August 17 – 20, 2013

By Amelia

After Honeymoon Flat we were scheduled to stay at Big Pine Creek Campground.  Supposedly I had done the research and found a nice pull thru site for our last stop.  Oh how wrong I was!  This campground was not really meant for trailers although it was advertised as being able to accommodate our 25 feet and more.  The road was narrow, bumpy, and close to trees.  Poor Greg nearly died watching me  maneuver between two trees and then around another tree that I thought for sure I was going to hit.  The road was so bumpy that it knocked the fridge door open, spilled some food out, and then closed on its own.  The site was not a pull thru as I knew a pull thru, but more of a parallel parking spot that had the coach’s door opening onto the campground road!  Plus the truck would have had to be parked on the other side of the campground.  We abandoned that campground even though I had already paid for the spot!  Just another learning experience…no more making reservations, just pick out a spot when we arrive at a campground!

We headed down the road to another campground that looked more friendly.  I stayed with the coach as Greg rode through on his bike to choose a spot that had easy back in ability.  The feeling of success was wonderful!  I did it the first time, but I really should have done a do over to get the door steps in a better place.  Again, another learning experience.

The campground backed up to Big Pine Creek and was run by Jerry.  He runs a nice campground and occupants at three other sites had nothing but glowing remarks about Jerry.  They all also made comments about Sage Flat being a special campground, and these were seasoned glampers.

The nicest campground along Big Pine Creek.

Site 18’s proud glamper.

I love our mat. It is so delightful to just lay on it and gaze up at the sky or read while big raindrops start to fall on me.

Note where the stairs are located. I won’t make that mistake again.

We went to watch the puffy clouds just a few miles down the road. There is an almost full moon up there.

Goofing off with the sun and a big storm behind us.

I sat here several times watching the water, thinking about all kinds of things…especially my Farr family returning to work. It is really strange not being in a classroom after 13 years.

August 18, 2013

Mere words can’t describe the stark beauty of the White Mountains.  Compared to the Sierras, it’s difficult to get to and very few people visit the area.  For us that’s part of the allure.  Our first visit was in 1999.  That year we summited White Mountain Peak, 14,252 ft.  It was tough, and we paid a high price; both of us got altitude sickness and vomited cantaloupe chunks.  I know, not a pretty picture.  To be honest, to this day I’m still not able to eat cantaloupe.

Once a year there is an open gate day.  This allows you to drive up to Barcroft Station and skip the first two miles, and in my opinion the worse part of the hike.   This year it fell on August 18^th.  So we planned to be in the Big Pine area on that date.  We stayed at Sage Flat Campground for three nights.

Our ambitious goal was to ride our single speed bikes as far as we could before dismounting and then hiking to the summit.  Since it was open gate day, it would only be a 10 mile round trip trek.

We really lucked out because the weather was perfect in the morning.  Usually the wind is punishing and cold on the ridge lines.  This time I could’ve worn my typical attire of shorts and Hawaiian shirt. But at 14,000 ft., the weather changes quickly, as evidenced by the photos.

It’s hard to explain the sensation of single speeding above 13,000 ft.  The ascent really tested our endurance, lung capacity, and heart rate.  The descent was the most exhilarating experience I’ve had on a bike.  The views were expansive.  The Sierra Nevada range was at the same level and miles below was the Owens Valley.  Big puffy clouds were forming and yellow-bellied marmots were scurrying across the trail.  I wish the descent lasted forever…it was quite a high.

We must be acclimated to the higher elevation because we experienced no high altitude problems.  While at the summit, it was as if we were at sea level.

The entire trek was quicker than expected.  Ascent: two hours fifteen minutes. Descent: a quick one hour twenty minutes.

The road on the way to the gate.

The peak in the center is White Mountain.

This is where the gate is usually closed.

Some of the buildings at the research station.

The Lab

Looking back on Barcroft Station. There’s some weird X-Files shit going on there.

Off she goes!

At the top of the first hike a bike because it was too loose and rocky for a single speed, Amelia grumbled, “This is not the way to make me like riding my bike again.”

White Mountain Peak, not as close as it looks!

A no longer in use observatory.

Wow!

The wide open terrain.

Getting closer, kind of.

Next year we will wear helmets!

Dismount

See the small building? That’s the top.

All smiles. Look at the nut in the denim jeans. That’s the same guy who always wears a cotton T when biking.

View of Chalfant Valley.

Amelia chatting it up.

On top of the world.

Stunningly beautiful.

Getting off the mountain just in time.

What a high.

Incredible view as descending.

We plan on doing it again next year on open gate day.  And would love to take a group of friends.  So if you are interested please let us know.

Family and friends, here’s the new place to stop while on your way to Mammoth.  It used to be Amigos in Bishop was the spot, but since they had a change in ownership the place hasn’t been the same.  So now you can just stop in Big Pine at Copper Top and drive straight through Bishop!

Here’s what we love about Copper Top BBQ:  First and foremost the food is delicious.  It has a small focused menu, which is a very smart way to manage the business. The Santa Maria Tri Tip and pulled pork were excellent. The owner, Hank, is always present and so is his son, Matt.  They put their heart and soul into it.

What I appreciate is how they put some thought into what they are doing.  The
pit is in front of the building and is a focal point. They cook over red oak. I really love their slogan: Food Makes Friends.  The price on the menu includes taxes, “What you see is what you pay.”  The hours are Wed- Sun, 11-7.   One needs a break, especially in the restaurant business.  I applaud him for closing two days a week.

There are many mediocre restaurants in the Eastern Sierra, and many nice ones.  But the nice ones are expensive.  At the Copper Top you’ll get a quality meal at a fair price.  And you’ll be helping a small guy succeed in the tough restaurant business.  Hank’s background is in the dairy business.  In the mid 90’s he moved to Bakersfield to work for John Deere selling equipment to Caltrans and the DWP.  His oldest son is a CHP officer based in Bishop.  He moved here to be closer to his grandchildren. When you stop in, ask him about them. He’ll show you pictures and speak with admiration.  I’m really pulling for Hank to succeed.  I’ve been there and empathize with want he’s trying to accomplish.

Please give the Copper Top BBQ a try.

Delicious, wonderfully spiced pork cushion on the BBQ.

Boot on the sign, boot on the patio. It’s the little things!

Talking restaurant business with Hank.

Nice little place.

The back of their business card. I’m telling you it’s the little things!

August 13 – 16, 2013

After Sonora Bridge, our next stop was Fairfield to drop off the Airstream for some minor warranty work.  Airstreams come with a two-year warranty.  We had the table replaced because it had a small scratch on it when we bought it.  A couple of rivets fell out, the window beading around the front windows was coming out at the corners, the fresh and grey water tanks needed to be calibrated, etc, etc.  All of it was handled for free and they filled our propane.

We left the Airstream there for two days, so it was the perfect opportunity to visit Amy’s stepmom/R’s second ex-wife, Denise, and Rob, her wonderful husband, in Castro Valley. They take care of their 2 year old grandson, Robin, three days a week.  We were lucky enough to be with Robin for almost two days.  He is a delightful little boy and Denise and Rob are wonderful grandparents.  Amelia and Denise stayed up way past bedtime chatting it up on the sofa every night.  As usual they were very generous and their hospitality was much appreciated.  From there, our destination was Honeymoon Flat, in the Twin Lakes area outside of Bridgeport.

This was going to be another marriage stress test, aka a back-in site.  It was a long day of driving, longer than I prefer, with us arriving at 7:30pm.  Backing in was not a problem, and fairly stress free, at least that was my take.  If you ask Amelia I’m sure you’ll get a different story.

The campground was thick with deer.  You would’ve thought we were in a National Park.  More deer than chipmunks!  I’d rate the campground just a notch below Sonora Bridge.  It was a little more on the beaten path. And the camp hosts were absolutely no kin to Harry at Boulder Creek.  Instead, a fascinating lady named Pat (she drives a Forester) and her poodlely dog Lucy.  Here’s another observation, though we haven’t been in a lot of campgrounds, everyone travels with a small or medium size dog.  Everyone but us!  I think it’s time to join the club!

Amelia, Greg, Denise, Rob, and Robin, the smartest 2 year old we’ve ever met!

Unbeknownst to us there is a lower and an upper Honeymoon Flat so we had a 50/50 chance. Of course we chose upper and we were in lower!

Camp site greeter standing in the middle of our site, lucky number 13.

The morning glow.

Robinson Creek hike.

Yet another incredible picture taken by the iPhone.

Cloud mural.

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We are finally semi-settled into our Mammoth condo.  The early word is we miss living in a home.  Not necessarily our old SD home, but a peaceful quiet home, in a neighborhood were you say hi to the same guy every morning.  The transient vacation rental complex living is wearing a little thin on us, so the timing is perfect for a little getaway.

First stop, Sonora Bridge Campground: one mile off of the 395 on the 108.  It’s a beautiful National Forest campground; 23 sites, 6 of them pull through.   Why take the easy way out with a pull through site when you can stress test your marriage with a back in site?  We passed the test and are still married!  The backing in was actually easy; the stressor was doing it multiple times trying to get level.  The only amenities are vaulted toilets (aka out houses or shit boxes) and usually water.  I say usually because the water was recently turned off because of high levels of arsenic.

The campground is absolutely wonderful, spread out, peaceful, quiet and just plain old relaxing.  And I swear the camp host is a relative of Harry at Boulder Creek in Lone Pine. Two thumbs up!

We arrived on Sunday, with the thought of on Monday going over the Sonora Pass down to Pinecrest for some mountain biking.  Never having been on the road, we had no expectations.  It was like the Tioga Pass on steroids.  Our campground is at 6,800 ft.  The pass is 9,628 ft.  The road gets as steep as 26%!  What an awe-inspiring drive.  And twice as nice when you are not in a hurry.  We pulled over countless times just to take it all in.

We will have to go back to Pinecrest for some more riding.  Unfortunately, all we were able to squeeze in was a little doinky doink ride.  That’s a small price to pay for the time spent on the Sonora Pass.

Another day, another learning lesson.  Do not leave a 5 gallon pail half full of water at your campsite all day while you are gone.  If you do, you may just come back to a chipmunk that has managed to drown himself.  And it will probably put a little damper on your wife’s day.

I’m afraid the iPhone photos don’t quite capture the majesty of the Sonora Pass, but you can be the judge.

Pulling away from the hangar. I’ll never tire of the view of Mt Morrison.

$15 a night ain’t bad.