Yosemite

El Capitan in her full spring glory
The Awahnee lodge where we stayed On our first afternoon we took a walk and I swore that everything I saw was a bear. Including that branch (I have pictures of at least 10 others)
We got really excited to see the Nature
And the rocks

We rode beach cruisers around the Park and to Mirror Lake
Ivan showing off
It was really peaceful everywhere in the park

The weather was supposed to be 58 degrees and raining when we were there, it ended up being absolutely beautiful every day. We couldn't help but beam

We signed up for a hike in lower Yosemite Falls. We ended up in a group that was deemed 'super fits' and taken on a level 4 (you should have cables or fear for your life) ascent to a spot in the park called 'Devils Bathtub'. It was a bit intense getting up there but well worth the views when we arrived.
The water just tricked down the sides of these rocks it was truly spectacular
This time we're beaming b/c we made it up there alive

Unfortunately the trek down was even more difficult than the way up, but once we got down the rest of the hike was easy..

Our hike lasted about 4 hours and I couldn't decide what sense was the most heightened. The smells were lovely, the scenery breathtaking, but I think what really struck me were the sounds- the water falls, and rivers, and trees rustling. It was really very majestic
Finally to the Falls
Getting closer and getting wetter
Now we're almost underneath the Falls and soaked
Ah finally some nature we don't have in our backyard

View from Glacier Point

Our last full day we went horseback riding. Actually mule-back. I thought it would be a more 'relaxing' way to see the park after our hiking adventure the day before.. Not only did it end up being physically rough (my legs and knees were shaking) it was a lesson in trust. The mules know the trails well but choose to walk on the far side of the paths right next to the sheer cliffs. Their heads would go one way (looking off the cliff side) and legs would go the other.
The views from the mule back were stunning

Ivan rode Guiness and my gal was Girdie. They returned us safely to the valley floor and we thanked them for our lives and tipped them with our left over apples..