Day 23 Murphys to Yosemite National Park. Not much biking at all.

The plan for today was a bus ride to near the park entrance and then a short bike ride into Yosemite Valley to Ahwahnee Cottages where we stayed for two nights.  The reason we needed the bus ride was to get to a safe biking entry into the park, one that was not closed by the fire.  It was a good plan, but the smoke from still active fires and haze from the smoldering ash was too much for us.  As we entered the park we voted unanimously to stay in the bus to our lodging and then do a loop bike ride through the valley.

Before we left Murphys, Larry decided to see how comfortable he might be behind the wheel of a 40-foot bus.

We were glad Larry wasn't driving the smokey, twisty mountain roads to Yosemite.

The fire brought devastation to much of the approach into the park from the west on CA120.

Visibility was minimal in some cases, depending on which way the wind was blowing.

The effects of the fire were haphazard in some cases -- it moved through some areas destroying all the ground cover and in others left it untouched under a forest of charred trees.

The central valley remains as beautiful as ever, even with a hazy view.

North Dome rising up behind Washington Column in the foreground.

Deer often graze on the Ahwahnee Lodge lawn. The day we left, we walked within 10 feet of them.

Before heading out on our loop ride, Patti, Patrice and Mimi posed in their new Bear Valley jerseys.

Our last dinner together -- in the Ahwahnee Lodge -- was lots of fun even though it was our last dinner together.  From top left clockwise: Larry and Roz Gibel, Steve and Patti Sunderman, Alison Stone, Diane Sanchez Costello, Patrice Van Vleet, Loretta Goetsch, Katherine Pigott.

From top left clockwise: Me and Kris, Andy Poggio, Alison and John Stone, Brenda Cole, Carole Nacon, and Lois DuBois.  Missing due to early departure: Beany Wezelman, Craig Deidrick, John McManus, and Mimi Crane.

This had been an amazing trip -- 1240 miles and 74,100 feet of climbing (that's 14 miles of up).  Thanks to my rear engine and partner-in-climb, Kris, for getting us over the tops and many challenging ascents!

In case you think it's time for us to go sit on our butts, I will soon follow up with a collection of photos from our hikes in and around San Francisco with Al and Cheryl Minvielle -- up, down, up, down and up-down some more.