Day 185 Bakersfield - Yosemite - Mariposa

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  Mariposa, California, United States
Friday, November 7, 2008

Day 185  Yosemite - Mariposa - California
We left Bakersfield, all commenting about the nice park. No expense has been spared in creating this an RVer's friendly park.
The route took us from dry arid country into a rise in elevation, but also, surprising enough into some farmland. Firstly cattle grazing country, then past some huge farms and cattle feed lots.
It was an amazing transformation and this was also interspersed with fruit trees and grape or wine farms.
Certainly a more interesting drive than across the Mojave Desert. The route began to narrow as we passed through Fresno and on up into the Yosemite area.
The road into the park narrowed and became a little winding before we entered the actual park. This took us through some wonderful old forest and trees, Ponderosa pines, and some Sequoia as well, we believe.
Again we used our National Parks pass to enter the Famous park.
The park road became rather narrow and winding and took a bit of negotiating for the Castle.
By this time we were searching for a place for lunch, the maps supplied are never in proportion to the actual, and they also do not supply distances.
We hauled over at the first available nominated toilet area with a store handy. The facilities are similar to the ones we found in Yellowstone and as mentioned, we found them inadequate. Again this park receives about 4 million visitors a year, yet could be better set up, especially when we have found smaller national parks better set up.
We had lunch and set off again. Taking it real easy, as we take the road through this side of the park rose and wound itself through some narrow sections as well as through a tunnel. Some of the vistas back down the valley were enjoyed and we pulled over after the tunnel to look down at the road way down below, this also this gave a view of the Bridal Veil Falls, as well the huge granite rocks and bluffs.
Certainly a lot of wonderful colours in the trees as the end of Fall colours begin to finish in the trees that still have leaves.
A lot of the options in the park, are already closed for the winter, and we had come across some damp road as we drove through the higher passes and we established this must have been from a snow fall, because in some shady sections along the road were small patches of snow still not completely melted.
We chose to head around and back out through the Western Entrance of the park, rather than head further in to the information centre. This was deeper in the park and required a return trip out the same route. Rather than add time to finding a home for the night (remembering the daylight runs away early now) we tracked back out and stopped off for a different view of the Bridal Veil Falls. A picturesque spot, near a beautifully clear stream, bubbling over the rocks, playing a delightful tune of relaxation.
We headed out, the road was not as narrow nor as winding as the one we took in, a rock slide had required the Park to put in a by pass and build a couple of new small bridges, to keep the road open.
It was not long before we exited the park and headed for the KOA listed as the "Yosemite/Mariposa KOA"
Our wonderful Mandy,managed to mislead us a little, by telling us "Youhave reached your destination" about 1 mile before we found the KOA sign.
This RV park closes on the 10th November each year, so we managed to sneak in before it closed.
This park will be noted as the park for stray cats! Easy to count up to 7 cats hanging around the RV's at one time.
The owner explained, they came about because, some campers had abandoned them in the season, "They will be dealt with when we close for the season? The animal care people are not interested in doing anything about them, they have too many cats!"
Certainly they have to be dealt with, they are a problem.
We knew we were at a higher altitude, simply because of the cooler (read cold) evening and night.
We had cable TV and limited internet connection, hence the "no posting night"
Bad luck Danial, no snow and we head to the coast tomorrow! Maybe another trip!

Post your own travel photos for friends and family Pictures

A valley View	Shadows and Light	A Tree framed view	Bridal veil Falls
Across the stream	Earnie & Karon in Yosemite

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