Arrival - Saturday, April 4

Up at 4:50am to see the lunar eclipse, but the trees in the campground blocked our view.  Put the tent, sleeping pads and down quilt away, packed up the van and on the road by 5:30am.  Once out of the trees we got to see the lunar eclipse.  Greyson and Hayden slept in the back seat while Sally took photos of the eclipse and I drove.  Stopped in Corning for gas, then on the road south again.  Stopped at a rest area 20 miles short of Sacramento for a breakfast of cold cereal, milk and strawberries in the van before zooming south again.  Sally took the wheel.  I closed my eyes for a few minutes.  Soon we were in Stockton and made the east jog to get on 99 instead of I-5.  Took the Manteca exit.  Stopped for potty break the drinks at the first gas on the right, then off to Oakdale.  Filled the van with gas, and off again for Yosemite.  Climbed the Priest Grade, then stopped to pick up firewood along the road.  There were stacks of it left from the big fire two years ago.  The entrance to the park was a line up about 0.8 of a mile long.  It took us over an hour before we got into the park.  We passed Crane Flat and dropped into the Valley, stopping at the overlook to get a first glimpse of Half Dome.  We got in the Valley about 2:30pm, unloaded the bikes, removed all he food from the van, putting it in our bear box and took off for a ride around the Valley while the weather was still sunny and warm.  The forecast was for rain Sunday night and cooler temps.  We wanted the kids to have a taste of summer conditions in the Valley before they disappeared on us.

Biked to the store, Ansel Adams Gallery, VC and walked the Indian exhibits outside behind the VC.  Also, toured the graveyard adjacent to the Indian outdoor exhibit.  We rode down to the lodge, then across the swinging bridge, through Curry Village and back to our campsite. We pitched the Half Dome Tent for Sallyand I to sleep in and the Tarp Tent to use as storage. Next, we had a dinner of Dinty Moore Beef Stew and biscuits, and with Greyson and Hayden in the van, Sally and I settled into our comfy tent for the night.