Sat  Sept 27 -- Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my

Actually, just bears.  First day of bad weather on the trip.  Not bad for nearly four weeks on the road.  Cold and rainy, with some sleet mixed in when we went to the car.  Traveled to locations near the Wuksachi Lodge, which included the General Sherman tree, Congress Trail and Crescent Meadow   Fortunately the rain/sleet ended, and we had blue skies, for awhile. 

That's Guy in the picture along with the black bear ambling across the path.

 As we were driving from the Sherman parking lot we spotted a pair of bears on our right (see earlier entry for established methodology).  As we were capturing the moment a tiny ball of black fur came across the road and joined the others.  The cub couldn't have been more than fifty pounds and eighteen inches long.  They're so cute at that age, but i don't think mama would have appreciated a closer approach.

 As little ones are wont to do, cub decided to climb the tree.

We found a sign that exactly matched the moment.

Obligatory tourist picture of tunnel tree and us driving through it. 

  Over at the meadow it was just nature looking pretty, surrounded by big trees.

The excitement of the day was power going out about 2:30 in the hotel.  They have a generator that keeps the main lodge and, most importantly, the restaurant going.  The outlying bedroom buildings went without.   And it was getting cold and foggy outdoors -- we were looking at the huge pile of wool blankets in the closet, figuring they'd come into play shortly, when the power returned about 6:30.  Apparently this is a common occurrence here.   So we were truly roughing it in the wilderness today.