With nearly a month between birthdays (mom’s) and our next family commitment (Sandy and Patti have a weekend trip planned so we will be back by May 24th to help Arny with his mother), we are going to do a big Central California (and a bit of Nevada) loop. First, over to the Santa Cruz (B on Map) area where my cousin Rich and his wife Marci manage and live on a church camp. We will have water and 15 amp power, but the weather will not require A/C, so it will be fine.
Our next stop will the Mariposa Fairgrounds (C on Map), which will provide us access to Yosemite National Park. Followed by Kings Canyon National Park (D on Map). The ‘gold’ markers on the map are places we get gas…the black is where we can use a dump station, blue markers are places we will stay. Some places, such as the black above Bakersfield at the bottom of the map, actually also has a gold marker…but the black covers it up.
From there we want to get over to the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, so we will stay one night around Lake Isabella (E on Map), then up to the Alabama Hills (F on Map) for a few nights, then near Mammoth (G on Map) for a few nights, and finally to one of our favorite National Forest Parks outside of Truckee (H on map). The “I” on the map has a “A” marker under it, and that is my sister’s house…our starting and ending point.
Bubba has been here at my sister’s house for 8 months straight. Last year we arrived back at the end of August…and did not leave until the day after Christmas, leaving Bubba with Aunt Sandy and his buddy Uncle Arny. Yes, Bubba is going with us…and “we” will have to go through his depression, as my sister Sandy goes through the depression that Arny will have. Arny KNOWS we will be back in 24-25 days…Bubba will wonder if he will ever be back. We have had to go through this Bubba Depression every time we leave since Bubba first bonded with Arny back in 2012. Chances are that on Tuesday morning when it comes time to eat…Bubba will stick his nose up in the air and get back into his chair (the driver’s chair is his bed).
Is the church camp at Santa Cruz called Happy Valley?
ReplyDeleteNo, but they USE to work there around a decade ago. I have been to Happy Valley many times too.
DeleteBeen there a few times...
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great trip! I keep wanting to hit the coast, but some how I end up on the couch instead. Bubba is such a pretty baby!!
ReplyDeleteIn June and half of July, we will be up in Southwest Oregon again too...can't wait for that!
DeleteYou're going to some of my favorite places! I'm looking forward to your blog posts. Have a good trip!
ReplyDeleteHaving been raised in California, I have been to many places...but I cannot remember ever being on 395 from near Isabella Lake up to Mono Lake...looking forward to that part of the trip for sure.
DeletePlanning is half the fun!
ReplyDeleteYes it is. I make these maps for Marcia, when she clicks on a 'marker' in the real google maps (My Maps), information comes up telling her where we are planning to stay, how long we will stay there, what type of hookups, if any, there are.
DeleteI've always want a trip up 395 with side visits to various places...someday...sigh.
ReplyDeleteI see so many people going 'north' after the winter is over and have always wanted to do that too...I have been on parts of 395, but never this one section (at least not that I can remember)
DeleteWe traveled that area recently and really enjoyed the small towns -- Independence, Lone Pine, and the others. The Cowboy Museum in Lone Pine is much more interesting than we thought it would be. So many movies were filmed in that area. Have a good trip!
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