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Armed with the lessons we learned the day before, we approached our second full day in Yosemite with a completely different mindset.

Instead of trying to see everything, we slowed down, caught the YARTS bus into the park once again, and found the shuttle system much easier to navigate now that we understood how it worked. Amazing how much less stressful everything becomes on the second day.

Our first destination was Mirror Lake.

The hike is a pleasant, mostly gentle uphill walk, making it a good choice for visitors like us. We don’t really consider ourselves hikers—we’re more into strolling with purpose.

I’ll admit I was a little disappointed when we arrived. Before the trip I’d checked the conditions online, but I had misunderstood the report. I thought the lake was down 25% from normal. What it actually meant was the lake was at about 25% of its normal level.

Oops.

Mirror Lake is really more of a seasonal lake than a permanent one, gradually shrinking as summer progresses. Even so, with the granite walls of Half Dome towering overhead and the peaceful setting all around us, it was still a beautiful place to spend some time.

And the walk back?

Downhill.

Always a bonus.

Our next goal was the footbridge below Vernal Fall. Every guidebook described the trail as a “moderate” paved hike that rewards you with a spectacular view of the waterfall without having to continue up the famous Mist Trail.

Let’s just say our definition of moderate must be a little different from the National Park Service’s.

The trail is paved, but there are some seriously steep sections. By the time we reached the footbridge, we had earned every bit of that view—and it was absolutely worth the effort. Standing there with Vernal Fall thundering down the granite cliffs was one of the highlights of our visit.

Even so, there wasn’t a chance we were continuing farther up the Mist Trail.

The footbridge was our finish line.

The rest of the afternoon was spent doing exactly what we’d promised ourselves the night before: taking it easy. We wandered through Yosemite Valley, admired the towering cliffs from different viewpoints, watched the Merced River drift quietly through the meadows, and simply enjoyed being there.

One thing that surprised us was just how much of Yosemite’s grandeur can be appreciated without a strenuous hike. The Valley floor offers incredible views in every direction, making it possible to experience the park’s beauty whether you’re an avid backpacker or, like us, someone who prefers a leisurely stroll.

As the afternoon came to an end, we boarded the YARTS bus back to our hotel, tired but content.

One more day remained in Yosemite, and we were already wondering how it had gone by so quickly.

Our first full day in Yosemite had finally arrived.

Because we’d heard so many stories about overflowing parking lots—especially on summer Saturdays—we decided to leave the car behind and take the YARTS bus into the park. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip.

The bus picked us up right at our hotel for just $4 each and dropped us off at Yosemite Valley Lodge. We hadn’t traveled more than a quarter mile before we encountered the long line of cars waiting to enter the park. Watching hundreds of vehicles inch forward while we relaxed in our seats confirmed we’d made the right choice.

The trip into the valley took about an hour, which really wasn’t bad considering the traffic. Better yet, we didn’t have to worry about finding a parking space once we arrived.

Inside the park we relied on Yosemite’s free shuttle system to get around. The buses were crowded, but they were still far more efficient than driving from lot to lot hoping someone would pull out. Like many first-time visitors, though, we discovered that understanding the shuttle routes and figuring out exactly where to get on and off wasn’t quite as intuitive as we’d expected.

For a while, it felt like we were spending almost as much time trying to navigate the transportation system as we were enjoying the scenery.

Eventually we realized we were trying to do too much.

Instead of rushing from one destination to the next, we slowed down, wandered the Valley floor, and simply soaked in the incredible surroundings. Towering granite cliffs, waterfalls cascading from impossible heights, and the Merced River winding through lush meadows reminded us that Yosemite isn’t a place to conquer—it’s a place to experience.

The day was also a special one for another reason.

It was our 45th wedding anniversary.

Our celebration wasn’t a fancy restaurant or an elaborate event. Instead, we marked the occasion with Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars, which tasted especially good in the warm afternoon sun. Sometimes the simplest celebrations become the most memorable.

That evening we returned to the hotel for an anniversary dinner that, if we’re being honest, was fairly forgettable. But the meal wasn’t really the highlight of the day anyway.

Our biggest takeaway was that Yosemite rewards a slower pace. We didn’t need to see everything at once. There would be plenty of time over the next two days to explore.

So we adjusted our expectations, planned a more relaxed day of hiking for tomorrow, and looked forward to enjoying Yosemite instead of trying to check every attraction off a list.

Sometimes the best travel lesson is simply to slow down.

This was the day we’d been waiting for.

After three unsuccessful attempts over the years—two canceled by wildfires and one by record snowfall—we finally crossed Tioga Pass and officially entered Yosemite National Park.

At last, the “Randall Curse” had come to an end.

Instead of entering Yosemite from the west like most visitors, we approached from the east on Highway 120, better known as Tioga Road. Open only during the summer months, this high-elevation highway is more than just a way into the park—it’s an attraction in its own right. Rather than plunging immediately into Yosemite Valley, Tioga Road introduces you to a completely different side of Yosemite, one of expansive alpine landscapes, granite domes, sparkling lakes, and sweeping mountain vistas.

We deliberately allowed ourselves plenty of time for the drive, and we’re glad we did. Nearly every few miles there was another turnout that begged us to stop, get out, and simply take it all in.

The highlight of the drive was undoubtedly Tuolumne Meadows. Stretching across a broad alpine valley at nearly 8,600 feet, the meadow is a peaceful landscape of winding streams, towering pines, wildflowers, and granite peaks rising in every direction. It’s easy to understand why so many people consider this one of the most beautiful areas in all of Yosemite. The scenery here is completely different from the famous valley floor, offering a quieter and equally spectacular perspective on the park.

As we continued west, we found ourselves saying “wow” more times than we could count. And this was just the drive in.

If this was the introduction, we could only imagine what the next three days would hold.

By late afternoon we reached our hotel just outside Yosemite’s western entrance and settled in for the evening. The weather forecast couldn’t have been better—three days of sunshine and warm temperatures. After years of bad timing and bad luck, everything had finally come together.

Tomorrow, we’d explore Yosemite Valley.

But for now, we simply enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing we’d finally made it.

The curse was broken.

After two days of driving, we were looking forward to slowing the pace a bit. We had booked two nights in South Lake Tahoe, giving us a chance to enjoy the area without constantly packing and unpacking.

The plan for our full day after arriving was intentionally light. We wanted to make the scenic drive to Emerald Bay, one of Lake Tahoe’s most photographed spots, and take the short hike to Eagle Falls. From the overlook, you can see Fannette Island, the only island in Lake Tahoe, complete with the stone ruins of a tea house built in the 1920s. It seemed like the perfect way to ease into our time at the lake.

Before reaching Tahoe, though, we needed lunch.

As usual, Yelp came through. We found McKenzie’s at Whitehawk Ranch, a small café tucked into a golf course about halfway between Quincy and South Lake Tahoe. Sometimes the best meals come from the places you least expect. We enjoyed lunch on the outdoor patio overlooking the driving range—a peaceful setting and surprisingly good food. It turned out to be one of those hidden gems that make road trips so much fun.

We rolled into South Lake Tahoe around 3:00 that afternoon. Just as we were settling into vacation mode, we began hearing an odd noise from the car. A few moments later, the Tesla displayed the message every road-tripper dreads:

Flat Tire.

We managed to pull safely onto the shoulder of a busy road. I tried using the small air compressor we always carry, hoping it was just a slow leak, but the tire wouldn’t hold air.

Time for Plan B.

A call to our insurance company brought roadside assistance, although “roadside” turned into a bit of a waiting game. Nearly three hours later, the tow truck finally arrived. Thankfully, we were only about 17 miles from a Les Schwab Tire Center, where we’ve bought tires for years.

Since the store had already closed for the evening, the driver kindly dropped us at our hotel first, then took the car to the tire shop. One less thing to worry about. We settled in for a late dinner and enjoyed a magnificent sunset.

As it turned out, the flat tire was only part of the story. The next morning Les Schwab confirmed that, after 22,000 miles, all four tires needed replacing. Fortunately, they had our exact tire size in stock and promised the car would be ready by noon. Partially covered under warranty.

Sometimes bad luck comes with a couple of unexpected bonuses.

First, South Lake Tahoe has a free public bus system, so we simply hopped on a bus and walked the last few blocks to pick up the car. No rental car. No expensive Uber. Easy.

Second, our new tires are designed specifically for electric vehicles and include a foam liner to reduce road noise. The difference was immediately noticeable. The car was quieter than it had ever been.

By early afternoon we were finally back to our original plan. We drove to Emerald Bay, admired the incredible turquoise water, spotted tiny Fannette Island sitting peacefully in the middle of the bay, and made the short hike to Eagle Falls. The scenery more than made up for the previous day’s interruption.

Looking back, we realized how fortunate we had been. A flat tire in South Lake Tahoe was an inconvenience. A flat tire in Lassen Volcanic National Park, more than 150 miles from the nearest tire shop, could have turned into a much bigger ordeal.

Instead, it became just another story from the road.

With Days Three and Four behind us, our retirement road trip was still very much on track—and Yosemite, after three failed attempts over the years, was finally just around the corner.

Day 2 turned out to be one of those days where the drive itself was every bit as memorable as the destination.

Our first stop was Burney Falls, a place we had never even heard of until it kept showing up in online searches for “must-see stops” along our route. We’re glad we listened. Fed by underground springs, the waterfall pours over a moss-covered cliff in countless streams, creating one of the most beautiful waterfalls we’ve seen. It’s definitely worth the detour.

From there we headed into Lassen Volcanic National Park, one of the hidden gems of the National Park system. Around every bend the scenery seemed to change. One minute we were looking at bubbling mud pots and steaming fumaroles, reminders that the earth beneath us is still very much alive. The next we were surrounded by rugged volcanic peaks, alpine lakes reflecting the blue sky, and meadows bursting with wildflowers. And yes—even in late June, patches of snow were still hanging on.

Rather than rush through the park, we stopped often to explore the short trails and viewpoints along the road. It was the perfect way to experience Lassen without committing to a long hike, and every stop seemed to offer a completely different landscape.

Eventually we made our way to Chester, California. Calling Chester a “sleepy little town” might be generous. Our bigger concern, though, wasn’t finding entertainment—it was finding electricity.

The next Tesla Supercharger was in Quincy, and our navigation estimated we’d arrive with just 2% battery remaining. That’s closer than we’re comfortable with, especially in the mountains where elevation changes can make energy consumption unpredictable. Unfortunately, there aren’t any charging stations in Chester—or anywhere between Chester and Quincy.

That’s where a little travel creativity came in handy.

Our motel wasn’t exactly luxurious, but it did have one thing we needed: a standard 110-volt outlet. The gap under the room door was just wide enough to snake an extension cord outside to the car. It wasn’t fast charging by any stretch, but overnight we added enough miles to comfortably reach Quincy the next morning, with plenty left over to continue on toward South Lake Tahoe.

Sometimes road trips aren’t just about spectacular scenery. Sometimes they’re about improvising with an extension cord and celebrating the small victories that keep the adventure moving.

This trip marked a couple of milestones for us. It was our first true road trip since retiring at the end of last year, and—believe it or not—our fourth attempt to visit Yosemite National Park.

Our first two tries were thwarted by wildfires. The third? Yosemite was buried under 15 feet of snow.

We were beginning to wonder if the park simply didn’t want us to visit. This time, though, we were optimistic.

We set out on a Monday morning, heading south with Mount Shasta as our first destination. Like many EV road trips, our lunch stop was determined by the next charging station, which landed us at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Medford. Conveniently located next to the Superchargers, it featured an astonishing 31 televisions.

We counted.

The food was decent, but the wall of screens was distracting.

Continuing south, we made a pleasant coffee stop in Yreka, where we wandered past the beautifully restored Carnegie Library, built in 1915. It’s now a community center and makes for a charming glimpse into the town’s history.

Before reaching Mount Shasta, we took a short detour to Hedge Creek Falls. While it wasn’t the most dramatic waterfall we’d ever seen, it was a peaceful stop and a nice preview of the waterfalls, forests, and mountain scenery that awaited us over the coming days.

That evening we checked into Summit Lofts, a small boutique hotel in downtown Mount Shasta. One of the things we enjoy most while traveling is being able to park the car and explore on foot, so we walked to dinner at Pipeline Craft Taps & Kitchen (I’ll save the details for my separate restaurant review). After driving through the Northern California heat, we were especially thankful to find a cool table indoors—the afternoon temperature had climbed to 105°F.

With our first day behind us, we settled in for the night. The next morning we’d head farther south toward Lassen Volcanic National Park, where bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and alpine landscapes awaited.

Our Yosemite adventure was finally underway.

Generally, we try to hike Smith Rock near Redmond, Oregon once a year. we actually found we missed the last two years. Now that we’re retired, though, it is easier to just “pick up and go.”

So we did.

The weather forecast for the middle of this week was sunny and 70º, and we’re now able to just take off pretty much whenever we want. We chose Tuesday thru Thursday, because, well, why not?

We left home around 10, having a casual morning breakfast and packing. This put us into Sisters around 11:30 for lunch at our favorite spot: High Camp Taphouse. They serve Nepalese food and we have been hooked on their Momos, a meat dumpling, for years.

It did not disappoint. Check out their website to see what Nurbu and Pema Sherpa do giving back to marginalized populations in Nepal here.

After lunch and our traditional walk around Sisters and visits to The Hen’s Tooth and Sister’s Coffee, we continued on to Redmond. Sisters is a nice stop, not only for lunch, but the Library has free charging for our car.

In Redmond, we always stay at SCP Redmond Hotel. A Georgian-style brick botique hotel that was built in 1928. We like it because it’s comfortable, moderately small (49 rooms) and high on sustainability. And, the parking lot immediately behind the hotel also has free EV charging.

Wednesday morning, after breakfast at Junction Roastery a block away, we headed in to Smith Rock State Park, a short 20 minute drive. The weather report was accurate and we had a beautiful morning. And, being a Wednesday before summer break, parking was relatively easy.

We have never (and have no plans to ever) hiked Misery Ridge. We figure it’s named that for a reason. We pack a lunch, hike the river trail down to Monkey Face, then come back out. Overall, it’s about a 2 to 2.5 mile hike. Just right for us. And very scenic.

Once again, we had incredible weather and a very nice hike. We started around 10:30am and finished around 3:00pm. On the way out, we also have a tradition of stopping at the little ice cream shack, Rockhard, on our way back into town.

We chilled at the hotel for a while with some drinks, then went to Diego’s for dinner. Thursday morning, we packed up and headed home. Another beautiful day to drive the McKenzie Highway back to Eugene. And, because of the free EV charging in Sisters and Redmond, we did the entire 278 mile trip on less than $3 in electricity.

Another “in our back yard” falls is McDowell Creek Falls near Sweet Home. Brenda had gone years ago with a friend and our kids when they were young. That was probably 30-plus years ago. It is billed as an “alternative to Silver Falls”. Not quite as far away and less people.

Both are true, however, the falls are not nearly as spectacular as Silver Falls.

Yet, it was still a very nice day hike. Again, we had perfect weather. A great lunch at The Point in Sweet Home (see my blog on that here).

We chose, as usual, to do the more difficult uphill part of the loop on the way in so we could be going downhill on the way out. We parked at the lower parking lot at Lower McDowell Falls. As far as I know, there is no Upper McDowell Creek Falls. The overall loop is about 2 miles.

The hike starts with a fairly easy uphill walk, then switches to rock stairs that are pretty steep. But not for very long. The reward is Royal Terrace Falls, a 119 ft high triple falls.

Walking on around the loop, you come to Majestic Falls, which was my personal favorite.

We continued now downhill back to the car. Beautiful flora along the way back, with a few crossing the road areas of the trail. And some occasional glimpses of the creek.

Overall, a nice day hike and a pleasant outing. Next up, weather permitting, Smith Rock.

One of our favorite hikes.