Hitting the Wall in Yosemite

I wish we could report that we had an idyllic time seeing the sights of Yosemite… The reality is, after 3 1/2 weeks on the road, we kind of hit the wall. We were already run down and probably needed rest more than anything else, so the crowds of Yosemite Valley were more stressful than inspiring. On top of that, our brakes started acting up, so that dictated most of our time in the park. The day that we had expected to go to Glacier Point, we ended up hanging out waiting for the diagnosis, and the next day - when we had expected to head to Park City - we were stuck waiting for parts to arrive and for the repair. 

We were, at least, able to capture the critical Yosemite photos of El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and Half Dome.

I'm also pleased to report that Ethan's birthday on the 3rd was pretty enjoyable.  We started out with a leisurely camp breakfast of pancakes and bacon - with cheesecake for dessert. The we spent the day at Tenaya Lake and, despite the fact that I packed up camp in a hailstorm (while Sam enjoyed pleasant weather in the valley waiting for the car repair), we were able to get out of the park that night and begin our journey to Park City.  Ethan's birthday dinner was spent at the renowned Whoa Nellie Deli just outside the east entrance of the park, so overall, Ethan had a good birthday on the road.

To make up for lost time, we decided to drive through the night from Yosemite to Park City, UT - about 620 miles. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but none of the adults slept much at all, so we all arrived exhausted and miserable. Our friends, Tim and Robyn, have generously shared their condo with us here and I can't tell you what a gift it has been to be able to truly rest and recuperate. I knew we would appreciate the luxury accommodations, but I had no idea how much we would need this time before beginning the drive home.