Summer Camping Trip #3: VanDamme State Park, Mendecino

The last weekend of July, we drove up the coast to Mendicno for our third camping trip of the summer.  Although it felt a little like we were camping in the fall . . . We wore hats and jackets and built big, roaring fires.  In the mornings we savored coffee and in the evening we roasted pork sausages and sweet corn over leaping flames.

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We drove into Mendocino in the mist and the dark . . . After miles and miles of rolling hills and hairpin turns, the road finally emerged from the trees and suddenly we were hugging the coast.  We could smell the ocean air and see its blackness spread out to the driver's side.  Sometimes we were plunged into white belts of low hanging mist and for a couple moments it felt like we were under water . . . And then we'd come out and see beach and cliffs and ocean through the vagueness of night. 

It was a relief to arrive at the campground.  We arrived well after 10pm.  The camp host was jolly and sold us two bundles of wood.  We setup camp in the dark (for the second time this summer) and built a fire and poured glasses of wine.  Buckwheat scared a raccoon up a tree and then nervously paced around and tangled his leash.  We went to bed late and woke slowly the next morning.

The morning was gray (as was the afternoon and the next morning).  After coffee and cereal we ventured into the town of Mendocino, and then went a little further up the coast to Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.  Mendicino looked right out of Murder She Wrote (because it is).  In the grocery store our checker informed us that she had recently moved from Hawaii and was still waiting for the summer.  Someone in line chuckled and explained that if we wanted to see some sunshine, we should come back in October.

Over in Fort Bragg things were a bit sunnier but still cool.  We ate sandwhiches on logs and I gazed at the little bits of glass scattered in the sand.  Then we hiked along a winding path and stood on rocks and looked out at the blue ocean and felt small.

On our way back towards Mendicino, the boys were attracted by a sign promising a very large amount of firewood.   They bought all of it--filled the whole trunk of the car with it.  Back at camp we played Blongo Ball and listened to music and talked.  Mostly we hung around the fire.  And that trunk full of fire wood?  It all got burned.  And we were warm. 

  Below are some photos from our weekend in Mendicino:

On the Edge of the World (or Glass Beach)

(Speak Softly But) Carry a Big Stick

Looking Up the Coast, Fort Bragg, CA

Earth, Air and Water

California Coast, You're Really Something

Flowers and Coastlines

Views from the Trails Around Glass Beach

Coastal Living

Rooftops

A Trunk Full of Wood

And They Burned It All

Someday, I'd like to go back to Mendicino and stay in a cozy Bed & Breakfast.  And see the town and beaches in some sunshine.  Maybe next October . . .

Summer Camping Trip #2: Rocky Rest, North Yuba River

Towards the middle of July we went on our second camping trip of the summer.  Once again, we drove east.  This time to the Yuba River, and while it was another triple digit weekend in Central California, we made it without any car related incidents.   

There were 11 of us on the trip—eight people and three dogs.  The campsites were shaded and the North Yuba River was just through some trees and down a path.  Upon arriving, we immediately changed into our suits and made a beeline to the river.  We unfolded chairs on the water’s edge and slipped our feet beneath its surface.  Some of us waded out and submerged ourselves in its waters.  Others wandered down river to search out its fish. 

The water was cool and clear.  It contained tadpoles and frogs and snakes(!) and bugs and little fish (and presumably, also, some larger fish who were just not fooled by the casts and flies of our fly fishermen). The bottom of the Yuba was covered in smooth rocks and silty sands worn down by the flow of the river's waters.  Parts of the river ran fast and made you spin around and laugh in your inner tube.  Other parts ran slow and pooled in swimming holes that were perfect for reclining back, closing your eyes and just drifting ...

The camping trip was passed with hiking, swimming, fly fishing, gold panning, shade sitting, trail running, shore talking, chair lounging, rock hopping, doggy paddling and inner tube floating.  Our first full day, we carried our inflatables and chairs and towels to a little swimming hole and spent most of our day around there: exploring its shores, paddling across its width in various floaties and plunging beneath its waters to escape the day's heat.   

On our second day we headed to the South Yuba River.  To get there, we drove down a dusty, narrow road that kept winding and going down and winding and going down and winding until . . . it reached a dead end lined on both sides with parked cars. From there, we hiked (I did a little falling) down a shady path and then scrambled over rocks and rocks until we found another swimming hole suitable for passing an entire afternoon.  

After a couple hours on the South Fork, C and I had to head home (I had to work the next day) . . . but  I think we probably both left a little part of our hearts on the Yuba.  

Some photos our trip:

Up River.

Rapids and Rocks.

Lil Froggie Friend.

Straight Down.

River Gradients.

Friends Floating the River.

Spinning By.

Buckwheat and C on Float the Yuba.

Buckwheat Would Rather Brave the River than be Separated from C.

Back to the Swimming Hole.

In the Sun.

Lounging.

And Drifting . . .

Crossing the Swimming Hole.

Shore Exploration.

Darwin in the Shade.

Views from the Shade.

Dexter in the Shade.

Camouflage.

Back at Camp.

The Bird's Nest.

Buckwheat at Camp.

Evening Light.

Camping is Tuckering.

But it Also Makes You Smile.

Buckwheat Dons Crown.

Views of the South Yuba River.

River Activities.

Departing Views. 

It took me awhile to get this up--mostly because I feel my photos and words don't do it justice.  It was an amazing camping trip with some really good friends.  But I have a feeling will be back ... Until next time, Yuba!

Summer Camping Trip # 1: Meeks Bay, Lake Tahoe

Last weekend, C and I drove to Lake Tahoe to go camping just the three of us (C, B and me).  The trip almost didn't happen, though.  We left at 2pm on Friday and arrived nine hours later.  During that span of nine hours we got stuck in rush hour traffic, temperatures rose into the triple digits, our car broke down, roadside assistance was called, a tow truck was dispatched with an ETA an hour and a half out, a man with a giant stuffed monster hanging out the back of his truck bed kindly towed us onto the shoulder, we got the car running again, a DOT worker helped us off of the freeway, the tow truck was cancelled, we ate dinner outside (read: in the sweltering heat) of an air conditioned Chick-Fil-A (because we didn't want to leave Buckwheat in the car in those conditions), we drove to a park and sat in the shade on a slope of cool grass, we discussed getting a hotel, we called several car rental companies (all of which were closed), we thought it wisest to turn around and go home . . . and then we decided, "Tahoe or Bust!".  The "or Bust" part made the rest of drive a bit nerve wrecking but we made it all the way to Tahoe.  And the rest of the weekend turned out just great!     

We passed the weekend with seven games of backgammon, one hand of gin rummy, three blongo ball matches, four bowls of peanut butter puffins, six packets of Via Coffee, several plates of pasta, one bag of spring mix, two apples, eight marshmallows, four graham crackers, 3/4 of a Hershey's almond chocolate bar, one roaring campfire, five cans of Hell or High Watermelon, four cans of Lava Lake Wit, three plunges (each) into Lake Tahoe, several hours spent on beach towels, three trail runs (C went twice, I went once--the elevation was killer!), one trip to the PDQ Market for a sandwhich (when we discovered we had brought cream cheese but had failed to purchase bagels), 96 pages of Slaughterhouse Five (me), 33 pages of Ender's Game (him), one stop at a vista point, a quick stroll down a dog beach (where Buckwheat greeted at least five dogs) and one lunch (consisting of two sandwiches, an order of fries and side salad from the Get Away Cafe) on our way out of town.

Below are some photos from our above described weekend in Tahoe:

7 games of Backgammon

Camp Cook (photo taken by C)

We might have cooked TOO much pasta (photo taken by C)

Sunset from our campsite

Views from our tent

Views of our tent "Big Agnes"

Buckwheat taking a snooze

 Camp Dog

Looking up

Tree tops

We pitched tent in a perfect little grove of trees (in the dark, I might add!)

Camping trips = cereal for breakfast!

Clear Water

Morning on Meeks Bay 1

Morning on Meeks Bay 2

Horizon

Shore

Roadside vistas

(We were told there was a tea house on this island)

Dog friendly Kiva Beach

C and B at Kiva Beach

Just goofin around

(Buckwheat's a pretty good sport).

Waves and a single fuffy cloud

Good Bye, Tahoe

Until next time!

I had been to Tahoe once before (when I was ten).  What I remember from that trip are the windy roads, the pool at our hotel, getting stuck on rocks while trying to raft the Truckee and my childhood best friend accidentally throwing her glass of ice water into the river after dinner one night (long story).  I didn't actually remember much about Tahoe, aside from it being very large and very blue.

When we drove into Tahoe on Friday, it was too dark to see the lake in any detail.  We stayed at Meeks Bay Campground and in the daytime, parts of the beach are visible from most campsites.  I first got a glimpse of the lake when I woke up Saturday morning and caught a bit of the sunrise over the water while in route to the bathroom.  It was an impressive first glimpse.  The view of the rest of the bay waited until noon--first came a little more sleep, breakfast, a trail run and some reading while C went on his run.  When I finally made it down to the beach, I was not disappointed.  Even from a beach full of people, Tahoe looked spectacular: the fine red sand, the tall skinny pines surrounding the shores, the clear clear water, the smooth colorful rocks beneath the surface, the saturated hues of the lake en masse,  the faded blue silhouettes of distant mountains, and the sheer enormity of it all.  And that was just one bay of a gigantic lake.  Yes, we'll definitely be going back to Tahoe (hopefully several times)!  In the meantime we have two more camping trips planned.  And I can't wait!