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Published: July 16th 2009
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July 3rd continued
Started our trip towards Yosemite. It turned out to be a drive in very hot and what we first thought was very barren country. But even though it looked barren when looking closer it was fields that had been harvested already. And as Tine read in the travel guide, The San Joaquin valley is one of most productive agricultural areas in the world. They grow not only wheat and corn but all kinds of fruits such as Plums, Peaches, Nectarines, Watermelons etc. and of course raisins as Fresno is the raisin city of the world. This is of course only possible due to a very good irrigation system and water management. Stopped once to buy some cherries and a watermelon from a guy standing at the road. It was like hitting a wall getting out of the car. Very unpleasant when you get a hot-hot wind in your mouth, it's almost as if you can't breath.
Thus we decided that even though it turned out not too be barren it wasn't a place we would like to live in.
The road started climbing upwards as we were nearing the Sierra Nevada and soon we had
trees and small towns like Coarsegold and Oakhurst where we stopped to buy some groceries before finding our lodgings for the next 3 nights.
And were we pleasantly surprised! The Tenaya Lodge was a big place but we didn't have a room in the main lodge but in a cottage about 150 m from the main house. There were 3 rooms in each cottage and the were placed so far apart that you didn't bother each other. And we had a lovely balcony with big trees around it and squirrels on the ground and huge cones from the giant Sequoias. Wonderful. We just ate some of the stuff we had bought in Oakhurst and Tine and Paul sat on the balcony injoying the quiet until it was too cold even with jackets and a blanket.
July 4th
A big day for the locals, but as it turned out those who really want to celebrate 4th of July don't go to Yosemite!
Paul woke up like a bear coming out hypernation, grumpy and starving. We went to the main lunch for their breakfast buffet and what a feast for not only the stomach but also the eye.
Paul started his marathon breakfast; 1. bacon, sausages, potatoes and scrambled eggs, 2. Fruit, fruit, fruit, 3. pancakes and syrup, 4. and to end it all a small croissant. By the end he had becomes almost human again.
We went to Mariposa Grove to see the big Sequoias as the first sight here in Yosemite. Bought a year card which will give us access to all the national parks for 80 $. A good price. And everyone was highly impressed. The Kauris of New Zealand cannot compare in size. We took the hike to the top of the trail and it was if not long then at least very, very hot and very steep. We saw deer, squirrels, beautiful birds and butterflies which were huge. And of course the big, big trees. Luckily there was water at the museum - which was not very interesting by the way - so we could survive our trip back.
Went further into the park to Glacier Point which is a view point over Yosemite Valley. As soon as we had droven off the main road we were met by signs saying 'smoke on the road' and 'managed fires - do not
report'. And yes there was fire. All the way up to the pavement. So we were driving through a smouldering undergrowth with smoke and somtimes flames. A bit strange. We later learned that the fire had started in April by lightning and the fireworkers had continued it up until now burning some 2500 acres of unwanted bush and smaller trees. There are three reasons for these managed fires: Firstly, if they don't do something about the bush it is like fuel if a real bush fire starts; secondly, a lot of the bush and trees are not welcome because they make it harder for the Sequoias and other more attractive tree sorts to grow; thirdly, the Sequoias need the heat/fire to open their seeds and reproduce just like the gum trees in Australia.
And this was all of it very interesting but it had a downside to it. The smoke! It covered a very large area blurring the fantastic view over the valley. We could still see the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls and the Half Dome but it was like a fog was lying over the area and it was quite impossible to take any good pictures. Pity
but nothing we could have known or done anything about.
Went back to our lodgings and saw a coyote passing the road. Eskil and Freja spent a couple of hours in the pool. Had dinner at the main lodge. Eskil, Freja and Paul had the best burger ever and Eskil ate EVERYTHING on the plate and almost the plate itself. Sat an hour on the balcony and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
July 5th
After our delicious breakfast we drove towards the Valley to see the sights there. Some places look exactly like Norway and then some are so different.
Stopped at the Bridal Veil falls and walked up the trail to get a better look. Paul, Eskil and Freja took the riverstones back and Tine was boring and just walked on the trail.
Went a bit further and stopped several times to look at the beauty though still foggy in the distance. Walked to the Lower Yosemite Falls and climbed on the rocks and dipped our feet in the very cold and refreshing water together with the rest of the crowd. Tine is quite certain she saw the cabins she stayed in with
her mother and father in April 1970!!!! Asked Birgit and she said we had been there in April - a time of year with hardly anybody else there and we had sat on a meadow in front of the cabins eating lunch and looking at bear cubs playing. None of that this time. We found it rather crowded in the Valley and were glad that our accommodation were so quiet and secluded.
Drove back to give the children a bit longer in the pool today as we had a looooooong drive ahead of us tomorrow. Had dinner here again and went back to pack.
July 6th
Tine, Paul and Freja went to have breakfast and check out, but Eskil was allowed to stay in bed and sleep a little more. We were pleasantly surprised when we payed our bill. they had given us a 23 $ discount on breakfast everyday. we can highly recommend Tenaya Lodge. Very nice place to stay and a fantastic service - extremely pleasant personnel. Eating out in Denmark will from now on always be a turn off because of the lousy and sometimes even unpleasant manner of the waiters.
Managed to
drive away by 10 am. We had a very short stop in Oakhurst because Tine wanted to buy a book of Yosemite and Freja found some books. Three books with three volumes in each for a merely 30 $.
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