The 2nd Annual Great American Thelma and Louise Road Trip
Went back to the park and did some more sight- seeing. The sights to see are unlike anything I’ve seen before and it was well worth taking the extra half day. Finally got a fair view of the valley floor from the tunnel, although there were still a lot of clouds.
That's El Capitan on the left. Half Dome is on the right in the distance but you can't see it.
El Capitan
The beautiful Merced River
One of the beautiful meadows with El Cap in the background
A waterfall which I'm sure has a name, just don't ask me.
After we finished at Yosemite, we hit the highway for Carmel. Our original plans called for San Francisco, but since we had left Tahoe a day early, we decided to go to Carmel and Big Sur and then drive up the coast from there.
We drove through central California to the coast, right through farming country. We passed mile after mile of fields and groves. Really interesting. Peaches, strawberries, pistachios, tomatos, avocados, apricots, asparagus and wind. Yes, there were wind farms.
Going from the steep, wooded mountains of Yosemite, to this in one day was pretty startling.
We stopped at the old mission, San Juan Bautista built on the San Andreas Fault, yet surprisingly intact since 1797. It was used in the movie Vertigo.
They had chickens running loose in the streets!
We hit the coast above Monteray and drove down through Carmel to Big Sur and saw some spectacular scenery.
Stayed long enough to see the sunset, and find out that the only hotel with any rooms in Big Sur, had no TVs. I wonder why they were the only hotel with any rooms?
I guess when you can look at this, who needs TV?
We decided to go up to Carmel to stay. Found a wonderful place called The Mission Inn. Very nice. It was my favorite hotel on the whole trip, although I didn't see a lot of it. Very nice room and the public areas were done in Mexican style, stone patio with outdoor fireplace and lots and lots of potted plants and flowers.
End of day 4- well done.