A day 'In the Mist'



Selling GS Cookies at the Pancake Breakfast

 Oakhurst is a small community at the southern entrance to Yosemite.  We spent the night at a lovely hotel and started our 'Yosemite' day out by going to a Pancake Breakfast that the Kiwanis club in Oakhurst holds 9 times a year as a fund raising effort.  As a bonus for me - the Girl Scouts were also there - selling their extra cookies and I did my best to help them out.  It has been years since I have had any girl scout cookies and I find it amazing that there are still so many that I use to sell myself - although I will admit that the prices have certainly changed (I remember that a box was $.35 when I was selling - not the $4 price that they are now...).  I got my Mints and Peanut Butter Sandwiches as well as a few others.  As an added good fortune - Karen isn't that interested in the cookies (except the peanut butter sandwiches) so looks like I will get my fill.  Karen found the idea of a Pancake Breakfast the most fascinating.  She truly enjoyed the atmosphere of sharing breakfast with locals and really enjoyed the experience.

After a very filling breakfast, we left for Yosemite.  Arriving at the park - we were told that all the normal winter closures were in effect but that the rest was open.  We wouldn't be able to go as far as the north entrance on Rte 120 as you need snow chains but could go out of the park through the centre entrance - so with that in mind - we were off.  The one thing that was unfortunate for us was the weather that day.  It was rainy and cloudy - so we were in mist most of the day.  I thought that it would put a damper on our visit - but found that even with low cloud cover the views were amazing.   The one memory we will take with us is the waterfalls that were happening all over with the snows melting in the spring thaw starting.  We will include some pictures just to give you an idea of the kind of day we experienced. 



The waterfalls were all over the park - some of them are there year round - others are brought about from the spring thaw - but either way - it was absolutely marvelous to see.  We also ran into some local park residents - who were out raking around for a meal.  This is but one of the pictures of mule deers who live in the park.  We found them all along the route - and frequently had to stop as they leisurely crossed the road.  They certainly aren't afraid of us...

On our way through the park - Karen and I decided to stop and take in the Bridalveil Falls - which is a short - but steep walk from the road.  On our way up to the falls - we realised that it probably wasn't our best decision as the walkway was covered in ice and trying to walk uphill on ice is not easy.  We ended up going off the walk way and trying to get up there 'cross country'.   This may sound like a good idea - but we found while it was hard but ok going up - coming back down was horrible.  We watched a gentleman run down the hill trying desperately to stay upright and realised we were never going to manage it.  So back to the cross country trekking - although it wasn't as easy as we lost site of the path (the path wasn't near as obvious as the falls were going up) and even got a bit lost.  We were stuck trying to get through the forest back to the car.  One would have thought my old girl scout training would have come in handy - obviously I forgot more than I realised.   The falls were breathtaking - but had we known how many more we were going to see as we drove through the park - perhaps we would have bypassed the opportunity.  Glad we didn't though... 

After our time in Yosemite - we were then left to decide what to do next.  The original hope was to find a route over the Sierra Nevada's so that we could return slowly to Vegas on the east side of the mountain range using the US 395 to go south.  We had booked the first two nights - but now were left to decide how best to return.  We travelled north from Yosemite - but found that we couldn't find any hotels/motels that looked appealing.  Finally Karen decided that she would use her best negotiating techniques and if we can't get a nice room - at least get a cheap room.  With that in mind - we ended up stopping at 3 or 4 places - with Karen checking out the rooms, trying to get the best price.  We finally decided on a small cabin - just north of Sonora on our way to Angel's Camp.  She did well as we got $40 off the normal price - which personally - I can't complain about. 

So on Monday morning - we start north -  hoping for a way across the mountain range.  We had been without any access to the Internet where we had stayed the evening before - so we stopped as soon as we got a signal and checked the Internet for road conditions.  Now - you may say - why didn't you do this sooner?  I agree it would have been a good idea - but we didn't.  Now that we do - we discover that there isn't a route across other than I 80 much further north - so rather than drive the extra miles/time - we decide to head back south the way we came.  Glad we did - as we got the call telling us that the motor home is ready and waiting for when we return.  We decide to make it a very long day and drive the full distance back to Vegas - which ended up to be around 530 miles.  We pulled into Vegas around 8:30 that night - checked into (where else but) Sam's Town - this time the hotel.  Tired - but glad that we would be back in the motor home tomorrow.