Yosemite - Spring Break 2021

In the end of 2019, the coronavirus took over the world, forcing everyone to be isolated and stay in quarantine. Because of many pharmaceutical companies though, vaccines for this virus were starting to be made, and by March/April of 2021, all adults were able to get this. Since my aunt and parents had gotten both doses of the vaccine, we decided to venture out slightly and head to Yosemite during my spring break...

Firstly, before leaving on the trip, my dad and I had attached a bike holder on the back of our car so that we could carry all five of our bikes without having to put them in the boot where the luggage was. After fitting everything inside the car, we got in and began our long three hour drive to Groveland, California. Once we arrived, I realized how huge our rented Airbnb house actually was.

We (my mom and dad, my sister, my grandma, my aunt, my cousin, and I) spent the first day unpacking, and since it was already getting late, we just relaxed and watched a movie in the night.

The next day, we mainly just ventured out to nearby areas around the house and explored the place. Near the house there was a small slope which my cousin, sister, dad and I climbed up. Also at the back of the house, there was a large lake where my family saw geese and different birds.

The next day, we started driving from Groveland to Yosemite National Park to visit different landforms in the park. On the way, we stopped at an icy field where my sister and cousin and I tried to walk in. I may or may not have fallen in a hole and gotten my shoe stuck in the ice.... Anyways, once we got through and arrived at a hike trail, we all got out of the car and began walking.

The trail was around a mile long only, but it was surrounded with different trees and scenery. After reaching the end, we stopped walking and went to a beachy shore that was slightly divergent from the original trail. There, we got to take pictures in front of Half Dome and also got to cross a shallow lake to get to a small island in the middle.

After finishing the trail and coming back to our car, my dad then drove us all to Yosemite Falls where we would get to walk on another trail except see tall waterfalls this time. Me, being me though, forgot to bring a jacket and I was freezing the whole time we walked on the trail as it was already 5 pm and we were next to spraying waterfalls. The pictures I was able to take though there were pretty good.

When we were about to leave the trail and return back to our car, my aunt, mom, and I were able to see some deer running across the trail path to get into the woods on the side ... it was pretty cool to see.

The second-to-last day, we finally used our bikes in Yosemite instead of using them just near our rental house. My dad drove us all to a specific meadow in Yosemite Valley where we unloaded our bikes and got ready. Because our bike attacher at the back of our car could only handle 4 bikes and my grandma couldn't bike either, my mom, aunt, and grandma went hiking first on a trail.

In the meantime, my dad, sister, cousin, and I rode our bikes through the meadow. After going far enough, we met up with the other group and switched positions, but my cousin and sister rode with them (so that all 4 bikes would be used) and my grandma walked with my dad and me.

The final day of our stay at Yosemite then came. We all packed up in the morning and left the place before 11 am (our checkout time). As we were driving back home, we got to pass over some mountains and even drive through an old-styled town with a (not working) railroad station running through it.

After continuously driving through central California, my family and I finally arrived back at our house, concluding our Spring Break vacation in Yosemite.

bye bye :)

~tanushri