It was a much needed and enjoyable vacation with wifey’s sister and b-i-l to Carmel and then on to Yosemite National Park. Both were firsts for Ray, and Cindy had never visited Yosemite.

We stayed at Carmel’s Vagabond’s House Inn, an old favorite of ours, and in adjoining cabins at the Evergreen Lodge just outside the park at Yosemite. As always, the park was magnificent and majestic. But I doubt we’ll ever visit again during summer - it was hot and crowded! Our previous visits have been in May when it’s been much cooler with fewer people, the falls have been more impressive and the overall experience has been much more pleasant. Perhaps a winter visit is in our near future.

This being a new experience for Cindy and Ray, we concentrated on Yosemite Valley and took the usual “postcard” photos. When Dawn and I next visit the park, we’ll do more hiking and focus more on photography. And I’ll have to be in better shape! This trip made me painfully aware of just how out of shape I’ve become over the past year. Hiking with camera gear used to be routine; this time it was work! Note to self: Hit the gym!

On our next to last day in the park, while sipping Irish coffees on the veranda at the Ahwanee Lodge, we were treated to a valley thunderstorm, complete with hail! Children ran to play in the rain while their parents ran to get them out of it. It was short and delightful! And we enjoyed a special treat on our last day, just as we were leaving the park. A deer was enjoying dinner in Cook’s Meadow and worked her way to within six feet of us as though we were old friends. The grass was deep, but I was able to grab several images of her as she feasted.

I’ll post more photos once I’m caught up at the office and have some time to look through them. It was a wonderful vacation and we feel rejuvenated and ready to resume our regular routines — at least until our next get-away.