Yosemite National Park - Greeting card
You look up the winding road ahead that features an 8 percent incline. Raging white water pours down the Merced River out of the High Sierra Mountains. Your legs feel like fried bacon after a day of climbing and descending. It's a roller coaster ride, but your mind pushes your body into it; your legs must obey their commands. Somehow, they eagerly respond to the task. Your lungs heave and your heart thrives. You "will" the spokes to spin via the power in your legs. Around you, nature thrives with flowers, birds, bees and the promise of spring. You head toward Yosemite more than 4,000 feet of elevation gain while pounding the pedals. You become aware of every movement because your thighs feel tender with a sensation of living. You push on, toward the final ascent into the valley. In front of you a monster of a mountain appears—El Capitan. Your eyes grow wide. You take a deep breath. Suddenly, you feel only wonder.
Touring cyclist about to ascend into Yosemite National Park, California © 2012 Frosty Wooldridge
Frosty Wooldridge standing at the base of the climb into Yosemite National Park, which is known as the Land of John Muir, America's first environmentalist. He created the National Park Systems along with President Teddy Roosevelt. After the picture, Frosty jumped on his bike to ride for hours along the white water Merced River into the eye-popping grandeur Yosemite Valley.