Birthday at Yosemite

Cheers to the birthday boy!  Today is his real birthday and we have reservations for dinner tonight, but this was last night after we'd checked in the Ahwahnee Lodge in the valley floor of Yosemite.  Wow, this is some place!  The rooms have views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome!  

But let's begin with yesterday.  We checked out of our hotel in Corning, CA and Dayle put the park in his iPhone maps and he was the navigator and I was the driver. We both wished we'd had an Atlas map!!  The phone took us down Route 99 instead of I-5 and through a 2 lane road in the farmland of CA.  This is what it looks like.  Rolling hills with Oak trees and orchards of Walnut and Olive trees.

We passed this pretty lake.. 

We drove through miles and miles and MILES of curvy roads trying to find Yosemite National Park.  We began to feel we were lost.  But finally we found the entrance and then more driving down into the valley floor.  And then.. Yosemite Falls!  It is dried up now unfortunately, but still pretty.

It had not disappointed us.. quite amazing.

Dayle snapped these next photos from a bridge over the river with Half Dome in the distance.  For some reason the mountain faded out.. dang.

A close up shows it better.

Quite the big rock, eh?

This is the view from our room!

After getting settled into our room we walked down to the dining room.. wow.. it's an awe inspiring space.

We were treated to this gorgeous sunset during dinner.  You might wanted what those lights are, they are a reflection of the chandeliers in the room.

I had poached salmon with polenta and wine sauce and micro greens on top and chard below and Dayle had a nut encrusted pork chop!

After dinner we took a walk outside to savor the cool air and smell the wood smoke and oak and pine aromas.  Lovely.

Our room is very comfortable.  

OK, we off to catch a tour bus, more later.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)