Heading for Sequoia

We got up this morning and left the Yosemite area. We drove out of the Sierra Nevadas, the foothills looked to me like what I think Scotland might look like. We drove to this little town called Chowchilla and finally got cell reception back!! I think I am way to attached to my internet.

We had a short drive so we stopped at a Walmart to restock our cool and snack box. As we started getting closer again the the south end of the Sierra Nevada mountains we saw lots of orange trees and we realized when had not had any California oranges yet! David saw a sign for a fruit stand and stopped. The guy inside was from Mexico and a little hard to understand but he was very nice and let us try a bunch of stuff! I loved the oro blanco, its a cross between an orange and a grapefruit. Its more grapefruit like and the best I have ever had! We bought two of them and quite a few of strange looking little tangerines. They look wilted and bad but they are wonderful, seedless and very easy to peal.

Rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Look close and you can see the snow covered tips of the mountains.

Mountains and Palm trees!!!

Cool little fruit stand, not the one we stopped at though.

The view while driving was beautiful most of the time.

Last day in Yosemite......3-9-11

Our last day in Yosemite. We were so excited to see what we thought was Frazzel Ice the day before that we decided to get up really early and go back to Lower Yosemite falls to see if it was there. We started the same hike but didn't see any Frazzel Ice :( We started back but decided to take the path to the right this time and go to the bottom of the falls. I am so glad we did!! It was beautiful and we were almost alone. The light hit just right to make a rainbow. We stayed for a while then came back to the hotel. We made lunch then headed back into the park. We had pretty much seen everything that we wanted to, or could since some of the roads were closed for winter. We just wandered around looking at things and taking pictures. We ended up back at the Tunnel View of the whole valley, then we drove by El Capitan again. Jacob begged to stop at "our place" again. We ended up being there quite a while. This last day was soul renewing for me. We didn't have anywhere we 'needed' to be and we took it at a much slower pace sucking up the sun and nature. When standing in such big and beautiful surroundings it makes you want to be a part of it even more. We talked and decided that we have beautiful places at home and we are determined to explore Red River Gorge more this spring and summer and to find "our place" there. I want to spend more time outside doing our school.

I have to say that Anthony has really been fun this trip, well at least after he started wearing the right shoes for hiking :) Jacob and Michael have really been at each other, that is new for our trips :( While they do that at home, our trips are usually wonderful. Everyone except me has had a cold though and that may be the reason.

Lower Yosemite Falls in the early morning sunshine.

The Rock Arch entrance to Yosemite.

Boys soaking up the view.

Anthony was all smiles until he saw me taking a picture. He thinks not smiling is cool.

Look closely at the tree on the right.

A huge pine cone we found at our hotel.

Yosemite day 2

We got up on Tuesday and headed back into the park. It was clearer today and no fog. We drove around and saw all the main things again without fog :) We also found the road that takes you up to a view of the whole valley.....WOW.

We also hiked a trail for a closer look at Lower Yosemite Falls. On the way there we saw what looked like the remnants of Frazzel Ice in a stream.

We had lunch at a little deli/store inside the park. We all got chili. The boys thought it was wonderful but I think it was just because we were so cold :)

We also stopped by a small waterfall that we found the day before. We love this little area, it doesn't have a name but it has a stream a waterfall and LOTS of rocks for climbing. I took lots of pictures of the boys there.

We bought some hamburger patties to make in our room and had dinner there again. Having the little kitchen has been great. We are eating almost every meal there.

Our favorite spot at Yosemite.

View of the whole valley. You can see Bridal Veil Falls, Half Dome and El Capitan.

Mule Deer.

Tired boys.

Frazzel Ice leftovers.

Half Dome

On the way back to the hotel.

We got up this morning and drove to Yosemite National Park. Our hotel is right outside the park. Our room has a kitchenette and boy did that turn out for the best. There is a rustaurant but it is very expensive and isn't very good. We drove into Yosemite Valley and tall granite mountains are all around you, with the Merced River flowing down the valley. It is breath taking. We hiked up a short trail to Bridal Veil Falls. It is snowy here and the trail was very slick. Good think it was only a half of a mile hike. We drove fathre up the vaelley and saw El Capitan and Half Dome. The boys did the junior ranger program amd got their badges. We came back to the when it started getting dark. The boys swam in the indoor pool and then we made dinner int he room. It was a great day, just a little rain and fog. Tomorrow is suppose to be a little cloudy and no rain :)

Snow covered peaks everywhere!!!!

El Capitan

Coyote walking beside the road.

Merced River

Bridal Veil falls

Upper Yosemite and Lower Yosemite Falls

Horse Tail Falls with a snow cone underneath.

Another picture with John Muir....he was a great guy!!

Half Dome