I had to remind myself that Yosemite wasn’t the object of our trip, but a bonus.
It’s raining this morning and 42 degrees.
With snow predicted for tonight we have a debate about leaving. We talked to the volunteers at th ranger station and they claim it will be above 6 thousand fee, and the camp-ground is four.
Bill says let’s try the roads. He doesn’t mind driving in the rain. So. We head out for Bridal-veil Falls first and the
Wamona tunnel first. We’re half-way to Yosemite Valley and it is snowing. What to do?
We visited Bridal-veil Falls, walked to the base in the rain, Yosemite Village with its odd traffic pattern,
El Capitain and looked up into the rain to see the top, Yosemite Falls from the road turn-off and turned up Route 120. 
Oops. Big mistake. We got turned back by the Park Rangers because we needed chains to get through the building snow. Taking 140 West to exit the park.
Driving up and out of Sequoia took us past King’s Canyon, a glacier carved gash in the mountains.
Historic Painted Desert Inn was remodeled in 1936 by the Conservation Corps. Too much too see, to describe.
Next morning we stop at Meteor Crater, a national landmark. The deep impact is so impressive, but like everything else this morning its too big to take a good picture. I did try. There are waved of rock across the pastures, left from dirt thrown by the impact. The land around here is my idea of the old West written about by Zane Grey. Brown grass from the winter, sagebrush and low cedar twisted by the wind. Part of the road has signs warning of cattle on the road. Mountains pierce the sky ahead- the Sierra Nevadas. This is high plains country and we’re having the best weather so far on our trip. The sun is bright, puffy clouds float against the robin’s egg blue sky and the land look flat although it gently rolls. Flagstaff ahead, then the California line. 
Walnut Canyon is a beautiful place with views of cliff dwellings, long trails and a variety of plants and animals. Cougar live here, Rain fell over the peaks to the North fo flagstaff. Stopped in Ash Fork for fuel. Place is busy, but not very big. Like many other towns a number of businesses are closed, others are freshly painted and ready for customers. We’re near Seligman and its raining. The sun is shining in the distance.
planned, sort-of. We can skip the Grand Canyon since we camped there a couple years ago.
Overcast at sunrise, but slowly clearing. Went past a train yard with hundreds of cars waiting to be moved. Windmills are lined along the horizon for miles. Why are they not spinning? I thought we needed them to run for electricity. The wind is blowing, I can feel it push the camper sideways.
ranch houses and equipment look like miniatures.
Barbara Edwards Comments 