Mammoth Lakes Mountain

The view back up the road towards Mammoth Lakes.

Sierra Nevada (4)

We were heading up and over these. Thankfully Tioga Pass was open so it wasn't going to be challenging drive.

Sierra Nevada (5)

Mountain Falls (1)

Mountain Falls (2)

Tioga Pass Road Valley

Ellery Lake (1)

What a stunning lake to find at 9538 feet.

Ellery Lake (2)

Tioga Lake

A little further up the hill is Tioga Lake

Yosemite Gate At Tioga Pass

The entrance to Yosemite National Park right at the tip top of Tioga Pass at the dizzy height of 9945 feet (3031m) above sea level.

A Mountain Lake

A pretty little lake just inside Yosemite on Tioga Pass road

Snow Critter

Lembert Dome (1)

Lembert Dome (2)

Claire was off like a shot.

The View

The view from part way up Lambert Dome.

Lembert Dome (3)

Claire Tackles Lembert Dome

Colin Tackles Lembert Dome

Wonky Tree

Slopeside

Heave Ho

Pothole Dome

Another Hill

Wafty Clouds

Tenaya Lake (1)

More Hills

And Some More Hills

Tenaya Lake (2)

Olmstead Point (1)

You can just see the back of Half Dome.

Olmstead Point (2)

Joshua Tree (1)

It's not really a Joshua Tree (ala U2), but looks like it. This little fella is growing out of the rock at Olmsted Point

Joshua Tree (2)

Hug a Tree

Olmstead Point (3)

Trees (1)

Tuolumne Grove Sign

They're a little generous with the time it takes. Claire and I walked it easily in 1hour 15 mins. Lovely walk too

Tuolumne Grove Trail (1)

Tuolumne Grove Trail (2)

Tuolumne Grove Trail (3)

Giant Sequoia (1)

These are some very very big trees. Not only in height but girth too.

Giant Sequoia (2)

Tuolumne Grove Trail (4)

Tunnel Tree (1)

I told you these trees were big. This one's got a tunnel right through it.

Tunnel Tree (2)

In The Tunnel Tree

Claire and I in the tunnel in the tree

Tunnel Tree (3)

Deer

This deer was just minding it's own business behind us right on the side of the path.

Yosemite Valley (1)

You can just see Half Dome in the distance

Yosemite Valley (2)

Bridalveil Falls (1)

Bridalveil Falls (2)

Huge Crow

The crows in Yosemite are huuuuuge. They'll eat your average cat for breakfast

Bridalveil Falls (3)

Bridalveil Falls (4)

Bridalveil Falls (5)

Reflection

Washington Column

Argentina to Alaska

Watchout, the little girl is about to hijack the car.

El Capitan

Deer Family

Running Deer

Daddy Deer

Half Dome

Arch Rock

15 Minute Wait

15 minutes!!!!

Yosemite Bug Lodgings

We stayed in a cabin like this. The outside doesn't give you any indications of what it looks like inside...

Inside Yosemite Bug Cabin (1)

Now how's this for decor? I think everything has literally been lifted out of another hotel

Inside Yosemite Bug Cabin (2)

Remington Typewriter

Yosemite Bug

Yosemite Bug Sign

It is very much a "hippy reserve", but don't let that put you off. It's a lovely place to stay.

Inside Yosemite Bug Cabin (3)

This is all for show. Who on earth still uses encyclopedia. Oh and the TV is most definitely for show. You can plug in the power, but there's nothing to plug the aerial into

Yosemite Valley (3)

Coyote

I think this is a coyote. We spotted him just on the edge of a camp site

Stoneman Bridge

Merced River (1)

Lounging Lizard

Merced River (2)

Merced River (3)

Merced River (4)

Merced River (5)

North Dome

River Reflection

Mirror Lake (1)

Unfortunately we were here on the wrong side of summer. This is full of water at the beginning of summer thanks to all the melting snow.

Mirror Lake (2)

Apparently you can see the reflection of the mountains behind when it's full, hence it's name.

Half Dome (2)

Half Dome (3)

Mirror Lake (3)

Not much mirroring happening today

Mirror Lake and Half Dome

Now this would be a great mirror shot if it were full of water. Lets just imagine it for a moment.

Orange Fungus (1)

Orange Fungus (2)

Orange Fungus (3)

Tailless Squirrel

They're hard bastards in Yosemite.

Crow Thief

This crow was helping himself to the mayonnaise straight from the basket.

The Thief

A closer shot of the mayonnaise thief. Bloody big bird.

Stag

Sadly the light was getting very low when this chap made himself seen.

Bears

This is the closest we got to bears in our whole time there.

Hog Breath Inn

Hog Breath Inn Sign

Em Le's Restuarant

Secret Garden

The Secret Garden Sign

Carmel Buildings (1)

Carmel Buildings (2)

Carmel Buildings (3)

I'm sure this building should really be in Europe somewhere.

Carmel Buildings (4)

Carmel Buildings (5)

Big Marmite

Now that's a HUUUGE jar of Marmite.

Big Viagra

I bet this give you some awesome power.

Carmel Buildings (6)

Carmel Buildings (7)

A Lady Bird

One of the shops in Carmel was selling these extra-ordinary little hanging critters.

Wasp

Catepillar

Bee

Euro-alley

You'd never say you were in the US.

Carmel Buildings (8)

Hot Plate Art

This entire piece of art is made from rings from cookers

Carmel Buildings (9)

Garden Alley

Now this is a secret garden, hidden away in Carmel

Carmel Buildings (10)

Pink Flower

This striking flower caught my attention, so I just had to get a snap

Carmel Beach (1)

Carmel Beach (2)

Carmel beach facing towards Monterey

House or Car

Now this is typical high class America - a Colt GT parked outside a few beach front mansions.

Beach Front Mansion (1)

Carmel Beach (3)

Carmel Beach (4)

Beach Front Mansion (2)

Beach Front Mansion (3)

Carmel Beach (5)

Waves (1)

Waves (2)

Washed Up Seaweed

Carmel Beach Front Mansions

Our Room In Monterey

Our Lodgings in Monterey

Our motel in Monterey with the little hire car parked in front. This was actually quite a nice place within walking distance of the beach.

Pacific Grove Lighthouse

Pacific Grove Golf Course

Sunset Rocks (1)

Sunset Rocks (2)

Beached Seals

They may look like rocks, but these are actually seals basking in the sun.

Cannery Row (1)

Cannery Row (2)

Cannery Row Sign

The Clement Monterey Bridge

Cannery Row Pier

Cannery Row (3)

Claire Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump left his shoes, suitcase and a box of chocolates on a bench just for us tourists.

Colin Forrest Gump

Forrest's Goodies

Forrest's goodies and restaurant chain.

Monterey Wax Works (1)

Monterey Wax Works (2)

Cannery Row (4)

Old Ford

Cannery Row (5)

Cannery Row Pier (1)

Danger! Homer Cooking

Seaview

Fishhopper on Cannery Row Pier

Flight of the Pelican

More Pelicans

Vegetarian

I love this.

Monterey Canning Company Despite their name, they don't do any canning anymore.

Bear Flag Building

This is the only place we could find in Cannery Row that is actually mentioned in John Steinbeck's book.

The Caboose

Antique Mall

Dolphins

Resting Pelicans (1)

Resting Pelicans (2)

Old Fisherman's Wharf

Monterey Harbour

Monterey Pier

You can pretty much eat lunch for free by walking down the pier accepting all the free samples of clam chowder. You may have to provide your own bread though.

Monterey State Historic Park (1)

Monterey Steets (1)

Monterey Steets (2)

Monterey Steets (3)

Doc Rickett's Lab

This is a night club, not the lab as detailed in John Steinbeck's book. It's also quite a long walk away from Cannery Row

Monterey State Historic Park (2)

Monterey State Historic Park (3)

Cannery Workers (1)

Steinbeck Quote (1)

One of the quotes from John Steinbeck's book.

Cannery Workers (2)

Steinbeck Quote (2)

Bambi Came to Visit

We happened to look out the window of our room and noticed mom and Bambi munching on our front lawn

Bambi

Bambi's Dad

Bambi's dad was around too. Just checking out the accomodation.

Bambi's Dad on His Way

I don't think he was too impressed with the pool.

Bambi's Dad Munching

I think he liked the grass though

Sea View

Xing

Whenever you encounter something crossing, there's always a XING sign

Lake View

Just spotted this on the side of the road

Laziness

Now this is amazing: an RV is towing the 4x4 which has a mobility scooter on the back.

Golden Gate Bridge And Blue Angels

It was Fleet week starting the day we flew back home, but building up to it involved the Blue Angels practicing over the bay.

Golden Gate Bridge - South Side

Claire and Me With Goldy

A much better picture of Claire and me and Golden Gate Bridge taken from the south side this time.

Carlton Hotel Room (1)

We stayed in the Carlton Hotel on our last night. This hotel is one of the few buildings that stood the test of the last major earthquake as it was built to do so

Carlton Hotel Room (2)

A very nice room and hotel in a surprisingly nice area. It does however edge onto the Tenderloin which is not nice at all.

View From the Window

The view from our hotel room window.

Tenderloin

Hungry Seagull

Tea in the Sky

The view out the window from the Cheese Cake Factory restaurant at the very top of Macys.

Tenderloin At Night

I got all experimental once it got dark

Civic Centre

As seen from our hotel room.