I'm catching up on the blog again, going through pictures from nearly one year ago before the 2020 pandemic, when the world felt so blissfully "normal" and families were able to take trips. Everything has changed this whole world over, but that's a post for another day. For now, let's whisk ourselves away into two of California's beautiful National Parks, Sequoia and Yosemite, shall we?
We left Los Angeles and had a long day of driving through cities and hills toward the northwest, where the landscapes became more rugged and mountainous.
See that Hollywood sign behind Lorelei? We'd be coming back to the city of angels a week later. :)
We rented a cabin at Bass Lake just outside of Yosemite, but stopped en route to admire wildlife...
...and hike trails among the giant trees of Sequoia National Park.
My kids are well aware that Teddy Roosevelt is my favorite US President for his bold act of seizing lands--against Congress, and in stealth--to preserve these great National Parks. In his words:
"A grove of giant redwoods or sequoias should be kept
just as we keep a great and beautiful cathedral."
I find more of God's presence here than in any human church.
Lorelei and Gryffin had fun exploring the "caves" in the trunks of these grand beauties.
That's a thick trunk!
World's largest tree, General Sherman.
That evening we retreated to our cabin for our usual card games and I caught a smile on that boy who doesn't smile for pictures.
The next morning, we left dark and early for Glacier Point, the Yosemite overlook made famous by Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir.
The pictures could never do this place justice.
Mark was terrified of the drive, so I took over. I'm a very chill driver clinging to the side of cliffs with large drop-offs, doesn't faze me at all. Mark was finally all smiles though when we arrived--he loved it!
Half Dome.
And there's El Capitan behind us.
Love this girl and that she puts up with all my pictures.
I'm so lucky that both my kids are nature lovers.
We parked the car in the puddle of a lot that was beneath Bridal Veil falls on the way into the valley. Gryffin was in a mood so stayed in the car, but we were enthralled with this tiny hike through the mist and hadn't given up on getting him to join us.
We were blessed by a gorgeous sunny-but-not-too-hot summer day as we hiked the Yosemite Valley floor in veneration of Mother Nature.
One of our hikes took us to the Lower Yosemite Falls.
Mooommm....
After exploring the Lower Falls, we left the trail and hopped stones in a hike along the river, which is always one of our favorite ways to explore a new place.
We climbed to the top of this massive boulder, and just sat for awhile, our little family of four resting our weary legs and soaking in this sacred island of ours in the heart of Yosemite.
We visited the famous Majestic/Ahwahnee Hotel to cool off mid-day.
And brought out the cards again.
And after lunch, we hiked once more along the valley floor and its maze of boardwalks. The views here were stunning.
And by the end of the day, this boy had a hint of a smile and even agreed (thanks to Lorelei's coaxing) to explore our favorite little shoe-soaked hike through the mist to Bridalveil Falls.
You can't entirely tell from his face, but he loved it, too.
Ah, Yosemite!
"By far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter." -John Muir
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