I know, this is just going to be photos of one of the famous granite formations in Yosemite.

I am doing this for a reason.

Because the park had been closed due to all the wildfires burning in California, and had just reopened, and was virtually empty of human beings, I was allowed unrestricted access to drive anywhere, park anywhere, walk anywhere.

This is unprecedented. The park is usually packed with tourists. You can’t move around. You just find a place to park, and then take the shuttle buses around the valley floor.

So if you get off the bus to take some photos, you have to wait for another bus. This all takes time.

You also end up waiting in line for food… or restrooms. This also slows you down.

Even walking the hiking trails and wandering the meadows leaves you feeling a little crowded.

This time, this magical time, I had a backstage pass.

I had the golden ticket to the chocolate factory.

So I could look at anything I wanted to from any viewpoint.

Perhaps more importantly, I could afford to look at the same views at different times of the day, over two days, as the light changed as the sun moved across the sky.

For an adventurer and photographer, this was pretty special.

Now, maybe you don’t care enough to want to see 20 pictures of one big rock.

Maybe you have been to Yosemite, and don’t need to see it again.

Or maybe you just want me to get back to the weird stuff I normally… ha… do around here. Can you do weird stuff normally???

Either way, I don’t only do this blog for you. I am reliving a wondrous couple of days.

There are still burnt trees in the park from old fires.

So anyway, just bear with me.

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This will all be over soon enough