Today we intended to start by rafting the Merced River, but the powers that be in the park decided not to open the rafting centre until 2pm because "the water is a bit cold". I did point out that we weren't planning to swim in the river, but the response to that was that it was "just a safety thing for the kids". At this point I abandoned the attempt and retired gracefully.
We got back in the car and drove to Glacier Point. As a straight line on a map, it's only about a mile - maybe less - from the rafting centre, but it's close to 8,000 feet high and involves a steady climb over a distance of 30 miles to get there. I can promise you that it was well worth it. I'm going to run out of superlatives over these next few days. Glacier Point is a view point on the edge of a 7,000 foot granite cliff - sheer all the way down! The views are staggering, and I doubt that photographs can do them justice (although I have tried). You really have to stand there and let the view soak into you to appreciate it properly.
On the way up to Glacier Point, we stopped near the foot of the romantically-named Bridalveil Fall. As with the Yosemite Fall yesterday, you can get right up close, but the problem here is that just before the water hits bottom, it bounces off some rocks about 20 feet up, which causes massive spray. It's therefore like walking into a cloud. You can't see anything, you can't photograph it, and unless you are appropriately dressed you are going to be drenched! The approach path, though, was beautiful, with the morning sun lighting the cloud of spray through the trees.
We got back to the valley floor just after two o'clock, stopped for coffee, and wrote out a few postcards which we then posted from the US Post Office in Yosemite Village. Now for those rafts! They were operating by the time we got there, and we spent a pleasant hour or so drifting down the three miles of the Merced River which are relatively calm. The rafts are sturdy inflatables and you don't have to paddle much, as the current takes you along. We did reasonably well - only grounding in the shallows once - and at the end of the trip they take you back to the car park in a bus.
We tried for a table in one of the park hotels for dinner, but they were fully booked, so we ended up in a Mexican joint in Groveland. Verdict? OK.
Jenny is now asleep, so she'll catch up with you on the next post!
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