On our second day in Yosemite we spent most of the day in the high country in Tuolmne Meadows. We climbed all over Pothole Rock which actually looks very small from the meadow side but really winds quite a ways.
After we hiked around for a while we drove back down to the valley and spent a few more hours there before heading down to L.A. We stopped at the Merced River and Ruh and Daisy did some swimming. As we were leaving Yosemite Ruh was already making plans to return this next summer to do some camping and lots of hiking! I am already counting down the days! :)
Going to Yosemite on our way down to L.A. was not part of our original plan. But I knew if my hubby could see and experience Yosemite he would be hooked just like me! So we worked out the numbers and made our plans. We stayed in Modesto the first night and the next morning headed into the west side of the park. There is nothing like driving into the valley. The road winds along the Merced River through a very narrow valley. When Bridalveil Falls bursts into view through the trees it steels your breath away. Then comes a glimpse of the smooth granite walls of mile-high El Capitan. We drove up to Glacier Point the first day to see Yosemite Valley from above. The height and the views are breathtaking from up there. What a rush to lean as far as you can over the railing to take in all the view! (Plus I am really working on getting over my fear of heights!)
This is the view from the side of the road going up to Glacier Point. El Capitan is the granite wall on the left side of the picture. Pictures cannot really show how majestically large El Capitan is.
At Glacier Point.
Here is Half Dome. My goal is to climb to the top, hopefully next summer when we camp in Yosemite! There is a cable ladder on one side that aids climbers to the top.
This was taken down in the valley. We went on a short hike to Lower Yosemite Falls.
This is the view of Half Dome from the valley floor.
We walked around the valley for a while and went to the visitor center. The temperature was in the high 90's but I hardly noticed I was so overwhelmed with all the beauty. I told Ruh we should just park it and live there the rest of our lives. I think everyone, at least once in their life, should be able to see Yosemite and take in all it's beauty.
Yosemite was formed by a vast glacier, and that vast glacier was merely a chisel in God's omnipotent hand.
Sorry it's taking me so long to get vacation pictures and video up! I feel like I hit the ground running since when we arrived home! This coming Thursday we will be leaving for Montana for several days. We are going to visit Ruh's aunt and uncle and do a lot of hiking in Glacier National Park! So I will have even more pictures and video! I am going to work on California stuff today since I got all my house cleaning done yesterday! Woohoo! :)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Hi from sunny California! We had an AMAZING time in Yosemite and we wish we could have stayed longer. We are now in L.A. visiting all my wonderful family. We will be home in a couple weeks and I will have TONS of Yosemite and family pictures and video.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Mr. and Mrs. Willie Clark July 5th, 2008
More pictures from the rehearsal and the wedding to come!! :)
Our little one night camping trip to Quincy Lakes was very delightful. I have always been iffy about spending only one night camping, I just didn't think it would be worth it. But it was definitely worth it! It was easy because all our camping gear from our last camp-out was already out and ready to go. We headed over to Eastern Washington and its rolling prairies. I love heading over the mountains because the climate and scenery change so dramatically. On the west side of the mountains you have the pine trees, the sound, cooler temperatures, and more rain. On the eastern side of the mountains you feel like you have entered the old west with dry prairie, rolling farm land, ranches, lots of sun and warmer temperatures.
We arrived after George, Bonita, Taraz and Taraz's friend Aaron. When we arrived it was WINDY! Ruh had a little bit of a tough time setting up the tent but in the end he was successful. The rain fly on top was acting like a sail and making one side of the tent fold completely down when a big gust would come along. We decided, since it wasn't suppose to rain, we would take the rain fly off. The entire top of the tent is a screen so taking the rain fly off allowed the wind to just pass right through. That night we could see the stars while we were falling asleep.
After we set up Taraz, Ruh and I headed out on a little hike. Taraz really wanted to show us a place he had found earlier. The sun was setting and it made all the colors so dramatic. He led us is a small canyon. We walked along the cliff's edge and we could look down into the valley. There were lots of little pools of water circled by green plants. On the far side of the canyon we could see a waterfall. When we got back to camp Ruh put on some t-bone steaks and we enjoyed a yummy dinner. We headed to bed around 10:30. The wind did whip the tent around a little bit and every once in a while the tent would hit my head. But we were nice and cozy warm so the night wasn't really that hard. Sometime in the night the wind stopped. We woke to a calm breeze and George and Bonita were out for a glide in their canoe.
After breakfast we headed out for a hike. We walked down to a canyon. There was a lake and we decided to make our way around it. At one point the trail ended and we had to navigate lots of rocks and boulders. It was slow going but lots of fun. When we got to the other side the boys decided to take a dip in the lake. I was wishing I had brought my board shorts with me or I would have joined them.
I am now very willing to go on more one night camping trips! I have cleaned all our camping gear and it is all set for the next trip! :)
We are heading out tomorrow around 2pm when I get off work for Quincy Lake in eastern Washington. My in-laws George and Bonita are getting there before us and also my brother-in-law Taraz. It won't be as big of a camping trip as our last one to Lake Wenatchee but it will still be a lot of fun. Unfortunately Ruh, Daisy and I only get to stay one night because Daisy has school on Monday and Ruh has to work. So be watching for some more fun pictures and video real soon! :)
