Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station' - Lisa St. Aubin de Teran
Ha ha ... how true? This time I flirted with Eastern Sierras to witness that glory ... fall colors. I wait for the season every year and wait for a group to go with. At the end the group decides to go ... either earlier to the peak time or after the peak time and come back empty handed. This time I decided to follow my own instincts. I witnessed the best!
I drove all the way to Yosemite and then took Tioga road to Mono Lake. It was raining heavily that even the road was not visible properly. Driving on Tioga Pass that time was a bit scary. When I reached June Lake loop the rain reduced a bit and I could see the cabins in the midst those colorful aspens. I thought, next time I will stay in one of those cabins for few nights. I continued on to Mammoth Lakes. I reached Mammoth Lakes in the afternoon and it was still raining. I went around to check out the viewpoints here near to the Devil's Postpile only to see the thick fog and nothing else. So, took a room in Sierra Lodge slept well in the cozy place hoping the rain will stop and clouds clear up next morning.
Next morning it was clearer with little drizzle. I drove up to Bishop, then Lake Sabrina and two more lakes up in the higher altitudes. There I saw the heaven. I could spend all my day there ... wonderful colors ... light green, pale yellow, bright orange and intense gold. wow! The roads lines up with these colorful trees. For a moment it looked all fake ... he he ... we are used to see only green trees huh?
It was beautiful ... the lakes ... rimmed with mountains ... mountains painted with colorful trees ... the roads around the lakes lined up with the colorful trees ... walking on the trails covered with the golden leaves ... the experience is actually beyond words. I was speechless. First round, I walked with my camera gear on the back without taking any pictures. I feel that I am missing the bigger picture when I am looking through the tiny viewfinder. Then I went walking the same road again and took the pictures.
After climbing up the steep grades my little old Corolla showed me an engine check icon glowing orange. Only here I didn't like the color orange. I was terrified thinking of drive back 280 miles of secluded road in the stormy evening on Sunday, even a remote autoshop would be closed. Huh! I got to have a drama every time. I thought the radiator must be hot. But, didn't know where the radiator is and where to pour water. I called my Boss 280 miles away in Bay Area to ask how to cool off an angry radiator. He told me so many things which I didn't understand a bit. Then he told me to buy a new car!!! I drove back home all night at 45mph and reached home. Seriously thought about buying a new car. I had to replace the engine canister to get rid of that orange icon paying 1100USD. Otherwise I couldn't sell the car.
But, I am grateful to God for giving me an opportunity to experience the fall color and grateful to my car for pulling along and bringing me back home safe.
