Yosemite National Park and much much more

Got on the road about 8 am today.  Onto the I395 then took the 140 through Yosemite National Park.  This took me up to about 9500 feet through again some of the best scenery I have ever seen with all natural pine forests and high mountains.  The mountains were solid granite and as smooth as a baby's bum with wee lakes doted here and there.  This part of the country is a hikers/mountain bikers paradise with trails and small camping grounds everywhere.  

Yesterday at Mammoth Lakes there were these tram type buses that took you up to the lakes and you can bike down on special bike tracks around the lakes and there is a bike only lane  on the road for mountain bikers.  Or you could take your bike on the gondola and come down from the top of the mountain.  This is one of the things I have noticed over here is how much they cater and encourage you to get out into the forests and mountains and the parks. 

Today it was about the trampers and bikers.  There were cars parked at all these spots along the road with trails going into the forest.  Put this on the "I must see list" if you are into this type of recreation.

Got a bit side tracked (lost, took wrong turnoff ) and went through these lovely wee townships (hate to be there in the winter) and circled around and came in the back way to Merced.  Well it was like being in Australia, brown grass, same type of trees and bloody hot.  But was a good ride, very steep, lots of bends (bit gun shy of corners came off bike 2 years ago, totaled bike, so am cautious when it comes to sharp corners)!

Finally arrived at a motel, $50.00 for night has pool and is comfortable and its laundry night.  Tomorrow Walnut Creek just out of San Fran.

Oh have started to use TomTom, things getting a bit better with the navigation side of things.

Location:Merced