Well, the last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind!
Between moving to a new apartment and hosting friends and preparing to relocate for my new work assignment (which, oh hey! By the way! Relocating for a new work assignment — more on that later!) I feel like I’ve been moving nonstop for the last several weeks.
Luckily I had a chance to take a “break” (is it really a “break” if it involves hiking multiple miles?) and check out Yosemite National Park this past weekend.
I only had a few hours to explore, but it was still totally worth it.
I’ve already posted quite a bit about my new role on social media (Twitter and Insta always see it first, guys) but I’m heading to northern California for a temporary work assignment.
Since I knew I had the weekend to travel, I split the journey into two days and made a slight detour to Yosemite. I got to my hotel in the area late Saturday, and then spent Sunday exploring before I had to get back in my Jeep and continue my journey.
Lemme tell ya, as tired as I was (and as much as I briefly considered not even stopping by Yosemite Sunday morning due to sheer exhaustion) I am SO glad I went, even though I could just do a quick hike and a short drive.
I stayed at the Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn because it was pretty much all that was available last-minute on my government rate. (This was work-related travel, remember.) That said, it was actually… pretty nice? I didn’t do anything except wash my face, sleep, wash my face again, and shove courtesy breakfast into my face before I got back on the road, but the rooms were big and there was an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, a spa, a fitness room, etc. It was really pretty too.
Anyway, I entered through the south entrance and took Wawona Road to Glacier Point Road, and then hiked Sentinel Dome Trail.
I had super ambitious plans to hike out to Glacier Point and Taft Point as well, but I didn’t get a chance to because I honestly spent like, an hour just STARING at this.
I honestly don’t even know what the hell I’m doing right now writing this because my freaking potato iPhone camera photos will never ever ever do this place justice.
Once I finally convinced myself to take one 12 last looks, I hiked back down the trail, kicked off my hiking boots and hopped in my Jeep to drive around.
I drove to the Tunnel View vista, which I’m sure you’re familiar with.
It’s prooobably the most-photographed part of Yosemite. It’s the view you get right after you exit the east end of the Wawona Tunnel. You can see El Capitan on the left, Half Dome in the back and Bridalveil Fall on the right.
There’s a parking lot and a scenic vista there, and everyone was out taking photos.
I, of course, being as basic as I am, joined in.
Then, after a few hours of hiking, driving, exploring and staring, I dipped out.
Oh! Can’t forget about all the fall colors on the drive! Gorgeous.
I drove around Northside Drive, Southside Drive and El Capitan Drive to take in some more views before I exited via the 120 to continue my drive.
El Capitan Drive was oddly hilarious. There’s parallel parking all alongside the street, and it was basically filled with dirty men climbing out of sprinter vans, shaking out their mullets and sorting through climbing gear. (I’m sure there were women as well, ofc, but I didn’t spot any. Just a lotta dudes with mullets.)
And, that was it! I can’t believe I drove all the way there and almost just bailed. I’m heading several hours away from Yosemite for work now, but I definitely want to come back when and if I have the chance. I feel like (and I know I say this about EVERY National Park I visit) there’s SO much more to see.
Later!
