Gaidus Family Christmas CardWhile Yosemite is great any time of the year, we have come to prefer the Fall when the summer crowds have diminished, but the weather is still warm.

That means that every April 15, Herb and I have to perform the stressful task of trying to obtain a campsite for October. The park is so popular and the number of sites so small that sites literally are gone within less than a minute once they are released.

Our granite reclinerThis year we were actually able to get two sites, in the hopes that our sons and their wives would join us. If not, it would be easy enough to cancel one, and some lucky person would grab it up in a minute.

But they were coming, although only for the weekend in the middle of our 8-day reservation. Those pesky jobs and responsibilities really do get in the way.

We were very excited, as they always add so much fun and energy to our time in the Valley.

Also, good that we had 4 days after they left to recover.