June 1, 2013 - Leaving Santa Rosa

We left home a little before 7.  After fueling up we stopped for breakfast at the Hole in the Wall Cafe in Sebastopol, where we met Joan and Ted.  We were on our way at 8:20. 

After making a pit stop in Manteca, we lunched alongside Yosemite Creek on Tioga Road at Ten Lakes Trail Head.

About a 1/2 mile down the road, at Olmstead Point, we spotted this!  We were looking at the back side of Half Dome!

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Looking east from the pullout we could see Tenaya Lake in the distance.  I was awestruck by the beauty and didn't remember this area being so spectacular over 25 years ago on my last visit.  So glad we decided to cross over the Sierra Nevada's at Tioga Pass on our journey east!

After a quick stop at the Mono Lake National Park Visitor Center to find out about local campsites, we were sent back in 88National Forest to find dispersed camping at Sagehen Meadow.  The ranger mistakenly told us that it was too warm for mosquitoes.

I was surprised to find a pine forest so close to Mono Lake.  The clouds in the sky produced a beautiful sunset, including large bats.  As we walked around the campsite, we found paw prints of a very LARGE feline.  Early to bed after a long days drive.