A pal of mine kindly offered to help me entertain the two girls today, while the wife and son were off to the Bay Area.  Since he has a plane, the plan was to fly them up to Yosemite and see what could be seen.  Here the pilot goes through the pre flight check list while the girls pose.

Acting at ease with the air ship.  The flight left from the Columbia Airport, and from there it was only a few minutes to the park.

The insanely complicated instrument panel.  Good thing somebody knew what they were doing!

Soon, the valley hove into view.  Here you are looking south east up Yosemite Valley toward Half Dome.  That is the Sierra crest in the distance.

Now, over the back side of the dome, to the west back down the world famous valley.  The plan was to continue over the top to circle Mono Lake, and come back, but the little plane was buffeted cruelly by the playful air currents, causing more than a bit of air sickness, in spite of the view.  Therefore it was back to Columbia, and Mono Lake will have to wait for a calmer day.

It was an incredibly fun time for the girls, doing something they never would do otherwise.  Thanks Dan for taking them on such a great flight!  They will never forget the fun they had today!