Yosemite

10 days ago Tom and I flew into San Jose and drove to Yosemite.  We also went to Kings Canyon and Sequoia.  Definitely the waterfall, big granite rock tour. 
First Yosemite.  So many iconic images of the valley make it easy to recognize El Capitan and Half Dome Ansel Adams made so famous with his black and white photos.  We were not disappointed. 
We started with Bridalveil falls and El Cap.  (Looking, not climbing)  We had read the crowds could be heavy and they were in the valley.  Yosemite is definitely two worlds:  tourists and hikers, and climbers.  The granite walls there boggle the mind when I think about climbing.  I don't know where they find the courage/guts/steel.

We used the Lonely Planet book Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National parks for reference and found it excellent.

The other hike of the day was to Vernal Falls.  A steep stair climb but worth every bit of it. 

Also proud to say I am 8 weeks out of knee surgery and did my PT proud today.  Tom climbed the last narrow steps and turned around because of the crowds.  We enjoyed the view.