Oct 12-17 Jamestown CA

We camped at a county facility on Don Pedro Lake--Moccasin Point. Unfortunately the only site big enough for our trailer was not level so it took us quite a while to set up.

The next day we were off to Yosemite National Park. The road was extremely winding and fascinating to track in the distance.


Notice the roads cut into the hills.

We wandered around Yosemite Valley stopping at various pull-outs to enjoy the rock formations and views.





We then drove to Mariposa Grove, but missed the last tram tour to the giant sequoias. We spent the night at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp CA and revisited the grove the next morning.

The trees are simply amazing, but I think Ray and I were both more awed by the redwoods. Perhaps it had something to do with being alone and able to touch the redwoods vs having lots of people around and fenced off trees. It is astonishing to think that these giant sequoias have stood for 2000 plus years

Ray in front of the sequoias

The Giant Grizzly from below

The Giant Grizzly from afar

We returned to our campsite via a different route, through miles and miles of dry countryside. It was a pleasure to arrive back at Don Pedro Lake.

Many of the trees looked dry and half dead

Don Pedro Lake in the distance and approaching greenery

The next few days we enjoyed hot weather so we spent time near the lake gazing at the houseboats on the opposite shore.

This was the most ornate houseboat. It was named "Unorthodocks".

We also did some animal watching. Ray caught sight of a big, dark “hump” at a dumpster, so we parked the truck about 150 feet away and waited. The animal returned--it was a black bear! We’ve gone a lot of miles through bear country and barely (pun intended) caught a glimpse of one. Here, where bears are not expected, we see one at close range. Unfortunately it moved quickly away and I wasn’t able to get a picture of it. I did however get a great picture of a squirrel (they don’t look like the squirrels back home).