Wednesday, May 13, 2009

California - South

California - South part II was LA to Vegas via the Joshua Tree National Park, and the start of some very hot weather!! The Joshua Trees were awesome, and the rock formations there were incredible. In Spring the trees send up one single bloom and it's amazing how unusual the makeup of the trees are. Like so many places we have seen, it's hard to capture it all in pictures but we're trying!



Joshua Trees and rocks




A Joshua Tree close up

Ben the mountain goat


The sign says "No Swimming" - my face says "What the?! Where would I swim here??!!" There was once a dam here but given the very hot temperatures, and 2-5 inches of rain a year, it's pretty much dried up!



Cholla Cactus Garden - some of the prickliest little things we've ever come across!



Route 66, baby!!! Classic shot of the bullet and one of the most famous landmarks in the States



The second part of our California adventure has included Yosemite, more of the Californian coast, and Disneyland.
Yosemite was simply amazing, the scenery was jaw-dropping and the weather, FINALLY, was fabulous :-) We did a big hike on our first day to the top of the Yosemite Falls and had spectacular views on the way up, and right at the very top down into the Valley. On day two we went to Glacier Point, on the opposite side of the Valley to the Falls, and had excellent views of the Valley from a different perspective. Yosemite truly has been a highlight of our trip so far.



The Bullet busting through some rocks this time!




Lower Yosemite Falls



















View down to Yosemite Village and the Valley from the top of Yosemite Falls




















View from Yosemite Point (beyond the top of Yosemite Falls) down into the Valley, including the very dominant Half Dome









Looking over to Yosemite Falls from Glacier Point









Looking further around the Valley from Glacier Point, with Half Dome on the right









Mirror Lake









Heading down Highway 1 in California, towards LA









Lunch in the sun!! We have had great weather since hitting Yosemite :-)









Stinky elephant seals - the beach was covered in them!









A Disneyland moose! Hoping it's not the only one we see :-)









Standing outside the "It's A Small World" ride, Disneyland









Joining the Mad Hatter for his tea party :-)









Even big kids have fun at Disneyland!






1 comment:

  1. Hi Fi!!!
    Hows it going!
    You look very very happy! I am so jelous!

    ReplyDelete