Aug 10, 2011 - Bumps on the Road to Yosemite

Well, I guess every family on vacation has at least one rough day, but today pushed the limits! A spur of the moment suggestion by Maya kindled a desire that I’d had for years, to show my family the glories of Yosemite National Park. As a child my family had crossed and cris-crossed California in numerous road trips. Yosemite made a deep impression on my mind as a child, and as wonderful as the Rockies are, I wanted to show Pete and the kids the magnificence of redwoods, high meadows and the immediate intimacy of Yosemite Valley. (And I’m...

Aug 6, 2011 - Bodie Ghost Town & Mono Lake

8/6/11 Surprised Ann this morning with a trip to Bodie Ghost Town, a little south of where we stayed for the night in Bridgeport. Saw something about it on a campground bulletin board and thought she wouldn't want to miss it! It was a gold rush town in the 1880s but only about 5% of the buildings remain. It is now maintained in a state of "arrested decay". There are only a few building that you can actually go into. The rest are closed and screened so you can only peek througn the windows. But there is stuff in there!!!! An antique dealer's...

Oct 21, 2010 - Day 223 - The Tioga Pass Road to Yosemite

My forum buddy, Bryan, sent a message to me noting I had saved the best for last…meaning I had chosen Colorado for my 48th state where he had grown up. Well, he was half right…I did save the best for last. Today is my last day for exploring and I spent it returning to Yosemite National Park. The ‘valley’ as the locals refer to it. That’s my park. Lifelong memories lie there. My grandkids’ great great grandfather’s stomping ground and source of inspiration was in that valley on the Merced River. I could have easily skipped it but including...

Oct 20, 2010 - Day 222 - The Brilliance of Fall on the June Lake Loop

Today was an exploration day...the day of color and odd formations! I drove just 6 miles south of Lee Vining and turned west onto the June Lake Loop Road and ran into mulitudes of color, color, color. It was simply a wow day. I've never been on this side of my Sierra in late October so this was all new for me. The road is about 15 miles long and passes three lakes along the way. June Lake is the largest by far, but I must say, the two on the north side of the loop were surrounded by more color. If you want to eat out...buy supplies...or...

Oct 19, 2010 - Day 221 - An idle day...

Never got out of my sweats today either. Looks like I'm developing an every other lazy day. I play with my computer and look out the window and watch all the leaves turning yellow. I like this side of the Sierra. I think when I went on my cowboy adventures in the 90s I learned to love the desert. When walking Hunter, I love to smell the sage. Maybe Hunter and I will venture out tomorrow...it's supposed to be sunny!

Oct 18, 2010 - Day 220 - Lee Vining-Bishop-Benton-Lee Vining

I did a nice loop today and saved a bundle on diesel doing it. I had already planned the loop, but I hadn't planned on waiting til Bishop before refueling. But when I saw that sign (included in the pictures)...I headed south on 395. Bought diesel at the Piute Casino in Bishop for $3.35. Still one of the highest I've paid on the trip, but $.64 less than Lee Vining X 38 gallons = $24.32 SAVINGS!!! Did minimal grocery shopping in Bishop then headed up Hwy 6 to Benton. I had never been on that route before so it beckoned to me of course. I was...

Oct 17, 2010 - Day 219 - A Fiesta...NO a Siesta day!

As Carol said in her message to me on the Guestbook, she calls the last stop before home...the decompression stop. Perfect name. Today I napped, watched football, read, napped, walked Hunter and listened to the rain. Oh, and I napped. :-) Haven't even gotten to the presents yet. Not enough time with the napping. Maybe the sun will be out in the morning...

Oct 17, 2010 - Raining in Lee Vining

We had a pretty short drive today to Lee Vining, and the lady at the campground there warned us not to arrive prior to 1 o’clock, so there wasn’t much of a rush to leave Lone Pine. We got on the road, took our time, stopped at a couple of rest stops, and the rain found us eventually. Lone Pine is at about 3,700 feet and Lee Vining is around 6,800 feet so we had some climbing to do. Highway 395 is actually a great road, and we topped 8,000 feet over Deadman’s Pass before descending down to Lee Vining. Our campground is Mono Vista RV Resort...

Oct 16, 2010 - Day 218 - Lone Pine to Lee Vining up Hwy 395

Today was a travel day. I only have one more...and that's the one that'll take me home. Well, at least I'm hoping that's how it's going to turn out. If Tioga Pass closes because of snow, I'll have a long trip around these mountains...and if that happens, I'll leave a day early and make it a two-day travel to home. Lots of clouds on my trip today. I stopped briefly in Bishop and at another rest stop 'cause Hunter requested the stop. I'm staying at the Mono Vista RV Park in Lee Vining, CA...right over the hill from my family. It's my last...

Sep 22, 2010 - A National Park and a gas station

We were looking forward to our stop at Lee Vining CA. We’ve been here a couple of times before, but never get tired of the attractions in the area. We have found a campground (actually there aren’t that many choices) within easy driving distance of three places we love: Yosemite National Park, Bodie Ghost Town State Park, and Mono Lake. We haven’t been to Yosemite for several years, so that was our first priority. Even the drive down from Nevada is interesting. The first part goes along the edge of mountains, with a few small towns that...

Sep 16, 2010 - Day Five - Yosemite National Park

G’Day everyone, We had to get up early today in order to catch the 7am shuttle out to collect our RV, so at 6.45 we walked ourselves and our luggage across the road and then stood in front of the Holiday Inn for an hour because our bus was late and then when he did arrive he managed to hit every hole in the road on the 40min trip out to Dublin meaning there was absolutely no chance of getting a few winks of sleep. Once we arrived at the El Monte depot they sat us down in front of a TV screen and showed us a ten minute DVD on how to operate...

Aug 4, 2010 - Mono Lake

Mono Lake is located just outside the town of Lee Vining on Highway 395. It is officially known as the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. The lake is known for it's very high alkalinity and tufa towers. Tufas are calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. They are formed underwater and as the lake level dropped they protrude many feet above the current surface. The lake is home to 1 – 2 million birds that feed and rest at Mono Lake each year. The lake is one of the oldest...