Today was a day for trucking, traveling, and taking time off...especially after some of the gruelling driving we've had to do lately!!  After leaving Visalia, California this morning with a 6 AM start...we encountered some very rough and bumpy California highways.  (California did NOT go broke on fixing their roads...they are atrocious!)  The last twenty miles of road were up curviing, winding, switchbacks with no less than an 8% incline.,.,Magellan I and Jim did an awesome job, not even overheating a single time.  Once at the top we went to our new base camp, Yosemite Pines, just outside of Groveland, CA, the "Front Door" to Yosemite National Park.  With temperatures in the upper 90's, it was time for some rest, relaxation and a dip in the cool pool.  Tonight we'll chill some more while making plans for our adventures in Yosemite NP for the next 3 days!  Here are a few pix of our fun drive today.

Don Pedro Reservoir at the base of the CA HWY 120

Heading up the 8 mile winding HWY 120...the first sign said "Turn off AC for the next 8 miles"

Lots of twisting and turning

bad picture...but showing one of the many "switchbacks"

More HWY 120...

Near the top...bad news...it's the ONLY way DOWN from the northwest corner of Yosemite!!