back in time

Here are some images from a camping trip to Fallen Leaf Lake this summer:

I like the contrast between the tiny trailer and the tall trees.

Inside the wee trailer.

My guy.

 We had planned to take Cassie to a new to us campground in Yosemite, but the terrible Rim Fire closed the road to get to it as well as the campground itself. So we found rare summertime openings at Fallen Leaf campground. Off we went never thinking the smoke from Yosemite would drift north to the Tahoe basin. It wasn't ideal air quality wise but we had a good time anyway. Lots of bike riding and exploring new parts of both Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe.

On the eve of another eggventure

Sadly, there is a terrible wildfire not too far from our house. It has added color to the sunsets however.

After having what seems to be a very long time off from adventuring with Dora, our new 16 ft Casita, we're heading out tomorrow. Originally, we had finally decided to go to Yosemite's White Wolf campground. But, a big forest fire has broken out closing the road we'd use to get there. Change of plans! Now we're going back to Lassen National Park and trying something different. This time John is going to leave me there for a night while he returns home to work two shifts. I'll only be on my own for one night but I'm a little apprehensive. We're doing this because I wanted more time just to hang out and check out photography locations. He gets a little tired of this while I'm always wishing I had one more sunrise or sunset to shoot. It's a compromise of sorts -- we'll see how it goes.

BTW - if you're on Facebook, my photography page is Wild Mountain Photography.

Sugar Pine Point

Our third camping adventure went very well. Sugar Pine Point at Lake Tahoe is a popular campground and we can see why. It's beautiful with nice access to the lake. It's clean. It's quiet. In order to have two nights, we had to stay in one site the first night and the move to another site for the second night. The first site was not very good but the second was terrific. We will be back.

We did a little hiking and spent yesterday afternoon kayaking & swimming. There is just something special about kayaking on Tahoe. And the way you feel after swimming in the lake is wonderful.

Here are the Casita findings from this trip:

* The mattress topper made the wee bed so comfy. We slept well both nights.

* We want another cover for the spare tire. The current cover (the one that comes with a new Casita) would be fine if it didn't have the 1-800 number on it. That makes it look as if Dora was a rental. That will just not do.

* Organization within Dora is improving with each outing. There really does seem to be ample storage at least for the length of trips we're currently taking.

Photography was sorta pitiful during this visit to the lake. Bald skies. Here's my best shot:

So, while not exciting for photography, we made a discovery regarding campsite food: Amy's Black Bean burger patties. Served on Orowheat whole wheat thins and with heirloom tomato slices & avocado - YUM.

We don't have another camping trip planned until early September. I hope we can get another two nighter in around mid-August. Should we head for the coast or Yosemite's high country? Hmmm.

Lassen Eggventure

Taking a break during sunset on our way home along I-5.

Dora's second outing to Lassen National Park was terrific! We are thinking ahead to when we can return and spend more time. The campground was quiet and managed very well. We kayaked, hiked and took some photos. We also met some fellow travellers who were camping with a fiberglass trailer (not a Casita though).

Here's what we learned from this go round:

• really must get a squishy mattress topper for the wee bed
• also need something for the floor of the bathroom
• must have a plan in advance for John's dirty clothes otherwise he will stuff them randomly throughout our tiny home on wheels
• make sure the the shower drain valve is set to "closed" before travelling

The more time we spend with Dora, the more smitten we become. Next egg-venture is back to Lake Tahoe in just a couple days. Can't wait!

a-camping we will go

We packed up Dora the Eggsplorer and headed to a nearby campground near Lake Tahoe. It was a quick overnighter to check things out. Here's what we found:

- The small bed is going to take some getting used to. Turns out my hubster is an aggressive pillow flipper. It was like being in a one-sided pillow fight all night long. No bueno. New, smaller pillows are on order.

- It was nice to be able to keep food in Dora instead of using the bear box outside.

- This was a fantastic campground. That's why I'm not naming it. It's pretty popular already but for now it will remain unnamed here.

We rose at the crack of dawn so we could try taking some sunrise photos at Emerald Bay. As we exited Dora with coffee in hand, we watched as a large black bear ambled peacefully across our campsite. Bear country indeed.

Here's the reward (in addition to seeing the handsome bear) for being early risers:

tuolumne meadows in september

Click on image to enlarge.

Just returned from our second quick camping trip in Rocky (our new pop up tent trailer). We stayed for two nights in the Tuolumne Meadows campground. Lucked into a good spot -- the ranger assigns your spot when you arrive.

The meadows were gorgeous. Enjoyed some great hikes and took about eleventy hundred photos. And, we did much better this time with our packing.

Very cozy although we did use the furnace a bit in the mornings.

Why do my hiking shorts always make me look like a chubby girl scout? Gah.

~ Saturday Snapshot ~

you can go back

We decided to take Rocky, the new pop up tent trailer to the first place we camped together more than 30 years ago. It was just like we remembered it. Best still, we lucked into the best site (as confirmed by the camp host) in the campground. Score!

View from inside Rocky.

John putting together the mini barbecue.

Everything went pretty well but we do need to get better organized in our packing. This campground is at a fairly high elevation and will close on September 10th this year. We were rushed to get this trip in before the campground closed for the season but so glad we made it!

going camping

We're buying a new tent trailer today and hope to head out to Yosemite later this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning. Excited!