After the intensive roasting while climbing strenuously back out of Death Valley, you'll find yourself all of a sudden needing to quickly pull over a sweatshirt or light jumper as the temperature rapidly drops on making your way up the eastern Sierras towards some really lovely locations like; Mammoth Lakes and the fascinating town of Bishop, each of these places having camping facilities and well worth a few days visiting.
Further on, in Lee Vining, at the foot of the mighty Tioga Pass, which takes us steeply up to the eastern entrance of Yosemite N.P, we can view the famous and awesome Mono Lake before tackling the long, hard climb up to 9945 ft. The scenery up here is indeed gorgeous, and this beautiful National Park is well worth several days exploring and visiting.
On leaving heading due west, it is now a case of holding on tight and enjoying the long, winding and steep downhill section into the sweet smelling, mild and sunny Central Valley.
Passing wineries, fruit and hazelnut orchards our route slenders along now lazily heading for the rounded, yellow sun-bleached hills of the Bay-Area. Crossing the mighty Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco, we'll be heading south now along Hwy. 1 until reaching Mexico.