The Valley Floor Tour Exceded Our Expectations

I know I placed a photo from the website, for this Valley Floor Tour.

This one, is mine, and it shows a non-posed photo, and guess what? It looks just as professional as the website's photo.

Our tour guide was spectacular, with lots of information about the hidden gems of Yosemite.

I knew it was this Country's first National Park, but I did not know that it was formed back in 1864, by Abraham Lincoln.

As if he had nothing else to do, during the height of the Civil War.

The falls you see is (I believe) Yosemite Falls. There is an upper falls location to hike to, and a lower falls location to hike to. I of course was happy to see it from a distance.

I can't say enough about how great the tour was. Do it, if you visit.

Mediterranean Grill & Cafe Fresno, Downtown

While we were in Fresno, California, we decided that we wanted a salad, for lunch.

A half a block from the IHOP, was a lovely restaurant called the Mediterranean Grill and Cafe.

I saw it got good reviews, so we took a walk over to it around 11:45AM.

Good thing we did, because the place was packed at that early hour.

We got a Greek Chicken Salad, that we split between us, and a Falafel appetizer, that had 3 falafel balls, with pita and normal fixings, that go in the pita bread.

We were pleased to take advantage of a local restaurant, rather than a chain.

Yosemite, Was Worth It

I admit that this photo has been placed in two other social media accounts. So sue me.

This is the view from just to the left of the tunnel coming into the Yosemite Valley.

So it is called, Tunnel View.

The entire valley can be seen from this vantage point.

Is it worth the effort to get to Yosemite, oh yes!

So very beautiful, and serene, when you are not on the roads on the valley floor (the tour was great, btw).

We had rain, with thunder and lightning, both afternoons. Not scary, just an added dimension to the beauty.

It also allowed the waterfalls to flow once more. Extra special views, that the people a few days before us, did not have.

The YARTS bus was a bit of a pain to find, because of some construction work at Merced Station, but we did finally figure it all out, and it was so worth using, instead of driving up there.

If you have the chance, do it!

Fresno, And Home

This is Roeding Park, from a visit we took in 2016.

Today we will spend most of the day in Fresno, and then once again, board the train and bus, to home.

Our hotel is right by the train station, and so is an IHOP, so I don't think we will starve.

With luck, we will be back home this evening.

A fast trip.

Yosemite Valley Floor Tour

We are only going to spend about 24 hours in Yosemite.

With that constraint, I thought it was worth the money, to buy the Yosemite Valley Floor Tour.

In 2 hours, they drive you to some of the highlights of Yosemite National Park.

Hopefully, photos of things like waterfalls (if they are flowing), El Capitan, the Merced River, etc... will be taken.

I can't wait.

Riding Amtrak Is Coming Up

This is it!

Our mini-vacation is here and yes, we ended up having to Uber to the station. Sigh...

We are leaving this week, to finally get to see Yosemite National Park.

I got close to it, years ago, but my Husband has been there several times.

Today is train travel day, and due to the fact that we are not going to be near Wi-Fi, I am giving you the next three posts, written in advance.

The train is the San Joaquin (photo from Amtrak). Hopefully, riding the train, will give me some for my future posts someday. I can't believe I never took a photo when we rode it last time. Probably because we were so tuckered out from our long trek across the Country.

I have been clearing out some of my photos, to get some room in my Google account, and so I hope to get lots of photos on this journey.

The San Joaquin River In The Fall

My Water Post For Today.

A beautiful photo I took in 2011, of the San Joaquin River.

We visited the river, when on a tour of the San Joaquin River, along with my Husband's childhood friend.

This one, is a close up of the water and is a worth-it view.

Enjoy.

Hint, I will be seeing it, soon.

Public Media Bridge Fund

Some good news came out this week, in regard to Public Media Stations.

The funding cut that the Federal Government voted for, has left many smaller Public Stations in trouble.

Some of our funders, over the years, the Ford Foundation, and MacArthur Foundation, have been working on helping.

"MacArthur Foundation along with Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Pivotal, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Schmidt Family Foundation today announced that they will commit nearly $37 million to provide immediate relief to public media stations at risk of closure following federal funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)."

Stations will need to apply to get funding, since these foundations are trying to bridge the immediate needs for the first year. Bigger stations, where the Federal Funding was a small percentage of their budget, will not be eligible for this. Sorry KCET. :-)

Trying To Update Our Covid-19 Vaccines

I was going to wait to get my shots for this season, but being we are going on a trip next week, I began the process of trying to find out if any were available yet.

What I found out is that the shots the pharmacy is trying to give out, is last years shot.

The new one, with the updated formula, does not come out til September or October.

So I will wait and take my chances on this trip and maybe the one at the end of September.

It is never easy figuring these things out.

I Am Trying To Get Us To Newhall Station

In anticipation of our trip to Yosemite next week, I am trying to find a place to park our car.

Our Amtrak bus picks us up at Newhall Metrolink Station.

We drove by it the other day, and we see that the place where I want to park the car for 3 days, does not allow overnight parking.

I am not sure of the 2nd lot on the other side of Market Street, but I would prefer not to park there, anyway.

So our next thought is to park at the Santa Clarita Metrolink station, and take a train 8 minutes to Newhall.

Yes, we are stupid, but we used to park our Disney van there, so we think that would work for us.

There are more trains than there were back in my commuting days, thus more chances to catch a train at that early (5:55AM) and late (7:40PM) hour.

If it doesn't work, we Uber. Yuck!

The Old Cell Phone Has Finally Arrived

My cell phone has finally arrived at its destination.

We shipped it on 8/11, and they received it on 8/20.

It took 10 days to arrive.

I just shake my head, and i am glad I did not have to wait for my working phone to return to me.

They say they will have an answer as to the amount of money I will be credited, within 72 hours.

I hope I get the full $90.

Beef-Stuffed Mushrooms

I bought (on sale), a pound of ground beef (chop meat for the East Coast).

I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but then I saw a large package of baby bella mushrooms at Costco on Monday, and made up my mind. Meatball stuffed mushrooms.

My recipe differs from this one, a bit, but you can do what you want.

I was taught to use normal meatball recipe and cut up the mushroom stems into it.

This recipe goes a bit further, and I have no problem with the things that were added. Though cooking it ahead of time, before you place them in the oven, is something I have never done.

Beef-Stuffed Mushrooms

This is an 18th-century beef-stuffed mushroom recipe that I have altered slightly. Better make a double batch because these go fast. Sausage can be substituted for ground beef. Submitted by Jennifer

Prep Time:20 mins
Cook Time:40 mins
Total Time: 1 hr
Servings:12

Ingredients

12 fresh mushrooms

½ pound ground beef

1 tablespoon minced onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon butter

¼ cup bread crumbs

salt and pepper to taste

¼ cup heavy cream

¼ cup butter, melted

1 teaspoon chili powder

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Remove and chop mushroom stems.

Combine ground beef, onion, and garlic in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until beef is no longer pink; drain. Mix in chopped mushroom stems, 1 tablespoon butter, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in cream.

Dip mushroom caps in 1/4 cup melted butter and stuff generously with meat mixture. Arrange stuffed mushrooms in a baking dish. Sprinkle with chili powder.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

Enjoy.

A New Taro Photo

My Son must have gotten the hint, last weekend, because he sent me 2 more photos mid-week.

I like this one the best, Taro looking cuddly on their couch.

She is always so photogenic, so it is a pleasure to see her in my inbox.

Thank you, Son.

Ventura Harbor Is Always There For Me

My Water Post For Today.

Ventura Harbor, my favorite short trip to the Pacific Ocean.

Compared to Santa Monica, or Venice, it is not very crowded, but always a happy place to be.

I love spending time there, but unfortunately, we don't get there often.

Rumor has it, that we might visit the area in November, so that is something to look forward to.

I hope you enjoy.

The Phones Have Been Delayed

I have been tracking our return phones, for the last several days.

All was going fine, until Thursday, when a message about a delay came up.

I checked again on Saturday, and nothing has changed.

I am so glad that I did not send my phone to get a new battery. Can you imagine them losing it?

Worse comes to worst, we file a claim, I guess.