Today was our last day in the Park so it was important to make it count. Our biggest disappointment coming here was discovering the Mariposa Grove with its giant redwoods is closed to the public for renovation until next year. Thus we were on the hunt for others, and discovered there were a few at Tuolome Grove about 30 minutes drive away. So after a relaxed start with very stiff legs we set off at 10 to get there. There was a 20 minute walk in, which was very busy with lots of folks, and then a 20 minute loop to see the 8 or so trees that were there. It is difficult to show the size of them as we were quite rightly not allowed too near but here are my photos anyway. These few trees sang with their colour and their majesty.
My first sight of a Giant Sequoia
That same tree a bit closer. We estimate it was 15ft in diameter and about 50ft in circumference
Sadly some were dead.....
...but would have been magnificent in their day!
We drove back into the Valley and had a good look at El Capitan as we passed. We couldn't see any climbers but they would be there!
After a quick change we headed over to the Majestic Hotel (formerly the Ahwahnee, a much nicer name) by free shuttle to have a late lunch. This hotel was built in the 30's and has a lovely rustic feel. We had a pleasant lunch in the dining room, next to the table that Queen Elizabeth sat at, apparently, on her visit in the 80's! Interesting they felt they had to point it out to us.
Since we are sadly leaving tomorrow I thought I'd take a few photos around our hotel to remember Yosemite Valley Lodge and our apartment in Alder
The free shuttle buses that run through the valley
And then off to the theatre to hear a talk by John Muir, yes THE John Muir, ably played Lee Stetson. A very emotional piece, showing his great love of this place, of all wild places, and of the disastrous decision to clear fell and flood a similar valley in the Park, called Hetch Hetchy. There is now an action group trying to restore it.
