COARSEGOLD, CA (Day 3).  Once again we drove up to Yosemite National Park along all those tedious mountain roads.  The exception today was that it was Saturday, and we sat in over an hour of bumper-to-bumper traffic just getting into Yosemite Valley.  We were on a two-lane road, which after the first half hour a ranger on a bicycle told us was buses-only in the right lane.  We pulled into the left lane, then shortly thereafter motorcycles and other vehicles started passing us using the right lane.  In California, it seems to be common practice to ignore traffic rules.  But where was that park ranger during all this abuse of the buses-only lane?  And we only saw about 6 or 7 buses come down that lane the whole time.  Such was the madness in this park today.  I wonder how often this is the case.  Was not this bad yesterday, though finding a parking space at Glacier Point was quite a wait then.

We got back tonight around 9:20 pm after driving back in the dark the last hour of driving.  So much time spent driving, waiting, walking through crowds, etc.  It is a beautiful area but an old park designed for far fewer people and less automobile traffic.  Confusing roads and few choices.  Much fewer accommodations than newer parks have.  Once you get inside the park, you really need to stay there a week, rent a bike to get around or just use the shuttles.  Driving in and out every day on those roads should be avoided.

Betty at Washburn Point Overlooking Half Dome and Valley

El Capitan and Bridal Veil Falls

View of Half Dome and Valley from Glacier Point

Yosemite Falls from Glacier Point

 

Lower Yosemite Falls

Merced River Flowing from Lower Falls

Bridge Over Merced River After Falls

Upper Yosemite Falls