I Left My Heart in San Francisco....

Sing along with me......I left my heart in San Francisco....

We are a day or two from beginning our journey down the Baja to LaPaz.  So it was time to play in our favorite City by the Bay.  Sunday was a warm and sunny treat so off we went to do a City Guides tour of bizillionares row on Pacific Heights.

Here is some art work from the Lyons Street steps -- these hearts are done as fundraisers for a local private school and then often given to the City to place in public spaces.

We walked, envied the views, and then went down to North Beach to eat lunch followed by coffee and truffles at XOX Truffles.  YUM.

And of course, back to Marin to watch the Giants sweep the Tigers.

We are watching a few storms (that could become hurricanes) off the Mexican coast.  We have no desire for an adventure with a tropical brew, so will wait till the forecast turns sunny.

From Twin Peaks

Heart on Lyon Street Stairs

Flip side of Heart on Lyon Street Stairs

Summer 2012 Summary

Absolutely a wonderful summer!  While I wish the adventure could continue another few months, it is time to head south and escape the throes of winter.  But here is a summary of summer 2012 (from our arrival in Tucson (late June) to our return to Marin (early October).

10 nights in motels
9 nights backpacking
6 nights cycle camping
54 nights car camping
5 nights inside homes (on the floor with our mats and bags)
19 nights inside homes (in real beds)
31 different campgrounds
2 countries and 7 states

1.  Best Day Hikes:

• Iron Mountain, Oregon; 
• Grasshopper Pass, Washington
• Enchanted Valley, Washington

2.  Best Park Ranger Program

• Capitol Reef -- mountain lions
• Great Basin -- dark skies

3.  Favorite National Park

• Olympic National Park, Washington
• North Cascades National Park, Washington

4.  Best Campground

• Ione, Washington
• Wright's Lake, California
• Clyde Lake, California

5.  Worst Campground

• Colusa - Sacramento River, California
• Bonner's Ferry, Idaho

6.  Best Day Bike Riding

• Creston to Crawford Bay in BC
• Chilly Hilly on Bainbridge Island (because the blackberries!)

7.  Best Wildlife Spotted

• Mountain Lion and Eagle on bike path in Idaho
• Bear on hike in North Cascades

8.  Best Meal Out

• Poppy's in Seattle for dessert
• Portland food carts

9.  Special Mention Moments

• Sunset sail with Jill & Brent on sv Cayusa
• Tour of the Gates Foundation:  David Rocks!!!!

10.  Favorite National Monument

• Canyon deChelly, Arizona
• Lava Beds, California

11.  Best Visitor Center

• John Day Fossil Monument in Oregon

12.  Other special memories

• Time with family and friends all along the route
• Becoming WA residents
• Fresh fruit pies at Capitol Reef with Alisa & Joe
• Navajo seniors on line at the Burger King in  Canyon deChelly
• 
  

For the Love of Money....sort of

Well, actually, it is for the love of SAVING money.  We are now residents of the Evergreen State with Washington driver's licenses, car plates, voter registration, doctors, dentist, etc.  But California has a few extra pesky rules about who is a California resident, including one that states:  if you spend 30 days or more in California you are a California resident and must file tax returns.  And we have no intention of paying any more taxes to California....

So we must prove we are never in California for more than 30 days in a row.  And the closest place out of state is Reno, Nevado.  A dumpy little town that has almost no redeeming features, except it is not in California.

We drove to Davis and had brunch with Bryan and Michelle; then on to Reno under bright blue sunny skies.  Sure, the forecast was for a bit of rain beginning Monday.  A bit of rain at sea level means a ton of snow in the mountains.  But we didn't really grasp that proven reality of winter until we headed west on I 80.  First a few sprinkles (east of the passes).  Then a few snow flakes.  Ohhhh, how pretty.  Well then alot of snow flakes, uuummmmmm still sort of pretty.  Then the snow sticks to the hill sides; then to the road.

Finally we are in California and chain controls (or 4 WD drive) is required.  Big rigs are lined up for a mile or so; the snow is pummeling everything.  Yikes.

We made it over the pass -- there was already 8-10 inches on the ground -- 1 lane of the normally 3 lane highway was open and we slowly went UP and OVER and DOWN.  

Back to Sacramento for a brief visit with Bryan...then on to Marin...

The Season's First Winter Storm

Road Conditions

Hello Washington DC

After a day or two in Marin it was time for me to fly to DC to visit my family:  Mom and Dad; Rachel, Allen, and Peter.   It was a mini vacation for me while Alan worked the "Magic List" and found plenty of other activities to entertain and enjoy.

Mom and Dad as we walk the grounds of the Home, er, the Village

Algonkian Cottages on the Potomac:  site of 2013 Bly Family Reunion.  The wrap around porchs will be a hit.

Rachel and Allen

Lacrosse Game:  Peter has the ball and made 2 assists!  

Marin

San Francisco was a happening city when we arrived.  Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, a few street fairs, America's Cup Racing, the Blue Angels, the 49ers, the Giants.....every where in town there was something & lots of tourists.

We arrived to stay with our dear friends, Barbara & John & Elsa, and promptly headed out to Tiburon to join the throngs watching the Blue Angels buzz overhead and around the Bay.  It was such a gorgeous day.  WOW.

But, about those Giants.....

Barbara, John, and Elsa!

Davis Days

We drove down the mountains and arrived in Davis:  warm, bustling with student energy, and packed with great restaurants.  After a bit of work in the storage unit (and wondering why we saved all that stuff in our 10ft x 10ft space!) we checked into a hotel and got set to spend a couple of days back in the Mom & Dad mode.  We loved it.

One of the highlights was Sunday breakfast with Bryan and Michelle at the Putah Creek Cafe!

Then it was off to Marin and time to begin preparing for our return to Mexico.

Bryan and Michelle

The Usual Suspects!

Wright's Lake

Our final campground for the season?  Wright's Lake in the El Dorado National Forest.  We vacationed here for many years:  8 miles off the highway, a Sierra lake offering views of the mountains,  shallow waters warm enough for swimming, and a multitude of trails up to the mountains...

And this time we had the Lake and campground nearly to ourselves!  Only a few campers braved the chilly nights and a couple fisherman worked the Lake for the last of the rainbow trout.  I walked around the lake (no great distance) and wandered the campground checking out our old favorite sites (#24 had enough room to play whiffleball!).

It was a great end of the season.

Fly fishermen on Wright's Lake

Dark Lake

Full Moon Over Desolation Wilderness

6 Days, 5 Nights.
Full Moon
Hot, Sunny Days
Warm Nights (but a bit of a brisk wind at time)
Stunning ridge views and sparkling lakes

The best of Desolation Wilderness backpacking in the fall.

We did a loop from Echo Lake to Lake of the Woods to Gilmore Lake to Upper Velma Lake (via Dick's Pass) to Clyde Lake (up Rockbound Valley) to Tamarack Lake (over Mosquito Pass) back to Echo Lake.  While some of it was a repeat for Alan -- for me it was all new and stunning and I totally loved it.  (Except for that blister on my little toe.)

I think it was a Wulzen 50 miler (and I did a service project of dismantling an illegal campsite and carrying out an abandoned line used to hang food in a tree.)  (Note:  a Wulzen 50 is an "almost" 50 miler backpacking trip in BSA speak).

Now in South Shore...we have had lunch, doing the internet thing, and then we will do Safeway, and an ice cream stop.  To Fallen Leaf Lake campground for tonight and then on to Wright's Lake....

Wow...it has been an incredible end of our summer living out of our car.  I'll summarize soon.  As soon as I get some photos posted.

Looking BACK at Echo Lake trailhead--see you again in 6 days

Night 1 at Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Woods

Still Looking Clean & Eager -- up the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) we go!!

Look at those Rocks

Along a pond...no name known

Heather Lake

Heather Lake

Susie Lake was a Lunch stop

View from camp spot at Gilmore Lake.  Coyotes howled with the wind at night!

Peaks in every direction

After 3 miles of UP on Dick's Pass:  View south:  Dick's Lake and Fontenailles.

Sitting at Dick's Lake LOOKING UP at the Pass.  Glad I'm over that one.

Man with a View

Lunch Spot

Upper Velma Lake -- night 3

Running creek provided a great spot for a cold water bath!

Morning Reflection in Velma Lake

Upper Velma Lake

Happer Camper...making breakfast

Clyde Lake -- our favorite spot.  

Night 4:  Clyde Lake.  Our longest hardest day up Rockbound Valley.  (plus a 2 mile wrong turn....)

Thanks Bryan for the warm wooly hat.  I wasn't cold at all!!

Aloha Lake from Mosquito Pass.  The Lake is down about 15 feet!  

This should be all water & a few rocks...end of season lake level

Night 5:  Tamarack Lake from the trail.  

We had sucked our water bladders dry (hot sunny day) so first job:  make water.  Then bathe!

Alan made it up for our last sunrise.

Jenkinson Lake

Who Knew?  Well, Alan knew.  He had camped at Jenkinson Lake years ago with David.

The Eldorado Irrigation District maintains a couple of Sierra Lakes with camping...and one of them, Jenkinson Lake is just off Highway 50!  So rather than go on to Wright's Lake we thought a day or so at Jenkinson Lake (near Pollock Pines) would give us a chance to catch our breath, do laundry, and sit in the sun.

We were one of the few campers at the Lake and got a lake front site.  Jenkinson Lake Park supports a variety of recreation, including boating, swimming, paddle boarding, fishing, kayaking, and mountain bike riding (including full moon rides!).  The water was warm enough for the water skiers to be without wetsuits!!

We visited the Forest Service Office to discuss plans for our backpacking trip and enjoyed a few lazy days.

Drive by Davis

Well, we were so close to Davis on our way to the Sierras that we decided to do a Drive by Davis.

Long enough to drop off our bikes, find a few items in the storage unit, and surprise Bryan!!  We had a great lunch at Crepeville; yummy!

We will be back for a longer visit in a few days.

Then up to the mountains!

Colusa Sacramento State Recreation Area

This spot should be noted only it because it was the most WRETCHED campsite of our entire summer.  Buggy, noisy, expensive.  Even were treated to a truck driving the nearby levee with bug spray....who knows what that stinky chemical brew contained.

If that campground was really part of the State Park system, it is a joke.  The town of Colusa appears to be running the show now....good luck.

We left at dawn's early light and headed south to Davis.

Lava Beds National Monument

Tucked way up in the northeast corner of California, at the end of a paved road is the Lava Beds National Monument.  The whole area is chock a block full of volcanic landforms, including, lava tubes.  So, a tubing we went!  After an intro walk in a lit tube, we ventured out on our own armed with heavy duty flashlights from the visitor center and our bike helmets.

We did several tubes -- all very different in length, formations, and "walkability".  We felt like explorers finding side tubes, collapsed ceilings, and shorelines of lava flows.

After a few tubes we walked up to a dormant crater and a hidden pine forest.

Quiet and restful spot for a day or two.

Entrance to a Lava Tube....bye bye to the light!

The Modoc Indians lived many years in the area.  Here is some Rock Art from a tube entrance.

Let's Go Tubing!!

Hidden Forest -- A full size forest nestled in a canyon in the volcanic plateau.