Sonora, Yosemite & Bishop

Sonora...
We entered the town of Sonora after a four hour drive from Napa. It also seemed to take us back in time 50 years or so.

Sonora. 2012. No, really!

What we didn't know was that the Sonora chapter of the Ford Model A Enthusiasts of America (or something like that) was having their annual meeting at the same time we were there. Ignoring the many, many old cars driving round the town was tricky. They were in incredible condition though, and a lot more characterful than the 4x4's thundering around.

Things got really odd when we got to Dorothea's Christmas store...


1. We got there in May.
2. It was open.
3. It's open All Year.
4. They were playing Bon Jovi.
5. The John Wayne Xmas decorations aren't, strictly speaking, that Chrismassy.


Anyway, we weren't here for Sonora. Which was a good job really - the room stank of either:
1. Lindsey's choice - exuberant air freshener use. OR
2. Doug's choice - Stale, old person urine. OR
3. Both.


We were here for Yosemite.

Now, we've both tried to find the words to describe it. Nothing seems to convey how impressive it is. So I think we'll have to just use:


ASTONISHING.


Ok, I know you're after more... it's just really hard to get across how unbelievably impressive it is. 

Nature doesn't get much better or more breath-taking. I was genuinely lost for words - which doesn't happen much (or at all really). The odd thing about it is, the trees really get in the way of the views. 


Now, I realise how stupid that sounds, 'the trees are part of it yada-yada-yada', but you can't really see much. The views really happen on the way into and out of the park. 


The roads were by far and away, the windiest, steepest and the most 'squeaky-bum time' inducing we've ever driven on. They were also astonishingly smooth and well kept. Top Gear would have a field day on them.

Somewhere in this image is the road we drove. Incredible.

Bishop
The hottest place we've been to so far... 32C at it's hottest. However, tomorrow we go to Death Valley, where it'll be 10C higher!


There's actually not much to see or do in Bishop. It's mainly (from what we've seen, anyway) hotels/ motels and places to eat.