Yosemite : California

Having missed an opportunity to tour into the Yosemite National Park last time we were here, we decided it was a must do for this time round. but obviously not having a huge budget, we opted to just take a day trip to the park and also to view the giant sequoias (second largest redwood forests in the world).

Our options were basically to take a huge motor coach, travel in more space, or take a small mini van and travel with less people, but slightly more cramped. we took the second option and found it to be fine, eventually working out that by van, we could get there quicker and spend more actual time in the park.

Leaving early from the hotel pickup, we journeyed out through the Californian countryside with the driver / tour operator giving us bits of info along the way. the group was about 20 in size, so it was easy to move throughout the day. heading up through the local Sierra Nevada hills, along the major highways, we headed out through rolling fields of wind farms, placed here to capture the year round winds moving from the hot interior around the cold fog laden coast. amazing to notice these farms had been started in the 70s. unfortunately most of the 3 hour journey up to Yosemite can't be easily photographed from a speeding van if you know what i mean lol.

Heading out over the Bay Bridge, through Oakland, Over the hills and into the San Joaquin valley, the ride was pleasant. the valley itself is the fruit bowl of california, a flat valley floor that provides fertile lands for agriculture, due to a thick topsoil layer created during the last major fault movement (ocean floor rising to become a valley). everywhere you looked, it was fields of corn, orchids, fruits, veg and the famous almonds. the driver mentioned how well everything was doing, i felt like chiming in and saying .... is that before or after the current bee crisis, combined with the growing water shortage?

Moving up from the valley, we began to climb into the Yosemite National Park. the vegetation began to change gradually as well, to alpine pines and oaks, granite outcrops and winding switch backs. moving away from the fog bitten coast and low temps, and into the warm mountains, around 32C.

To say the scenery is amazing is an understatement. you can easily see why this was one of the first Parks to be reserved for conservation back in the days of the civil war no less. giant valleys, monstrous granite peaks, waterfalls and fauna at every turn. it was amazing to finally be out here, though unfortunately everyone else was out at the same time. as with most sites, i guess were learning its best to arrive early morning, or stay overnight, and experience the real peacefulness without the rush. moving through the carved valley, we took in lunch and a few scenic walks. ending the day with a journey to see a patch of giant Sequoia trees (Redwood forests) hundreds of years old, its hard to imagine them starting as mer seeds, fragile seedlings to emerge as huge towers. a beautiful day out, but slightly rushed. if we had the time and budget i'd love to journey out there for a day or two overnight.