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 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,
Greg
