On Friday I drove out to Yosemite through the golden fields of California. The grass out here is so dry that it has turned bright yellow, with sparatic oak trees scattered across the hills.
I was super excited to see the hometown of yogi bear & I had no idea what to expect!
The water level of the water in the gorge is only at approximately 20% because California is in such a severe drought.
I drove out to Yosemite with 13 people in a mini van – from Australia, Scotland, America, England, Columbia, Korea, France & China. It was a very diverse group of travellers.

We drove around the bend we came up to Half Dome & Tunnel View, where we stopped for a photo opp.
The mountains were intimidatingly amazing. I’d never seen anything like it in my whole life.
Huuuuuuge rocks to climb on & oak/pine tree forests that just screamed for you to go and explore it! The view was so perfect I felt if I was to leap over the mountains the bushy trees would catch me.
Looking out at it sent chills up my spine, it’s these amazing moments that remind me why I travel. It was absolutely, physically breathtaking.

We arrived at Indian flat & sent up our tents, between munching away on banana on rice crackers with peanut butter… mmmm!
Then went down to the river for a swim. The water comes from the mountain glaciers so it was refreshing to say the least!

Things were looking pretty grim with no money for dinner that night but another Aussie girl was kind another to share her sandwich & “French fries” with me.
Later that night we were hypnotised by the flames of the camp fire, with a plastic cup in my hand – containing cheap red wine from the Napa valley. You could definately taste the grapes, that’s for sure!
The campfire made me think about camp & really miss times around the camp fire there! The fire at camp certainly had more soul, life & excitement to it!
After 13 foreigners exchanged stories about governments, gun laws & travel stories at the camp ground we hit the sac! I slept through the Racoons running around our tents, but the others didn’t.

The next day we drove to Mariposa grove (which is Spanish for butterfly) for a 3 mile up hill hike. We observed squirrels, chipmunks, mule deer, giant Spinoza trees that were thousands of years old & bumble bees that humbly flew near going about their day.
The park is also home to black bears, mountain lions & Bob cats but I’m yet to cross one of them in my adventure!
We ate some soggy snap lock bag sandwiches then headed to the next place!
I’m trying to tactically drink my water to last me the day & pace out my snacks.
The next stop was Glacier Point, which was unbelievably amazing. From this point we did a 13km hike down the mountain from 1,500ft to the bottom to ‘sentinel beach’.

We were lucky enough to spot wild deer, coyote’s, squirrels, chipmunks & a mama black bear & her 2 cubs! I’m so unbelievably happy I got to see a bear in the wild! Definately one to tick off the bucket list 🙂 The baby Cubs were absolutely adorable, I just wanted to pick them up and give them a cuddle, then take them home!

I loved, loved the museum at Yosemite near the visitors centre also & their section dedicated to American Indians! The jewlerry, and beadwork blew me away!
I was very happy with my purchase of hand woven kneehigh-leg-warmer-sock-things, & hand beaded Indian choker & bangle!
We also hiked around “mirror lake” on the last day. Which was beautiful but quite sad & empty because the lake is now totally bone dry.

Yosemite has the effect on making you think about everything in your life, at the same time as letting everything go & being at one with nature.

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I’ve learnt that I love to feel. I love to feel emotion, I love to feel all my senses, I love to see beautiful things & hear every sound I can. I love to smell, to touch, to breathe, to love – to be alive. And loving to be alive is the greatest feeling of all.”

It was amazing to be without any technology again, to be without my phone & be in an “extraordinary world”. In the big city life when there is technology there is always an obligation to use it. Technology has that power over us- we can sit on facebook for 2 hours and then ask ourselves “what have I even done with my time these last few hours”. I love the fact that the obligation wasn’t there or possibility. It creates a greater presence within yourself and your surroundings.

I really enjoyed learning about the trees in the vercinity. Trees have rings that show age just like with humans & wrinkles; trees show scars of moments in history that have affected the environment just like humans have scars to.
Learning about nature is so important in knowing how to respect our world.
If everyone got the chance to see how beautiful this place is, they would have the respect to not hurt our land.

Yosemite was by far probably my favourite place in America so far! It was beyond beautiful, & something you really have to see to know what I mean! I would come to America just to go to yosemite! It was a very spiritual, grounding, memorable experience.
As the park lady would say

“Be happy, be safe & don’t forget to breathe… Because if you don’t breathe, you will die”. 😉