Yosemite & Mono Lake

Took a few days to enjoy our incredible backyard. Camped at Sawmill Walk In Campground near the Hall Natural Area. The INTENTION was to just immerse ourselves right there, as it is an exquisite area with meandering streams, swimmable deep blue lakes--it is what I want MY heaven to look like. However, a little bit of the other place (hell) in the form of massive legions of mosquitoes sent us packing to places up a little higher. (Luckily we just purchased a screen house so we were able to cook, eat, change, etc. while thousands of our little friends perched awaiting our fleshy smorgasbord.)

So, kayaked at Ellery, Tioga, and Tenaya Lakes. Swam in the Tuolemne River (Lyell Fork near Tuolumne Lodge), immersed in the Tuolumne in some of our favorite spots near Pothole Dome (in a few weeks, the pools will be lusciously swimmable--total heaven). H brought along our edible manna as usual--we dined on chile verde, chicken/sundried tomatoes/mushrooms/balsamic pasta, lots of fresh fruit and veggies, wines, etc.

On our last day, a thunderstorm drove us from our plans to project ourselves from sheer granite towards the clouds (Tenaya Bowls), and we retreated back to the car, heading down towards home. As we drove along Hwy 120, the water at Mono Lake demanded we stop for one more kayak. It was slouching towards sunset and the water was so smooth it was almost surreal. Numerous pairs of osprey were nesting on the tufa, one circled over me, reminding me of the 250 yards they needed to feel safe...fantastic!

THEN, we detoured once more following a road east from Navy Beach towards an intriguing tufa tower. What a discovery! Ponds, birds (avocets and black-necked stilts,ducks, swallows, and seagulls, of course) and a lovely black sand beach. NOT. It looked like black sand, but was actually a carpet of millions of brine flies. These are my favorite flies because they don't bother humans, they just get out of the way and then go back to their business. In any case, all in all a great few days in our big, beautiful backyard.

I now get to work a few days while H prepares more food for our next local adventure--swimming holes around the Wawona area. Local vacations brought to you by our exorbitant gas prices--a great excuse to stay close to home!