Yosemite National Park

We spent today at Yosemite.  It was beautiful, but pales in comparison to Zion & Bryce Canyon.  Zion National Park is still our favorite that we have visited so far.  We were rather surprised that the park was so busy today.  There were also several people camping there.  You can take smaller RVs in, but there were also several tents.  There is NO WAY I would stay there in a tent.  There are too many bears roaming around!

 

The Entrance...now 35 miles to the valley floor.

The base of a giant sequoia tree...

note the cars in the background.  This is in the

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

Bob at the base of a giant sequoia.  These trees are

HUGE!!!  Can't wait to visit Redwoods National Park

in a few days...

Another shot of Bob at the sequoia.

El Capitan with Half Dome off to the right

Bridalveil Fall

Cathedral Rocks

Half Dome

Bob at the Tunnel View of El Capitan, etc.

 

El Capitan & Half Dome

El Capitan

Bridalveil Fall

The Merced  River

Upper & Lower Yosemite Falls

The Merced River with waterfall in the background

A Few Shots From Our Travels Today

We left Lytle Creek, CA this morning and headed up to Bass Lake RV Resort in Bass Lake, CA.  This park is only 13 miles from the entrance to Yosemite National Park and we will be going there in the morning.  We had gawd-awful traffic this morning for a long way trying to get out of the metropolitan L.A. area.  I'm thinking we should have left later in the morning or on a Saturday or Sunday.  Oh, well...we survived it and had a nice drive through the mountains the rest of the way.

 

Moon over the mountain in Lytle Creek this morning.

 

Near Fresno, California

Between Fresno & Bass Lake

Sweet looking old Ford truck

Bass Lake RV Resort entrance

I thought this sign in the park near the playground was cute

Sadly, our last day in this area of California

This afternoon Paul & Cheryl drove out to our park in their 1967 Firebird.  Paul's uncle was a general foreman at Pontiac Motors and ordered this car in 1967 and followed it down the assembly line as it was being built.  Charlie & his wife retired to Florida and the car sat for many years.  He gave it to Paul and Paul had it shipped to California.  After many months (and lots of $$$) of restoration, it is now absolutely gorgeous.  It was originally gold, but Paul made the wise decision to change it to this color.  It was also great to see them one more time before we hit the road in the morning.

 

This evening we were watching TV and the blinds over the kitchen sink were open.  All of a sudden, I see someone jumping up and peeking in the window.  I thought maybe it was someone that had been fishing behind our 5th wheel.  Bob went to the door and it was Jamie, McKenzie, Shannon & Amber.  :-)  Jamie just couldn't resist visiting us one more time before we leave.  She is such a crazy kid!!! 

 

Tomorrow we are Yosemite bound and excited to see it!

 

 

Irwindale Speedway

We had a fun evening last night at Irwindale Speedway watching my cousin Gwen's granddaughter, McKenzie, race her bandolero car.  There were several of us there to cheer her on!  It was a great way to wind down our California visit.  It's hard to believe we've been here 2 weeks already and will be leaving for Yosemite National Park in the morning.  It's been such a wonderful visit and we've seen the entire family.  We are so fortunate to have cousins that are so welcoming and fun to be with!

 

 

The grandstands at Irwindale Speedway

McKenzie climbing out of her car

Gwen, Mari, Kenz, Stacie & Jamie

Bob with McKenzie

The front of her car

McKenzie with Dad, Mom & brother Michael

McKenzie with Grandma & Grandpa

The inside of her car...powered by Briggs & Stratton  :-)

#10 is in 2nd Place!!!

On the track

The "Legends" Cars

Skid plate...these are 4-cylinder front-wheel-drive

cars with skid plates welded to the rear wheels. It

was hilarious!  They were drifting all over the track. 

Skid Plate Racers

Jamie made me this blanket to remind me of my

nutty cousins in California.  :-)  So sweet!

McKenzie's Go Daddy jacket -

autographed by Danica Patrick

and her crew.

McKenzie

Roses from Paul

Bob came home from working at Highland Cycles today with these

beautiful roses that my cousin Paul sent for me.  He loves me!!! 

 

 

Another Wonderful Evening With My Cousins

We had another great evening with my cousins.  Tonight we met Paul, Cheryl, Paul II (aka: The Deuce), Wendy & Sarah at Chili's for dinner.  We had a great time and were so happy that we finally met up with Paul II, Wendy & Sarah.  Bob has been working at Paul's store with Paul II, but I had not seen him yet.  I can't believe how great my cousins treat us...it sure makes us feel good!!!  Tomorrow evening several of us are going to the races at Irwindale Raceway to watch McKenzie (Gwen's granddaughter) race her bandolero car.  Should be lots of fun!

 

 

 

Wendy & Sarah

Paul

Cheryl

The Deuce  :-)

The moon on the way home...I couldn't get a picture

of it when we got home because it's hiding behind

the mountains.  :-(

Clearman's North Woods Inn & LAX

This evening we went to LAX with Paul & Cheryl so they could see his uncle and his uncle's new wife while they had a 1 1/2 hr. layover on their way from San Francisco to Tampa, FL.  Unfortunately, their flight from SF was delayed and they had to immediately go to the gate for the next flight.  After all that, they didn't even get to say hello.  :-(  It was very disappointing, but at least his uncle knew they cared enough to be there.  On the way to LAX we went to dinner at Clearman's Northwoods Inn.  This restaurant is wonderful!  The food is excellent and the service is, too.  Of course, it helps that Paul & Cheryl know the waiter and he's been there for 33 years.  :-)   We had a great evening, in spite of the disappointing turn of events at the airport.

 

Paul in the truck on the way there.

A bear inside North Woods Inn

The sign out front

The outside of the restaurant - with fake snow on the roof.

Another view of the outside.

This tunnel goes under one of the runways at LAX.

Kind of strange!!!