I had been to Yosemite only once before, back in 1995 when I crossed the Sierras using some highway through Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite's high country. While driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles during a recent California vacation, I took the scenic route, visiting Yosemite one Sunday afternoon - specifically Yosemite Valley.

Given the time of the year and the lateness of the day, and the place wasn't too crowded, although there were still plenty of people.

I took the drive through the valley, stopping for photos ... (more)