Roll’n - Road Trip 2022

We delayed our start a day to attend a remembrance for a friend.  It was worth it.

Arrived at our usual Fossil Falls stop, but it was still 110F outside!

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OK it’s a dry heat, but with full hookups at Boulder Creek just an hour up the road … Totally Fran approved.

Fran took a morning swim in their pool, while I enjoyed a walk around the campground.

With just the stop at Erik Shat’s Bakkery in Bishop for our turkey sandwiches, It was still 94f outside.  We had the perfect parking spot near the ball fields and ate in the RV with the generator powering our AC unit. 

We went up the hill for our reservations at Old Shady Rest campground.  Insider tip – there's an opening in the campground fence in the southwest corner that makes walking to town faster than a bike ride.

We had site #27 and I’d try for it again.

And our reason for our stay was to ride the new-to-us Lakes Basin Bike Path.  We noticed it last year on our way to Tahoe and knew we had to do it.  It was a rather hazy ride as the smoke from a wildfire west of Yosemite found it's way Mammoth.

Bike rental prices and we choose a $65 ebike for the 4 hour ride.  So very worth it!

Altho the bike path parallels Lake Mary Road ...

it is more connected with the forest.

While passing Twin Lakes Vista, Tamarack Lodge, Lake Mamie, Lake Mary and Horseshoe Lake.  If Time (and legs) permit there is an ~2mile loop trail around the lake.

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The bike path climbs nearly continually, and steep at times, for just over a 1000’ elevation gain, at distance of about only 5.5 miles.  Still, even with the electric bikes we took it easy with the assent taking over 2 hours.  The water falls above Twin Lakes is a beautiful view.

We stopped at the Lake Mary Marina on the return trip to enjoy our previously packed lunch on their spacious deck overlooking beautiful Lake Mary.

Fran also enjoyed a couple buckets of balls at the Snow Creek Driving Range on Old Mammoth Road. 

A couple deer interrupted her practice to munch on the grass.

While she was at the driving range I took the bike for a ride along the awesome paths around the city loop trails.

We might be back next year and again dry camp at Old Shady Rest.

We left Mammoth, driving pretty much straight through to Susanville for the night at Susanville RV Park.

Last year's fires pretty much destroyed the cable and Internet service, I’ve had good luck with the WiFi here.

On our last trip our Apollo half-time oven’s heater coil died.  I thought I could fix it, but alas could not find the part nor a donor core.  Fran really liked that oven, altho the technology is over a decade old.  I replaced it with a Toshiba 7-way oven.  We have figured out microwave, convection and air-fry.  That leaves 4 more cooking modes to explore – including the air fryer … Here Fran is baking a Macadamia nut cupcakes to share with the family when we all gather at Mt Shasta.

I spent 2 weeks harvesting, shucking and cracking those little buggers!  I’m sure it’ll be worth it!

Next an impressive waterfall, the mountain and family

Road Trip 2021 - 395 is a great start

Under overcast July skies we are finally ready to begin our 2021 summer vacation travel.
We are again on US 395, the Gateway to the Sierra.

South of Kramer Junction is all 4-lane with stoplights, Adelanto has really grown.  HiWay 58 at Kramer Junction now has an overpass.  The stoplights there for the on/off traffic are very 395 friendly.  But the junction has permanently closed Astro Burger!

North of Kramer Junction the familiar 2-lane asphalt road is back.

Beyond Ridgecrest the familiar red Cinder Dome marks our stop for the day.  When we wake up in the morning at Fossil Falls we’ll be officially on our summer travels.

The entrance road is usually in good shape, and the Day Use Area has been graded!  But alas the campground roads are still in really poor shape.  Altho there are boondocking spots beyond the campground, we are again in site #4.  I keep hoping my $3 overnight fee will be put to grading the campground roads.

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We have travelled this route, our favorite, road so many times I forget I’ve really never blogged it.  My son and I did a trip every August for over a decade! every August! and with Fran for over 3 decades!  

When we first stopped at Manzanar, only the cemetery still stood.  Of course now the desperately needed attention it deserves is present.  However, the visitor center does not open till 11 am.  There's a gate across the road to the rear where the cemetery is located.

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We travelled on to Bishop to Erick Schat's, for my favorite turkey sandwich.  

Fran likes the #1, but I like to substitute the mustard with cranberry, and sometimes get the #2 also with cranberry vice mustard.

At Mammoth Lakes we found a great site at New Shady Rest (#89) and with my ‘Forever Young Pass’ for $12.50 a night.

A nice site, with room for Fran to practice her golf swing.

We drove up to Horseshoe Lake to see the progress of the carbon dioxide poisoning.  On  the way we made a brief stop at the Twin Lakes overlook.

Wow the trees have recovered and the danger seems to have passed.  But with the continued drought the ‘lake’ is not much more than a ‘puddle’ now.

the dying trees can still be seen where the shoreline was just a few years ago.

The simple wooden cross at gravesite of 'Mono Joe' has been replaced with that of the 'Unknown Prospector'.  I liked the simple friendly 'Joe', but progress continues.

If you’ve seen the ARCO commercials for ‘Too Much Good Stuff’, TMGS has never been to this Mobil Station.  Not long ago to attract business there was a high-wire and trapeze act. But now the Whoa-Nellie-Deli brings in traffic!  I've had the best Caesar Salmon Salad ever at this gas station!

Take your lunch up to the overlook for a quiet and good view of Mono Lake.

We had a quiet night along the Walker River in the No Zone.  DANG! Missed Jake hitting The Cycle for my PADRES!  But it was a nice spot.

We’re spending the night in Carson City where we enjoyed both the Mint and Railroad Museums.  Good day to be inside with all the smoke for the local wildfires.  

Tomorrow we’ll head up the hill to North Lake Tahoe to meet up with the family.