Thursday, June 16, 2016

Yosemite by RV

"Come catch me! Lets play hide and seek! " that is how Tessa climbed the trail up to Vernal Fall foot bridge in Yosemite. That's after she climbed every possible rock at the beginning of the trail. No doubt she will be ready for Half Dome in a few years with Tod, while I will have a "spa" day at the lodge.

We arrived in Tod's favorite park the day before on a rainy day. We got the only rv parking spot left at Glacier Point, and run out in the rain to have a minute long look into a misty Yosemite valley. Ah, the joy then to make hot chocolate in your own home after you peel off your wet clothes!

Tod had reserved a camping spot at Crane Flat (not sure why its called flat, as there ain't any flat spots to pitch a tent or level your rv), 25 minutes drive from the valley. We had heard bad stories about finding a parking spot for rv's in the valley, so decided to leave early in the morning to increase our parking karma. The reason I'm less charmed by Yosemite : the crowds. The incredibly beautiful valley attracts over 4 million visitors each year, so especially during main season it's a zoo on the road (yes, you can get away from the crowds by taking more strenuous hikes, but that's hard to do with a 4 yrs old). We got a parking spot at 8.15, and by 9 the spots were full. We used the shuttle and our bikes to explore the valley, and enjoyed our meals, including dinner, outside in a lovely meadow in front of Betsy . By 6pm, we "only" had to wait 15 min in traffic to leave the valley.

My favorite part of this trip was the drive and stops along the Tioga road the next day.  Sadly the Tuolumne meadows campgrounds were not yet open for the season.

On a side note: we have met several Dutch families doing "the California loop". Fun to talk with them, and it reminded me of my first experience with the USA when I did that loop about 28 yrs ago.

Now on to Lake Tahoe to visit with our dear and long time friends Mika and Karl.

at the Vernal Fall bridge




Upper Yosemite Falls


Half Dome from the Olmsted point on Tioga road




at the end of Tioga road you see Mono lake

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