We were a bit late getting off, but we drove to Wawona and up Forest Drive (behind the hotel) but didn't find anywhere suitable to stop. So back to the hotel and main road (the 41), across the river and turned up the Chilnualna falls road again and stopped at the stables. We explored all the cabins in the Historic Pioneer Center, taking lots of photographs,
Figure 31. Luz and a Cabin, Sunday, July 17, 2011
then went to look at the river and watched some yougsters playing in the water, one of them climbing on a rock out in the stream. Then we crossed over the river on the wooden, covered bridge (after taking photos of us both of course).
Figure 32. Ron at the Covered Bridge, Sunday, July 17, 2011
At some stage I went back to the car something, what was it? Across the river we looked at the display of old horse drawn carriages
Figure 33. Old Horse Drawn Carriages, Sunday, July 17, 2011
and then went down the river bank to sit near the water for a bit.
Figure 34. Luz by the River, Sunday, July 17, 2011
Figure 35. Ron by the River, Sunday, July 17, 2011
(Query: was this before or after looking at the carriages?) Crossing back over the covered brodge we found the old jail, powder storage, mortuary building which was open and had a bed of sorts in it. Apparently it was used for whatever purpose was required at the time. Luz did not like it. Then we went back and talked to the horses for a short while before going back to the car.
Figure 36. Ron makes Friends with a Horse, Sunday, July 17, 2011
Next we drove further up the Chilnualna Falls road, back to the Pine Tree Market where we bought some black and white photos of Yosemite National Park by Ansel Adams (copies on NORZUL) and a book of coloured photos of the park. Then sat outside with Hagen-Daz chocolate and almond ices. When these were finished we went on up the road to the end and the start of the Chilnualna Falls trail, and saw the new construction of a very large house (or small hotel?). At the end of the trail Ron walked down to the bridge over the river and took photographs. Back to Luz and we set off up the trail to the Chilnualna Falls. The trail got steeper and narrower and finally we turned back and sat in the shade on a rock.
Luz eating an apple, and Ron eating chocolate chip cookies and potato chips.
Figure 37. Luz Enjoying a Break, Sitting on a Rock, Sunday, July 17, 2011
Figure 38. Ron by One of the Old Trail Signs, Sunday, July 17, 2011
While we were sitting there several small groups went on up the trail, and one group came down to meet with an older man who had been waiting the last hour or so by a car to pick them up. They had done a long walk and dropped down past the falls.
Finally we drove back down to the Wawona Hotel in hope of a meal, but they were not serving, so we bought some Gatorade and sat out on the lawn in the shade of a big tree and concentrated on relaxing for an hour.
Figure 39. Luz Relaxing in the Shade at the Wawona Hotel, Sunday, July 17, 2011
Figure 40. ,Ron Relaxing in the Shade at the Wawona Hotel Sunday, July 17, 2011
Figure 41. ,Ron and Luz Relaxing in the Shade at the Wawona Hotel Sunday, July 17, 2011
The back up the road to the South Gate and home to the Owl's Nest for dinner where Luz cooked vegetables. Kendall-Jackson Merlot and the Sutter Home white merlot. Very tired after a long hard day, we went to bed early.