The Journey: Yosemite

And so we turned away from the traffic chaos and headed in a different direction. And all the while the scenery overwhelmed us despite the disappointment of giving up the goal of -- whatever. Perhaps 10 minutes into this new direction we saw ahead a viewpoint with quite a few tourists milling around -- even a bus load or two. We pulled in and there before our eyes was a breathtaking view of El Capitain and also Half Dome and waterfalls all laid out before us.

Many oohs and ahhhs later and we were again on our way. We had been told by the ranger at the park entrance that the road to Glacier Point had been opened the day before for the first time this year. I was still in a funk and wanted to get out of the park, but Neil decided that we should take the road to Glacier Point and so when the turn-off came, we began the long climb. It wasn't long before we reached the snow line and I was glad that my winter jacket was in the back of the car. Eventually, we came to another viewpoint -- again lots of tourists oohing and ahhing. Spectacular view of three waterfalls: Yosemite, Bridal Veil and Vernal.

And so they lived happily ever after!

The Journey: More Yosemite

It seemed unfortunate that our trip to Yosemite should work out to be on a Saturday. A gloriously sunny and pleasantly warm California Spring day, May 3rd. We spent the previous night in Merced, about 80 miles West of the park entrance and so took route 140 to our destination. An interesting drive showing a lot of the diversity of the California countryside.

The closer we got to Yosemite, the more the traffic increased. And the more we encountered either problems with the roads -- a landslide in one place and major work at another. The major works were encountered just where one road merged into another and traffice was held up alternately for 45 minutes in our case. The scenery was breathtaking and were not even at the entrance. But the flow of traffice got slower and slower after we bought our ticket.

The park attendant we bought the ticket from was very friendly and helpful. After Neil told him we were here from the UK he explained that should we be visiting other National Parks we should keep our tickets and if they should add up to $80 the Park Service would upgrade our ticket to an annual ticket that would enable us to visit any park with a car full of people! Great, we thought and carefully put our receipts together (one other from a visit to Mt. Rainier earlier this year). However, how chagrinned we were a few miles down the road when I read in the Yosemite News (or whatever it's called) that there was now a Senior Pass for US citizens 62 or over. This costs $10 (ten dollars) and is for Life!!!! (I also found out later that the pass is also for permanent residents, though the park attendant at Badlands where I finally bought my pass, said she didn't know anything about it even though I later discovered that it is clearly written on the back of the pass!

Back to our progress towards El Capitain, the Yosemite Valley and my father's past. What a glorious day it was. How bloody awful the traffic. And tour bus after tour bus and it was only early May. We'd been told that until the day before only the road to Yosemite Village had been opened. Now the road to Glacier Point was also open. As El Capitain began to come into view our progress got slower and slower and we became more and more disheartened. Neil hated to suggest it and I hated to hear it, but when we came to another road merging into our traffic, he suggested that we should give it up.

I was so disappointed -- I could see El Capitain, I had waited so long and now I'd not get there.

Well to be honest I could understand how my father could have gotten up to the top for his photo -- he was definitely no rock climber. And Neil couldn't understand either. Nevertheless we were sure all questions would be answered if we could just get to the Village. We turned right off the road aiming to leave the Park, though I vowed to return again one day.

The Journey: Yosemite at Last and update

It's now Thursday 22 May and we are in Mitchel, South Dakota. But I'm still behind the 8-ball as far as relaying our journey! Quality Inn here is ok as far as the room is concerned. But the staff that greeted us left a lot to be desired! Especially as far as charging us for our room. She quoted $55.00 and proceeded to charge $69.00 -- and had already swiped the credit card. She was pretty vacant and just explained that she had made a mistake with the charge. What a bimbo! She did, however, manage to reset the wireless high speed Internet connection! Part of her problem may have been understanding Neil's British accent -- however, it did not make a good impression to find her on Facebook, eating something gooey out of a jar when we came back from dinner that night! Oh, yes, the weather has turned. Low temperatures (50s') and rain predicted for the rest of our journey. So Yellowstone, The Badlands, Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse, as well as Custer's Last Stand may have to wait for the Future.

Back a few weeks now to Yosemite: Yosemite is more than words. My friend Christine describes it as a cathedral and I think what man has in mind when building or visiting or praying is Yosemite. When man goes over the top he creates something like Las Vegas, but when God goes over the top you get Yosemite!

Our biggest mistake was going on a Saturday -- and on a beautiful Spring day Saturday at that. But as it wasn't a holiday weekend and schools were still in session, we thought that we'd be ok. And if we hadn't made that 'mistake' we'd have missed consumating my own personal pilgrimmage.

It was probably in the summer of 1934 that my father, who was at the private school Loomis, was lucky to be invited and able to go on a tour of the west. The only details that came down to us as children were the details of his trip to Yosemite. The master at Loomis who took the lucky few boys also took his camera and all my life there were on the wall of our house photographs that were taken at Yosemite. But a very special photograph came to light -- to me at least -- because of my friend Christine, wife of The Vicar!!!

When my father and she met the bonded immediately because of their spiritual and mystical enthusiasm for Yosemite. My father quoted a passage from Psalms (which to my undying regret, I cannot remember) and these two lovely people gazed mystically into each other's mystical eyes and were forever bonded! As a result, my father eventually sent her a beautiful book of black and white photographs of the Old West. Included in the book was a photograph of Himself aged 15 standing on a promentory over an abyss.

Many years later my father with my mother was at last able to return to Yosemite. My mother had described to me his emotional response to once again seeing before him 'El Capitain'. I put 2 and 2 together and made 5.

Back to the present. After a lovely 6 days in Minneapolis with my sister and brother-in-law we set off again on the road this past Wednesday the 21st of May. That day we managed to reach Mitchell South Dakota and by morning the rains came! It is now Saturday -- and Memorial Day weekend -- we are in Butte, Montana and it has been lashing rain for most of the time since leaving Mitchell and heading for Rapid City. Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse were a washout. Deadwood was surprisingly successful because the rain subsided and we were able to look around and impressed and unimpressed. We then headed out toward Montana via a shortcut through the corner of Wyoming. Just in time for the rains to descend upon us in Belle Fourche, SD. Very uninteresting countryside until turning west at Broadus, Montana and heading for our next destination, the site of Custer's Last Stand.

Neil is now looking forward to returning 'home' to Olympia. If the weather calms down tomorrow I am hoping to get him to agree to a sidetrip from Missoula to the Buffalo reserve about 30 miles north. And then I'll continue with the Saga of Yosemite.