SIERRA CAMP 2009

If it’s July, it must be time for camp again.  This year, Mom came out with her best friends from Indy, Jack and Rose.

Here they all are at the Huntington Museum gardens in Pasadena.  We beetled out there to see the cactus gardens and other grounds, all of which were incredibly beautiful, plus “Blue Boy” and “Pinky” in the portrait gallery.  We wore everyone out with the walking around in 80+ degree heat.  This should be a must-see on everyone’s list for out-of-town visitors.  We were there only a couple of months ago with other friends, and we still found plenty of new stuff to see this time.

After my usual superb job of packing every nook and cranny in the van (loaned by our friends, Chuck & Alice – thanks, guys!), we got underway Friday morning and headed up the 405 to SR14, and then NE to hook up with 395.  This is pretty ugly territory between our house and the hookup, but once you get on 395 the Sierras start to form on your left and it ultimately is a fantastic drive.  We actually caught a small tailwind all the way up the Owens Valley, so driving was smooth and easy.  After a Subway stop, we pulled into Bishop around 4:00 and went to the Chalfont House B&B.  We’ve stayed here before and it was just as good as we remembered.  A block off the highway, it’s dead quiet at night, but within walking distance of the restaurants, theatre, and the not-to-be-missed Mountain Light Gallery showcasing the incredible photography of the late Galen Rowell.  We stop here every time we get to Bishop and never tire of these images.  I think he’s the Ansel Adams of color photography.  We got three rooms, all on the upper floor, although ours was a sort of split level affair.  After climbing to the second floor, we had to descend a flight of stairs to our room. Strange, but it was very comfortable and, with a full house of guests, we heard absolutely no one once our door was closed.  Breakfast was outstanding, prepared by the proprietess, and served in a beautiful, sunny room at elegant tables.  Truly, there’s no reason to waste money on a motel when you can get something like this.  We had a nice talk with a young (sigh) couple, he from Germany and she from Spain, who were just starting a tour of the West.  Watched an old (‘40s) movie on the VCR in the parlor that had Mom laughing out loud, and all was good.

Off the next morning for the rest of the trip up 395 to the cutoff at SR89.  This is the most beautiful portion of the drive, both on 395 and 89.  This is the view looking south

from the top of one of the grades on 89 just after leaving 395.  After ignoring grotesque turn mis-instructions from Gertrude (we turned her off) we made our way to Walker where we stopped at what turned out to be a fabulous barbeque joint right on the highway with the cooker out by the road.  Mom couldn’t resist, or handle, the sausage sandwich, but ate every last bit of it.  The tri-tip was great.

Fortified, we pressed on through and over the mountains and made it to camp right around 4:00, leaving plenty of time to unpack and get ready for the first of 20 gargantuan meals, most of which we ate out on the deck.

With the exception of one afternoon, we had balmy-hot weather the whole week and dined al fresco the whole time.  The opening Saturday night dinner was the usual “let loose the wolves” roast beef dinner and I know I certainly got my share!  Overall, the food was very good, and the pastry chef outdid himself each morning with cinnamon rolls, croissants, danishes, etc.  This must be a fruit bonanza year as we had buckets of large blueberries, blackberries, and other fruit.  Best new beer I tried, at the recommendation of the obviously underaged staffer manning the fountain:  Rogue Brewery’s “Dead Guy Ale.”

Everybody but me went on one of the 5:00 wine & cheese cruises on the “boatster.”  Classical music, smooth lake, and beautiful scenery.  They were all tanked upon return.

I opted for the 6:30 AM(!) photography cruise.  This year’s photographer was Wyatt, who hailed from Sidney, which demanded close attention as he accented his way through his presentations.  A font of knowledge with a knack for easy explaining and I picked up a number of tips.  Early morning on the lake offers great light for the scenery.

Because of the lower-than-average snowpack and early melt, the wildflowers were only average this year.  Loni and I went on the Naturalist hike to Lake Winnemucca, a place we’ve visited many times before.  You start at the Carson Pass at about 8,700 ft, and the hike is sublime.

That’s Loni in the distance, with Round Top mountain ahead.  Mom last made this hike when she was 81, but is a little too frail to do it again, or so she says.  I loved it.

Loni and the naturalist forayed off into the flowers.

Which were beautiful in closeup as well.

The stream area was quite nice, although not the chest-high abundance of the best years.

All in all, a very nice hike.  Our souls were recharged.

My other favorite activity at camp is sculling each morning (except for the photo cruise) at 6:30. The sun is just coming up over the ridge, the lake is absolutely still and quiet, and it is incredibly peaceful.

Loni’s favorite activity is arts and crafts, and she shines each year.  It’s weird that she really only does this stuff when she’s up at camp, although she vows to start doing more on our travels.  This year she did a nifty collage and a watercolor, both of which are at the top in this photo,

as well as a dreamcatcher and a rabbit sculpture made by poking and tweaking a glob of cotton into shape.  Looks cuter than it sounds. 

Camp is for trying out new things, so I had to give the paddle boarding a go.  Yes, my suit, and the rest of me, is wet.  I did manage to get back on the thing out in the deep, so not too bad for the first try.  Venice, anyone?