Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Day 24-to Yosemite National Park

Yesterday we left the scenic town of Tonopah and drove about 4 hours to Yosemite. We entered Yosemite on the Tioga Rd. which is about 10,000 ft. at its highest point which means that it is closed Nov-May. In fact, 19 years ago, when I went through July 19 the road had just opened a week before and there was still snow in the meadows by the road. This year, the snow was higher up, obviously not as snowy.

We were so happy to see lakes and streams! It had been really dry since Santa Fe.

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At the end of the 39 mile Tioga Rd, is a grove of giant sequoias. We took a 1 1/4 mile hike down to the grove. We could not capture the immensity of the trees. Then we had to hike back up. Phew!

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Below is the Tunnel Tree (actually a stump) carved out around 1868 for tourists to go through.

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We passed an area that had been burned, but not very recently.

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Our hotel—the Wowana—has tiny rooms. When this annex was built in 1918 it was the latest in luxury. Now, we have a sink in the room, toilet down the verandah and showers two floors below us. It’s different. And the room is about 13X13, so it’s a tight fit for 5 of us! However it will do.

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We ate BBQ on the lawn for dinner.

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Below is a view of our building.

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Towards the main building.

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From the verandah.

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Our room door.

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The view from our room.

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Iconic view of Yosemite Valley. El Capitan on the left and Half Dome on the right with Bridal Veil Falls below it.

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