside California tree in the Mariposa GroveThe Mariposa Grove in the snowBronwen wanders through The Mariposa Grove as darkness falls

Night

The police pulled up and asked us what we were doing just after we’d had dinner at the library. I cleverly said we were using the Wi-Fi, and they didn’t shoot us.

Friday 15th May – Yosemite National Park

We drive from Oakhurst, California to Lakeview in Stockton, California via Grizzly Giant, Glacier Point and Yosemite Village, in Yosemite National Park.

Day

We woke, bought some milk and ginger nut biscuits and an umbrella at Oakhurst Raley’s, and drove back to Yosemite National Park. We stopped off at Grizzly Giant again, then drove through some snow up an only-just-open road to Glacier Point before heading back to Yosemite Valley where we drove and wandered around the park, finishing off the day by walking up Tenaya Canyon to Mirror Lake.

Bronwen and Ned in front of Grizzly GiantGrizzly Giant is a giant sequoia in Mariposa GroveGrizzly GiantNed in front of a Giant SequoiaBronwen showing off how large a tree isBronwen and Ned giving an idea of the size of a treeSnow ploughs in YosemiteDriving through fog in YosemiteBronwen in the snow on the way to Glacier PointSnow on the way to Glacier PointBronwen enoying the snowBronwen enjoying the snowLooking over YosemiteLooking down into Yosemite Valley from Washburn PointLooking down into Yosemite Valley from Glacier PointLooking down into Yosemite Valley from Glacier PointHalf Dome from Glacier PointYosemite Naturalist ActivitiesYosemite Valley from Glacier PointBronwen on the famous overhanging rock at Glacier PointBronwen on the famous overhanging rock at Glacier PointLooking down into Yosemite Valley from Glacier PointLooking down into Yosemite Valley from Glacier PointLooking down into Yosemite Valley from Glacier PointDriving through a light snowClouds in Yosemite ValleyDriving through a tunnel in YosemiteYosemite National ParkBronwen walking towards Yosemite FallsYosemite National ParkYosemite FallsMore ferocious animalsCliffs at Yosemite National ParkBronwen in Yosemite ValleyTenaya Creek in YosemiteCairns at Mirror LakeBronwen at Mirror Lake, YosemiteBronwen at Mirror Lake, YosemiteA beaver-eaten treeNed at Mirror Lake, YosemiteTenaya CreekA bear-proof food container

Night

Just before dark we left the park and went looking for petrol and a place to spend the night. We bought $40 petrol, went to Stockton Walmart, and ended up sleeping on a quiet side road at Lakeview in Stockton, though it was after midnight by the time we got to bed.