May 15 - Thursday - Yosemite Valley

We headed off to brekky in the Curry Village café and came across two Rangers on horseback.  They stopped and chatted with us and were very impressed with Claire's efforts to pick up rubbish (part of her requirements to become a Jnr Ranger).  She had a big bag and she'd picked up a huge number of cigarette butts, drink containers, and general rubbish (how can anyone come to a pristine place like this and drop cigarette butts?).

After a huge brekky we headed off to the Visitors Centre to get another Jnr Ranger for Yosemite. Claire took her huge bag of rubbish in to show the Ranger and he was most impressed.  Claire was sworn in after he checked her work (not as vigorously as the Ranger at Montezuma Castle though!) and Claire received her badge - and a cloth patch.

 



Ebbony instigated a "Bingo" game for Claire and Melanie and Michael drew one up prior to us leaving Melbourne and Claire has had lots of fun trying to get everything on the Bingo Card crossed off.  Today she got one we didn't think she would get, a New York number plate.



BINGO!

 And a deer:

In all the times we've come to Yosemite, we have never hiked up to Glacier Point, or taken to the road to drive up.  So we did this time.  It's like being on top of the world - it is magnificent.  The snow-capped mountains were glistening with the sun beating down on them.  Just gorgeous.

 

 It was chilly when we started out, but as the afternoon wore on, the sun warmed us up beautifully.

Icy pole time!

At the geology centre at the top of the Point, we got to learn heaps about the geology of the Valley, how it was formed millions of years ago and we soaked up the sun and the stunning views.  It was so good for the soul.

 You'd think they'd both just climbed Everest!

Apart from the snow that fell in Grand Canyon, Claire has never seen snow before so she was thrilled to see the remnants of the snowfalls this past winter.  We stopped by the side of the road on our way back to the Village and built a snow(ice)man. 

Another head tilt! We did build him the right way up!

It was freezing - we didn't have proper shoes on or gloves, but it was great fun.

 

 Claire also made something special - ask her and she just might tell you about it!