Friday, July 31, 2009

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

My White and Yellow Plumeria (July 29, 2009)


My white Plumeria has finally bloomed. The fragrance is more intense than the other colors but, I am just as fond of them. The white/yellow is the most common in Hawaii. I eagerly await the blooming of the white just for that reason. I was pleasantly surprised to see these blooms this morning! Oh...happy day!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Little Traveler / Mammoth Lakes & Eastern Yosemite Trip (July 20-24, 2009)




























Our little traveler, Madison, was ready to go everyday! And, she was worn out every night! What a good sport she was...

Sonora Pass / Mammoth Lakes & Eastern Yosemite Trip (July 20-24, 2009)





























The beautiful and treacherous Sonora Pass! The natural scenery is among nature's best. I wish my photography could capture the absolute true beauty of this area. Jerry was wanting to find the exact spot that he and a dear friend had fished. He forgot the exact turn-off. But, with persistence he found it. West Walker River is so beautiful, it is the place to be.












The campsites were full of people enjoying the river with floating rafts and jumping off huge rocks and, of course, fishing. At a higher elevation water falls were spotted. We only went to the summit of the Sonora Pass from the east. I am very curious what is on the west side? That's another trip! We knew it was time to leave when we heard thunder and then the sky lit up with lightning! It was time to wander away from the river and head back to Mammoth Lakes. It was a bit of a drive.

A few shots are blurry...but, I want to include them anyway...

Tuolumne Meadows / Mammoth Lakes & Eastern Yosemite Trip (July 20-24, 2009)







































































































































































Tuolumne Meadows is in the high country east of Yosemite Valley. The elevation of the meadow is at 8500 feet and 10,000 feet at the east entrance to the park. It's a beautiful meadow complete with the magnificent Tuolumne River and granite domes. This is a perfect place to lose yourself in peaceful solitude...and we did. We sat on the meadow looking east toward "Lembert Dome." I took our pooch, Madison, for a walk on the meadow as I took pictures of the little wild flowers growing in the grass. We could look to the west and admire the view of people climbing on "Pothole Dome." Pothole Dome looks like it's covered with snow, but it is actually granite rock!
We did not venture down to the Tuolumne River on this trip. There are very nice pictures of it on the following link: http://www.yosemitefun.com/tuolumne_meadows.htm And, many other interesting facts on the park, as well.

We spotted 3 mule deer in the meadow as we drove on highway 120 towards Lee Vining. What a spectacular sight!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Along the Tioga Pass / Mammoth Lakes & Eastern Yosemite Trip (July 20-24, 2009)

Tioga Lake on the Tioga Pass towards the eastern gate to Yosemite National Park.