Growing up in California, I was fortunate to have visited two world renown landmarks often; Disneyland & Yosemite. My childhood memories are scattered with lots of references to these two iconic destinations. I will write about Disneyland in the future, today it is all about Yosemite.
Yosemite has a special place in my heart. I have fond memories of camping in every type of abode (tents, tent cabins and hotel rooms). My fondest memory is of Camp Curry. This is were both my mom and dad (I am a child of divorce) would camp. I am going to date myself here, but I loved watching the "Firefall" at Camp Curry.( Wikipedia has a good premier on this old Yosemite presentation.)
Here 's a little secret. Camp Curry has tent or regular cabins but there are also motel type rooms. Located in a building called the "Stoneman Cottage", these rooms have en suite bathrooms and air conditioning. The building has a deep wrap around porch. The rooms on the back side or the end facing the parking lot are the quietest. These rooms go very quickly. This is were I laid my head in Camp Curry.
At Camp curry you can rent bikes. Now these bikes are old school cruisers (i.e. one speed, no hand brakes). Fine with me, I didn't have fancy multi speed bikes as kid. If I had to push myself up a hill, I stood up on the pedals and pushed like Wonder Woman! Another memory was Mirror Lake. This is what I found:
Mirror Lake/Meadow.
The park system stopped dredging the lake years ago and nature is slowly filling the lake into a meadow. As a kid , I remember being able to drive the car up to the lake, but not today.
This my father, sitting in Mirror Lake/Meadow
Another general childhood memory is my father clicking away with a camera. Any place, any time, Jerry Robinson was taking a picture. He calls himself an amateur but I know better. My dad taught me how to "frame" a composition of an image, how to stand/pose for the best picture. How to use your body as a tripod, slow exposures vs fast exposures. I always thought it was ironic that I would one day work for an industrial high speed camera company. It must be in my blood.
Don the Beachcomber teases me because I have a sixth sense regarding cameras. Doesn't matter were I am, I know were the camera is being used in a room. Deep in a conversation, I can sense a camera being used, stop, pose, smile and then continue the conversation. Yep, I grew up in front of a camera.
This trip was even more special because I was able to bike around Yosemite Valley with my Dad and take pictures. This was a first for me. Dad always took the pictures but this time all of us on a "photo safari" in Yosemite.
Half Dome before Sunset
Oh, I didn't tell you? I married another photographer. Yes, Don the Beachcomber likes to take photos too.
Spooky!!
Upper Yosemite Valley
There is a magically quality to Yosemite. Whether it's the flora, fauna or majestic granite giants, Yosemite has a hold on my soul and heart. Go to Yosemite to experience it for yourself.
Half Dome
Maybe we will see each other?
