Andi’s Journal Yosemite-2

July 10, 1886

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Did I mention that my journal entries might not fall in order? I had to share about that ol’ “black beast” in my new home on Memory Creek. I’m afraid it was on my mind a little bit too much. The cookstove and I have still not come to an agreement, but I don’t want to think about it. I would rather record another amazing thing during Riley and my honeymoon adventure in Yosemite.

It’s the Wawona Tree. And the coach drove right through the tree. That’s how big those sequoias are up in the Sierra. I never would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself. I was so tired from the holdup earlier that I almost missed it. The gasps of the other passengers woke me up, and I’m glad they did.

Come to find out, a couple of brothers had only just recently (1881) enlarged an old fire scar to make it big enough so a road could go right through it. Amazing! Another amazing sight was the Wawona Hotel. Now, that is living in luxury! Riley and I stayed there two nights instead of one, on account of needing to rest after the adventure on the road and having to camp out all night after the road agents (stagecoach robbers) finally let me and a couple of other young ladies go. They even left the loot. Why? (Answer can be found in “Honeymoon Hazards” in Yosemite at Last).

The Wawona is a mountain resort and it’s been around since 1876. I bet Virginia and her family stayed there when they first moved to Fresno. Our family never quite got around to going there. Too much ranch work, I reckon. But we all missed a treat. I loved their dining room, and the food was delicious. The hotel was right by the Mariposa Grove, which grows all those huge sequoias. Driving through the tree was enough for me. It’s been another long day here on Memory Creek ranch. I’m still battling the beast, and sadly he won. The biscuits burned. Will I ever figure out that stove?