This is your Captain speaking...

You can see...

I'm still wearing my winter hat.

But soon I'll take it off....

And then...

You'll be here

Climbing up my walls...

All the best,

-El Capitan

Spring Wild Flower Hunting in Yosemite

Bobbie-Joe says...

Its spring. Let's go to the Valley and count wild flowers. The Valley. The Valley. The Valley.

Me and Bob load up the wagon and blast off Friday morning.

Heading east...past the endless almonds...climbing through the foothills (still green)...and up the Old Priest grade into the mountains.

The shops are selling snow chains!!! A cloud of doubt momentarily passes over our wildflower mission but our collective will for wild flowers obliterates reality and the quest continues...

Entrance booth. Flash the Park Pass that Bob's Sister's Boyfriend gave us...High five! We are so in.

Under the trees the last big snow drifts are still hanging around. Our mission propells us forward.

Whoa!!!!! Look out. Major road repairs. (We wait five minutes at the first temporary traffic light and probably 25 at the second light where they are working on the road by the river. The river ate part of the road over the winter!)

We fill up a couple of jugs with some spring water and then watch the falls rip for a few minutes.

Evening stroll under the Column and then over towards 1/2 Dome.

Flower Count, Day One: none

(Except for the ones the begin to grow out of Bobbie-Joe's head as he absorbs the Valley's magic call.)

Sat morning and we bus it to Badger Pass (gratis). Postcard views of Bridal Vale and El Cap brushed with snow. With two pairs of rented X-Country skiis the wild flower hunt is on for REAL! We shuffle up the road towards the Dewey Point turn off.

Our sources indicate a meadow up ahead. Just how many flowers will we see???!!!

Side note: You all know Bobbie-Joe rips it up on da skiis. You seen me shredding on Utah's finest. Recognize! (Do not mention that time I forward flipped over my tips Lucky Bucky!)

But let me just say this...these rentals were like riding on two plastic knives from taco bell. Many falls were had by BJP and Bob.

Undaunted by numerous diggers we pursue our quarry with a determination rarely encountered among flower lovers.

We locate the meadow. Bob scours the terrain for wild flowers....

None are to be seen.

Oh well...

We had fun anyway getting amped on chai and eating a pound of chocolate.

Summary:

Inside my head the thoughts become as large as the walls. Hopes for future adventures awaken my spirit. I dream of flowers growing out of the snow. Intent creates reality. Yosemite stands alone.

Post Summary Thoughts:

Thats what I says. I be Bobbie-Joe Panguitch. And this is my cat. Tigre. Stay up!