The first and second parts of our Lake Tahoe Marathon and Yosemite trip can be found at Lake Tahoe Marathon Part 1 – Sacramento to Lake Tahoe! (to Lodi to back to Sacramento) and Lake Tahoe Marathon – The Actual Lake Tahoe Marathon! Incredible views during the race!
Throughout my race I had my camera with me. At the end, I handed it to mom, walked out from the beach to the water to soak my legs and she took a quick pic. Then as I walked towards her, she went to hand me my camera and plop! She dropped it right into the crystal clear waters of Lake Tahoe you see below. So some of my photos turned out blurry as the camera was slowly breaking. Some turned out ok, some were taken on mom and dad’s camera as well. So any blurry photo was mine.
After I finished the marathon, we drove from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite. We entered Yosemite on the east side, through the Tioga Pass Entrance, then drove along Tioga Road, down and around the valley to Wawona Road getting us to Tenaya Lodge. I actually had to stop and pull over so mom could drive as my calf muscles were cramping up from running the marathon and holding them in the position needed to drive. Mom and Dad (as was I) were ready to get there and she was taking the winding turns like a NASCAR driver! It took about 4-5 hours!
Entering Yosemite!!!
We stayed at Tenaya Lodge, in their cabins/cottages just near Mariposa Grove. I highly recommend!
Morning on the deck just prior to heading out to explore Yosemite! Smelled so good with the fresh mountain air and pines!
We did a full day of Yosemite, driving to overlooks, scenic spots and doing a few hikes. Dad did great, he was able to hike Mariposa Grove and a bit around Glacier Point. Giant Sequoias in Mariposa Grove are impressive!
Heading from Mariposa Grove up to Glacier Point, great view of Half Dome and the valley.
One day I hope to hike to the top of Half Dome! I’m not one good with heights and I do get vertigo, but I can do it! One day. Dad, being Dad, informed me he had done it when he was young (I had no idea). He said “Oh, you can do the hike and get to the top. It’s coming back down on the cables from the top of Half Dome that will really rattle your nerves.” I agree.
We were visiting during the dry season so most of the waterfalls weren’t falling, and if they were, just a trickle.
Down on the valley entering Curry Village.
We made a nice loop around the park, driving along steep winding roads and the most memorable stop would be Tunnel View!
There it is! Stunning! I’d love to return when the waterfalls are gushing in the spring after a heavy winter snow!
This was the last trip my Dad was able to do with me. Less than a year later he was almost unable to stand at my brother’s wedding on the beach. He passed away August 11th 2015, just less than six years after this trip and three and a half months after my daughter was born (my second child). We were all there as he passed. He was cremated and his ashes were spread throughout his favorites places such as the lake at our home in Ohio, the farm his parents lived on, his hunting camp in Pennsylvania, and here, at Tunnel View in Yosemite. This is the only photo I have of him there, and I’m so sad it was one of the blurry ones. But he’s there and in my heart and always, always in my memories. It was such a beautiful day and such a beautiful trip.
This was the evening sky at home in Ohio the night he passed. It was so beautiful. I was walking out on my way to the nursing home to be with him and had to take a photo. It was as if Angels were present.
