19 Days, a Fast Car and 15,000+ Kilometers

This off-season I decided to hit the road solo and drive to California and back!

These photos obviously don't reflect the entirety of my adventure, just some of the most interesting highlights. They start in California, my primary destination. 

I hope you enjoy them, Click to enlarge!

The Way There:

Ontario > Quebec > New York > Pennsylvania > Maryland > Virginia > Tennessee > Arkansaw > Texas > New Mexico > Arizona > California

The Way Back:

California > Nevada > Utah > Colorado > Nebraska > Iowa > Illinois > Indiana > Ohio > Pennsylvania > New York > Connecticut > Massachusetts > New York > Ontario

Tally: 2 Provinces, 20 States, and (somehow) no speeding tickets!

The Vehicle: 2015 Volkswagen GTI Autobahn.

After driving through days of rain I made it to the California Coast. This beach was along Highway 1, a very scenic highway that follows the coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco

I had some fun experimenting with different exposure lengths and stacked polarizing filters. 

It was early, but I wasn't the only one on the beach

A lone surfer appeared to try his luck

Seems he knew what he was doing!

One day Luca will teach me how to keep my lens clean!

It rained for the two days I spent in San Francisco, but here is a neat apartment block I found.

Having had my fill of the City, I headed into the wilderness of Yosemite National Park

My first destination was the Mariposa Grove of Sequoias 

Many of these colossal trees are well over 1,000 years old

This tree known as the "Grizzly Giant" is over 1,800 years old, which is young by Giant Sequoia standards as they can live more than 3,000 years. 

Most of the older trees bore the scars of many forest fires. While destructive, these fires are essential to the ecosystem and clear out brush to provide room for new sequoias to grow. The intense heat can actually help seeds germinate. 

As I hiked higher into the grove things became increasingly foggy

f

An unnecessary, slippery shortcut 

For a long period fires were prevented in the grove, but more recently have been reintroduced regularly in controlled blazes to mimic natural burn rates.

I found the bark of some of the pines very interesting

A closer view shows more detail

...Closer...

Looking upwards from the base of a giant

This tree is still growing despite it's charred base. If much sapwood is damaged often just the top section of the tree will die, leaving a flat top

About 2 miles beyond the grove there is a fine lookout. I'm sure the view is brilliant on a clear day. This is not a clear day... 

The clouds did clear slightly letting some sunlight through

But the mountain was quickly swallowed in mist again

'

The second day I hiked to a higher altitude in search of  "Chilnualna Falls." This rock has been lifted by the tree growing up beneath it

The forest here was very different from the Sequoia Grove

The types of trees and shrubs changed as I climbed higher

I saw some amazing cloud formations

Sections of the trail had stone steps built in

This is actually above the falls, looking back over the valley I came from. At this altitude ice had formed over the water in these pot holes.

Many of the remaining trees were stunted and scraggly

5.6 Miles back to the trail head

From here begins the real Yosemite Wilderness. You more adventurous can hike for weeks on end along the John Muir Trail.

A great spot for lunch! After a bite I spent some time exploring the area

A great little cascade above the falls

Time to head back down before it gets dark!

I stayed three nights in the Park at the Iconic Wawona Hotel. After hearing some ghost stories told by the staff around the fire in the main Hall, I decided to grab my camera and head out into the dark.

Built in the late 1800's this place is very cozy and rustic.

It was a cold, misty evening. No stars, but plenty of hazy lights to capture

Things got a little Spooky! 

Up bright and early to tackle the famous 'Mist Trail'

First stop: Vernal Falls. At this time of year it's not quite the rushing torrent you see on post cards.

The higher you climb, the more treacherous the footing. Thankfully the most dangerous bits had a railing.

Looking back down, I realized the crowds were in hot pursuit!

Nevada Falls!

Here we are at the top

Looking over the edge

This bridge crosses the water just before the falls

This charming image warned of the dangers of fast moving currents. Unfortunately quite a few people have died here over the years.

Found another great spot for lunch

I chose a different route down the other face of the valley

Nevada Falls from the other side

An interesting, twisted tree on the way back down

As I reached the valley floor the sun was just disappearing behind the mountains.

Th water from the falls rushes through Yosemite Valley in broad streams

There was still frost the next morning as I left the park

I had to drive a couple hours North to find a Pass through the mountains that hadn't been closed due to snow

High Altitude plains

A breath taking view of Mono Lake as I descended down the Eastern side of the mountains

The mountain forests slowly transformed as I neared the desert

Twilight as I neared Death Valley, the lowest point in North America

An interesting effect achieved by flashing my hazards during a long exposure

I tried again with my head lights

After a brief sleep in Las Vegas, I was up high in the mountains of Utah

This is Brian Head Peak, altitude 11,300 Ft.

High altitude agriculture!

Somewhere else in Utah...

The sunset, looking East a long way from home!