05.06.2019 - Lee Vining lakes and snow

[Sam_Smith]

Travelling this time was DH (54) - driver/eater/moaner/petrol head/biker

Me (51) - navigator/planner/booker/spreadsheet creator/feeder

So this morning was still early but at least the sun was up! I guess the trick is to stay awake as long as possible but as we have not managed past 8pm there's not much hope of that anytime soon

We thought we would try the café next door to Bodie's this morning, so the only exercise was to cross the road. Not much traffic around with the pass closed either, so no hassle.

Nicely's. And it was!

Yes you could have broken a window with that bacon

There was so much food not even DH managed to eat it all. Not much more expensive than Denny's either so a big thumbs up from us.

We then decided to have a look around Lee Vining. This was literally a short walk up one side of the road and a walk back down the other so it was obvious we needed something else to occupy us for the day.

Not sure why I look so much shorter than DH next to this bear! I'm not that short honestly!

Having exhausted Lee Vining (yes that was it!) we decided to jump in the car and go down to Mono Lake for a look around.

I'm so glad we got to spend some time here. It really is an amazing place You have to pay to park and there is a ranger present to make sure you do, but it was only $6.

We then decided to retrace our steps from the drive to Lee Vining and find Mammoth Lakes. It was about a 40 mile journey from our motel. Once we turned off the highway the road slowly climbed into the mountains

and eventually we turned a corner and there was this!

It was quite bizarre. Nothing and then a ski slope with a car park at the bottom!

The season was supposed to be over but they had seen so much snow there was still plenty of people skiing.

Further on we found Mammoth Lakes Lodge and more slopes.

Not much was open but we decided to ride the gondola up the mountain to have a look around. $34 each. It was quite expensive considering it was only open up to the half way mark, but the girl on the desk said there was a restaurant and a shop up there, so up we went.

Well the shop was shut and the restaurant was only serving coffee so we just grabbed a cup each and sat on the deck for a while watching all the nutcases sunbathing!

I actually ended up with a sore shoulder the next day because the sun was so strong up there!

We really enjoyed our day today. OK it wasn't Yosemite but it just demonstrates that there is always something to see on a trip like this.

Back at the motel we decided to visit the market store a few doors up from Nicely's to grab some snacks for dinner. We were still digesting breakfast!

I decided to buy a burrito from the hot counter. Not very successful though as once I got it back to our room and unwrapped the foil it was obvious it had been there for quite a while, and was very soggy. We still shared it and it filled a small gap.

Once we had freshened up we went over the road to Bodie's to sit at the bar for a few drinks in an attempt to stay up later. We had a lovely evening chatting to the barman and drinking way too much. Well I did anyway

Back in our room we sat on our deck overlooking Mono Lake and having one last drink when we were visited by Ozzie, who made himself comfortable on our bed!

Cheeky boy!

[liz-paul]

Beautiful photos! Looks amazing

[Mortimer Mouse]

Breakfast looked good. OMG that snow - in June ! Very bizarre, but beautiful.