Yosemite National Park Ahwahnee Hotel and Queen's Table

On Friday we took another summer day trip with grandsons and daughter-in-law, Lisa. This famous view with half dome in the background always takes my breath away.

Excited grandsons, Davis and Reese. Really?

Lisa had never been inside the Ahwahnee hotel. We had 11:30 a.m. lunch reservations and requested the Queen's table, that could not be reserved. Waiting for lunch.

...and Davis's waiting in the grand lounge, can you tell he really wasn't impressed? We took the boys to lunch at the Ahwahnee last summer, that's how we learned about the Queen's table.

After our wait and request we were first into the dining room. Last year as we left the Reese said to me, "This is like the dining hall in Harry Potter."

Here we are being seated at the Queen's table, Jan stayed back and shot the photo of the impressive alcove. Last year when we took the boys I had planned on eating in the alcove. We were seated at the center table and our server told us it was called the Queen's table because Queen Elizabeth dined there on her visit a few years ago. During that meal we were also told that Tim Cook, Apple CEO, had dined at that table just three weeks before. Did that have anything to do with naming the new operating system Yosemite, getting away from all the cat names?

The grand lounge lives up to its name.

Jan took this shot of half dome from one of the windows.

Lisa had to see water, not much coming down this drought year at Yosemite falls. Her t-shirt says, Proud Supporter of Messy Hair and Sweatpants.

A visit to Yosemite always includes a stop in front of El Capitan to watch climbers. Jan zoomed in on two.

Lisa had to do a few Bar Method poses to share with her friends, El Capitan makes a statement.

Dawn Wall Free Climb on El Capitan in Yosemite

Yesterday was a huge day for climbers. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson completed the 19 day free climb of the Dawn Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite, just an hour and a half north of Fresno. Each time we go to Yosemite we stop to watch climbers, there are many routes up the stone wall which is more than twice the height of the Empire State Building.

Click here for the complete coverage and videos. 

The videos and story of these two dedicated climbers is amazing. They have spent more than five years planning and trying this climb. All evening I've been reading different stories and watching videos about them.

Tommy Caldwell is missing half of his index finger on his left hand and still free climbs. He lost his finger in a table saw accident, hmmmm, I'm into Paul Seller's woodworking with all hand tools, much safer. Tommy's finger was stitched back but after doctors told him he would never have the same strength in the finger he decided to have it removed and was climbing again a few months later.

The news has been story after story today. On the radio I heard one of them say, "Dream big, see projects through to the end."

I like that quote! It can be applied to so much.