Fire, Rock Slide & Hetch Hetchy Valley

So far we have dodged the fire that was just south of us 

and the rock slide! 

Thank you for your prayers!

Highway 41 Reopens 

Park of the Sierras is the blue square on the map, 

where we are staying. We heard on the news that 

Highway 140 was closed because of a 4,000 ton 

rock slide which is one of the entrances into Yosemite. 

Yosemite Road Closed Due To Rock Slide

Our plan was to enter there to reach Hetch Hetchy Valley 

to avoid the crowds on Highway 41 

and the most popular areas of the park.

In life you need to be super-flexible like Gumby, 

so we took another scenic route west 

through Mariposa and around north to highway 120.

We were rewarded with a fantastic view of a small part
 of McClure Lake. After several hairpin turns we were
driving across that bridge. 

 O'Shaughnessy Dam with Hetch Hetchy Reservoir 

 and a view of Wapama Falls.

1.7 billion kilowatt-hours of hydro power are produced here.

That is equal to the power generated from burning 

39 million gallons of oil. 

 Looking down Tuolumme River from on top of the dam.

 Love the blue!
This reservoir provides water for 2.4 million people.
Hetch Hetchy Dome is just to the right of the falls.
No boating or swimming are allowed because this is a
clean source of drinking water. 

 Our five mile hike starts through the tunnel.

White Bordiaea

Butterfly Mariposa Lily

Kolana Rock

Tueeulala Fall

Wapama Fall

Can you see the dam in the far distance? 

Oh Boy! We have to hike back there to get to the car.

Back over the rocky trail.

Scream and pause because of the snake on the trail. 

Stop to enjoy the natural beauty.

Harvest Brodiaea

Yeah, we made it to the car! As we were heading 

back through Yosemite they were doing a control burn.
The smell of burning pine is great but we know how fires
can get out of control quickly.
So thankful to make it back to the RV.

 "Hiking is a bit like life: The journey only requires you to 
put one foot in front of the other...again and again and again.
And if you allow yourself the opportunity to be present
 throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty 
every step of the way, not just at the summit."
Unknown

Nelder Grove

 Maraposa Grove in Yosemite is closed for several months. 

They are putting in boardwalks to protect the roots
 of the Sequoia. 

We read about Nelder Grove that has several trails and
decided to go take a look.

 It is a one lane road that you need to share
when another vehicle comes along.

 Several vehicles had to stop, along with us, and walk to the
trail head because of the deep ruts.

This is the first time we came across an army of large ants.

Half-way on the trail you cross this little bridge 

over Nelder Creek.

A nice easy relaxing trail.

 It is hard to beat the smell of fresh pine.

Even though over one-third of the base has
been burnt and hollow inside,

this Sequoia still keeps growing!

When the sun hits the moss it almost glows.

 Sugar Pine pine cone anyone? 

We have picked up a few that are about 12" long
and would be great for decorating.

Since this trail is off the beaten path with a creek, 

you think about bears and other wildlife.

Thankfully, we didn't see any.

Not the kind of sign you want to see as you start down the trail.

 Big Ed

Hillsides of wildflowers enhance our travels.

We drove to Bass Lake to check out the Farmer's Market.
There were only six booths but Scott bought some cheese rolls
and I bough some peaches. They were sweet and juicy!

 Coarsegold Historic Museum is only a few miles from
where we are staying. We stopped and saw lots
of interesting things.
Do you know what this is?

 An electric tie iron.
A nice gentleman showed us the blacksmith shop
and shared several stories about Coarsegold.

Those of you who asked about the God story I mentioned
at the end of the blog post titled Biosphere 2 & Beyond,
will understand this photo taken on our deck in California.



"It's essential to keep moving, learning and evolving 
for as long as you're here and this world keeps spinning" 
Rasheed Ogunlaru