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Reno-San Francisco-Yosemite
Above: View west from Bishop California The ridge almost reaches 14,000'                                                   Below: Millpond Recreation Area Bishop California
After spending the first night camping outside of Independence I spent some of Thursday exploring some of the areas around Bishop. I avoided going up the Sherwin Grade on US395 by following the Owens River Gorge Road on the east side for the first time. I usually avoid the grade by taking Rock Creek Road on the west side of US395
Checked out the beaver ponds above Lundy Lake. Looks like the old chief could use some new war paint. Most the fall colors were gone. I missed them by being grounded by a hernia repair in October.
Reno
One of the views from Harrah's where I stayed Thursday night. Other views from the hotel/casino included a gentleman's club and a marijuana dispensary.
Lands End - San Francisco
China Beach
Yosemite
A dry Yosemite Falls
Exit view with a very light Bridalveil Falls	A dry Ribbon Falls and El Capitan
I stayed at Hodgdon Meadows Campground because all the Valley campgrounds were full. Easy parking driving around the valley because the tourist crowds were minimal probably because of low water flow and the fall colors had peaked.
As of October 15th there is no parking on 120 overnight from Crane Flats to Tioga Pass. You will be towed at owners expense. All the side roads in that stretch are gated off so you don't get snowed in when the snows actually start. Once the road closes it wont be open again to around the end of May or the beginning of June. The Tuolumne Meadows store and grill are shut for the year as well as the campground. Not having a permanent roof keeps it from collapsing from the weight of the winter snow. There aren't many pay phones around any more but that stretch of road has one near one of the trailheads. In 2012 I drove over the pass  in January when it was open for the first time that late in forever. It was closed  when I went to Yosemite that February. It had closed January 17th Last year it closed November 14th which is the average closure date..
Upper Horse Meadows area
Sunrise on Mount Gibbs (12,773') and the Dana Plateau	Lower Horse Meadows and Mono Lake
After crossing Tioga Pass I spent the last night on the road above Upper Horse Meadows at about 7,800'.
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