We are soon ensconced in a lovely traditional wooden hotel and visit the oldest saloon in California - full of locals and so authentic that we expect a fight to break out any time!
The drive to Yosemite winds us higher and higher through mountains covered in pines to around 6000ft, with lots of places to stop and gasp at the view under a cloudless sky. Especially brilliant is high Glacier Point Road with views of massive domes of rock.
Deer, chipmunks, ravens and ground squirrels abound. Back down on the valley floor we have neck-crooking views from under the cliffs.
Heading at dusk to the village store, we nearly walk into 3 young mule deer, gentle looking, with oversized ears.
On our 2nd day in Yosemite we take the higher Tioga Road, a former wagon route to a small silver mine. It winds up 35 miles to 10,000 ft, with spectacular views of great domes of granite, twisted trees and erratics (big round rocks left lying around by former glaciers).
Azure Tenaya Lake is crystal clear, and the local rivers are also so clear you can see to the bottom.
Nearby climbers look tiny,roped together as they scale sheer smooth rock faces. Although autumn is approaching the air is still warm at the very highest passes.
Yellow-bellied marmots scuttle about, but nothing is as quick as the tiny zipping chipmunks.
Location:Yosemite
