I dreamed that the wind kept blowing for days and we were trapped in the camper and laid in bed reading books. The wind did stop by the morning and we awoke with a wild donkey braying outside our window and a naked man taking a video of it. This must be hippie heaven! Continue reading This Must Be Hippie Heaven 10.30.2015
The Long Way to Saline Valley 10.29.2015
The wind was still howling when we woke up and we were grateful that the damp dunes reduced the amount of blowing sand.
Our destination was Saline Valley and since the north road was still closed we drove back down to Big Pine then south to Lone Pine and the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center to check the weather report and road conditions (there is no cell service in Death Valley). From there we took CA 136 to CA 190 into Death Valley National Park and the south road to Saline Valley. Continue reading The Long Way to Saline Valley 10.29.2015
Eureka! Dunes That Is 10.28.2015
With the perfect vehicle to explore the hundreds of miles of unpaved roads in the huge and varied Death Valley National Park we headed for Eureka Dunes. Our choices for backcountry travel on this trip were limited by the recent 1,000 year rains and subsequent flash floods that washed out many roads including paved state highways. Today we passed the closed Fish Lake Valley and Saline Valley roads and the Big Pine Road was closed just beyond the Eureka Valley turnoff. Continue reading Eureka! Dunes That Is 10.28.2015
Mammoth to Big Pine 10.27.2015
We headed south on US 395 and turned onto the Mammoth Scenic Loop so I could show Dean places where I had camped and backpacked. Unfortunately, due to controlled burning, we were unable to visit Devils Postpile National Monument, Soda Springs, or Red’s Meadows. We drove down the one lane windy road into the valley and stopped at the Agnew Meadows trailhead to Shadow Lake, one of my parents’ favorite hikes. The views at Minaret Vista, above Red’s Meadows Valley were majestic despite the smoke. Continue reading Mammoth to Big Pine 10.27.2015
Across the Sierras 10.26.2015
We planned to cross the Sierra Nevada on CA 120 over Tioga Pass. At 9,943 feet it is the highest paved road across the Sierras and since it is not plowed, it usually closes in October. We did not want to detour back north to I80 or US 50 or drive the extra 200+ miles to the next crossing south so we were fortunate that the road was still open even though it had already snowed. Continue reading Across the Sierras 10.26.2015
Belmont 10.24-25.2015
Our niece, Laura Sullivan, lives on a steep hillside in Belmont, California overlooking San Francisco Bay. Each house on her narrow street has a single level parking space and driveway surfing here meant both front and back wheels were right on the edge. We parked with the camper door on the street side so we could get in and out. Even in this very nice neighborhood we were received with admiration for the camper rather than complaints. The wonderful family visit was, of course, too short and after two nights we started east again. Continue reading Belmont 10.24-25.2015
Family Time in Chico 10.21-24.2015
We driveway surfed at my niece’s house for four nights while visiting with family and friends. Our niece, Sarah Fragoso, was helping Rina Thoma with a French cookbook and we ate the results of each day’s recipes. Continue reading Family Time in Chico 10.21-24.2015
FWC Factory Visit 10.20.2015
It was 25 degrees Fahrenheit outside when we awoke this morning. We drove the heavily developed west shore road along Lake Tahoe and stopped briefly to admire Emerald Bay although the wind masked the sky blue of the water. We rejoined US 50 again at the south end of the lake. Unlike Nevada, California US 50 is a freeway that speeds skiers to the mountains. Continue reading FWC Factory Visit 10.20.2015
Kings Beach Lake Tahoe 10.19.2015
This morning there was a rainbow over the vault toilet at Illipah Reservoir. Does that make it the proverbial pot(ty) of gold? In the daylight we saw that Illipah Revervoir, like other western waters, was almost dry. Continue reading Kings Beach Lake Tahoe 10.19.2015
Illipah Reservoir, Nevada 10.18.2015
After a hard rain last night we headed towards Nevada by taking Utah 24 to I70 and then US 50. It was another day of beautiful scenery, lots of wind, rain, and dramatic clouds. US 50 makes a left turn in Salina, Utah that we missed because several blocks of downtown were closed due to some type of emergency. We drove up US 89 to Gunnison, Utah before we realized we were on the wrong road and turned around. Downtown Salina was still closed but we were able to find side streets back to US 50. Continue reading Illipah Reservoir, Nevada 10.18.2015
Capitol Reef Wow! 10.17.2015
We arrived at Capitol Reef National Park and secured one of the last campsites in Fruita, a former fruit producing homestead. The campground has spacious level paved sites but felt crowded and too civilized after spending last night alone. Continue reading Capitol Reef Wow! 10.17.2015
Hite to Capitol Reef 10.17.2015
Last night it was windy with scattered rain showers. When we awoke this morning it started to rain in earnest and fearing the dirt track we came in on would quickly turn to slick clay we slowly drove out to the highway entrance with the camper top up. There we enjoyed our usual breakfast of eggs, greens, sausage, and fresh sauerkraut. Continue reading Hite to Capitol Reef 10.17.2015