On a recent Friday, I ditched work early and picked up my guy so we could get a head start on a long-awaited Yosemite weekend.  We managed to escape the Bay Area Traffic Nightmare that is called Friday night rush hour, and crossed the Central Valley in an eastward beeline just as the sun was starting to sink in the rearview mirror.  We drove through the low, green crop fields of Tracy and Manteca, just as the farm stands were shuttering up for the evening.

At dusk, we reached the Yosemite Westgate Lodge and settled into our simple little room.  The lodge is nothing fancy – the room looked out onto the pool, which was in the middle of the parking lot, which was directly adjacent to the highway — but it really was all much lovelier than it sounds.  The setting alone just seems to slow you down… the majestic evergreens and the expansive blue sky that stretches out behind them.  We dropped our bags, freshened up and strolled over to the Buck Meadows Diner, where we had burgers, fries, and beer, which was the best meal we could have dreamed of after the long drive.

In the morning, we were wakened by the sounds of eager travelers packing their cars and  slamming their trunks.  We knew we ought to get moving, too, to stay ahead of the rush at Yosemite’s west entrance.  Soon we had packed up our own car and were descending into the park, surrounded by towering trees, lush green grass, and… water. More water than we’d ever seen in our lives.

It’s true – people who have lived and work in the park for 25 years are saying they’ve never seen as much water as is pouring into the park this summer. With the heavy snows that hit the sierras earlier this year, and the sudden appearance of warmer weather, there is an indescribable amount of water gushing into the valley from every direction.  There are waterfalls where there have never been waterfalls before. It’s truly breathtaking.

We started with the short and easy walk to Bridal Veil Falls, which wasn’t quite as short or easy as it once was, since the hiking path itself is flowing like a shallow river.  We had to hitch up our pants and practically wade up to the lookout point.  Then we hit Yosemite falls and, later, Vernal Falls, both of which soaked us thoroughly with dramatic spray.   The park was crowded (as you can see from that long line of cars lining the park road in the photo above) but we didn’t mind.

As we walked across the valley floor at one point in the afternoon, we came across a deer munching on some grass.  I wanted to get a little closer to get a photo of his newly-formed antlers, and he did indeed allow me to come quite close.  Until, that is, he decided he needed to use the restroom and needed a little privacy.  He politely stepped behind a bush and relieved himself.  I realize it was terribly rude of me, but I couldn’t help but snap a picture of that, too.

We splurged on upgraded digs on Saturday night… a room at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel in the heart of the valley.  I hadn’t been there since I was just a girl and the place hasn’t changed much, so it was a little bit like stepping back in time.  It was lovely.  We dined in the dining room and our room had a view of half dome, which was fantastic, all washed in the orange light of sundown.  The following photo was taken from the window of our guest room.

Wary of the crowds, we decided (a bit reluctantly) to leave the park early on Sunday.  We were sad to say goodbye to that magical place, but the leisurely drive home allowed us to stop at some of those farm stands in Manteca and pick up some local produce and goodies, including some white balsamic vinegar, which I’ll be using to make salad dressing, and red cherries which I used to make cherry petite pies.  Check back for that recipe next week.

Where will your travels take you this summer?  Drop me a line and let me know!