Yosemite Here We Come

We began the day with condo cleanup and then went on to the Verizon store, the Visitors Center and the upack store where we mailed home our snow boots, long underwear, etc. which we won't need going forward.
By 11 am were on the road.  And what a road--many hours of twists and turns.  

We ate lunch with this as our view.

Going through the Carson Pass--the only one open this early in the season--was amazing.

For many miles, these beautiful oak trees dotted the landscape of golden grasses on both sides of the highway.  Sometimes cattle grazed around them.  Sometimes not.  But always they stood tall and firm, holding the land.

Later on, as we drove into to the park, we came upon large areas totally burned out.  When was this huge fire?

This marks the spot where the spirit of Yosemite and the National Park system was born.

And here is our first glimpse of el Capitan in the foreground and Half Dome shrouded by clouds in the center.  This is just a tease for tomorrow when we actually get to spend our first day at Yosemite.. 

And finally, these are the SPLIT entree portions at the Italian restaurant in Oakhurst tonight.  Spaghetti, lasagna and ravioli with meatballs.  We thought they made a mistake and gave us two entrees, but no, it was one shared.  We have enough leftovers for another dinner tomorrow night....