Big changes in store for Pat and me. We accepted an offer for our North Fork house, and found a house in the Valley of the Moon (between Sonoma and Santa Rosa) that we would like to buy. It’s in an “active adult retirement community” with fitness gyms, pools, library, hiking and photography clubs, and much more. The scenery is ...

I once heard the 4 Mile Trail described as a three hour long Stairmaster session from start to finish. We accomplished that plus a bonus hike up to Sentinel Dome for views of snow covered Half Dome and other surrounding peaks. And, we were the only people up at Glacier Point, which is normally pretty crowded in the summer!

A few days ago I posted some roadside color taken on the drive to the Valley, where I walked to Mirror Lake and explored the Valley a little. It was a misty day and unusually quiet and empty of people (like it used to be when I came in the fifties.)

Five Ways to Thrive This Thanksgiving – ANYTOWN, USA – This is the time of year we gather in America to express our gratitude and bond over turkey and football. Glossy magazines decorate the aisles of overflowing supermarkets, resplendent with cornucopia, while malls stock up on stocking stuffers as Black Friday looms and the season of consumption begins. The juggernaut ...

It took me more than two hours to drive from North Fork to Yosemite Valley today because of all the color along 41/Wawona Road. The mistyweather put some shine on the leaves (but this shot was before the rain).

Brilliant yellow Big Leaf Maples, golden oaks and red dogwoods lined the trail along the recently reopened Mirror Lake Loop, which was closed in 2009 due to a rock fall. Before we hit the trail, we took a leisurely walk along the Merced River, capturing reflections of fall colors, along with a critter or two along the way.

This morning at dawn, out of our North Fork window I saw two turkey duels going on, no doubt determining pecking order, i.e. who gets the babes and who chooses roosting spots at night. I grabbed my camera and shot pics for almost an hour before going back to my cold scrambled eggs and toast. the loser of the contest ...

It was a great hike up into the Kuna Crest, one of our favorite places, yesterday, temperature in the mid 30’s as we started out on the Mono Pass trail. I’m posting more people pics than usual just to give you an idea of what it was like.

What a fun night we experienced, with top flight musicians and entertainers at a packed house concert at Coolwater Ranch. Dorian Michael and Kenny Blackwell teamed up for a lively night of music with guitars and mandolins, 6 in total!