OMG...Yosemite!

Yosemite National Park seems to be a place deliberately laid out to capture all the splendour and amazement Mother Nature could possibly muster.  From massive granite formations to crashing waterfalls, green meadows and quiet reflective pools, the place just seemed to have it all. 

All of us below Lower Yosemite Falls. 
Our first day was spent on bicycles
taking in the sights.

 

We spent the first day exploring the Valley on hire push bikes.  They were a great way to get around.  We parked them at the trail head of some of the shorter walks (Mirror Lake, Lower Yosemite Falls and Happy Isles) and did the hike from there.  The crowds were pretty small but most of the guide books say the place is full of visitors after the Memorial Day weekend (last Sunday in May).



Dougal at Happy Isles.





Our first day biking around Yosemite. 
Fi and Ferg with Half Dome in the background.



Mirror Lake - catching the
reflections of Half Dome.



Fi and Doogs at Happy Isles Bridge. 
Lunch on our first day in Yosemite.




 

 

 

 

 

 

We did a longer walk on our second day.  Fergus picked out the Mist Trail walk - about 13km all up but going past 2 spectacular waterfalls (Vernal and Nevada).  We were very proud of the boys as they kept going at what was a pretty difficult walk.  Most people had turned around and headed back at Vernal Falls so the track higher had far less people - certainly no children.  The views and sights of the water crashing over these massive granite cliffs were amazing.  We had certainly earned a drink by the end of it so we headed up to the very impressive Awahnee Hotel for a refreshment.  It was well worth the trip as the pictures at the link will show you.

 

Standing at the top of Vernal Falls. 
About halfway to Nevada Falls.



 

The aptly named 'Mist Trail '-

between Vernal and Nevada Falls.



 

 

Nevada Falls seemed to grow
more and more powerful as we hiked.



Pretty steep going in parts. 
Doogs completed all 12km.



  

The top of Nevada Falls.  The views (and
thunder of the water) were amazing.

 

Many more rivers to cross...