A definite change to the weather today, cooler and a grey haze, more like UK. 9am was the proposed start but was delayed to 10 for some essential shopping by some. After fuelling up we were straight onto highway 168. A good run for 20 miles on duel carriageway (70mph) then turn off onto country roads, 55mph. We were soon descending which felt strange as I didn't think we were at any kind of height at clovis. However, down we went, a very twisty road and views appearing over to the other side of the canyon, and then a brief glimpse of a river at least 800 ft below. The scale of things is difficult to grasp as the trees are easily 100 ft tall and this affects your ability to judge heights.
We stop at a small town - North Fork - and get a coffee. A local guy on a scooter (suzuki burgman) stops
to chat and I find out about this place. It was a logging own until the goverment nationalise it. Jobs go and now the town is struggling. Across the road from the cafe is the Buckhorn Bar and Restaurant. It is very old and is the place where everyone used to meet for music and dances and of course beer. The ceiling used to be covered with all types of guns. Now there are only 2. There is a stuffed grizzly in the corner and lots of old photos on the walls. It is strangely busy as there is an Alaskan dogsled org having a 50th anniversary meet here in honour one of the towns residents who won the trophy 4 years in a row, so they have come here in honour of his skill.
Soon we were gaining height again and hey its gettin cold - check the height on the gps - we are back to 5000 ft again and still going up. Soon its 7000' and views are appearing on the left of clean smooth rock. We start to descend, down to 4000' , a lovely twisty road but not much to see as the view is hid
den by the trees. We turn right and a sign says Yosemite 35 miles. Round a corner and whoaya what a view. There is a sight of The big Dome and El Capitain i think about 10 miles away with a gorge to my left that disappears, no sign of the river at the bottom. The road twists and turns and still we descend, laybys (turnout) appear and photo opportunities are taken. We pay at the entrnce to the Park and soon it is the first viewpoint - Tunnel View. A large car park just after a 200m tunnel you drive through - don't forget to take off your sunglasses!
Still we descend until we reach the first attraction, the bridal veil, a waterfall. It is quite spectacular, falling perhaps 1500', not sure but more pics. On again and not 300m there is another spectacular view point but we must go on. The parking places are filled with camper vans and cars.
To be honest the first 2 hours is a blur now and over-ridden by the sights of yosemite. We park up at the main visitor area and it is busy. It is saturday after all. It is now 3pm.
The toilets are a temporary affair. It seems ther was a huge flood which washed the old blocks away. They say the water was 5' deep across the car park here. That is scary.
5pm and we are off, 44 miles to go. However everyone else is leaving too, so its 30mph for the next hour as we snake down the canyon and exit following the rivers path.The only word to describe it is awesome.
Another 150 mile day but the first where i have not been overheating.
Mariposa is a busy place tonight, all food joints busy , the chinese is the only place we can get in. It was fine but not the recommended eatery.
Tomorrow on to Lake Tahoe.
We stop at a small town - North Fork - and get a coffee. A local guy on a scooter (suzuki burgman) stops
to chat and I find out about this place. It was a logging own until the goverment nationalise it. Jobs go and now the town is struggling. Across the road from the cafe is the Buckhorn Bar and Restaurant. It is very old and is the place where everyone used to meet for music and dances and of course beer. The ceiling used to be covered with all types of guns. Now there are only 2. There is a stuffed grizzly in the corner and lots of old photos on the walls. It is strangely busy as there is an Alaskan dogsled org having a 50th anniversary meet here in honour one of the towns residents who won the trophy 4 years in a row, so they have come here in honour of his skill.Soon we were gaining height again and hey its gettin cold - check the height on the gps - we are back to 5000 ft again and still going up. Soon its 7000' and views are appearing on the left of clean smooth rock. We start to descend, down to 4000' , a lovely twisty road but not much to see as the view is hid
den by the trees. We turn right and a sign says Yosemite 35 miles. Round a corner and whoaya what a view. There is a sight of The big Dome and El Capitain i think about 10 miles away with a gorge to my left that disappears, no sign of the river at the bottom. The road twists and turns and still we descend, laybys (turnout) appear and photo opportunities are taken. We pay at the entrnce to the Park and soon it is the first viewpoint - Tunnel View. A large car park just after a 200m tunnel you drive through - don't forget to take off your sunglasses!Still we descend until we reach the first attraction, the bridal veil, a waterfall. It is quite spectacular, falling perhaps 1500', not sure but more pics. On again and not 300m there is another spectacular view point but we must go on. The parking places are filled with camper vans and cars.
To be honest the first 2 hours is a blur now and over-ridden by the sights of yosemite. We park up at the main visitor area and it is busy. It is saturday after all. It is now 3pm.
The toilets are a temporary affair. It seems ther was a huge flood which washed the old blocks away. They say the water was 5' deep across the car park here. That is scary.
5pm and we are off, 44 miles to go. However everyone else is leaving too, so its 30mph for the next hour as we snake down the canyon and exit following the rivers path.The only word to describe it is awesome.
Another 150 mile day but the first where i have not been overheating.
Mariposa is a busy place tonight, all food joints busy , the chinese is the only place we can get in. It was fine but not the recommended eatery.
Tomorrow on to Lake Tahoe.
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