Through Yosemite to the Eastern Sierras

After what seems to be endless preparations, we're finally packed and ready to go.

We give the puppies one last cuddle and good-bye

'cas soon we're going to be gone for a good time

and we head down the driveway.

By the time we reach Pacheco Pass, the sun is shining and it's a beautiful day.

Ahh... the golden summer hills of California

After crossing the valley we start to climb into the foothills

Over the foothills and into the Sierras.

Looks like a windy but scenic road

Graffiti on sign by road bypass reads "Expect 15 YEAR wait," which it might well be.

Narrow gorge of the Merced River

As we near Yosemite Park we look forward to seeing it on such a nice day.

Look - there's some granite!

We're here!

Wow - the Merced sure is lower than this time last year

Now I see why it's called "El Portal"

Looks like a cliff Ansel Adams shot

Such a nice day to drive the valley floor

We stop at an overlook to see the back of El Captain.

Soon we are close to the top of Tioga Pass.

Another classic Yosemite tourist shot

The IQ turns 10K miles

while mashed potato clouds pile up in the sky

Touloume Meadows actually looks like a meadow this year rather than a swamp from too much water last year

Whew! Glad David's watching the hounds at home

We leave the park and start down the eastern slope

We follow the Walker River down into Mono Valley.

Mono Lake

High ranch country close to Bridgeport

with towering clouds over the surrounding mountains.

From Bridgeport, we turn back into the Sierras.

The Sawtooths of the Sierras