Yosemite

We spent the last weekend on a relaxed road trip to Yosemite Valley. Beautiful place. Stayed outside at Oakhurst (the closest point to Yosemite where lodging is not costly). The falls had water, could have been better early summer or spring but no complaints. The bus service inside was great. Trekked alone to the Vernal falls. We visited Glacier Point for entire view of the valley. Valley view outside the tunnel was great. All of us trekked for a couple of miles at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequioas. The Valley is worth a visit for sure. Bass Lake was the downside in the whole trip - not a tourist place. On the way to Yosemite, we crossed the Bakersfield area. For the first time I saw farming and agricultural activities and lush green plain fields in US - farm equipment, John Deere tractors, cows (a lot of them). The greenery and the plains were a welcome change for the eyes and kind of reminded me of the Cauvery delta where I grew up. The highlights of the trip are, in increasing rank, -

• 5 - For capturing the flow of a water falls, I learnt, you dont necessarily need a ND filter. If you are there at the right time of the day (evenings), smaller lens aperture, wide focal length - you are good. I almost bought a ND filter at the valley

• 4 - Got pulled over by a Park Ranger for speeding - my first in the US - I was doing 48 on a 35 mph stretch while descending down from Glacier point. Was lucky to escape with a warning. I even noticed the cop's radar going wild when I passed him at that speed.

• 3 - My wife made the shrewd observation that almost all the public trash cans in the valley are shaped like the "Half Dome" - an iconic granite rock formation that symbolises the whole area. Coincidence or bear-protection, I dont know - An interesting observation for sure.

• 2 - The whole family - a 3yr old and my inlaws - trekked a mile up and a mile down - on a decently steep trail on the Mariposa Grove. The whole time the younger one was very engrossed with the sticks he had in his hands and every so often renewed them for a fresh pair as well.

• 1 - And the oscar goes to - my wife and her mother for "Lunch with Curd Rice and Pickle". This really made the day for all the three days - timely, tasty food right in our car without the worry of queues and junk food.
  

Attached pics show the Yosemite Valley and the Half Dome from Glacier point and other pic shows Merced River seen from Mist Trail after it has fallen through Vernal Falls (This photo proves point 5 above :-) ).