TALES OF OUR TRAVELS AND OUR LOVE OF ADVENTURE

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Back Home

We had a wonderful trip to Rock Creek and Silver Lake. The first 4 days were up at the East Fork Campground on Rock Creek, about 30 miles west of Bishop. I had been so hot at home that it was nice to be a little cold. I was in long pants, vest, and flannel shirt most of the time at Rock Creek. I didn't take any pictures - I really didn't go anywhere. Don fished up at the lake, or on the creek, and I stayed at the trailer just enjoying the peace and quiet. I spent most of my days in my Strongback Chair, cross stitching or reading. Now that I have that chair, I can spend hours and hours outside and not complain about my back.

Our second destination was the Forest Service campground at Silver Lake, on the June Lake Loop.  We've been going to June Lake for over 20 years, but have always stayed at Oh Ridge Campground overlooking June Lake. We decided to try some place different this time.
Our site, #36, had this view to the south of Carson Peak

This is looking west towards the Alger Creek Waterfall

Alger Creek waterfall
One of our day trips was up Tioga Pass to Saddleback Lake, near the east entrance to Yosemite. We got up there and learned they had drained the lake to about half capacity in order to work on the dam. That didn't deter the fishermen from coming, as the place was quite busy with shore fishers. Don and another guy were the only ones to go out in float tubes.
Saddlebag Lake, looking north

Saddlebag Lake - the view east from my stitching site
Around lunch time the clouds rolled in, and it became a little drizzly and chilly. We drove back down the road and stopped for a couple of hours along Saddlebag Creek. I stayed warm and dry in the truck while Don walked the creek for a while.
Saddleback Creek, looking south

Don, stalking the trout in Saddlebag Creek

Don on Saddlebag Creek
Another day trip was up to the Virginia Lakes. To get there, you take the 395 to Lee Vining, continue north up to the top of Conway Summit, and go left 6 miles to the Virginia Lakes. There are 4 lakes all within walking distance, and we chose to go to Trumble since there were so many people at the others.



The water in Trumble was a murky green, but it didn't hamper the fishing at all.  From my chair next to the lake I watched Don catch fish after fish - over 30 in all.  Of course he put them back.

This trip was a little different from others in that we had no hookups the whole time - and didn't bring the DirecTV receiver for when we were using the generator. We were able to pick up one radio station at Rock Creek and none at Silver Lake, so for 10 days we heard very little news from the outside world. It was rather pleasant. We each had books to read, and while Don fished I either read or worked on my cross stitch.  We realized our trailer batteries need to be replaced - he would run the generator for a couple hours, and then 2-3 hours later the indicator light showed "empty' again. One of the batteries is 3 years old; the other is 4 - so it's definitely time to get them replaced.

We don't have any trips planned for a while. The next one will be towards the end of October when we go with some friends out to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Heading up to the Sierras

We're leaving in the morning for a fishing and relaxation trip to the Eastern Sierras.  We've never been able to go in September before, so it'll be interesting to see how many other people there will be. When I got online to make the site reservations, we had no difficulty picking our favorite sites.


Little Lakes Basin in the John Muir Wilderness
Our first stop will be along Rock Creek, at the East Fork Campground.  It's only a couple of miles from where I shot the above photo the last time we were there.  Don intends to a)fish Rock Creek, b) fish Rock Creek Lake, and c) hike into the John Muir Wilderness again to Little Lakes Basin to fish as many of the little lakes he can.  I'll be going with him on that hike - it's a really easy hike from the Mosquito Flats trailhead into the wilderness.  I intend to a) read, b)cross stitch, and c)do nothing.



Carson Peak, seen from Oh Ridge Campground at June Lake
Our second stop will be at Silver Lake Campground on the June Lake Loop.  In the past, we've always stayed at Oh Ridge Campground overlooking June Lake, but this time we'll stay at Silver Lake Campground.  In the above photo, it would be at the base of and to the right of the large mountain.  Don intends to a) fish Silver Lake, b) fish Rush Creek, c)fish Grant Lake, d)fish Gull Lake,  e)fish June Lake, and f) go up the Tioga Pass road towards the Yosemite National Park west entrance and fish Saddlebag Lake.  I'll go with him on that trip. In addition, I intend to a)read, b)cross stitch, and c)do nothing.

Sounds like a great trip, doesn't it?!  We won't have hookups, and I won't have internet access, so I'll post pics in about a week and a half.