“Grandma, can we go to the pet adoption place?” Of course! Today there were seven kittens.Sophia is really good with the kittensbut the kittens are more like slippery eels when Avery tries to hold them.Checking out 12-string and 6-string guitars before the ukelele lesson began:

Luke Rankin was a student in the first Westside Charter School 7th-grade class where I was “teaching head-teacher” – one of my best and most memorable years of teaching. Luke was an excellent student – a great kid in all ways. When his mom Sheila asked me where I thought he should go for high school after 8th grade, I suggested Rio Linda High School and told her, “He will be a star.” And he was, valedictorian of his class; I was invited to his baccalaureate at Calvary Lutheran Church. Luke went off to college in the midwest, then got a Fulbright Scholarship to Russia; back in the USA, he went into banking in the Bay Area. Today I went to his wedding in San Jose at Willow Glen United Methodist Church.Luke with his mother Sheila:I sat with an old family friend, Angi, on my left. It was wonderful to hear stories about Luke and Julie over the past five years since they met. On my right was Javan, who has known Luke since he first started at Chase Bank. When Luke came to our table, he said, “It’s no accident that you two are sitting next to each other. You were both my mentors, one in school and one in business.” While Luke left Chase Bank after a few years, he and Javan stayed in close contact … the mentorship continues.

Just a half mile down the road from our cabin was this almost-life-size metal sculpture. Before leaving, we had breakfast at Sugar Pine Cafe,then a stop in Merced for our traveling drinks. When you’re gone for a few days, the changes at home can be dramatic, like these crape myrtles at Justin’s driveway.

We parked at our first opportunity, unloaded the bikes and rode to Yosemite Fall.As we walked closer to the fall, we heard singing. A choir of Japanese students put on an impromptu 2-song performance – it was beautiful.More riding, to Half Dome Village, which used to be called Curry Village. There are more than 400 tent cabins here – they look HOT to me.Rafters are assisted into the slow-moving river by a park employee – it was clear (and funny) that some rafters had never put an oar in water.We drove to Glacier Point, above the valley. The views were amazing. Nevada Fall, which is above Vernal Fall:Yosemite Valley, Half Dome is to the right:A better view of the valley, Half Dome barely visible at right:In the past, people have gone out onto this point of rock to have their picture taken, but now there is an impassable fence. In the background, Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.

Yosemite is very crowded all the time, but summer is the busiest. The earlier you get started the better. First stop, Bridalveil Fall.Riding bicycles turned out to be the best way to get around on the valley floor – lots of paved paths – and parts of the park are closed to general traffic, only the shuttle bus, bicycles and pedestrians are allowed. Sweet.The Merced River:Next stop, the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall. The trail was only 0.8 mile but all uphill, therefore slow.Ample bike parking.The upper pool of Mirror Lake:Formerly known as the Ahwanee Hotel, it’s now called the Majestic Yosemite Hotel.The dining room:Beauty is everywhere.Yosemite Falls in the distance.It was a hot day – the 90s in the park, 104 in Mariposa. Ice cream from the Sweet Shop was a very good idea.Lots of biking, hiking, and sweating – a good night’s sleep was assured.

Adrienne and I left for a little adventure today – a few days at Yosemite National Park. Hurray, we took our bicycles!Because all the hotels in and near Yosemite were booked, we rented a cabin near Mariposa through VRBO – the Poppy Cottage.Very cute 2-bedroom cabin down the hill and across the gravel road from the owners.A very nice deck in the back.After settling in, we drove back to Mariposa to explore and have dinner.After asking a few shopkeepers about their favorite restaurant in town, we chose Castillo’s.

Yes, I ended up buying one! The Yuba Mundo is about 55 inches from wheel hub to wheel hub and would not fit on my bike rack, so Thais dropped me off at Practical Cycle in Old Sacramento and I rode it back to her house where it will stay. I am really looking forward to using it when I watch Sophia and Avery on Tu and Th afternoons.Later in the day, Thais sent me a few pictures. Rolling three-deep:Cousin Cameron also got a ride.