The land of the gaping mouth -Yosemite Valley
Yosemite trip is owed to mummy’s (Abhi’s mom ) short trip to CA. We had planned it for Thanksgiving but then moved it one week early and it coincided with my birthday. 
We started around 2pm on Friday and it was drizzling. After traveling for about an hour, it started to rain and continued so for most of the way. As we moved up in the sierra ranges, we were the only ones on the winding and dark roads with no other signs of civilization most of the time. It was pitch dark and the headlights only showed the next few meters. Fog was another big obstacle. But all of it was part of the adventure. We filled up on gas about 20miles from the park entrance; there were no gas stations beyond this point. As we entered the park, the information booth was closed for the day, and we had no clue as to where the lodge was within the park. Thankfully, we met another visitor, who was leaving and was kind enough to give us his map and direct us to our abode for the night. On the way, we rarely saw few cars on the road while we drove another 40 minutes to the Yosemite village and suddenly we found full-blown civilization. The lobby of Yosemite lodge at the fall is open 24X7 and the attendants were very helpful. Soon we moved to our room, which was decent and clean. We had dinner and slept off. In the darkness of the night, the grand beauty of the park was still unknown to us.
The next morning took all of us by surprise. As per the weather channel, it was supposed to rain that day. We woke up early, and as I drew the thick curtain aside, the view was heavenly. It had snowed all night, and the tall pines/sequoias were all laden with white snow. Each fig was thick with snow.
We got ready, packed ourselves and stepped out. The panoramic views of the pristine wilderness are beyond description and can only be experienced. The mighty giant granites were awaiting us as we walked towards the lobby. It was a fresh, bright, white morning. We boarded one of the park shuttles that took us around curry village and the ahwanee hotel. It gave us an idea about the big picture we were about to see. After the shuttle ride, we booked a valley floor tour. In the two-hour tour, rangers introduced some of Yosemite’s most famous sightseeing points in Yosemite Valley and described the history, geology, plant and animal life of the region. It covered Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, Tunnel View, Bridalveil Falls and more. It surely felt like a fairyland with white snow all around, the sun rays making its way through the yellow leaves of the tall pines, the creeks and rivers gushing through the valley, the giant granite walls protecting the rich valley from all around. The melting glaciers had given way to the rich and colorful valley.
We had a quick lunch after the tour and went around in the valley in our car before exiting the park. The park regulations require you use tire chains if you are driving a two wheel drive, fortunately we had four wheel drive option in our and were good to go. Whatever, we had missed the night before in the dark was before us today with added beauty. We caught a glimpse of a deer on our way out and that completed the trip. We got to see way more than we had expected from this short, relaxing trip. And it was the best birthday surprise I could have imagined.
