Pismo Coast Village, one of the best RV parks in the U.S. The birdwatching is amazing!
Cloverdale/Healdsberg KOA, a refuge.
North through the magnificent redwood forest and then a return to the coast – Ferndale and its lovely victorian structures, the on to Trinidad for Oysters on the pier and a stopy at Katy’s fish mart for smoked salmon, smoked sea scallops, etc.
Adios to the coast we head east on the river road along the Klamath. A stop at the Hoopa Casino and we wind our way to Happy Camp, population 1100. We arrive in time for the Happy Camp High School Homecoming Parade.
A city woman gets a thrill feeding the chickens. We gather eggs in the morning for a fresh egg breakfast!
The garden at the ranch not only produces great eating, but the flowers are spectacular.
It is George’s labor of love.
g the Chambers ranch is our favorite vacation. My sister Casey, her husband George are the gracious hosts.
At night the stage is set for a jam session on the ranch. Friends Dee and friend join my brothers Chris and Kirby for an evening of entertainment.No worries about bothering the neighbors, there are none.
We were in town at a great time! The Dear Mad’m Weekend! Dear Mad’m was a lady who came to Happy Camp at the age of 80 to live on her mining claim. She was there a year and a book was written about her brave adventure. But her year in Happy Camp was only a sliver of this unique lady’s brave and exciting life so a relative researched her past and wrote a book about her entire life which he entitled Dear Mad’m, Who Was She? The town held their 2nd annual Dear Mad’m event where the authors talked about their book and townspeople joined in with their stories.
My sister, Casey, gave a speech and introduced the honorary Dear Mad’m, Geneva, a 98 year old who also lived in a cabin solo on a remote stretch of the Klamath River. We heard stories of her bear encounters and pioneering spirit..
Lots to do on the ranch:
It’s a guy thing.
Apples are picked and then George gets out the cider press.
We all get the idea and start feeding the press with the apples
Hey, it turns out to be apple cider! That’s how its done down on the farm!
Above is the only picture we have of Crater Lake because it was so fogged in that we never saw the lake. We drove around the lake perimeter and imagined the blue sparkling water, stopped at the visitor center cafe for a bowl of soup and left, spending a night in Klamath Falls.
The drive south took us by Eagle Lake – a lovely site.
A night at Twin Lakes Resort RV Park near Bridgeport we enjoyed the local scenery and wildlife.
After the traditional stops at the Save Mono Lake Committee museum-store and the infamous Mobil Station at the Tioga Pass turn off, we headed to the June Lake Loop. Our campsite at Silverlake was dressed in yellow, a striking contrast against the blue lake. On the way we passed Grant Lake where red was the dominant hue.
SILVERLAKE ON THE JUNE LAKE LOOP.
Long on beauty but short on fish. Alan caught one trout.
We camped at the county campground which is dry camping. Across the street is the Silverlake RV park with hookups. It is closed for the season on October 15, but the primitive camp is much more beautiful anyway.
A drive through Mammoth found the area with sparce crouds.
With a snow storm threatening, we headed for lower elevation. On the way to Bishop Alan couldn’t resist these photogenic clouds.
Once in Bishop, we visited Laws Railway Museum.
Camped at Brown’s Town in Bishop, we drove to the Bristlecone Pine Forest, home of the world’s oldest living trees.
From the White Mountains we enjoyed a view of Deep Springs with the Inyo Mountains in the background.
From the visitor center, Alan hiked up to the gnarly trees. His altimeter shows him to be at 10,440 feet.
After a busy day, what to do? Relax in the soothing hot spring water at Keogh Hot Springs of course!