Breakfast was good. I had a premium breakfast platter with waffles sausage and scrambled eggs. We reached the stables at 8am exact. We were supposed to attend an orientation about how to ride the horses. After a 10 min video about how careful we need to be on our rides that also have brains, we were allotted a mule each according to our weight and age. We were about 10 people in the group. I got the white mule called Buzz. I asked my guide everything I had to so that I didn’t fall off or hurt myself while on the ride. The first thing we noticed was the stink of poop in the stables. A person familiar with horses would find it normal probably, but for us it was not easy. And the last thing announced was that mules are gassy animals!! Ooooh… I was not waiting for that!! As soon as we begun, the one in front of me pooped… well we got used to it as each of the mules either peed or pooped all the way. My husband and I loved the ride! We were just strolling along the trail in a single line. The mules were fabulously trained. Mine diligently followed the one in front of it. That’s all! I didn’t have to do anything. I must say, the next time someone tries to insult you saying you are a mule be proud of it. They are so intelligent! Riding along our 2.8mi trail I could see how calculated the mule’s steps were. Climbing up and down rocky places, following in one line, it was a very good ride indeed. These stable guys definitely make sure we have the best time. The trail led us to the Mirror Lake, which was again dry! The guide said that many years ago a fine hotel was built with car parking for 300 and they had Saturday night parties too. But it was later dismantled since it was tampering a lot with the beauty of the area. We enjoyed the ride thoroughly. It didn’t seem like 2 hours.
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| Tenaya Lake |
Next we were on our way to toloumne meadows. On the way back we took one last look at the Tunnel view. How amazing it was! So we were heading west on highway 120 also called Tioga Road and on the way we saw the beautiful Tenaya Lake, Toloumne meadows and the Tioga Pass. Tioga Road is so picturesque it only reminded us of the 17mi drive on Hwy 1. Huge mountain sides, valleys, trees, wilderness all over and lakes here and there it made the perfect place for countless hiking trails all the way. Every creek and lake had more than two trails nearby along with picnic spots and camping grounds. We are definitely going back to experience all that but on a cooler day!! Even the sight of burnt Sequoia was looking soo good! Nature is truly unbelievable. Our first stop on Tioga Road was Tenaya Lake. We stepped out onto a shady shore of the lake. Still clear water copper blue reflecting it was looking wonderful! On the other side was the sunny shore with more people and more waves, we could go boating on the lake too. The road then led us to the Toloumne meadows. These meadows were once the base of a huge glacier, some 2000ft thick and 60mi long. It’s a vast meadow today with no trees. And the day we were there, it was mostly sun reflecting off the yellow grass. There is a visitors center explaining the importance of these meadows and how it formed, the butterflies in the meadows and the rocks found in the area, also the trails that they in and around the meadows. After crossing the meadows we finally reached the edge of Yosemite National Park at the Tioga pass. We were at 9943ft elevation. The view of the mountains was spectacular and the road looked like it was built in the sky. We really felt like we were descending from the sky. We had now entered the Inyo National Forest. We could distinctly make out the difference in vegetation, rock and climate! A few spots on the peaks of these huge mountains still had snow too! The descent took us to Hwy 395 where we headed north towards the Mono Lake.
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| Mono Lake |
This is a huge salt water lake. The tributaries now feeding the lake have been diverted to feed the Los Angeles water supply and therefore the levels of water of this lake have drastically reduced and the salt content in the water has effectively increased. It is an important part in nature. Many migratory shorebirds use the lake and its surroundings as resting places. They rest on the islands in the middle of the lake that were once volcanoes, thus showing their black rocky surfaces. Due to the lowering of the level of water, the main land is now joined to the island and predators are endangering the birds. These birds feed on the salt water shrimp and alkali flies around the lake. This loop extends from 395 through mountains along 4 lakes and again intersects 395 after about 15mi. The first lake on our way was Grant lake. Grant lake was huge! It had a campground beside it and a mud road that lead you to parts around the lake. It made a great place to have a quiet time with family. We could rent a boat and go into the lake. The time was perfect. Clear blue skies, and the water looked brilliant! A bright blue and in it was a dog swimming and playing with his fried.
Our next stop was at June lake itself. Other lake on the way were Silver lake and Gull lake. Mostly fishing lakes with many many houses surrounding them. They looked like summer houses for the Richie rich. Own houses or rental, with numerous motels too. Anyone could stay in campgrounds and enjoy these picturesque locations. But June lake was one of a kind. STargely enough we didn’t see too many people around it but we had a great time there. The water was most clear and looks lovely with a picnic bench on the beach. Trees all around, houses peeking from on top of mountains, people boating, It was nature all wrapped in itself!
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| June Lake |
Well, well, well, this time after we didn’t stop except for food. Poor my hubby drove all day. One disappointment was the Hwy. Single lane on either side in many patches it was getting tiring with oncoming traffic glaring lights at us. We came back home all tired out and hit the sack like rock…zzzzzzz!!!!
A terrific trip, awesome at every curve, step and depth…
nice pics!!
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