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As I biked out of the Valley, I was stunned by the
immensity of El Capitan!
To see the SHEER, Granite WALL up close and personal gave it NEW MEANING
and made the fact that a para-palegic man had climbed it INCREDIBLE...
WoW...
Besides the COLD Weather... Nature gave me other
signs that we were WELL into Fall. The Merced river winds it's way down
the Yosemite Valley and cuts an impressive path.  Howeve,
it was the Oak, Black Walnut, and Spruce trees that lined this "Peaceful"
river that revealed fall... trees with a Few golden leaves on them. Of
course NO TRIP to Yosemite National Park would be complete without a shot
of the Landmark scene taken from a scenic overlook coming into the park.
The Spirit of Laredo has journeyed through some incredible beauty on this
Adventure ,
but some Views are better left ALONE . The Valley Floor resides between
3900 and 4000 feet, however to leave the park through  the
North exit, you must climb the "hills" that enclose the valley! At about
5.500 feet I began to run into the snow that had closed the Tioga Pass
(the way I had hoped to leave the park) and I couldn't pass up the opportunity
 !!
When I finally reached to peak at 6,100 feet, wouldn't you know that a
CHEVRON was waiting there with coffee and conversation from Eric and a
park ranger.  Eric
had moved out here from South Dakota for a 3 month visit... that was 7
years ago!! He met his wife in the park and has called Yosemite home ever
since! Charlie has been in the Yosemite area for 30 years. He loves his
job and made an interesting comment about Yosemite... "People stick to
it like spaghetti on a wall, they come and, if there ready, they never
leave..." While I was there, the people I had spent the evening pulled
up! THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES!! I hadn't had a chance to say goodbye to
Peter and Agnes, so we shared farewells and I got a chance to take a "Better"
picture of Bob and my New Friends  ...
hmm... How do you bike through Hungary! =) Leaving the park, I was given
an AWSOME send off by the rangers at the gate. Doug (pct) is originally
from Ohio and he gave me a tip on a hostel to spend the night at. Michelle
(pct) just had a GREAT SMILE, but she was busy taking care of other campers...
maybe well get a chance to talk later! As I pedaled down the mountain,
I was given a STUNNING sunset and caught a LONE Tree outlined by a Pastel
Sky (pct). Sometime we Each STAND OUT Because of the background we are
placed in front of... I enjoyed a warm
plate of spaghetti at the Big Oak Resteraunt and was given the time of
Sunday services at the local church by Mary. By the time I got back on
the road it was dark and about 35 degrees, so I found a spot in the woods
and set up camp quickly!! Phew!! 55 Miles... not bad... BUT... I've got
a LONG WAY TO GO!! Good night and God Bless...
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she recently finished her Masters in Quantitative Ecology and decided
to take a break from Washington State in Yosemite. Packing up my gear,
I realized that yesterday was Friday the 13th! I can't imagine a MORE
Beautiful day... so much for superstition! 
