Yosemite, Part 2

Continuing the Yosemite saga - Part 1 was here - we spent the second day sightseeing and, boy oh boy, were there some gorgeous sites. This is what we looked like most of the time - Bill and Carolyn are photography nuts, so we had electronic viewfinders plastered to our faces most of the day. And what were we viewing? Yosemite Falls - With all the rain California had this year, the falls were full, loud and beautiful.

Bridal Vail Falls - The Ansel Adams Gallery - with some of the only flowers we saw in the valley. I was surprised at how few flowering plants we saw; there was very little snow still on the ground - mostly small patches in well shaded areas - and everything was beautifully green, but no flowers anywhere. It just seemed odd.

To me, the most interesting thing we saw was in front of the chapel (wouldn't you love to get married here?? As we were driving out on Saturday, we saw a wedding party about to enter the building.) The sign marks the height of flood waters on January 2, 1997. It's hard to imagine the valley being that far under water. Most of the changes that Mother Nature made that year are being left as they are. Several camp grounds were washed away; one meadow I especially remember from previous visits is gone.

Some things are still there and better than ever. Next up . . . .The Ahwahanee.