Friday, May 5, 2017

Jodee Finally Sees Yosemite!

April 29 - May 5, 2017
Fresno, California

Other than one brief venture outside, I didn't see any of Bakersfield during my convalescence. 

Monday morning we're back on Highway 99 heading north to a family stop in Fresno.

Bill's cousin and her family have a large lot beside their house and we squeeze through the gate for a few nights of moochdocking. Water and 15 amp and we're good.

Unfortunately it's the hottest week of the season so far and nights without AC are a bit rough. But it's wonderful to spend some time with them, and with Bill's mom who lives nearby.

I get no pics of the family so of course we'll have to come back :-)

One afternoon we go with cousin Cindy and Mom to the Forestiere Underground Garden. I've seen signs for it for years, but never had the chance to visit.

What a unique place to explore. The tour is about an hour and tells an amazing story of one man's dream to build an underground resort. Dug mostly by hand and then rebuilt with the hard pan rocks, it includes a large ballroom (finished by his family after Baldassare passed away), a small living area, outdoor bathtub, and several small garden rooms with dozens of trees and vines.


One of many citrus trees - all are full of fruit.

Cindy navigates Mom through the narrow passages - lots of "Pull your elbows in."

He kept fish here and could watch them from the small room below.

Luxury bathing.

Large ballroom used for family events and presentations on the grounds.

At 95 degrees above ground, we really appreciate the genius of underground living in Fresno.

A driveway to the ballroom was planned but not completed.
I've lived in California my whole life and have never been to Yosemite National Park. Crazy, I know! Thursday we remedy this with a 90 minute drive out of Fresno. Bill backpacked here in the '80's and camped here when he was a kid, but it's been a long time since he was last here.

The number of dead and dying trees throughout the mountains here is depressing and sad. The polyfagous shot hole borer is the nasty little (seriously, the size of a sunflower seed) beetle that is destroying thousands of acres of pine trees throughout California, and there's no sign of slowing it down. Makes me so sad that I didn't see the area before the horrible devastation.

But as the day continues, I'm very glad that I'm getting to see the park after so much rain and snow. The main waterfalls are massive, and there are additional waterfalls everywhere we look - ones that most people never get to see.

Although there are hordes of people here on a weekday before Memorial Day, we do manage to find enough places to park to see what we want to see. The road to Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point is closed, and expected to remain closed through July due to flooding. There is so much water!


First view of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View - breathtaking! 
Half-Dome on the left, Bridal Veil Falls on the right.

We avoid the crowds at the wet and slippery base of Bridal Veil, but can feel the spray from here.

At least three tributaries carry torrents of water from the falls.

An additional benefit is that it's too loud for people to talk.

Parts of the parking lot are covered in the overflow.
Just to the right of the tree....

.....a rare falls makes its way down the rock.

A calm section of the nearly overflowing Merced River.

Upper Yosemite Falls with the tip of Lower Yosemite Falls starting at the bottom.

The cascading water is mesmerizing.

El Capitan.

Half-Dome.
Falling water crashes through trees on the side of a mountain.

Green meadows add more natural beauty.

Hard to believe we were "just" in the desert!
Dressed up like a Bristlecone Pine

They're everywhere - so many falls!
Lots of Dogwood in bloom on the drive in and out of the park, but I fail to get a decent pic. The blooms glow in the bright sunshine.
I can't believe I waited 60 years to see this wondrous place. The crowds are definitely a turn-off, and I doubt I would ever want to stay in the park, but visiting is a must-do. I know I'll be back - it must be amazing in the Fall!

Friday I am finally feeling 100% and after a morning visit with Mom, we're ready to continue north on our way to Oregon.


Jodee, Anne and Bill
The drive is un-eventful except for a couple drivers who don't understand the concept of merging into traffic :-((.

We get set up at the parking lot that is Cal Expo RV Park. We're here for the location and the full-hookups, and are looking forward to a few more California visits with old friends.




24 comments:

  1. Yosemite's falls are spectacular!! Wow! What a perfect year to finally visit. Too bad that areas are closed for all the water. Great visit and lovely photos!! The underground house and garden are so cool! We stayed at Cal Expo RV Park when we were there to visit Sacramento. It was a perfect location. There is a great bike path from the RV Park into Old Sacramento.

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    1. It was like the proverbial post card day! We have so many people to get caught up while we're here, I think this will be a great spot for us :-)

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  2. Beautiful pictures of Yosemite. I guess everyone else wanted to see the superfalls too. I wonder if there is ever a time when it isn't so horribly crowded? Middle of winter I suppose. John Muir might not be so pleased with everyone wanting to get the "glad tidings". Very very sad about the pines. In the east it's the pine bark beetle. Ate the Bristlecones in danger?

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    1. This is the pine bark beetle as well :-( Bill remembers the big falls being even more crowded many years ago, one of the reasons he hasn't returned in so long, so I'm afraid it is always crowded.

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  3. Glorious! Love that you got to see Yosemite in a wet year!

    Judging by how full the Truckee River is here in Reno, it's going to be interesting as we pass through the Northern California mountains in the next couple of weeks!

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    1. We're headed for a stop in Lassen where I expect there will be lots of water too. Such a glorious change from our first route north along the coast when it was so awful dry.

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  4. In those temps especially good idea to have underground housing, as long as some light gets in. LOVE the bathtub. The falls are so amazing. You picked a great time to visit Yosemite as I'm sure the crowds only get worse into summer. I've only driven through this park once, and way too fast.

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    1. It was amazingly light in most of the tunnels - lots of cones opening to the sky throughout. They say they close the gates during many summer days due to overcrowding.

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  5. Oh how I miss California! Brings back memories of when my Grandfather and I would travel there to camp and be one with nature. I'm so happy to see all the water! ❤️

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    1. I still can't believe my dad and I never camped here - we were in the eastern Sierras every summer!

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  6. The underground garden looks great. The number of people in Yosemite are definitely disappointing but the amount of water is crazy. We loved Lassen. Hope you have a good time.

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    1. The water is wonderful :-)))) Looking forward to Lassen!

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  7. Yosemite is always an awesome visit, and your photos capture that. We camped a week in the Valley last month and altho it may look like an unpleasant experience, it's not. The history the beauty are all all around and once on the trails the crowds thin out quickly, but yes the waterfalls of the valley are the big draw and you picked the right year to see them.

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    1. Thanks Jeff :-) Every campground was full as were every parking lot, but I'm glad to hear it isn't too bad when staying there. So beautiful!

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  8. The last time I was at Yosemite I was seven years old. What an amazing year for you to visit, with the incredible amount of water in the falls (and in the river, and the parking lot....). I need to get over my aversion to crowds and just go. Looks like you had another sweet visit with Bill's mom. That underground house is interesting -- he dug that place by hand?? Whoa. Dude was busy.

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    1. Dude was crazy busy as he also worked fulltime for others! I realize that there are places I'm not going to see if I don't brave a crowd or two - or bad weather when no one else wants to go. This was one place where I'm especially glad we just went for it!

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  9. Well, now I don't feel so deprived if someone who lived in California all her life has never seen Yosemite, then it's not so bad that I haven't! How cool you finally get to see Yosemite with so much water flowing! Pine bark beetles have done the same thing all over Montana--it's sad to see and creates so much fodder for those dang forest fires!

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    1. Yes, you're forgiven :-) But you really should take a peak at least once!

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  10. We haven't been to Yosemite either. Awesome waterfalls! The underground house is interesting...love the citrus tree picture! Safe travels north!

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    1. You guys will love it, even with some crowds it's worth the trip. Those citrus trees were all so lush and full of fruit. Might be something to putting them underground!!

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  11. Yosemite is gorgeous place. Yes, the crowds are awful. If you go to the far north or east you get much less people, but you can't see the biggees (1/2 dome, etc). I've hiked and camped there with friends and family. I've also lived in CA most my life and never been to the underground house. My son went to Fresno State even. Should be a great summer in Northern CA. We love Lassen! Yes, the beetles are awful. This past year was the first year I noticed the huge increase in them around where we lived and the Tahoe area. So very sad.

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    1. I thought of you and your love of the Sierras while we were there, and I totally get it (even more so now). There's not a lot of "go-sees" in Fresno so I'm glad we had the chance to check out the underground location. Definitely looking forward to Lassen although our time there has shortened with a longer stay in Sacramento.

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  12. WOW!!! You got some excellent photos Jodee!! I've been to Yosemite several times and don't remember seeing the falls so full :-)) You definitely picked a good time to brave the crowds and go for it. I didn't know about the underground house either. I did see your FB photos and then saw the road sign on our way through Fresno last week. It does look like a great place to get a reprieve from the heat. Great to see you all tonight :-)) Next visit we'll have to have more time though.

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    1. Thanks Rene, it was a beautiful day. So bummed we had to cut short our visit :-( We just have to plan more time our next time through. Love your darling home and we're glad you're loving the down-sized life!

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