On the morning of the 28th we headed out to Yosemite. It was a fairly short drive, about 3.5 hours long and scenic, for the most part. Once you leave the main populated area and enter the Joaquin Valley it is pretty sparse. Lots of rolling hills and farm land. As you get closer to the Sierra Nevada range the rolling hill have increasing erruptions of small jagged stone protruding from the ground. It appears that any cultivation of vegetation in this area quickly transitions to the farming of happy cowsfrom California. The closer you get to the actual mountains however gives way to unfarmable, but gorgeous, scenery. From the gently rolling foothills we abruptly made a windy (and very scary) mountainous ascent up to about 4,000 feet where we arrived at the Yosemite Rose Bed & Breakfast. The nicest B&B ever!
The Yosemite Rose Bed & Breakfast and its feline mascot, Little Boy, a super lovey fat black cat. If you ever visit Yosemite you owe it to your self to stay at this reasonable and beautiful establishment. The rooms were cozy and spacious, the food was delicious and organic and the company absolutely marvelous. Oh yea, the prices are really reasonable too. Also, Rene Zelwigger has stayed here!
As we got to the west entrance to Yosemite we discovered we needed snow chains or we would be forbidden entry. We had to turn around and buy a set of chains for the rental car - for one day's use! LOL Still it was well worth the expense because, as you can see from the above picture, they were very necessary. The roads were predominantly snow and ice covered and, as we ascended to about 7,000 feet, we felt very grateful for having gotten them. They served us best, however, when trying to negotiate our way out of the parking spaces we found ourselves in. All in all it was totally worth it!
At one of the many view points was this spectacular view of Half Dome to the right of El Captian and to the right of the Cathedral Peaks.
Here is a less close up view from the same lookout.
Further up the road was another turn out where we parked and stopped to shoot some pictures of the snow covered trees and a section of the Merced River.
The Merced River from the same turn out.
This was anothe section of the Merced River. It was so picturesque I couldn't stop snapping.
This is a great view of El Capitan.
This was another section of the Merced River. As the sun came over the mountains and into the valley it warmed the air causing this blanket of mist to hang over much of the snow covered area. It was breathtaking.
This is the famous Yosemite Chapel. I have never seen a cuter little chapel and the snow made it more perfect, particularly with the massive granite mountain in the background.
Yet more of the Merced River and the awesome mist that hung in the air.
This is Bridalveil Falls.
This is Horsetail falls. Notice the faint rainbow near the top.
One of about three dozen small snowmen in this open field. Again, the mist was amazing.
This is the Awahnee Hotel. It is the most famous lodging in the park and the most expensive at a minium of $450 a night! It was really packed, despite the snow. Still, it was glorious tucked in a beautiful corner of of the valley.
This was a path leading away from the Awahnee Hotel. We would not have found ourselves on this path were it not for several people who created their own parking spaces in the hotel parking lot thus blocking the park buses which in turn blocked our car in its parking space. How fortuitous because on our walk I took some great shots.
I couldn't get enough of the mist.
Most mist in the trees.
I could have snapped pictures here all week!
That lovely open valley area near the hotel.
Ice covering moss on a branch (in case you couldn't tell). LOL
A closer view of Half Dome from the Cury Village parking area. Had we more time in the park we would have ventured further into the valley towards Half Dome. It is every bit as massive as this picture implies.
Leaving the misty calley as the sun faded.
Ok, we drove around in this circle three times, mostly because we got misdirected, but on the third pass I finally gota picture of this lone bald tree hiding in the mist under the glow of the setting sun against the mountain.
El Capitan in the setting sun. Sadly we only managed to get two thirds of a day in the park - far to little - but it only whet our appetite to come back again and explore at greater length another time, maybe the fall of 2010? Wouldn't that be spectaular.
This is the interior of the Ferry Building. It has a lot of really nice shops in it and a small walkway out the back facing the bay.
A tall old ship near Pier 39
Some trees over looking the bay from the top of the hill near Fort Mason.
The marina on the north side of Fort Mason.
Some really cute row houses in facing the marina. This must go for some serious coin because they were in an awesome location and really old, cute and well maintained!
In the park next to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sunlight shining through the receding fog as we neared the bridge.
Sometimes you find some really amaingly cool things in the smallest and unlikeliest places. I just love dewey spider webs.
Ahhhh, the Golden Gate Bridge - the fog finally lifted.
More mist through the trees as we headed up the hill and toward a bluff overlooking the bridge.
A grove of evergreens and eucalyptus trees.
This is an old bunker in the bluff on the south side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
You've gotta love the cool patterns in the branches of the eucalytpus trees.
Ok, I have yet to determine the significance of these stacked rocks. Not knowing I assumed it was a good-luck thing and, being superstitious/paranoid, I decided I needed to erect one of my own to pay homage so the gods would smile favorably on me and the family. They looked really cool and interesting along the shore with the low waves bathing their bases.
