Yosemite: Cares Drop Off Like Autumn Leaves
Mari
I can hardly believe I’ve lived in the US for almost nine years now, and I’ve scarcely seen the incredible beauty of this country… outside of Southern California.
We just enjoyed an awesome day trip to Yosemite Valley. Wow!! Simply breathtaking.
Yosemite’s history as a National Park dates back just 100 years. But her geological history is timeless – traced back 500 million years with oceans, glacial activity, and moving plates. (Makes you stop and think about one little lifetime we have this time around, eh?)
I’m enjoying learning about our recent forefathers too, like my fellow Scot, John Muir, who fell in love with the giant redwoods and became an evangelist for proper preservation of the Sequoias and Yosemite.
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” John Muir (1838-1914)
There’s Gold In Them Thar Hills!
We’re finding the local gold mining history fascinating too. We took a day trip to Mariposa (Spanish for “butterfly”) – population less than 2,000 – and enjoyed the California State Mining and Mineral Museum.
I began to realize perhaps the 30 million strong population of California (ahem, about the same as the entire country of Canada, eh?) grew out of the 1850’s gold rush days.
Mariposa also boasts the oldest functioning courthouse in California – whew, talk about stepping back in time. (Ty loved checking out the courthouse; he has an affinity for the legal system! Law is one of his five degrees.)
By the way, Mariposa County originally comprised about one-fifth the entire state of California! But by the late 1800’s, the “Mother of Counties” was subdivided with eleven other counties.
We’re currently docked in Oakhurst, at the foothills of Yosemite National Park, population ~13k. As we came down the 41 into Oakhurst, I was filled with a warm familiar feeling. This place reminds me of Nelson, B.C., close to where I spent my childhood.
In fact, Bass Lake, nearby Oakhurst, is very reminiscent of the Kootenays. Picture perfect, country living… without being too in the sticks. We did peek at house prices just for reference. Hmm, 5 bedroom, 17 acres for $3m anyone?
We’re headed back into Yosemite Valley to spend a few days and nights there in the motorhome, as we make our way over to Mono Lake on the east side of Yosemite then on up to Lake Tahoe.
At least that’s the current plan. We’re learning to “Have a mind that’s open to everything and attached to nothing” as Dr. Wayne Dyer says.
We had a brief power outage the other day, which caused my workhorse computer to fail. Thankfully, we’re just a stone’s throw from an excellent computer repair guy in Oakhurst.
Onwards we go. Aaaaah, life is grand.
P.S. Boondocking at Potwisha Campground in the Sequoias was perfect. No bear trouble, just lots of evidential droppings!
Posted on: Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 8:22 am 
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Hi Mari,
I’m having great fun following the trials and tribulations of your journey. You are a great writer. Thanks so much for sharing!
Too bad we didn’t know you were in Oakhurst. Jim and I just returned from there! My Dad and his wife, Sue live in Ahwahnee. We arrived on Oct 19th, had dinner in Mariposa that night and made sevaral trips to Oakurst (5 miles from Ahwahnee)during our stay.
We returned to San Diego Oct 23rd after hearing they were evacuating 5 miles north of our home due to wildfires burning out of control all over San Diego.
Today’s headline said the “Fire is Down, but not out”. Fire is not spreading to new areas anymore.
All is well in our neighborhood. Many who were evacuated are returning home — except for those who no longer have a home. My heart goes out to them.
Suellen
October 26th, 2007 at 12:55 pmThank you for your kind words, Suellen!
Wow, so bummed we just missed you and Jim. Mariposa is a neat little town (I loved stopping at the Mariposa Coffee Company en route!)
Glad to hear you and your home are safe. Such a trying time for everyone. It’s been eerie to watch from afar.
October 28th, 2007 at 11:09 pmFrom a ‘Baby-Boomer’ in the UK.
“Stop it!, you’re making me really jealous now”.
Good luck on your life-journey.
Be safe, be happy, have a long life.
Pete.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:23 pm[...] months, Ty and I visited many different locations in western US (and tidbit of Canada). Some awe-inspiring, some intriguing and enchanting. Yet, there’s no place like San Diego (so [...]
December 14th, 2007 at 6:21 pm