When school closes for summer vacation then my wife Marsha has the opportunity to go with me to some of the beautiful places where I perform. On June 9^th I was scheduled at the Pacific Grove Library. Pacific Grove is a little community just south of Monterey along the beautiful Central California Coast. It was a splendid day and we walked along the beaches and rocky cliffs, breathing in the sea air.

Randel & Marsha surrounded by pink flowers on the sea shore.

Silly seal sleeping on the rocks!

On Friday June 11^th we headed for the high Sierras and more puppet work. Tioga Pass, the way through Yosemite to the Eastern Sierras, had opened just a week before. It is closed by heavy snows for most of the fall, winter, and early spring. We quickly passed through Yosemite Valley. Though the road was clear, snow was still piled high on each side as we ascended the mountains. When we left home the temperature was close to 85° F, but as we crossed Tioga Pass at nearly 10,000 feet the temperature was 35° F.

Tioga Road descending into Mono Lake Basin.

We dropped quickly down the other side of the pass into the Mono Lake Basin. I thought I had seen most of California, but this is an area I have missed. We soon pulled into Mammoth Lakes, CA, famous for its ski resorts. What beautiful, rugged mountain vistas!

The sights were breath-taking, literally and figuratively, for Mammoth Lakes is about 8,000 ft. above sea level and the air is much thinner than we are accustomed to.

I was scheduled as entertainment for an outdoor health fair. My sponsor was the Inyo Mono Association for Community Action (IMACA). The week before had been sunny and mild, but for the fair the weather was cold and very windy. Display tents were blown over before they could be secured with anchors. The craft tent where I was to help with puppet making projects stayed in place, but the walls and floor bulged in with every gust. Fortunately the library, whose parking lot we were using for the event, had a storyteller cancel, so Groark and I were able to move our show indoors.

After the health fair Marsha and I still had time to see the lakes of the Mammoth Basin. The blues and greens of the lakes and blue of the sky were so intense! However the forest trails we wanted to hike were still covered with deep snow.

An awesome view of the Sierras from Lake Mary!

We had Sunday to ourselves. We found the local Latter-Day Saint church and had a great time visiting with the local members. We took a leisure drive south to see Convict Lake and found McGee Creek. Perhaps I have some distant claim to land in this area…or not.

Marsha at Convict Lake. This site is often used in TV and movie scenes for a high mountain lake backdrop

McGee on McGee Creek. Any relation? I don’t think so.

On Monday Marsha and I met with Terri Speidel and her staff at IMACA and demonstrated and made simple puppets for use with play and learning activities for young children. They were an open and enthusiastic group. They are already planning for my return next year, and I am looking forward to it.

We spent the late afternoon in Yosemite Park. It is no wonder why this is one of the most visited parks in the National Park system. The views are stunning! I love this job and the places it takes me!

Parting view of the Yosemite Valley.