Groveland & Yosemite

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Groveland and Yosemite 22nd September 2008


Groveland is an old gold mining town, twenty three miles east of the Yosemite National Park in the Stanislaus Forest. It is one of the old “Forty Niner’s towns” with most of the original buildings intact, including the saloon and hotels still used as such. We got here three nights ago and are staying another three, camping. It is absolutely freezing at night, not surprising at this altitude in the mountains, but we are cosy enough in our rented tent and the surrounding pinewoods are beautiful. The first two nights were noisy, the little town had its annual “49ers Festival” (some pretty good live music) so last night we slept like logs to make up for it!

Yesterday was our first visit to Yosemite itself and, like most tourists, we headed straight for Yosemite Valley, claimed as the jewel in the crown. We were a little bit disappointed, probably because it was Sunday and busy; also because, having driven for miles and miles across the Sierra Nevada, without hardly seeing another living sole, we had already seen lots of mountain, forest and deep canyon untouched by tourists. Yosemite Valley is certainly beautiful, although it lacks the awe-inspiring grandeur of the Grand Canyon and the tranquillity of the Sequoia. Tomorrow we are heading to Northern Yosemite, a bit more off the beaten track to see what it is like. We suspect that it is going to be closer to our expectations.
One piece of advice we can offer to other travellers heading this way is not to bother with rented so-called “tent cabins” in Yosemite Valley. We had previously met a young Dutch couple, a few weeks ago, who gave us this advice (the best thing about travelling is talking to other travellers and exchanging tips). Whilst in the valley yesterday, we went to look at these camps and, as we had been told, they were awful. Over-priced dingy-looking tents packed in tight rows, on what can only be described as a dusty car park; reminding us of the old lyrics “The day Paradise put up a parking lot”! If we hadn’t met the Dutch couple, we would have headed that way. Instead, we have better facilities in a great little location for less than half the price. We are now off to explore a nearby lake and then back to the camp for a barbecue and some Californian wine. Tomorrow, we need to get up early for the winding mountain drive up to Tuolumne Meadows in the Northern Yosemite. We haven’t seen any more Black Bears yet, but saw a stag yesterday, another coyote and lots of squirrels; it was my birthday yesterday too, so quite special. Not a bad place to turn 61, high in the Sierra Nevada in California. I count myself as very lucky!

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Photos

Groveland
Main Street

El Capitan
Stunning "El Capitan" taken from Yosemite Valley

The Merced
The Merced River in Yosemite Valley

The Dome
The Dome, Yosemite Valley

Stag
Stag in Yosemite

Our tent
Rented tent, Groveland