Another trip around the sun! I kept my same hiking goals from previous years: 52 hikes , 365 miles , 84,000 feet . However, I came up short ...
coming soon
I'd just planned to check out the reservoir and dam but ended up hiking all the way to the waterfall. It was pretty warm out there so I was glad to have my straw hat.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/wapama-falls-trail
I hike this trail during my road trip to San Diego and back in May 2018. I'd been following the Sierra Nevadas & Hwy 395 since Lake Isabella/Kernville.
coming soon
Trail just below Agnew Lake
I actually hike this trail before in 2000-2001. Two friends and I had been camping near Mammoth for the weekend. We made it further up the trail to Gem Lake and possibly even Waugh Lake.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/rush-creek-trail-to-agnew-lake
This is the first road trip of my hiatus. I had originally planned to drive directly from Portland to Crescent City on Sunday, May 20, 2018. I was going to pack my car on that Saturday then get an early start the following morning. After getting everything packed up, I realized I wanted to get going. A long journey starts with the first step.
Planned to stay east of Santa Barbara. didn't realize that it was like 1 hr from Hwy 101, ocean was no where in sight. Too hot, I wanted to make a campfire but this was tinder land, it was on the Santa Ynez River (Paradise Campground). Even with Google Map I couldn't find the campground; I probably drove past it. Plus, I didn't even have food supplies so it was a bust all around.
I ended up driving another 2 hours to Santa Monica, Sea Shore Motel.
I took my time driving down to San Diego. It was a harrowing drive though on the freeways. So fast. I think I took a toll road, CA State Route 73 to Laguna Niguel, then south on I-5.
I remember being silent as I passed San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. I thought about Curt and I on that surf trip. I exited the freeway right after Camp Pendleton. I hugged the coast. I remember that place we stayed in Carlsbad.
I remember staying in the living room and hearing the ocean. Then, that one year when the sand was replaced by the rocks. Then the sound changed and they cackled & crackled with the waves. We still could boogie board but it was rough on the feet. I had a blob of tar on the bottom of my board. weird.I remember going through Encinitas. That sketchy apartment that Curt lived in. The restaurant that I took Mary. The Del Mar Fairgrounds, sneaking in through the horse stables. I had to detour in Torrey Pines. I think I was able to find my way along that road I used to walk from the bus stop to Curt's house. That Circle K. Or that place we got fries.
Then, up to the golf course and UCSD. I went down by the aquarium and passed the beach.
When I got into La Jolla, I took a spin by the old house. I might have gotten that sandwich at Marketplace Grille first. I took a picture of the Louis Kahn mural on the Citibank building on Herschel Ave & Wall St.
I cruised down by Windansea and then down through Bird Rock.
As I was heading down Turquoise I saw Mega Car Wash. My Jeep needed a mega car wash. So many bugs, dirt. It seemed to be women run and staffed by Hispanic women. I made sure to put a decent tip in modified (locked) mailbox they had set up.
I drove by the old apartments on Dawes/Missouri. I drove down Garnet. I strutted my way down Mission Blvd. in my shiny Jeep. I took a blurry photo of the wooden roller coaster. I thought about watching the Sunburns and sitting in on bass with Wayne.
I drove across Mission Bay to Midway. I drove in to Ocean Beach and passed my old apartment on Longbranch. I drove down Newport and the Black. Then, over to the old apartment on Ocean Front. I remember that guy that mountain climbed with the old school camper on the his truck. I remember when Sonja, Erica and the crew lived nearby on Del Monte. That dude with the curly hair.
I hopped the hill to Point Loma and downtown San Diego. I crossed the Coronado Bridge and down the Palm Ave and the Silver Strand. I remember going to prom at the Hotel Del Coronado with the girl from Kinko's in the yellow Jag.
I noticed the campground on the beach that we stayed at to race the Hobie cat. We had the van, Chris Lighter and I.
I finally made it to IB and my hotel. I got settled for a bit, stretched my legs. I called Matt. He was busy with softball practice. When he showed up we wandered down the Coronado Brewpub. They closed at 9p so we only have one pitcher. We ended up back at my room for a couple more brews and conversation.
Met Wayne for lunch at Rubio's on Friars Road. We drove to his house afterwards. He tried to give me some camping gear but I refused.
I drove to Adventure 16 (A16) on Alvarado Canyon Rd. I needed a camp stove and remember going there as a kid for ski equipment.
I met Matt for more beers at Coronado Brewpub. Mei Ling was making dinner.
Stumbled to Murray house. Good to see Mei Ling and the boys and grandma. We grilled outside and chilled. Too much laughing. stomach hurts. Stumbled back to hotel.
Stopped by Murray house in the morning. Bittersweet visit.
Met Aunt Sharon at Mediterraneo in Alpine.
Drove through Pine Valley, Julian, and through Cleveland National Forest to I-15. (Hwy 79)
I had camp reservations at Lake Isabella but not until Day 10 so I had to figure things out for two nights. I'd originally planned to drive back up through SoCal and had hotel/motel reservations in Lake Forest (ugh!) and San Luis Obispo (cool). (I remember stopping in SLO on another road trip. I had pizza at Woodstock Pizza.
Matt had floated the idea to checkout a 4WD trail from Beatty, NV through Death Valley. I figured Barstow was a good place to stop & plan, right on Route 66. I felt 'homesick' after seeing Aunt Sharon. I should have carved more time out for her. I should have spent a couple of days in Brawley. I stubbornly wanted this to be a camping trip, not a reunion trip.
I stopped in Kramer Junction for breakfast. Astro Burger was closed. I wasn't sure if permanently or just not that early. I thought there was another place we used to stop was just gone, a concrete slab.
I explored Lake Isabella. Visited Silver City Ghost Town in Bodfish. I also bought my big straw hat somewhere around the lake.
I drove the end of Engineer Point. I had a nightmare vision of the Jeep rolling into the lake. I think I really pulled the e-brake lever, triple checked that it was in-gear, made sure it wasn't locked and even found a rock to put behind one of the rear tires.
I had a dusty campsite at the KOA.
I was supposed to camp near Lone Pine on Hwy 395 but was still to arid. No campfires. I was ready to get higher into the Sierras.
I stopped at Manzanar. :(
I was heading into Mammoth by the airport and saw the turn off for Convict Lake. It was a "fuck it, let's check it out" moment. I was just going to look at the lake but found there was room at the inn, aka the Convict Lake Campground. I set up my tent, mattress and sleeping bag, then got in the Jeep to go to the end of Convict Creek Road and the Fisherman's Trail trailhead.
I only walked in a few hundred feet along the shore. It was amazing to be around these jagged peaks. Clean, crisp air.
I had a nice dinner and drinks at the Convict Lake Restaurant.
I got a fire going but it was windy and I was chasing large embers that had escaped the fire pit. Not worth it. I let it die and poured water until it was fully drowned. It was tough night. The wind keep making the tent billow in and out loudly.
I got an early, weary, start in the morning. Convict Lake is only 15 mins from Mammoth. I went up to the Main Lodge. I bought a hat at the shop. I wandered around the lockers and could picture a thousand snapshots from when I was a kid.
I did a hike to Inyo Craters, and I got to drive a little off-road. I thought about that camp-bike trip I did with Matt, Chris, and Leon.
I drove over to Old Mammoth. I photographed I tried to find the campground where I stayed with Julea and Cynthia. I drove passed the Canyon Lodge (Warming Hut 2). The old part of Mammoth that we used to stay. I remember the huge snow berms and going to the jacuzzi.
Checked into Holiday Haus. Walked to Sushi Rei on Minaret Rd. I was too stuffed to get beers at Mammoth Brewing Company but I thought about it.
I tried to find the quonset hut we used to stay when it was a Boys Only trip. Bunk beds, icy cold showers unless you got up early enough. I remember Ian and I tuning our skis for a Sunday race.
Slow Day. I got the Jeep washed and made another stop. I didn't really want to leave but wasn't sure what to do. The camping was limited and it really wasn't the same place. Wrong season maybe to relive some of those memories.
I wanted to check out June Lake. I stopped for lunch at Gordos Mexican Restaurant on June Lake Loop.
A late choice was to do the Agnew Hike. I eventually put two and two together that it was the trail I hiked with C and J. Since I was there so late I just played it by ear. I felt the sun going down (it wasn't) when I got to Agnew Lake. I wished I'd come earlier to hike further passed the dam and Gem Lake.
I felt accomplished none the less. It was good hike and I got some great views. I drove to Lee Vining to Murphey's Motel. I checked it and found the room then walked to Bodie Mike's for dinner and a pint.
Checked out Mono Lake
Bird watcher with cell phone, long wooden boardwalk
Drive into the mountain on Hwy 120. Tons of amazing views.
I drove into Yosemite Valley. There was almost no parking and especially not anywhere near The Ahwahnee. I took some photos of El Capitan and Half Dome and the meadow.
I drove out of the park to my hotel, Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal. I was quiet and peaceful, away from the classic sights/sites and people.
I decided to check out Hetch Hetchy but I had to drive back into the park. It was a traffic jam to the Big Oak Flat Road turnoff. I looked for camping spots and FCFS. Nothing. I found the reservoir. I parked for a short hike. It turned into a long hike, 4.6 miles, to a waterfall.
I drove out of the forest on a paved but seemingly unmarked road. It was not the way I'd expected to go and I didn't have any cell service. After 45 mins, a van full of kids passed by in the other direction. Eventually I linked back to Hwy 120 and drove into valley.
I got to Petaluma in late and didn't want to bug my aunt and uncle. I found
a cheap motel on 101. Literally, feet from whizzing cars. It sucked. I
got a crappy meal from the casino next door and watched tv.
I took a quick trip to the coast, Point Reyes. I hiked to the lighthouse and drove down to the beach with the elephant seals.
I returned to Petaluma and drove to my Aunt and Uncle's house.
After getting settled, we drove to the Lagunitas Brewing place for dinner.
We had coffee in the morning.
I had lunch with Aunt Stuy. Then, Uncle Bob and I took the Jeep to the car wash while Aunt Stuy shopped for dinner at Terry's.
We drove to Novato to Terry & Brian's. It was Aunt Stuy, Uncle Bob, Terry, Jeff, Brayden, and Marla. Brian, Corinne, Natalie weren't there.
We had coffee in the morning and Aunt Stuy packed a lunch for me.
I drove up to Redding, then to Hwy 97 to Klamath Falls.
Almost got squashed by two large trucks.
I checked into my hotel and walked to a fancy place for dinner. I sat awkwardly at the bar; the food was too far away and the chair too low. it was a lounge, seating for doing some drinkin' and slouchin'.
I got an early start to head to Crater Lake. I'd been carrying these snow shoes for this entire trip. I had a weird image in my mind about being able to hike around the closed areas. Turns out it wasn't great, mosquitos and windy. I got some awesome photos and made several stops around the rim.
I got to Bend around lunchtime. I had camp reservations at Tumalo. I was travel weary and within striking distance to being home, in my own bed, etc. I made the journey up Hwy 97 to 26 and back home.
I remember getting gas at the Chevron in Boring right off 26.
I drove up from San Diego, likely a Friday. I camped at the Kirk Creek Campground at the south end of the Big Sur since it was close to the Vicente Flat Trail. I had a chill evening after arriving.
The following day I went for the hike.
The trail runs more or less parallel to the coast and Hwy 1 for a while, then head into the trees, hills. I remember being in awe of these humongous Redwoods. I drank from a creek. I'm not sure if I did the exact distance as this trail but it was a way passed Espinosa Campground1.
"Average mature trees are from 200 to 240 feet high with diameters of 10 to 15 feet at 4 feet 8 inches above the ground." 2
I videotaped a confessional on the trail. This was the turning point for my move to Oregon.
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| Vicente Flat Trail |
Crows ate my food during the hike so I drove up to the Nepenthe for a fancy dinner.
The 40-minute drive each way was worth it. The irony was not lost on me that I was camping but having a sit down meal at an iconic restaurant, visited by notable guests including Jack Kerouac and "Henry Miller, Anais Nin, Man Ray, Ernest Hemingway, Joan Baez, Kim Novak, Steve McQueen, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor."3
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| https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/gem-lake-via-rush-creek-trail |
The Rush Creek Trail starts at the Silver Lake parking lot on the June Lake Loop, just passed the June Mountain Ski Area. I was camping at the Sherwin Creek Campground in Mammoth Lakes with two friends from San Diego. We got to the parking lot in mid morning of the hike.
I think we drove back to San Diego afterwards.
The first two miles has a grade of 17% and climbs steadily above Silver Lake, no switchbacks. At the top of this section is a railway track that looks like stairs from a distance is not. It's pretty technical and you'll want to take it slow and carefully.
A little further along you reach Agnew Lake and the dam.
The trail hugs the north side of the lake to another dam for Gem Lake.
From what I remember, we hike pretty far up the East side of Gem Lake and had lunch. The map at the top of this post is bit shorter of a hike.
This road trip was intended to be part sightseeing on the coastline, part traveling to a concert. It was Coldplay for their 2nd of a two night run at the Warfield. I also had a ticket to see The Meters at Shoreline at New Orleans by the Bay Festival.
I was summer and what better way to maximize this experience than take a convertible.
I hopped on the Car Rental website (Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, etc) and reserved a convertible Mustang 5.0. Where do you get a usually get a rental car? The airport. I had my buddy from work give me a ride to the San Diego terminal. From there I grabbed the Rental Car shuttle to their offsite location over by The Casbah on Kettner.
When we pulled into the parking lot, I scanned the parking lot for my ride. I didn't see it but just thought it was getting cleaned from a previous rental. I waited in the lobby from my turn at the counter.
The customer service person pulled up my reservation and stared at the screen for a bit. They didn't have the convertible Mustang I'd reserved. All they had at the moment were midsize and compact cars. It was the Seinfeld episode about the difference between taking the reservation and keeping the reservation.
I told them I wasn't interested and walked out in a huff. This car was the basis of this road trip.
Now I'm stuck on foot on India Street wondering what to do. I found the Car Rental Cafe a few blocks away. They had a convertible Mustang 5.0 in the parking lot and it was available for rental. Woohoo!
While I filled out the paperwork, they pulled it up to the office and got it ready for me. This was an independent rental place so I had to leave a larger deposit and the cost was more than Big Chain Car Rental but it was an easy choice. Like I said, the car was the basis for the whole trip!
I drove back to my place in OB to get ready for an early morning departure the next day.
BTW, I found out a few days before that Coldplay had canceled second night of The Warfield.
My recollection is out of sync with the calendar. I recall this was a weekend trip. I was going to Coldplay on Saturday at the Warfield and the Meters show was the Sunday. According to my internet search, Coldplay was scheduled at the Warfield for June 20+21, 20011 but only played the 20th2. The Funky Meters headlined the New Orleans by the Bay Festival on Saturday June 23, 2001 at Shoreline3. Maybe I stayed with my cousins on Friday 6/22. IDK.
It's kind of nuts. I don't know when I left San Diego but it's almost 600 miles via Hwy 1/101 but I made it to San Francisco before it got dark. According to Google Maps, the Hwy 1/101 route is like 10+ hours so I would have had to get started by 7 or 8am in order to reach my SF hotel by 6pm.
I recall driving through LA traffic and seeing the Hollywood sign. I was jamming music & smiling while others were expressionless going to their job.
It's always so great to transition from the 7 lanes to bumper-to-bumper traffic to Ventura to 4 lanes to Santa Barbara to 2 lanes. By Hearst Castle and 1 lane each direction, there are few people or cars. So relaxing on the eyes to just absorb the views of the ocean and trees.
I hugged the coast all the way up to Mountain View, I think. I might have even driven by the Excite@Home HQ.
Since the Coldplay concert was already canceled a few days before, I went to find some alternate entertainment. I took a cab to Geary Street and Fillmore. I found a Japanese restaurant and got some sushi. I considered looking for strip club but saw people lining up at a music venue. I wandered over to take a look.
It was the Boom Boom Room. John Lee Hooker's bar. I remember seeing him in San Diego at Humphrey's by the Bay. As fate would have it, he'd passed away that very day, June 21, 2001 (RIP JLH)4. The Queen of Detroit Blues, the great Alberta Adams, was performing.
I remember standing in there, sensing the energy, quietly express my reverence. Mr. Hooker's booth next to the stage was empty. I don't recall any signs or anything. People just knew.
Ms. Adams acknowledged John Lee Hooker's passing and the gratitude to perform in his bar. I think I have her CD somewhere. (There's a little BB in the CD case.)
I remember sitting on the grass in the amphitheater to see show. I also got some New Orleans cuisine from the one of the many carts.
I knew I still had a long drive back to San Diego so I cut out. I'm not sure how I saw the Funky Meters headline AND still do an 8 hour drive afterwards. My memory.
1 https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/80229/coldplay-grandaddy-pair-for-north-american-trek
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachutes_Tour
3 https://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/2001/2001_06_20.wedbox20.html
4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lee_Hooker