A Break in the Action

Greg stops in Yosemite National Park on his way home, and snags some beautiful shots!

And thankfully it was not my foot which ended up suffering just a sprain, albeit a very aggravated one due to the constant use I put it through on my way to Yosemite.

I laid up for two days at Yosemite Lakes, another Thousand Trails campground, until I was able to head back to my current home base in SoCal. I used the cruise control instead of the gas pedal to navigate my way south on US 395 and then onto Interstate 15, etc.

First, however, I had to drive the 120 through Yosemite National Park. I was very surprised at how crowded it was after Labor Day. There is a pullout that offers views of Half Dome down in the valley. I was not the only one who thought it was nice.

There was 50 cars and at least 150 people checking it out.

Let me zoom in a little bit.

That’s what glaciers can do to granite. if you are so inclined you can go to the top. I would probably fall off and really hurt my foot. I stopped twice to take photos from outside the car until it became too painful.

Next I passed through Tuolumne Meadows. Very crowded.

I still cannot get over the amount of people here at this time of the year. I think it is great. Every day you spend camping is not subtracted from your lifespan. I am 117 years old and don’t look a day over 50…

Before you exit the park heading east you pass by Tenaya Lake. I hobbled out of the car to take this photo.

Photography-wise I don’t like clear blue skies. They are boring. I like the drama, tension, and foreboding that a broken sky brings. (Broken sky is a term that photographers use to describe clouds. We are silly that way)

The foreboding part became reality as I travelled down the 395.

One last chance for mother nature to show who is in charge.

I got the last laugh because I wasn’t pitching my tent that night.

I don’t quit, however. After giving my foot two weeks to heal I am heading back to Yosemite. I want to do it right. I will be staying in Tuolumne Meadows until it closes on 9/26, arriving on 9/23. Then I will sleep in dumpsters (bear-proof thankfully) until my other reservations kick in at Upper Pines in the valley from 10/1 until 10/4. I snagged the last campsite available for those dates. Seriously, the valley campgrounds are fully booked for the best time to visit in my opinion.

I am going to take tons of photos while I’m in the area for two weeks. We will be adding an HD slideshow to our Yosemite National Park page showcasing the photos I will take of all the wonders that are here.

So bear with me while I heal. You won’t be disappointed. I promise.

Regards, Park Ranger