DAY OFF- Hetch Hetchy Trip

We have been wanting to check out Hetch Hetchy for quite awhile and never have made it. I gave husband a book on the railroad and building of the O'Shaunessy dam several years ago, and a booklet has been lying around Mt. House on the building of the dam. As there was no construction today, we headed out in the Beemer with top down for a round trip tour. Sister had warned us of iffy roads, so we didn't take the Morgan and almost took the 4x4. The Morgan would have made it just fine, with Cherry Lake and Prather roads recently repaved and in very good shape, in fact a fine Morgan road. Returning, Evergreen Road wasn't in as good a shape, but still ok.
The weather was warm, a bit muggy and hazy, which didn't make for the best pictures.

For some reason, we hadn't expected the Yosemite entrance stop, but  fortunately we had brought our Golden Age passes.

Not fully understanding the parking situation, we parked at the first opportunity, and then walked 1/4 mile to the dam. Our doctor would be proud, as he has encouraged us to get out and walk, so we did despite my painful heel. There was parking on the other side of the top of the dam that had little walking.

There always has been much controversy about building/keeping the dam.
Below is a picture taken in 1911 of Hetch Hetchy before the dam, and I took one today (and made it B&W) for comparison.

and here is a different view in color showing the 1 of 2 waterfalls- the other is dry at this time of the year.

Husband, the dam builder, needed to walk across the dam to check out the tunnel. The path leads to the waterfall, but I just didn't feel up to the 1 hour walk there and back . 

On the return trip, we stopped at Evergreen Lodge  http://www.evergreenlodge.com/    for a drink and ice cream, and thought what a great place for a Morgan trip. The tavern was great, and the menu looked fantastic. They also have cute cabins, and apparently have about 350 guests at a time.

Returning on Evergreen Road, we enjoyed the few remaining wild flowers that dotted the landscape.

Home in time to move the truck to sisters to prepare for the workers tomorrow.