California's Backyard

Here are a few of our favorite pictures of our trip to Yosemite National Park last weekend. Yosemite embraces a spectacular tract of mountain-and-valley scenery that I love and had the opportunity to share with Lara. Can you imagine a California girl who has never been to Yosemite? The park harbors a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest living things, and tons of granite monoliths that are fun to hike to. Maybe our next adventure to the park will include hiking to a granite dome or a back-country lake? Places that come to mind are Waterwheel Falls, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Tuolumne Meadows and Wawona.

Highlights of our trip include Yosemite Valley and its high cliffs and waterfalls, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a reservoir in a valley considered a twin of Yosemite Valley (Sean's Secret Hiking Spot – Don't Tell!), and a brief stop in a stream to let Kosmo out to do his thing (or was it let Sean out to do his thing?). After completion of our mission to tackle nature's beauty, Lara and I enjoyed Kosmo's favorite running track. Here is Kosmo checking out the cows in a nearby dairy. The cows were very inquisitive and enjoyed our company. Maybe that is because Sean talks to them on his favorite running track? After driving and walking in the Great Central Valley, it was time to get back to civilization. Next adventure, the American River and white water rafting! Stay tuned for more pictures, activities, and playing in California's backyard…