Bike Ride and Mirror Lake

Ken had done an excellent job of coming up with a list of things to see and do while we are here at Yosemite.  Since the weather in the valley was supposed to be nicer today, we decided to do a bike ride in Yosemite Valley and walk out to Mirror Lake -- something that had been recommended by a camper in the campground.

We finally remember to stop and take our pictures in front of the Yosemite National Park entrance sign today.

Then, we drove all the way to Inspiration Point which is past the valley and out Hwy 41 a little ways.   We were hoping to get better pictures of the valley and of Half Dome since we had a clearer sky today.  It is always beautiful and amazing regardless of the weather!

Our first stop today was at Bridalveil Falls.  We walked a very short by steep paved trail to the base of the falls. 

The sun was just beginning to pop over the edge of the falls.

And we could see the spray from the falls dancing like white smoke in the sunlight at the top of the falls.

How beautiful!

The surrounding granite cliffs were beautiful too.

We walked back to the car and to the Yosemite Valley parking lots where we could unload our bikes and go for a bike ride.  As we rode back to Mirror Lake, we had a perfect view of Half Dome...

...as well as all the other massive granite cliffs on both sides of Yosemite Valley.

We crossed a bridge over Merced River...

...and of course Chuck had to stop and see if he could see any fish.

After riding through the forest for a short distance,

we crossed over a second bridge...

...and Chuck checked this one out for fish too.

We started riding through the forest again...

...and came upon a deer off to the side.

We reached a place where we could park our bikes and began walking toward Mirror Lake.

We reached Mirror Lake fairly quickly.

The lake is very clear but it was not what we were expecting.  Up until recent years, the National Park Service would dredge the lake which would give the lake a deeper pool and reflect the surrounding mountains.  Now, the park service allows nature to "do its thing" which means the sand and silt accumulates and reducing the "reflectiveness" of the lake.

We walked further up the trail and came up a small city of cairns.  It looked like a lot of little trolls sitting up there.

This part of the lake was a little more reflective.

We passed by several huge boulders.  The trees growing up out of the base of this boulder is what made this was so unusual.

We walked down to Mirror Lake...

... and sat there for a few minutes looking at Half Dome. 

Our pictures do not come anywhere close to showing how immense Yosemite Valley is.  See if you can spot these trees near Half Dome below by double clicking on the above picture and enlarging it.

Did you find them? 

We walked by this rock slide that occurred who knows when.

We were told by another person on the trail that the tree in the center of the picture below beneath the boulders is a baby sequoia.

When we realized that the trail around the entire Mirror Lake was going to be another couple of miles, we decided to turn around and walk back to our bikes.  But first, we walked down to the river to observe its clarity.

Chuck spotted this fish in the clear water.

We walked back down the trail to our bikes and then rode our bikes back to Ken and Bonnie's car in the parking lot.  The clouds had started to build by this time and the temps had turned a little cooler.  We decided to have our picnic lunch there in the parking lot.  (Notice Upper Yosemite Falls in the background.)

We loaded our bikes back on their car and then drove to the Village Store for a few groceries and to call our moms and daughters.  This big pine tree is in front of the Village Store.

We rode back to the campground and then got back together later to play cards with the guys winning both games.  Congratulations guys!  Rrrrrr.