YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Sat, 5/29/10. Goodbye Wishon, Bass Lake campsite...but wait!, there's a secret little alcove from the road. It's sunny, the lake is calm and shimmering, and what a great place to pull over and have breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast and coffee coming right up. Tim tries a little prospecting on the beach while Zack plays in the water.

Yosemite National Park is only 8 miles away on Hwy41 through the Sierra National Forest. The vast majority of Yosemite is granitic rocks formed millions of years ago and speckled with feldspar, quartz, biotite mica and hornblende. The valley floor is 7 miles in length and a mile in width. Cliffs ascend 3-4,000 ft above. Entering into the park, we see the majestic El Capitan and Half Dome. Yosemite Valley is world-famous for its impressive waterfalls...they were stunning!

Do NOT visit Yosemite during a holiday weekend. We experienced extreme crowds, limited parking, traffic and congestion throughout. There are numerous trails to hike and bike, awesome views and wildlife! We definitely would like to return for a stay of 1-2 weeks to explore this park!

This is not a photo of Gentle Ben. It is an American Black Bear that likes people food. When backpacking or camping, make sure you properly secure all food, trash and scented items....before it gets dark. If items are missing in the a.m., under no circumstances should you try to retrieve them from a bear.

Woods Creek? The RV park looks quaint with the entrance across an old wooden bridge. We will take it!...a level, open, full-hookup site. Showers across the road if so desired. Laundry facilities(thought it was too good to be true) is up a hill that resembles "James St" in Npt. Two bags of wash to do = great exercise after a dinner of chicken bacon corn chowder.

Sunday, 5/30/10. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ERIN!! Thinking of you and wishing you a wonderful day with the family!

The RV came with one deep cell battery. Tim replaced the one with two 12-volt deep cell batteries for better battery reserve power. After extended use, water levels in the batteries need to be checked. So we...removed the plastic battery caps, filled each open cell with water to cover the plates, and firmly placed the covers back on. Good to go for another month.

Backtrack and spend 3.5 hrs in historic quaint Jamestown. Fill up with propane and veer off to Rt49N.."Mother Lode Hwy," through San Andreas and Sutter Creek. Hwy Calif 16 to Sacramento and behold in Rancho Cordova...another Walmart. Stock the fridge. Pass Sacramento, and cross the Sacramento River.

AAA Camping Book recommends Happy Times RV Park, I-5, exit 554, 45 min. north of Sacramento.

RVTip#5 - Don't put your full trust in campground descriptions listed in guidebooks, or for that matter, idyllic-sounding RV Park names pulled up on Ms. Garmin.

Happy Times should be named Rough Times (entrance sign is a clue). In the laundry building, a washing machine is held together with duct tape. All the others are out-of-service. Luckily we brought a clothesline..all the dryers are out-of-service. Tim braved it and visited the restroom with his book...said the stall door fell off its hinge when coming out.

We made the night enjoyable, though, by grilling chicken and talking about interesting areas in store for us the next few days.