East to the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada

John Muir Country

After a final midday walk on the beach at Morro Bay on Tuesday, we drove east and arrived in Mariposa during a pelting rainstorm, and the entrance to our lodging was flooded. Thankfully, it was rain and not snow since we had traveled in a winter storm warning.

We turned up the heat inside our rental, and all three of us toweled off before climbing under the covers.

When we awakened yesterday, the storm was replaced by birdsong, blue skies, and a bright sunrise.

I adore this town, named by early explorers for the overwintering varieties of butterflies. It is a gateway to Yosemite National Park, which has been closed more than open over the past two months. It's currently open, but it is snowing, and I'm still determining if we'll get to the park.