Two Wonderful days in Yosemite
Day One was Saturday and we were Yosemite Valley before 8am, no mean feat as we were staying 55 minutes away. It was great to be there ahead of the crowd. We were wowed on the way in by El Capitan rising dramatically before us.

We started off with a walk to Mirror Lake, or as the driver on the shuttle bus called it, Mirror Puddle as it is summer time. But we still saw the reflections of the surrounding mountains in it, and by looking upwards too!



We did several other gentle walks, watching the professionals with all the gear head off on the serious trails. We thought it was all just beautiful, and so quiet – then the tourists arrived in their bus loads and the whole atmosphere of the place changed!
The Yosemite Falls


The Bridal Veil Falls

Some other photos from the morning


And a panorama

In the afternoon we went up to Glacier Point where we were on a level with the mountain tops, and could also look down on the valley and all its activity below. It was a long drive up there and we went through mist and fog, and arrived at Glacier Point more in hope rather than anything else, but things had cleared quite a bit and we spent ages just standing, looking round and taking it all in.



On the way back down things had cleared enough for us to see the scene from Tunnel View.

It was an amazing day. We were delighted we had arrived so early and had some precious quiet time first thing. The crowds rather spoiled things by late morning!
We had moments of distant clarity as well as quite a bit of cloud, and indeed smog, as there is a fire burning at one end of the park. We said our farewells to the Valley and were rewarded by another amazing view of El Capitan as we left.

Day Two and we were up and off early again, this time to take the Tioga Pass through the park and out the other end. We started it in mist and smog and were not at all optimistic that we were going to see much of anything. Then all of a sudden, halfway through the journey everything cleared and we had the most wonderful views, and the terrain was very different from the Valley.
We sat for ages on some rocks.



then went on a bit and sat by a lake,


and then by the meadows.

Then we saw more amazing rocks, mountains and lakes. At one point we were above what remains of the snow line, how the snow was still there in all the heat is a mystery!




We headed down the mountainside and out of the park.

We won't forget our two days in Yosemite in a hurry.
