RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO

Our circular road trip has looped back to where we started almost 4 weeks ago as we finally arrive back in San Francisco after a 4 hour drive from Yosemite.

Returning to San Francisco from Yosemite

Heading into Oakland

It’s been an incredible journey.  We have driven a total of 2,761 miles, spent $277 on fuel and visited 18 different towns/cities across 4 states (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada).  And as you can tell from this blog, what an adventure it’s been!

Crossing the Bay Bridge on the toll road

Hello again San Francisco

Not looking forward to the flight home but am looking forward to being re-united with the kids and my garden.  Probably looking as wild as some of the national parks we’ve visited – the garden that is, not me …

STILL NO BEARS IN YOSEMITE

Snow has fallen overnight leaving a white mantle across the shoulders of Yosemite’s highest peaks.  A stubborn mist clings to the rocks obscuring the skyline.  The ground is sodden from last night’s constant rain but the valley has a wet freshness about it, that clean earthy smell that follows a storm.

Snow on the peaks at Yosemite

Visibility is poor due to thick mountain mist

View from the Yosemite Falls trail

It’s our last full day of sightseeing so we’re not letting something as trivial as a bit of rain get in the way of exploring some of Yosemite’s trails and photographing a few more rocks.

Starting with an easy trail to the Lower Yosemite Falls.  Perhaps not the best time of year to view the falls as there’s more water coming out of the hotel shower than there is from this mountain cascade but its pretty none the less. 

View of Yosemite Falls

Of course we didn’t quite plan on sharing the trail with coyotes.  This one just casually sauntered across our path oblivious to the fact that we thought we were on it’s menu. 

Walking through the woods

Phew! I don't think that coyote was hungry

As the mist lifted you could begin to see just how much snow had fallen on the peaks.  Glad we’d driven the Tioga Pass yesterday as the road was closed today due to the icy weather conditions.

View of the valley peaks

Riverside walk

Afternoon hike up to the Vernal Falls footbridge.  Described as a moderate hike but pretty much uphill all the way.  I almost needed an oxygen tank for the steep climb to the footbridge (too many peanut butter cookies and popcorn).  And surprise, surprise all that huffing and puffing to see about as much water cascading down as that of a garden hose.  Anyone else thinking of doing this hike, just browse the waterfall postcards in one of the park’s gift shops.

Vernal Falls view from footbridge

Still no sign of bears.  Beginning to think these are just an elaborate myth to capture tourist’s imagination or else they’re hibernating.  Maybe I’ll stand outside tonight waving our tub full of peanut butter cookies to see if I can entice any of them out of their hidey holes.  

No bears but plenty of mule deer

Just another mouthful

Lovely little blue bird

YOSEMITE

I’m on bear watch deep in the heart of Yosemite valley.  Yosemite is an incredible place.  Towering grey peaks surround us on all sides and today, there’s a dark menacing cloud hovering above bringing with it the threat of rain.  It’ll be the first time we’ve seen any since leaving the UK.

View of the Half Dome

We got here via the Tioga Pass road (Highway 120 from Lee Vining).  Luckily the pass was still open as it’s often closed due to snowfall at this time of year.  If you are travelling to Yosemite from the East, enter via the Tioga Pass as its probably one of the most scenic roads you’ll ever drive.

Views from the Tioga Pass Road

Driving the Tioga Pass

OK, it may be a bit of a tortuous winding road that goes on for miles but it’ll give you a feel for this amazing national park and there’s so many places for photo opportunities.  It took us twice as long to get to our end destination due to all the stopping and starting but it was worth it.

Tenaya Lake

It’s something else to check in to your hotel and be told at reception to read a disclaimer about bears and safety precautions to take in regard to food whilst in the park.  Bears it seems are greedy buggers who’ll stop at nothing to get at your grub.  They’ll break into parked cars if they so much as sniff cookie crumbs or discarded candy wrappers.  Do bears shit in the woods?  No but I will be if I come face to face with a hungry one whilst on one of the hiking trails.

View from the Swinging Bridge

El Capitan

Our hotel is what I’d call a Grizzly Adams vacation hideaway.  Yosemite Lodge at the Falls is a collection of rustic  pre-fab chalets nestling at the base of a very large mountain right in the middle of a pine forest.  It’s idyllic.  We’re in the Azalea block on the ground floor which is handy for bear watching as the patio doors in the bedroom open right out into the pines.

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls - Azalea Room 4604

View from our bedroom patio doors

Will be settling down later on with a bottle of wine and a pair of binoculars ready to spot anything that looks remotely bear-like and hungry.