Feeling the need for one last summer getaway, Jeff and I took the kids plus Grandma Joan to Yosemite National Park. We stayed at the
housekeeping camp. Yes, we took (a willing) Grandma Joan camping for 3 days, 2 nights.
A fire in Yosemite NP meant we had to take the long way around to get into the Valley. Which meant more time in the van which meant unhappy Jennie. Did you know I'm the worst car traveler in the family? Actually, I was, until Eliza came along.
On the way in we stopped to hike to Bridal Veil Falls. It was fun to remind the kids of when we did the same hike in January in the icy snow. Now that was memorable. Here's Grandma Joan and the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls (couldn't get the whole falls in the frame):
We arrived at the "housekeeping camp" and found it to be even less inviting than the photos in the advertising. We enjoyed watching Grandma Joan's face when she saw the sleeping arrangements for the first time. Of course the kids were thrilled with the set-up.
Forget about bears, we had a harder time keeping Ben out of the bear box.
Ethan celebrating a lit match and a self-started camp fire.
While the dinner cooked, Grandma, Ben, Eliza and I took a walk to the Merced River, just adjacent to the housekeeping camp. The trees opened up to the beach and we got a glimpse of where we really were.
After a night of rest in our cozy "tent house" (though Ben woke up at 3am ... and thus so did I), Grandma Joan went to a watercolor class to paint for the day and the rest of us hopped on the bus and rode to Happy Isles for our day's hike. The bus may have been the highlight of the trip - "NO seatbelts
and we can stand up??!?!?"
It was slow going up to the Vernal Falls Footbridge. Ben was mad because he got in trouble for running in front of an approaching bus as Jeff and I yelled a panicked STOP (of course, he didn't stop)!!! I've lost count of how many times that boy has eluded Death. Anyways, he made it and here's Jeff and him plodding up the hill. Beautiful Yosemite!
We made it to the footbridge and I was thrilled when Ethan said he wanted to continue up to the top of Vernal Falls, and that I would be the one to accompany him!
There are a bazillion steps up and up and up and I was so proud of Ethan for pushing along, even when he was sick, to reach the top of the falls.
Here we are! We enjoyed the view for a few minutes, cooled off in the river for a few minutes, then descended the mountain. We pretty much jogged most of the way down. Why was I the only one with sore muscles the next day?
We went back to the camp and went to the riverfront for a swim. That was COLD water!!! Jeff and I laughed as we watched Ethan and Eliza play with talking sticks. When I told Ethan that was a creative idea to make the sticks talk, he told me, "it wasn't an idea, we just met them."
Meanwhile, Ben took a turn wearing the pedometer and walked around and around the beach announcing his number of steps at every break. By the end of the afternoon, he'd reached 10,000. Then he was done.
We took showers (YES!) and headed to Curry Village for a little free theater. The kids will definitely remember this cute show.
Another night of rest (this time interrupted by our bozo neighbors who left all their food out overnight and were awoken and fined by a ranger). Then a morning meal of oatmeal, hot chocolate, bananas, and pop tarts. Just a little sugar to kick off the day.
We spent our last morning at Yosemite Village - visited the Museum and Ansel Adams Gallery - then took the bus for a short loop. Here we are at the bus stop, enjoying the view. You can't really see the bed heads, but they were pretty impressive.
Ben was pretty sad. He knew we were packed up and heading home, and yet we weren't going home.
We took the long way home so we could drive through Wawona and visit the Mariposa Grove for one last hike. Here's Eliza at the sign for the Grizzly Giant, though you can't see the tree itself, it is very giant.
Jeff and Ethan at the California Tree.
Goodbye, Yosemite! We'll definitely be back.
