Day Three - Bishop to Fremont

Finally!  San Francisco is just across the Bay!

Barb and I took a bit more leisurely start to the morning.  We slept in (just a little) and got started around 10am this morning.  It was a beautiful day out, so BlackJack went topless!  Mid 70's all the way into Yosemite National Park!  On the way up from Bishop, we pulled into a rest area and lo and behold…another MINI!!  The first one we've seen on our journey thus far!!  We pulled right alongside to introduce ourselves!  The driver was on the phone, smiled politely, but didn't seem too interested in us.  So I pulled up to get a quick photo with Smokey Bear, who happened to be standing nearby.  I got out of the car and walked back to the ice blue Clubman to say hello.  It turned out to be a nice man and his daughter from Durango…they had just recently purchased their MINI from Sandia MINI in Albuquerque!  He had been talking with his insurance agent due to an unfortunate mishap in a parking lot ( a bit of a scratch and gash on the bumper), but was willing to talk to me now that he was off the phone.  Turns out they were just on vacation exploring the area.  They had no idea about MTTS, so I happily (if not giddily) filled them in!  They seemed truly interested and promised to look it up, though they may not be able to participate this time.  Maybe next time…

So we continued on our way…entering Yosemite Park from the east at Tioga Road.  I've been to Yosemite before, but not this area.  It was just stunningly beautiful.  I think Yosemite is my favorite National Park…so much to see and do, and just the sheer beauty of God's creation surrounds you at every curve!  We didn't have a lot of time to spend there, but did make it into the Valley where we could see the falls, the Half Dome, and El Capitan.  There were even a few climbers on the face of El Capitan…I think I'll stick to the twisties for my Extreme Excitement!

On our way out of the Park, we thought we'd take in one more view…that of the Giant Sequoias at Tuolumne Grove.  What we didn't know was that it was a mile long hike into the grove from the parking lot.  We weren't really prepared for a 2-3 hour hike in 96 degrees, so we decided to forego the trees this time.  But as we walked back to the car, there was another MINI!  Parked right behind us!  Surely they must be here for MTTS!!!  No, they said.  They were visiting their grandkids and on their way back home to Atlanta.  They were driving their second MINI, a Countryman, which they raved about, though!  And they too, said they would look up about MTTS to learn more.  <sigh>  So not a single fellow MTTS'er was to be had on our journey here.  We came across a few more on the drive to Fremont, but nary a wave was to be had.

So tomorrow begins our "official" journey!  The MTTS Garage Party is tomorrow night!  But first, we'll join some fellow MTTS'ers in parading down Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world!  I can only imagine how cool that will be!!  But I'll only have to imagine it for another 14 hours, then I'll know!  Motor On…!!