Everything Under the Moon

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YOSEMITE ♡ Hey ya'll I was fortunate enough to get camping reservations in Yosemite way back in February, 6 months from then (which is as far out as the will reserve) was during the fourth of July Holiday. Mom went, daughter, her beau, me husband and self.
OMG! I had NO idea how crowded it would be just to get into the Valley. It took no less than an hour and a half to get to the entrance station on hwy 41 once it started backing up.
Daughter and husband walked on the side of the road (something about getting her "steps" in) while the cars inched along, many other folks were walking too. Semi dangerous trying to go around cars that had stalled when we're only moving 3 feet at a time! Oncoming traffic was wary.
At last we made the entry, mom waved her magical golden age pass and we were in for free, daughter and beau had to pay $30.oo for their vehicle. (Doesn't seem so long ago it was just $3.oo) We drove the meandering twisty road without issue until we were about to hit the Wawona tunnel. We slowed a great deal when all of a sudden we stopped just after entering the tunnel. Dang, this did not bode well for my anxiety. The tunnel is about a mile long. Almost had to bolt. Considered asking husband to jump into the drivers seat so I could run out of the tunnel. But I powered through. The view as you exit the tunnel is stunning, (like the photo above and in the video) The bumper to bumper traffic stayed as such all the way to the campground. That took about 3 hours, absolutely insane. There were people everywhere trying to park in all kinds of crazy places. Turns out much of these people were there for day use The drive from entry station to campsite should have been just under an hour.

Here's a quick trip through the tunnel. I remember a gang of teenagers were riding their skateboards through the tunnel at midnight, this was in the 80's. That would be a rough ride, it's downhill cement with big gaps between sections, wet, dark and completely dangerous, believe the park service cracked down on that...
(I just changed out this video, there are lots to choose from, this one was what it was like when we were there. The traffic was terrible just like this video, yet the view when you exit this longest tunnel in California is breath taking!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYuvaXtoEXc

...as they did jumping from Stoneman bridge and other bridges in the Valley.
https://mather.photoshelter.com/image/I0000iBna2RiC9p8
This photo is pretty much how it was on any given day in the Summer. I started jumping in 1974. Not sure I could do it now, LoL, I looked over the edge this trip and thought what in tarnation!
Last time I went to Yosemite was October of 2005, that's the last vacation with my Dad before he passed from Alzheimer's. It was a glorious trip, crowds were really minimal, no traffic whatsoever. Hard to believe we were trodding down the path to Vernal Falls and he would be dead exactly 6 months later.

This time we had bikes and rafts and lounge chairs...time to kick back and recreate!
IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH THE EFFORT
Photos to follow

Here is a bit of a photo stream of our trip, with comentary here and there.

Our camp was close to the restroom, and everyone else but we spent very little time in camp so that was of little consiquence. The side of restroom did make for a good area to have wiffleball park no one wanted their tent that close! And the open area was a great star gazing portal. My device keeps telling me it can't complete action because of low memory (mine? Lol!) when I put these 2 pictures in....but they got in this time. Any ideas how to remedy this? It would be a bummer if I couldn't post more, I have some great pics. These 2 really aren't the best.
Bb, Ahwahneebird

Welp...
Let's see if using a different browser will have enough memory to post some pictures!

MIRROR LAKE
One day the kids (ha! I call them kids but they're in their 30's. ..my daughter and beau) decided they were going to hike to the top of Yosemite Falls. They left around 10 o'clock and said we should be back right around lunch time... I kind of cocked my head and looked at her and said, "are you sure"? "that's a really long hike and you gain about 3,000 feet" ...the boyfriend looked at me and kind of shook his head said "yeah we can do it". He had done it before and wasn't letting on to my daughter about the really strenuous hike that it is. They headed off and Mom, husband and I went for a hike to Mirror Lake it was only about a mile and a half from our Campground and really nice paved path for my mom to stroll on or saunter as she likes to say.

Well...maybe I can't make a pic come up

Whoo Hooo it worked! Back soon for comentary hahaha do you feel like your at a slide show?
(Ummm, maybe some of you don't know about that )

Loved seeing the photos! Yosemite is truly magickal! [HEAVY BLACK HEART]️
Sarina

Thanks Sarina, the photo up load went well, so I'll try for more There's another walk through fireplace across the lounge!

Bb, Firebird

Ha
Ok that's an attempt at uploading the panoramic shot!
Bb, Firebird

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

Its a little melancholy for me viewing this bridge this trip. So quiet now, unlike the old days when it was a jumping party every day of summer. Beautiful peaceful and serene replaces screaming, laughing, jumping, diving, splashing, people all over the banks and drinking on tbe bridge.
Crazy fun memories.

Well, its taken a long time to get these photos out, check back occasionally I will be adding some information about the park in between the photo stream that I placed here.
Yosmite Valley is the most incomparable Valley perhaps in the world. .. if you ever get the opportunity to go, I highly recommend it.
many blessings,
Firebird

Beautiful scenery!

Thanks for sharing. It's been like a tiny vacation.

Excuse my poor geography knowledge, I saw yosemite and thought it was a valley in Japan.

Wow... wonderful place. I'd like to experience a camp in another country, the kind where I can star gaze at night... I'd be afraid of bugs though. Thank you for sharing your trip, gives me some positive energy (and the itch to travel!)

Welp, 4 years ago this week we were here. Love this place