etienettebluet | Jun. 5th, 2015

Jun. 5th, 2015

WARNING: Rowen, you might want to skip my May entries, right on through to June 6th. I want to record this but you don't need the aggrevation. Monday while we finished loading up I managed to lock BOTH sets of keys IN the camper. We had to call a locksmith and we finally got out the drive about 1:50 pm. Remembered to turn in library books, check air pressure in the shocks and got ice cream to begin the trip. Actually left town about 4 pm. I'm very fortunate to be able to take this trip. Leofwyna has the money and wants to travel; I'm a lucky companion along for the ride on her generousity. We drove through some rain during the evening but it had stopped long before we pulled into camp at Lake Cheney State Park ($11) near Wichita KS at 1:30am. It was beautiful spot under cottonwood trees with moonlight shimmering on the lake (full moon). First time up in camp Al was pefectly level. The 'day list' was mallards, turkeys, seagulls, mourning doves, red-wing blackbirds, deer, Canadian geese, and possum.

Tuesday we were up at 10 am, which is fairly early for us, and on the road by 11:30 am. Leofwyna is icing her hip, knee and ankle to keep the situation with sciatica improving so I'm driving a little more than usual on this trip which is fine with me. I have cutters along to fripper when she's driving so I'm not drowsing off so much. We saw a Goodwill as we were driving through Wichita so, of course, we had to stop in. It rained off and on all day through Kansas and Oklahoma. We set up camp at 10 pm in Foss State Park ($10) where the host, Ray, showed us how to run our heater. The rain was coming back though and we encouraged him to get to his camper before the downpour; so lessons on water pump, water heater and refrigerator use didn't happen. The day list included robin, hawk, heron, crows, crane, and a (dead) armadillo.

Wednesday we were up at 10 am and on the road by 11 am. We stopped at a Goodwill in Amarillo TX to stretch our legs a bit. We crossed the time line in New Mexico at 5:15 CDST/4:15 MDST. The first low mesas looked great in the late afternoon sun. We pulled into Santa Rosa State Park ($10) after dark and meet a pair of New Zealand couples in a big camper at the sign-in station. They're eastbound on a countrywide (and back) trip. The day list included (dead) skunk, (dead) coyote, robin, Canadian geese, mourning dove, hawk, barn swallow, crow, and tortoise. With the morning we discovered yellow, purple and white wildflowers among the cacti all around.

Thursday we were up at 8 am and breakfasted at a sunny picnic table facing a bit of the lake. We were on the road by 9:30 as we still hoped to be able to do the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon on the 8th. We stopped for the Petrogyph National Monument as planned and Leofwyna had a great time scrambling among the rocks in spite of her limp. I was vastly entertained by both her and the lizards. We pushed on through Albuquerque, Holbrook and Flagstaff but by 11 pm we faced the fact we would not be able to do the Grand Canyon and reach reservation sites as scheduled in California. We stopped for the night at Coconino National Forest, Pine Flat campground ($10) in Arizona. The day list is jackrabbit, lizards, antelope, and hummingbird.

Friday we were on the road at 9:15 am. Leofwyna really liked the stretch of road on 89A south of our camp in Coconino National Forest and says she wants to come back and spend a week there. I'm thinking, good, then we can go up to do the train in Williams to the Grand Canyon, too. We pushed hard on the mileage and pulled into Angeles National Forest, Monte Cristo campground ($6) at 10:30 pm. I did the last leg driving and impressed both of us dealing with the LA freeway and then the hilly curves up to the campground in the dark; white knuckles and all. So now we've caught up with our schedule; we really could have used those two days we lost at hom. The day list: Scotts oriole, roadrunner, antelope and squirrel.

Saturday we left Al in camp. We also realized we'd have only one day in LA; we have a reservation at Pinnacles tomorrow night. No question choosing between the zoo and Mood; gotta go to Mood! Leofwyna found a nice novelty wool for an early Russian garment she wants to do. I found some nice turquoise print cotton for a shirt and a seam ripper. I'd forgotten mine at home; hard to fripper without one. We found a Goodwill (in Beverly Hills.. eeep!); I bought sunglasses there. For supper we found a genuine Jewish Deli then cruised around Beverly Hills taking pictures of landscapes and architecture. After dark we headed down to the beach at Santa Monica to see if there's any phospheresence in the waves; there wasn't but the beach was nice and the pier beautifully lit up. The day list is buebird, squirrel, yellow finches and seagulls.

Sunday up at 8:30 am and on the road at 10:15 am. There's a definite early (for us) pattern going on here! Stopped at the Ventura Beach and found several pieces of sea glass; one of my California goals. Another stop to stretch our legs was at the San Luis Obispo Mission. We pulled into Pinnacles National Park about 10:30 pm. Our day list today, bees, ground squirrel, hawk, raccoon, sooty shearwaters, magpie, bunny, and bat.

Monday up at 9 am, on the road at 10 am. Mickey had folded up camp herself while I was 'resting'. Surprise! At the visitor center I found the perfect (late) birthday present for her, a National Park passport. Since the road THROUGH the park was contraindicated we left the park without seeing any condors to Leofwyna's great disappointment. The day list, bunnies, ground squirrels, crow, Steller's jay, scrub jay, deer, fox squirrels, grouse, golden eagle, and Hutton viriol. Had two nights reserved at Yosemite National Park, Wawana campground C52

Tuesday we were up at 9 am, left Al in camp and headed into Yosemite Park. Clark Range, Merced River, Nevada Falls (594'), Vernal Falls (317'), Glacier Point, Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridal Veil Falls... it's all gloriously impressive and does not disappoint. Back at camp Leofwyna and the RAV had a minor disagreement with a small tree forcing the back left fender ascew. The day list is grey squirrel, ground squirrel, lizards, crows, robin, Stellar's jay, red-wing blackbird and deer.

Wednesday we were up at 9:30 am and on the road by 11:30 am. We stopped to do laundry and get an oil change mid-afternoon. It was nearing dusk when we headed off the main road for Henry Coe State Park where we had reservations for three nights. The road into the hills was long, twisty and became narrower and steeper the farther we went. We finally pulled into camp after midnight. The process of finding our assigned spot... a total impossible space... finding irratable campers down a dead-end and having to unhook from the RAV to get turned around... deciding to settle in a 'parking' spot up top instead and running up against a fence post, having to unhook from the RAV to get off the fence and nearly running over Mickey in the process. Needless to say we decided we weren't coming back for more. Day list was grey squirrel, crow, ground squirrel, mourning dove, bunny, prairie dogs, egret, heron, deer and hawk.

Thursday we got up to the alarm at 6am, loaded up and ready to leave by 7am except unable to hook up with the camper against the fence where it ended up last night. After thinking carefully about it last night and this morning I insisted we not try by ourselves. Had to wait until the Ranger arrived at 8 to help since the maintenance man #1 was not inclined to do anything at all. With the Ranger there mantenance man #2 came along to be of assistance; he admits to looking out the window and seeing we were having problems, went back to bed. With Ranger Rick's able assistance we got turned around and hooked up. We stayed polite for the Ranger's sake but was frank about not coming back. One good thing about this site though was a pair of Patridges that was very entertaining while we waited. On the road at 8:40 am. We spent the day in San Francisco with Jane (she drives now) crossing the Bay Bridge, visiting Coit Tower, took a look at Lombard Street, went to the Ferry Building for lunch where Angelo joined us. We went to the Wharf where we spent time at the Meusee d' Mechanique; an amazing collection of entertainment devices. We were too late for the aquarium place on Leofwyna's list so we took supper at Nick's Lighthouse. Jane took us back to their place by way of a scenic route above the city and harbor to see 'Carl' the fog come in over the Bay Bridge. We finished the day in their hot tub and set up the camper on the street a few blocks from their apartment near the BART line. We were exhausted and slept just fine, thank you. The day list didn't suffer.. partridge, mourning dove, blue/green bird, deer, magpie, blue/buff jay, hawk, seagull and harbor seal.

Friday we left Al parked and headed into town on our own. Angelo and Jane had busy schedules this day so we didn't expect to see them again. We found a lovely bakery, A Sweet Affair, for brunch and ended up using a quiet table to write postcards awhile. By the time we headed over the Bay Bridge we found we were too late again for Leofwyna's aquarium place. Instead we took a brief rickshaw ride by the Wharf, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, explored a sailboat harbor, crossed back over the Golden Gate, and checked out the Golden Gate National Rec Area. The day list is seagulls (2 species), crow, grey 'sparrow' with rosy throat, red-wing blackbird, white-bellied grey 'wren' and hummingbird.