Return to civilization!!!!!!

We're BBBAAACCCCKKKKK from vacation. For good. Phew. I need a vacation from our vacation! Actually, this one was another trip to the Sierra, back to Mammoth Lakes. Hubby rented a cabin there for 4 nights and we set off from Palmdale last Wednesday. We had just been to Mammoth about 10 days prior to this trip, when many roads (including the Tioga Pass to Yosemite) were still closed due to heavy winter snow. There was still snow at the Mammoth Lakes and at Mammoth Mountain, but the road to the Minerets and Devil's Postpile was open. In fact, we took the bus (MANDATORY) down to the postpile and hiked back to see it. I had been there as a child (before the mandatory bus shuttle), but hubby had never seen it and was speechless when we finally arrived to view it, dragging our tripods with us. Needless to say, we both stayed around the cabin the next day! We're "flatlanders" (i.e. we live at 200 feet above sea level), so for us, walking and hiking at 8,500 feet is...well...an effort! Even walking out to our car behind our car got us huffing and puffing! We did drive into Yosemite one morning (we both woke up at 4:30 a.m.) and were surprised when we returned that we didn't have to pay a fee! There was still snow near the higher elevations and Lake Tioga was still partially frozen! Incredible! We saw about two dozen deer, some lively, cute young gray squirrels, chipmunks, and loud blue jays. I read a biography of Norman Clyde and completely read Nevada Barr's High Country (set in Yosemite) while we were there! Our cabin had no TV and very limited Internet (I was unable to post while on vacation) and it was a real shock to leave Mammoth early Monday morning (we wanted to be home before the July 4th fireworks as our house is just 2 blocks from our civic center park) and we made it home safely, let the dogs inside the house, and went to our daughter's for July 4th dinner. We got home in time to hear the first "BANG" of the fireworks. We also returned to extreme humidity (there were thunderheads all along the Sierra and Mt. Whitney was covered with thunderheads) and 108 degree temps (it was about 50 when we left Mammoth). But, we are both addicted to the Sierra and are already planning our next visit!