Its Better by Bike

Today is another great day, weather-wise. Blue skies, warm temps. In fact, we all agree to rent bikes to make it easier to get around to the far trails. We rent some from the Curry Village equipment tent. Curry Village is the spot where all the eateries and other services like pool and showers are located. It is only a half mile from our campsite and a nice walk through the woods to get there.

We get our bikes, Sam gets a banana-seat bike, kinda like this one, that she isn't too sure about at first but ends up loving. She wants that kind of bike at home she informs us.

We head out to Yosemite Falls and through that village center as well. There is an Ansel Adams gallery there. Inside are images from contemporary photogs as well as Ansel Adams' work. The first image I am drawn to is a shot of Aspen trees that is an original print for only $45,000. In fact, it is the most expensive print in the store. Leave it to me to spot the most expensive meal on the menu.

Moving carefully away from that item I see others prints that are taken from Ansel's negatives that are for sale. There are around 20 select editions for sale. I pick up two for those intrepid souls who have been holding down the fort at my office back home.

We bike on over to Yosemite Falls and it is raging. The mist is as thick as the tourists. One thing that is not around every corner is a BEAR! Still no bear sightings. I am resolved that we will not see one on this trip. Its not the end of the world, but the kids keep on asking and I don't have an answer for why everyone on the face of the earth has seen one except us.

We stop at a gift store and grab a few souvenirs for friends and family. We need to do this now because we are coming to the end of our trip. It is a reality we are reluctant to acknowledge. It seems like the past few weeks have flown by at times. We are now counting down the days remaining instead of the days we have been on vacation.

We are really enjoying Yosemite and list it near the top of the places we have visited. I am not a big fan of categorizing things but try to enjoy each for its own. However, seeing these places one after the other in rapid succession makes comparison inevitable.

The amount of activities and sights in Yosemite make it a place you could explore for years. This beats Yellowstone and all the others for the shear number of amusements. Winter through Summer, you will never run out of new things to try. We are sold on Yosemite.