We were up early, but not moving around too quickly, just taking it easy.  First we got the cash sorted out for the rental (10% discount for cash), then we got the CD player working - Don Mclean and dancing to Bye Bye Miss American Pye.  Robert and Barbara came about 10:00am to collect the rent, and brought an album of local photos.  Then about 11:00am we finally went out and drove to the South gate of Yosemite National Park (2 miles away). There were many cars waiting to get in.  At the gate we bought the annual pass to all National Parks in the USA.  This cost $80 and covered both of us in the car.  The daily rate for a car entry to Yosemite was $20, and we plan on going in more than four times.  Ther were so many visitors that we could not park at the gate or drive up to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees, so we drove down to Wawona, another 5 miles, and parked by the hotel (with some difficulty).  From there we got the free shuttle bus to the Mariposa Grove.  Once there, we booked seats on the tram ride around the grove, watched a tram leaving and had to wait for the next one.  On the tram we listened to the commentary and tried to take photos.  Slight problem for Luz here, she had re-charged her camera battery the night before, took the camera with her but forgot to take the battery.  However, Ron's camera was working hard (see photos).  We had tried to ask the driver to drop us off at the junction of the road up to Wawona Point (as Barbara had recommended) but were told that drop-offs were no longer allowed.  Progress!

At the stop at the museum at the top of the Grove we had a 10 minute break and went to look at one of the big trees just down the road.  Photographs of course of each of us in front of the tree.

Then back to the tram where Ron remembered that he had once had a back pack.  After much frantic searching up and down the road, delaying the departure of the tram, the back pack was finally found under one of the seats. Then back down the Grove to stop again at the Grizzly Giant tree for another 10 minutes.  Photos of Luz in front of the tree.  The back to the bottom of the Grove again to wait for the shuttle back to Wawona.  At Wawona we had a quick look around the Wawona General Store, then drove back to the South gate and back to the Owl's Nest at Fish Camp.  We had Bream playing Albeniz, Granados and Rodigo on the CD machine while Luz made chicken adobo for dinner, which was eaten with a Kendall-Jackson Reserve merlot.

After dinner we went for a short walk along the road into 'down-town' Fish camp as far as the store, past the now derelict gas station, and then back home.  Back at the Owl's Nest we sat out at the back on the deck with the last of the wine.  Then in and off to bed in the upstairs room which was a great improvement.