15th May
Saturday - Damn! I didn’t realise what day it was. I decided last night to start early today – it was the right decision. I packed the bike and was on the road for 0645
! It’s a beautiful day, with high wispy clouds and no wind. I’m refuelled (at what seems a reasonable $2.57 per gallon) and in Yosemite National Park by 0700. I virtually have the place to myself. I start by riding down the valley into Yosemite Village.
I ride through the tunnel and, on the other side of the hill, I’m greeted by a fantastic view…
…it’s like something out of Tolkein, with distant waterfalls crashing down – their sound audible in the still morning air.
I ride slowly on, towards the falls down at the far end of the valley…
…where the car parks are already beginning to fill. This is Bridal Veil Falls.
Everywhere I look there are stunning views…
…with the local wildlife turning up on cue to perfect the picture…
I ride up the road to Glacier Point, which has only recently opened…
…the views on the way up are impressive…
…but nothing prepares you for the view…
…you get from Glacier Point…
I am stunned by how far I can see. For several minutes, I jut stand there, agog – oblivious to the chatter of the recently arrived minibus of oriental tourists. After about ten minutes or so, I take a few pictures, knowing that it will be impossible to capture even a fraction of the impact this place has had on me.
Visiting Glacier Point is something everyone should do before they die…
After a long walk around the point, I get back on the bike and slowly ride out of the Park. It’s getting really crowded and I made the right decision to get up as early as I did. I ride the road out of the western entrance, which follows the course of a fast flowing river…
…eventually exiting the park at 1100, I see a quarter mile queue of traffic waiting to get in.
I continue down the road to the Triangle Road Café – formerly, according to Betty, Big Dan’s Diner
.
I have an unmemorable lunch, served by a 15yr old airhead “Yur frum England – wow, that’s rilly, like, abroad!” – she manages to bring me my soup and main course at the same time…
I ride on, feeling tired once again (although with today’s early start, it’s understandable – plus it’s now 83º and humid). I ride a couple of scenic by-ways, but, pretty as they are…
…they pale into insignificance against the impression that Glacier Point has made on me, so I set course for Fresno and treat myself to a night in the Comfort Suites Hotel
Saturday - Damn! I didn’t realise what day it was. I decided last night to start early today – it was the right decision. I packed the bike and was on the road for 0645
! It’s a beautiful day, with high wispy clouds and no wind. I’m refuelled (at what seems a reasonable $2.57 per gallon) and in Yosemite National Park by 0700. I virtually have the place to myself. I start by riding down the valley into Yosemite Village.
I ride through the tunnel and, on the other side of the hill, I’m greeted by a fantastic view…
…it’s like something out of Tolkein, with distant waterfalls crashing down – their sound audible in the still morning air.
I ride slowly on, towards the falls down at the far end of the valley…
…where the car parks are already beginning to fill. This is Bridal Veil Falls.
Everywhere I look there are stunning views…
…with the local wildlife turning up on cue to perfect the picture…
I ride up the road to Glacier Point, which has only recently opened…
…the views on the way up are impressive…
…but nothing prepares you for the view…
…you get from Glacier Point…
I am stunned by how far I can see. For several minutes, I jut stand there, agog – oblivious to the chatter of the recently arrived minibus of oriental tourists. After about ten minutes or so, I take a few pictures, knowing that it will be impossible to capture even a fraction of the impact this place has had on me.
Visiting Glacier Point is something everyone should do before they die…
After a long walk around the point, I get back on the bike and slowly ride out of the Park. It’s getting really crowded and I made the right decision to get up as early as I did. I ride the road out of the western entrance, which follows the course of a fast flowing river…
…eventually exiting the park at 1100, I see a quarter mile queue of traffic waiting to get in.
I continue down the road to the Triangle Road Café – formerly, according to Betty, Big Dan’s Diner
. I have an unmemorable lunch, served by a 15yr old airhead “Yur frum England – wow, that’s rilly, like, abroad!” – she manages to bring me my soup and main course at the same time…
I ride on, feeling tired once again (although with today’s early start, it’s understandable – plus it’s now 83º and humid). I ride a couple of scenic by-ways, but, pretty as they are…
…they pale into insignificance against the impression that Glacier Point has made on me, so I set course for Fresno and treat myself to a night in the Comfort Suites Hotel
