We were off even earlier today, we left the Owl's Nest at 8:30am on the way to the Yosemite Valley after a very light breakfast. First in at the South Gate, then down to Wawona and straight on to Chinquapin. Here we again went straight on, passing yesterday's right turn off for Glacier Point, and drove down towards the Valley. We took the tunnel slowly and came out into the Yosemite valley at a small parking lot at the overlook.

Here there were many cars and people already, but we spent some time looking at the view in the morning mist. Many photographs, and someone very kindly offered to take one of us sitting together on a low wall.

Looking back at the tunnel we saw someone climbing on the rock face above it - it looked very dangerous. Then back in the car and on down into the valley to stop at the Bridal Veil Falls.

The falls were in full flood, with all the snow melt from the very heavy falls in the previous winter. Smelly toilets again. Then up the trail into the mist from the falls and alongside the creek.

Here someone offered to take our photograph together.

As we got nearer to the falls it got very wet and Luz did not go on any further. Ron went on to the end of the trail to get some photos and get wet.

Then back to the car and on up the Yosemite Valley towards the village.

We stopped by the meadows about a mile before the village and looked across to the Yosemite falls. A Filipino offered to take our photo together before we set off across the board walk to the Merced River.

The board walk was constructed to keep visitors of the meadow land which is being allowed to re-grow in its natural state. At the river bank we sat down and had a light picnic lunch (fruit) looking across the Merced to the upper Yosemite Fall

and watched the rafters floating down the river. Half Dome just visible on the right up the valley, and Basket and North Domes on the left.

On the way back to the car we noted the many different greens in the meadow below the mountains.

Cathedral Rock was across the road, and the Three Brothers were just down the valley. Then on we went to Yosemite Village. There were many cars here and it seemed like all parking places were filled. We drove around a few times and eventually found a parking spot fairly close and walked on into the village along a cycle track. At the village we first visited the ATM machine at the Art and Education Center, then on to the fast food concession. Here we got bacon-cheese hamburgers and fries and sat for a while.

Then on to look inside the store to get more presents, the Yosemite and Bears DVD, and a bird plus music CD.

Leaving the village we drove down the other side of the Merced river in fairly heavy traffic, crossed over the river at the Pohono Bridge and started the climb back to the tunnel and then on to Chinquapin. After Chinquapin we dropped down the 17 miles or so to Wawona, with the big drop on the right hand side next to Luz. Everyone seemed to want to drive a lot faster than us, and we were continually pulling off in turn-outs to let the traffic clear. Luz had problems with all the butterflies in her stomach from the winding road and the drop on her side, but she managed to make it to Wawona. Then up to the South Gate again and home to Fish Camp by about 5:00pm. No dinner that night, just a light snack (Luz had some chicken left over from yesterday, Ron had a peach and some cheese, we tried the Sutter Home white merlot wine - very good, but Luz insists on ice in the wine!) as we watched the Yosemite DVD and listened to the bird CD.

Finally listened to the Weavers CD and wrote up the journal before bed.