Yosemite's Picture Postcards

It was a bit chilly when I left Bridgeport, CA this morning.  By the time I headed into Yosemite National Park via Tioga Road, it got even chillier.  Driving up above the timberline, there was snow and temperatures were near freezing.  I breathed in the crisp air and snapped a shot of the snowy vista.

A little further along the road, I came upon a couple of impressive rock domes, Lembert Dome and Pothole Dome.  They were both way too steep for me to attempt a climb, but there was one brave soul who made it to the top of Pothole.  That tiny speck is on the left at the top?  That's him!

At about the halfway point along Tioga Road, I stopped at the Olmsted Point vista.  From there, you can see the famous Half Dome from a different perspective.

As I drove south toward Yosemite Valley, I checked out a distant Half Dome the way most people are familiar with.  I didn't notice when I snapped the pic that I caught a bird...probably a turkey vulture...in mid-flight.

I continued on into Yosemite Valley, but didn't linger.  I've been there a few times and have already seen the sights.  Still, I couldn't resist taking photos of the always impressive El Capitan and Yosemite Falls.  And, as I was leaving, I took an obligatory pic of the valley.

I wanted to get a quick hike in, so before leaving Yosemite, I went to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.  I had visited this place once before...there was actually snow on the ground at the time.  But, big trees...redwoods and sequoias especially...always impress me.  Here's a photo of one of the largest in the grove, Grizzly Giant.  It's estimated to be around 1800 years old!

From there, I decided to take a less traveled route back to the parking lot.  As I walked along, I came across a lone sequoia right next to the trail.  Unlike most of the other trees in the grove, it didn't have a protective fence around it.  It allowed me to place my hands on its trunk and "talk" to it.  Such trees are the oldest living things on the planet, and I can't help but wonder what events they have witnessed throughout the ages.  Oh, and just in case you were wondering...YES, there be squirrels!  Actually, a squirrel AND a chipmunk.  I saw this California Ground Squirrel and Alpine Chipmunk living in the sequoia grove.

Tomorrow, I return to civilization...that would be the big city.  Los Angeles!  It will be five days of fun in the sun.  Even though I won't be driving so much distance-wise, it will be a challenge playing speedway with the locals. 

Lake Tahoe: Blowing In The Wind

I had a great stay in Reno, thanks to the two-room suite I spent the night in!  It wasn't much of a splurge...the price was right.  Before leaving town, I grabbed lunches for two days from Trader Joe's.  I like not relying on restaurants when I'm visiting parks.  My destination for the day was the southern end of Lake Tahoe...that would be on the California side.  Most of the lake is in California, and the rest of it to the east is in Nevada.  My first stop was the picturesque Inspiration Point.  There were many people stopping to take in the views and yes, take pictures.  Here's a shot of Fannette Island in Emerald Bay.

It was a picture perfect day...well, almost perfect.  I would have liked it better if there weren't gusty winds.  I shouldn't complain...it wasn't that bad.  Across the street from Inspiration Point was the trail to Cascade Falls.  It's a two mile in-and-out hike that's a bit challenging given the rocky trail.  I took it slow and enjoyed the scenery along the way.

In the above photo, you can kind of make out Cascade Falls.  When I reached the top, the views were gorgeous.  There weren't many people around, which added to the serenity.  The water from Cascade Falls runs into...Cascade Lake.

On my return trip, I saw several different types of small butterflies flitting around.  Most of them didn't sit still long enough to snap a pic.  I managed to get a few shots of one, though.  I'm pretty sure it's called a persius duskywing...a type of skipper butterfly.  AND, for the third day in a row...here's your daily squirrel photo!  Another golden-mantled ground squirrel, but no less cute!

Tomorrow, I'm going to Yosemite National Park!  For the first time, I'll be taking the Tioga Pass Road...the highway that goes east-west through the park.  Looking forward to great scenery and hopefully wildflowers.  And, the timing is perfect.  Snow looms on the horizon the following day! 

Squirrels, Part Deux and Automobile Heaven

When I woke up this morning, it was pouring rain!  Oh, no!  I was thinking this would certainly put a damper on my outdoor plans.  But, as I drove east leaving Klamath Falls, OR behind, I found sunny skies and white clouds ahead of me.  I wasn't the only one feeling good.  There were ground squirrels galore running across the road.  They all seemed to avoid getting hit by vehicles, although I came close to nailing one.  A squirrel with a death wish just sat in the middle of the lane as I drove over it...and missed, thankfully!  After driving from Oregon into California, I came upon a state Department of Agriculture inspection station.  The agriculture officer asked me if I had any fruits and vegetables.  I replied carrots and California oranges.  I expected him to ask for my oranges, but he waved me through.  Nice!

My destination for the morning was the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge in Alturas.  I was hoping to see wildlife, particularly waterfowl.  But, the current drought conditions due to lack of snow runoff has left some of the ponds completely dry.  I was still able to see some birds, including an American Avocet and long-billed dowitchers.

While I was at the refuge, I saw the same type of ground squirrels I almost ran over earlier.  A couple of them didn't seem to mind me taking photos of them.  They were so cute!  From the refuge's wildlife guide, I found out they are called Belding's Ground Squirrels and are common in northern California.

In the afternoon, I drove to Reno, NV to visit the National Automobile Museum. This museum, also known as The Harrah Collection, is one of the best auto museums in the world.  I had last been there seven years ago, and I was interested to see if there was anything new.  I love looking at old cars, especially the REALLY old models.  We're talking about stuff from the 1930s or earlier, and this museum has a LOT of those!  I spent a good two hours perusing the collection, which included a 1927 Lincoln L-152, a 1910 Oldsmobile Limited Touring and a 1932 Packard Ninth Series. 

There was also the automobile that won the 1908 New York to Paris Auto Race...an American 1907 Thomas Flyer.  But, not everything in the collection is that old.  Did you ever own a Hot Wheels Beatnik Bandit?  Well, there were a couple of  REAL Beatnik Bandits, built by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.  And, I put together a Don Prudhomme "The Snake" funny car plastic model when I was a teenager.

Tomorrow, I'll be exploring some more natural beauty.  The weather report looks favorable, and the temps will be cool...just the way I like it!

Newberry National Volcanic Monument: the land of lava...rocks

I left Salem, OR this morning to sunny skies.  I stopped briefly in Bend to pick up lunch, a BLTA...that's bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado...from Planker Sandwiches.  My destination of the day was Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  When I arrived at the park, the first thing I did was drive up to the top of Lava Butte.  The view of the surrounding area was fabulous, including Mount Hood in the distance.

When I got back down, I decided it was time to dig into my picnic lunch.  The BLTA tasted as good as it looked.

So much to see, so little time.  After my meal, I walked along the one mile Trail Of Molten Land.  Right off the bat, I spotted movement.  Some sort of unidentified lizard.  I snapped a pic, like I always do when I see wildlife.

I continued on, admiring the vast field of lava rock.  I reached a viewpoint which gave me a good look at the Lava Butte caldera.  There was a family also taking pictures at the viewpoint.  I offered to take a photo of all of them, and they gladly accepted.  I added a "Go Cougs!" as the dad was wearing a Washington State University cap.  He was happy to meet a fellow Coug in Ducks-Beavers country.

As I was walking back to the parking lot, there were golden-mantled ground squirrels running all over the place.  A few kept approaching me, probably hoping for a handout.  Sorry kids...no feeding the animals!

I left Lava Butte and drove south to the Newberry Caldera to hike the Big Obsidian Flow trail.  This one mile trail's highpoint is the vast quantity of obsidian and pumice.  I've never seen obsidian before, and I was amazed by the smooth, shiny blackness of the volcanic rock.  While walking along the rocky trail, I got great views of Lost Lake below and Paulina Peak above in the distance.

Before leaving the monument, I took a short walk to see Paulina Falls.  Actually a double falls, it was a fitting end to a very nice day.  Tomorrow, it looks like the weather might not be too favorable for outdoor activities.  I'll play it by ear and see what happens. 

California, Here I Come!

Time to wake up the ole blog site.  How I've been neglecting thee.  I haven't been keeping up with the concerts I've attended since the last show either.  I'll try to catch up on things soon, although I shouldn't make promises I can't keep.  What I can say is...it's road trip time!  I'm on my yearly pilgrimage to the City of Angels...California!  Before starting my long drive this morning, my cat Kimi was huddled in her usual spot when she thinks she's going for a ride.  Not the most ideal way to say my goodbyes to her, but oh, well. 

It was smooth sailing to my first destination on the day, Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve in Littlerock, WA. Mima mounds are natural, dome-like mounds of layered sediment, often called prairie mounds in other parts of the country.  There are several theories on how these mounds were formed...including pocket gophers...but, nothing definitive.

I walked along one of the paved trails in the preserve, not only looking at the mounds, but also the wildflowers like this purple blossomed camas, which produces edible roots.  Not to be confused with the white-flowered death camas, which is poisonous.  I had to be fast to snap a  pic of the white-checkered skipper butterfly...it likes to keep on the move.

  

By the time I left the preserve, the temperature was starting to heat up.  As I crossed into Oregon, it hit the low 80s...too hot for me!  I know, I'm a wimp.  I turned on my car's air conditioner for the first time this year.  My afternoon destination was the Museum of Mental Health at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. This small museum is housed in the oldest building in the state, and is dedicated to telling the history of this mental health facility through the stories of those who lived and worked there. 

The exhibits on past treatments of patients and medical instruments were fascinating...and a little bit scary.  There was an actual table where they would perform lobotomies on patients, and a couple of electroshock machines.

Oregon State Hospital is probably best known as the location for the movie One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.  Not only was it filmed there, but actual patients who were at the time living there were cast in the movie. The movie's exhibit at the museum included the prop television seen on the big screen.

I'm hoping tomorrow it won't be quite as hot as today.  I'll be doing a little bit of hiking, enjoying some of Oregon's natural beauty.  Stay tuned...