Glacier Point

This is the iconic view in Yosemite. You have to drive quite a bit to get here but it’s worth it. Here’s a partial list of what there is to see: Yosemite Falls, North Dome, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall.

If you have a fear of heights or are prone to vertigo, I suggest that you don’t look over the edge. It’s over 3,000 feet straight down to the Valley.

The Incredible Valley

If you’ve never been to Yosemite National Park, try to go at least once in your life. Because I’m lucky enough to live only a few hours away, I’ve seen the park numerous times. It never gets old.

In the photo I’m looking up Yosemite Valley from the Tunnel View on the road to Glacier Point. On the left, you can see El Capitan, on the right, Bridalveil Fall. I think my head is blocking the view of Half Dome. That’s O.K. because I’m pretty good looking myself.

Family Love

I don’t get to see my father and brother as often as I would like. So, it was great to spend Father’s Day with both of them. We went out for a fabulous brunch at the Putah Creek Cafe in Winters, California and then on to visit my grandmother in Berkeley.

Oh, and did I mention that it’s the first day of my summer road trip with Dad?

Gold Rush People

The Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in Coloma, California is a place I’ve visited several times. It’s the spot where in 1848 James Marshall found some shiny flecks of gold in the river whilst working for his boss, John Sutter. As they say, the rest is history. People came from all over the world to look for gold hoping to get rich quick. (Not many actually did.) Those folks were called “49ers” and they later founded a professional football team.

The park is a magnet for school field trips and there were several going on when we arrived. At one point I found myself surrounded by a gaggle of 5th graders. It was slightly discombobulating.

Oh, My Darling, Clementine

Dad is back in town, so we spent the day together hiking and just goofing around. We started at the confluence of the North and Middle Forks of the American River near Auburn, California, which is a great spot. We then hiked up the North Fork to Lake Clementine. As we were watching the water spilling over the dam, Dad was humming a silly song about a Gold Rush miner’s daughter tragically lost in the river. He assures me it is not based on a true story.

In real life, please don’t go in that river, especially in early Spring. That water is cold, fast and dangerous!

Reunion

It was dreary foggy morning in Sacramento. Suddenly, Dad and Pam showed up to wisk me off to Point Reyes National Seashore. When we got to the beach it was (sort of) warm and very sunny. This is that time of year when sometimes the Central Valley is colder than the coast.

It was great to see them. I look forward to the next time.

This Is Not My First Rodeo

Well, I’ve never actually been to a rodeo before, but I’ve been to the hospital several times to have my teeth cleaned. I think I know the drill by now (that’s a bad dentist pun). The part I don’t like is going under general anesthesia. It makes me nervous thinking about it. One good thing: it’s nice to have clean teeth.

Dad and my care team always tell me how brave I’ve been after it’s all over, so I feel good about that. Maybe I can attend a rodeo sometime to see if it’s more fun than going to the dentist.