Yosemite's Giant Sequoias at Mariposa Grove #2 of 4

 We took the 1 hour drive from the main valley over the mountains to see the giant Sequoias at Mariposa Grove.  Much of the forest along the way was burned out from recent fires and the main grove had also suffered some fire damage.  

The Sequoias are as advertised.  Really big.  Reminds me of the intro to The Friendly Giant of my childhood.  Look up, Waayy Up.

It was kind of eerie walking among these giants.  
It was deathly quiet with only the sound of some birds and
the wind rustling the leaves way up above. 

Lori snuggling up to one of the giant trunks.

People almost disappear next to the sequoias

Lori next to the giant roots of a blown down redwood. 

This is a description of the tree below.  
Kind of puts into perspective how big it really is.

This tree is estimated to be approx 3,000 years old.
To put that in perspective this tree predates the Roman Empire
and the construction of the great pyramids of ancient Egypt. 
The stories it could tell.  

Lori is so tiny

That's it for the visit to the Sequoias.  Glad we got to see them before the fires finish them off.  

Next up Half Dome and Tunnel View. 

Yosemite National Park #1 of 4 - Nov/2022

 After leaving San Francisco and the coast behind we headed for Yosemite National Park.  Our expectations were high as we had heard so many great things about this Park.  We were not disappointed.

Each of the national parks we have visited in the southwestern US has had its own character and all have been stunning in their own way.  The best word I can come up with for Yosemite is Majestic.  Our stay was only for a few days so we didn't get into any real hikes however so many of the famous views can be seen from the road or with short walks from the parking lots.  

Given it was early November we didn't expect it to be busy however by noon it was a struggle to find parking as the tourists poured in.  The weather was cool but dry and as we were leaving the snow started and didn't stop for a few days.  They got a few feet and it would have been interesting to see the same locations with a blanket of white powder. 

I'll divide the pictures up into different 4 different posts based on shooting location just to keep the posts a little shorter.  This one will be titled #1 and will be of shots taken from various locations.  Most of which I can't actually remember where we were.  

Leaves and grasses were turning colour  

Snow up on the mountain peaks

Creeks had some water in them but by spring I'm sure 
there would be torrents of water coming through here. 

A beautiful fall day

I'm thinking this could be Bridalvail Falls.

Setting sun provided some great soft sidelight.

We hiked to Mirror Lake which is supposed to provide beautiful
reflections of the surrounding mountains.
The lake was bone dry however the hike there was beautiful.

That's it for post #1.  I am saving the best for last of course. 

Golden Gate Bridge

 Last pictures from SF are appropriately shots of its most famous landmark taken from a few different vantage points. 

Vista Point

Lime Point Lighthouse at Vista Point

Vista Point

Point Bonita Lighthouse.  
The mist along the far shore was a constant, caused by the crashing waves

Succulents growing along the trail

Vista Point South

A walk along the bridge.  
Sides are all fenced in so no pictures over the side of the bridge.
Too many jumpers I imagine.

Seacliff Park.  

Next up Yosemite National Park.