sf vacation - day 4

at last!  yosemite!

we travel all day, from bright sunny skies on the coast through the fog, rain, and hail of the mountains, and finally into what feels like late autumn here in yosemite national park.  there's even snow on the ground — in may!  ah, california.

the drive into the valley is beautiful but much longer than i expect.  i'm confused because i don't remember such a distance between the mountain pass and the park.  i realize later that i had driven in at night last time, and the sun was already down by the time i reached the hotel.

speaking of lodging, joe and i arrive without booking anything.  at the park's visitor center, one of the rangers gets us a room at the place in el portal — which, it turns out, is where i stayed last time (a good thing).  i spring the extra few bucks for a room on the river — not much to see at night, but i'm banking on it being worth it in the morning.  added bonus — jacuzzi!

on our way back from dinner, joe and i spot a raccoon prowling around one of the hotel garbage cans.  i've never seen a live one that close before.  turns out, he's one of two local celebs.

oh, yeah — joe's predicting that vonzell will be voted off.  i'm hoping it's anthony.

Posted by jason at May 10, 2005 11:00 PM