FATHER'S DAY & JUNE BIRTHDAYS

A father carries pictures where his money used to be. ~Author Unknown

JOHN, JAY, BRANDT, LARRY & MIKE
OUR FIRST BARBEQUE FOR THE SUMMER

PAUL WAS HERE FROM ARIZONA FOR NATIONAL GUARD
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY PAUL

*JUNE BIRTHDAYS*

*MIKE AND SOUPIE*
TAYLER HELPED BLOW OUT HER MOM'S CANDLES

GOING HOME AFTER A GREAT TRIP

JUNE 12th & 13th
Our travel time was longer to and from Yosemite because the West Gate to Yosemite was still closed do to snow conditions.

We drove to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, an hour out of Sacramento. We stayed on base over over night, getting a suite again like last March. We had two bedrooms, two baths a large living room, an office and kitchen with a patio outside. We explored the base and as usual checked out the Post Exchange for great deals.

A 13 HOUR DRIVE HOME FROM SACRAMENTO!
This picture was taken close to Donner's summit. You can see the rail road tracks we took on our way to and from Sacramento last March.

DONNER'S LAKE
This time we are looking at Donner's Lake from the freeway rather than the tracks. You can see the rail road tracks on the mountain side.

THIS WAS A GREAT TRIP ESPECIALLY SPENDING TIME WITH OUR CALI FAMILY!

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK JUNE 11th

ON OUR WAY TO THE PARK

Parts of the road from Mariposa to Yosemite became one lane due to the rock slides. Going across the bridge and onto the other side was directed by stop lights.
One of the rock slides, the road is buried under this slide.

The run off this year was spectacular, but the flowing water was wicked and dangerous.

Cole is standing by one of the calmer creeks.

NEVADA FALLS

THESE WERE THREE OF THE MANY FALLS THAT WERE SPLASHING
OVER THE ROCKS THROUGH OUT THE PARK

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS, CLOSE UP

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS FROM A DISTANCE

Walking towards the Ahwahnee Hotel.

Saturday the park was over run by Mobil homes trucks trailers cars and people! The streets and side walks were packed. Good thing Nicole and Mike knew the park well and took us on the back roads where it was a little less populated with crazy people. When we had to take the shuttle buses we were packed in like a can of sardines. The kids managed to take us to some beautiful off the beaten path areas that were awesome. They were wonderful guides!

One of the many beautiful rooms in the hotel.

Creed pointing out one of the falls to Grandpa John.

Happy Isles has two islands, you can cross over bridges to get to them, they were beautiful.

John and Donna on Happy Isles.

Back at the KOA camp after a day in the park.

Mariposa KOA camp ground

Savannah and Cole playing in their tent trailer.

Creed at his favorite place in the camp. He is across the road from our camp sites throwing
stones into the dry creek bed.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR TRIP, BESIDES BEING WITH OUR CALI FAMILY
We saw five bears! One on the way in and four (mother bear & cubs) on the way out of the park.
The cubs were playing in the trees climbing up and then jumping out.
I enjoyed the bears from a distance, safe in the truck.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK JUNE 10th

We set up camp at the Mariposa KOA. We arrived a few hours earlier than the Cali family.

The next morning we drove into the Park.
Yosemite was about 40 minutes away from where we were camped.

This is one of the parks meadows, there are only a few left. It was almost like marsh land from all the run off this year. Check out the Falls in the back ground.

We walked right into the pathway of a dear who was too busy eating to be bothered by us.

Walking to Yosemite Falls.

The Lower Yosemite Falls
The falls were spraying out as they tumbled down the mountain side.
Grandpa and the kids were getting pretty wet.

This is a view of the Upper Yosemite Falls.

Mike and Cole waving to us.

You can see both falls from this distance.

Waiting for the shuttle to take us over to where we are going to hike 2 miles.

Starting the uphill hike to the Smith Stone Brown Bridge and lookout to Vernal Falls

Yea! We made it! Nicole & Michael could have continued on a few more miles to the falls if they didn't have to stick with the old folks.....sorry.
We did hike 2 miles though so I am patting us on the back!

The water was raging under the bridge.

Vernal Falls

Stopping to have lunch before we started back

Pesky Squirrels everywhere

Creed is looking for the Squirrel, he is saying, "Squirrel where are you?"

The kids were rewarded with an ice cream cone after the hike.

Half Dome from a long distance

A closer look of Half Dome

A different view of Yosemite Falls as we were leaving the park.
You can see the dramatic difference in the upper and lower falls from here.