After our continental breakfast at the Best Western, we were on the road to Yosemite. Since we were driving the motorhome, we decided on the El Portal route. We had driven this route several times for winter trips, but realized this was the first time with the motorhome. There were a few steep sections, but it was much better than driving up through the foothills north of Fresno and all the way through the park from the south entrance.
We arrived at Hodgdon Meadows Campground about 1:00. We took one look at our campsite and
knew we had a problem. The campsite sloped steeply from front to back (at least 2 feet) and from side to side.
The campsite description when we made the reservation said it had a "slight incline." I'd hate to see
what a steep incline looks like. We fought with leveling the motorhome for 2 hours before finally admitting defeat.
We did the best we could with every piece of leveling equipment we had, but we still had a 12" incline from front to back.
It's a bit disconcerting to say the least. I now know what passengers on a sinking ship must feel like as they try to move around.
After a late lunch, we drove down to the Valley to check out the conditions. The waterfalls are full, and the Merced is deep and cold. They have far less volume than the peak most years, but they have enough water to make good images. The Dogwoods and lupine are blooming not only in the Valley, but also along the roads leading into the Valley.
We photographed briefly at Bridalveil Falls to capture the rainbow at the base of the falls. One of the best shots of the falls is also the easiest. You just shoot from the west end of the parking lot and frame the falls between the trees. We'll hike up to the falls later in the week.
We made a couple more stops at Swinging Bridge and the Cathedral Picnic area, but the light was already gone. Our final stop was Valley View where the light was still lingering on Bridalveil Falls. We now know what to expect, but we'll have nothing to keep from today.
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| Bridalveil Falls | Valley View | Valley View |
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