Today we planned on going to the Mariposa groves by our campsite to see more big sequoia trees. We got a later start then planned and decided to take our chances and park in the parking lot instead of taking a shuttle…but we drove there and the parking lot was full so we drove back to catch the shuttle and it had just left which meant a half hour wait. So we decided to switch gears and do a meadow hike that was across the street. So we started on our hike and realized 30 min into the hike that there was no meadow in site and we were on an unpaved road, not a hiking trail. So back we went (which was good because Megan was crying because she was afraid and Leah was crying because it was a difficult hike!). My meadow hike turned into a forest hike…I guess I am not going to see a meadow! After that we went to the Pioneer History Museum. It is an outdoor museum with a lot of old buildings and cabins taken from all over the park and placed here. There was an artist's cabin, a Wells Fargo, a jail and a blacksmiths shop which actually had a guy doing blacksmith work in it! It was like a step back in time. We also took a stagecoach ride and got to feel what it was like in the late 1800's when people would take an 8 hour stagecoach ride up to the valley. The Wawona area was a major stagecoach area where people would begin their journey into Yosemite. It was a neat place and the kids loved the ride. Then we came back to camp for lunch and then Tim took Megan and me for our 2 hour horseback ride. Guess what trail our horses took for our ride? The meadow loop we tried and failed to do earlier in the day! I finally got my meadow in by horseback and it was a beautiful meadow full of lupines and other wildflowers and we crossed a couple of streams. Megan had a great time as she just loves her horses! After that it was back to camp for some quiet time, dinner, and our nightly after dinner game of UNO. Then we attended the ranger program and she spoke about the wilderness and backcountry areas. This ranger was in her 60's and used to come to Yosemite with her young kids and dream of the backcountry although she couldn't go there because her children were too young. And now her dreams came true and she is a wilderness ranger. I thought that was a great story. Gives me hope that one day I will be able to do the long arduous hikes Tim and I desire but cannot do because of our young ones…but for now we are to enjoy stagecoach rides and nightly ranger programs! God has seasons for every stage of life and we have to enjoy the season we are in… I think God is showing me that big time on this trip!
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