Day 40 August 20th A Day at Yosemite.

Day 40 August 20th A Day at Yosemite.
It was an early start to a very long day. We were travelling to Yosemite National park; 180 miles away with a travelling time of 3hours 40 minutes according to Google. The tour bus was due at 5:45am at the Hotel; it arrived at 5:50am. We were up early enough to be able to shower and enjoy a cup of tea and biscuits; we bought a couple of sandwiches at Starbucks across the road and ate them on the bus. The bus then toured around San Francisco picking up another 23 passengers before we entered the expressway at 7am to start the journey to Yosemite National Park; our driver was a young, polite and casually dressed young man with long hair. Just before we entered the expressway we passed through a lawless district nicknamed the “Tenderloin District” so called because the Police were reluctant to be there as it was dangerous for them but were enticed back by butchers who would give them free tenderloin meat. This according to Shaun our driver. The surface of the expressway was surprisingly rough so much so that I could not hold my camera steady to take photographs as we passed through Oakland. Here Marijuana has been legalised and licences to grow are issued by the local Authority. The expressway varied in width up to seven lanes; it was busy but free flowing. Soon we were clear of the built up area driving through rolling hill country covered with golden prairie grass; this was San Francisco’s six month dry period so there was not much green grass except where it was irrigated. On the hills were small ancient electricity windmills; apparently they were the first in California. Driver Shaun said that the towers vibrated the ground which attracted small rodents which were set upon by rare and protected eagles; some of the eagles would get killed by the windmill’s rotating blades and this caused concern to the local controlling authority. Soon the hills were replaced with rich fertile plains of the Napa Valley; corn, grape vines, and almond trees were grown. According to Shaun 80% of Americas almonds were grown here. Some dairy cows could also be seen in paddocks; they were also housed in large cow barns similar to what are proposed for New Zealand’s Mackenzie Country. At 8:30am we stopped at Oakdale for a half hour comfort and refreshments. At a supermarket we bought some bananas and peaches; the peaches were large and sweet. At 9am we continued our journey; we left the plains and started climbing steadily; at one stage the road became steep and very windy somewhat like our Crown Range Road only more so; every now and then our driver would pull into a “pullout” so that faster moving drivers could pass; he was a very courteous driver.
We reached the toll gates of the park at around 11am; we stopped at a refuelling and refreshment stop in a beautiful tall pine forest. Nineteen minutes later we had our first photo stop overlooking a large river valley between huge granite rock faces.
Our second photo stop was by the roadside high above a river meandering through very high, smooth granite cliffs. We then drove into the river valley and stopped beneath El Capitan; a huge 3000 feet (910metres) vertical smooth granite cliff; Shaun says it is very popular with rock face climbers. Some take two days and get some sleep on the way up in special hammocks which they haul up for the purpose.
Next we had to walk through open bush for about ¼ hour to see the 188 metre Bridalveil fall. The strong winds at its top whisked the falling water into a veil like cloud.
At 1:40 pm we stopped for lunch at the park headquarters. Here we were entertained by a little squirrel. It was not frightened of us and stood erect on its haunches as if asking for food. I gave it some bread but it did not like it; i followed with lettuce which it held between its little paws and ate it. It was cute.
At 2:30 we headed for the Sequoia trees; our last stop. We reached the site at 3pm. We had to walk about 2½ miles down a gentle slope to see them. The tree with a square hole cut through it that is often pictured in books is now dead but still standing. Our driver said that cutting the hole killed it. After taking a picture of Fay in the hole we started the long climb back up the hill. The hill seemed steeper on our return to the bus; after a few rest stops we made it back to the bus. At 6pm we had another comfort and meal break at Oakdale; the sun was still shining and the temperature was very hot; we finally reached our hotel around 9pm; a little tired but happy.
Try this website.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100318093300.htm