The Scenic Route

The good news is we were able to swing out to the coast and take Highway 1 most of the way home; the bad news is we happened to catch it on a foggy day, with the fog getting thicker as the day went on.  Still, what we saw was pretty breathtaking even under less-than-ideal conditions.

When we first hit the coast, at Monterey, the day and the view both looked perfect.

 
A little further down the road, the first picture was taken looking south and deeper into the fog, the second picture is looking back toward the north at the vanishing blue.

The fog was its own brand of scenic, almost eerie.
 Because you are following the coastline in and out of these little promontories, we occasionally get a clear view.  We even managed to get a half-shot of the Bixby Bridge here!

                       
In and out of the fog.

Yep, still pretty spectacular.

                          
You can see how the road hugs the coast.

Everyone appreciates the view.

  
A little further down the road, as we’re approaching San Simeon, we start to notice lots of unusual wildlife: elk on the inland side of the road . . .

elephant seals on the ocean side.

          
Apparently this particular stretch of beach is a popular place for them to hang out, breed, birth, etc.

Last but perhaps oddest of all, right before we pull into our campsite, we look up the hill and see this!

Tomorrow: Hearst Castle!

Vernal Falls

This is the last day of our Yosemite trip!  Vernal Falls is just about the only one with any actual water running; let’s hike up to that one.

                          
First we have to get warmed up by practicing our balancing and rock climbing.

It’s a perfect sunny day for a stroll through the forest . . .

                       
and along the river. 

    
The locals are friendly too.

                               
The views along the way are, as expected, spectacular. 

               
The hiking hasn’t been all that strenuous up to this point either, but that’s about to change.

                          
We get a good view of the falls, not exactly from the base of them but as near as you get, because the trail proceeds not to the pool at the bottom but all the way up to the top!

                               
Lots and lots and LOTS of stairs.  The kids both did a fantastic job; I don’t remember now if either of them ever asked to be carried but I do know that neither of them ever were.  They walked the whole way up!

   
At some point partially up those stairs, you get a nice unobstructed view of the falls and the pool it drops into.  It reminds me of that one in Lord of the Rings (in Two Towers, I think) that Smeagol/Gollum is hopping around in when the archers are looking down on him. 

Nice rainbow at the base.

     
We hit the top and stop for lunch.

Looking back at where we started . . . somewhere down there.

                   
We chose to take a different path on the way down—the zigzag as opposed to the steps.

                     
It actually takes you higher up with another good view of the falls before you head down and into the shade.

At the end of the hike, the kids are still singing a merry tune (and accompanying themselves on stick instruments), so I’d call that a very good day!

Into the Meadow

Just the scenery.  Well, and the kids.

                              


 







I love how small she looks in the vastness of it all.










 
           

                   

Ramblin’.

              

What do you think?