Crusin Coastal California

Leaving Portland, we hopped on the 5 heading South. A break in the weather gave us the opportunity for a dryer drive during the day. As the drive continued, light precipitation turned into a driving rain on and off until we reached the coast. Our stay for the night was anticipated outside of Coos Bay, OR on a tiny strip of BLM land. We scoped out the location in the dark, as is usual by now, and noticed a half dozen vehicles (vans, cars, trucks and an RV) parked in a large sand lot. This isn't really our type of camping spot so we ventured on further. A few potential locations were axed due to their inaccessibility from the rain. Other camping options in the area were for a paid site and with car camping, its senseless to pay $25 just to sleep in our vehicle in a parking spot. After about two hours of searching the region, we finally returned to the sand lot mentioned before, set up the car for sleep and let the rain continue to wash over the area.

In the morning, we broke camp fairly quickly and without much dismay. The rain let up and so we were able to dryly pack. The gnome continued South on the 101 for more sun and sand. The drive to Eureka CA was fairly uneventful and our BLM location was a complete flop. Having failed campsites numerous times in a week is stressful and draining at this point. A last ditch effort was to mosey down to the Bear River Casino in Loleta which offered free overnight parking for up to 72 hours. SOLD

This was the first time in our trip we humbled to the casino parking lot. [We have yet to stay at a Walmart overnight] It was actually a pretty good deal. We made a gaming profile at the front desk and got $10 worth of credit on the machines, then security wrote us a tag for the rig and we parked up in the rear lot with a bunch of other travelers including vans and a handful of RV's. It wasnt exactly the quietest night in the parking lot and the lights penetrated any little hole but we appreciated the free housing. Every so often, we would stroll down to the casino and put a dollar or two in the machines, use the rest rooms, and then work our way back to the camper. While in town, we had the opportunity to walk around the old town with its quaint shops and local vibe. We also visited Eureka Park near the zoo which offered short walks in a dense redwood park right in the center of the suburbs. Even though the rain was sporadic throughout the day, we put our smiles on a had a good time.

The second night at the casino, the weather forecast for our area called for a heavy rain event with high winds up to 35mph. At 2 AM, we awoke to the wind blowing the sails of the camper. It was decided we needed to pack up so we broke down the lot, made the car ready for the rest of our evening and turned in around 4 AM while the winds blew outside. Yuck. The next morning was clear and we made tracks to see the Redwood State/National Park including Fern Canyon and Lady Bird Johnson Grove; locations for fun finds from a friend of ours. When we checked in at the visitor center, they warned that due to the high amount of rain in the recent days, Fern Canyon was closed for the season but the road was still partially open. Deciding to drive that route, we traveled through dense lush vegetation and out to the beach. Grey overcast skies and hard waves pummeled the raw beaches as rivers flowed from the hills down to the sand. Eventually, we reached the point where Subaru would not do well without a snorkel and we backtracked just in time to find the road we came in on was now closed and we had to drive through a large, now-flooded, depression in the road. A short drive north brought us to the Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway with its hosts of giant trees and short trails to venture. The last bit of the day was spent in Lady Bird Johnson Grove which Liz and I particularity enjoyed. The 12% grade up the length of hills made us thankful the gnome was at home. As the rain started up again, we donned our rain gear and with exploration still in our boots, we mucked on through the trees to find hidden groves and mini mushrooms untouched by man; or at least that's how we felt in the Prehistoric lands.

On our way out of Eureka, we stopped by Chapman's Gem & Mineral Shop. We usually don't stop at many roadside attractions cause if you stop at one, you must do them all, but something called us to this shop. They had just opened for the day and we were in awe. The decor was nothing to call home about but the stones and specimens were museum quality from a man and his family who have spent decades collecting and organizing the lot. A fantastic time was spent and before we rolled out, a purchase of a pink salt lamp was made due to an amazing sale. Great roadside find!

101 South took us inland a bit and with hopes of continuing down the coast, we split towards Route 1 taking a very windy, wet and hilly road to where we wanted to be. Fort Bragg Glass Beach was our next destination and we weren't going to let the adverse conditions or roadways judge our path. We were ROAMIN! That beach was a trip. When we finally made it to sea level, the sand was littered with soft sea glass and other finds. Apparently, the overabundance of sea glass in this specific location is attributed to historic off shores 'recycling' operations. With pockets filled with sea glass, we hoped back into the car to reach our destination at a casino lot outside of Point Area, CA. 

The rain had stopped from the sky but the hills were over saturated and little streams ran from any nook or cranny in the sandy hillsides. An ominous sign flashed by on the drive stating the highway was closed in 30 miles. With a quick view of the GPS, we noted our destination to be only 29 miles away. Lucky! Well as we drove in the dark, Garmin had us take the last available left off the highway right before the closure. This short road went up a hill and then back down just to leave us facing a raging river that swallowed the road.

We pause for a second to consider options and we quickly figure this is an impasse and that backtracking is necessary. Well, the fool driving the car thought a K turn into a muddy alcove would get us turned about. It sure did get us stuck in the mud and with a heavy camper in tow, the Subaru struggled to get purchase for the reverse motion. Not only that, the execution of the turn was poor at best and a K turn would not work the way as planned. The headlamps go on and we assess the situation from outside. Emergency snow/sand platforms were smushed under the wheels for traction and with TC turned off, I backed the Subaru out the hole and with the remaining momentum, forced the rig in reverse uphill until we were safe.

Our plan B was to check out the KOA up the road. Signs said $35 a night just to have us car camp. No way Jose! In this small flooded town with no stores and very few options led to a brilliant but desperate idea. I brought us to the local Fire house and EMT dispatch and knocked on the door. After a moment of despair, the door opened and a guy asked what we needed. We gave our story of the lost traveler with no where to go for the night and no money for the KOA. Sympathy took hold and they let us use their gravel lot for the night to park our car and sleep. Before heading out the next morning, the local Sheriff rolled up and we chatted about the road conditions and he assumed it would be open by late afternoon. A small delay but we would be on our way.

Time was killed at the beach and by 11 AM, we pressed our luck with the road and sure enough, she was open for our continuation. By Jenner, CA, Liz has had enough of the twisty coastal road highway and we could escape to the inland route before reaching our destination outside of Oakland CA. Traffic around San Fran was to be expected as we arrived just as 'rush hour' started. Surprisingly though, our route took us to a very densely vegetated part of Oakland and once again, the road went wild with lefts and rights, ups and downs until we reached the beautiful grounds of Anthony Chabot. We were one of a few other folks camping that weekend and so it was quite the quiet campground which was nice; and for only $25 a night, we made the choice to spend 3 nights instead of 2 to give us more time to spend with friends.

Day one was spent exploring Oakland and its Chinatown district where we got some great grub and window shopped a bit. We also walked around Lake Merritt and fed the birds some seed at the wildlife sanctuary.

Day two, Liz and I ventured into San Fran to see a few things. With time restraints, we manage to see Pier 39 with its lovable seal platforms and shopping mall, Musee Mecanique on Pier D7 which hosts a range of coin op machines from the turn of the century and on, and Lombard street teaming with tourists. It wouldn't be a trip to San Fran without a visit to the Haight/Ashbury area so we drove over and took in the sights, signs and smells of the district known for its peace, love and hippie happiness. From there, we met up with Shayna and Ki once more at Golden Gate park where we planned a picnic in front of the Conservatory of Flowers. While there, noised from behind us garnered our attention to view a bike festival. Local bike crafters showed off their home builds which included highrise structures, one of which shaped like a tree, and a bike which transformed from a low rider to a 5 ft high prop job. Quite the sight.

Waking early the next morning, we broke camp for our next stop, Monterrey! The drive was short with minimal hassle and we arrived with plenty of time to meet our host. We met Cynthia and Steve at Dinkey Creek over the summer. They were memorable folks who we clicked with with us and also returned for a second surprise visit on our last week of work in the woods. Cynthia offer to take us to the Aquarium since her library offered 6 free passes to members for the year. We embraced the idea of a free amazing aquarium which would normally have set us back $100. In addition to free admission, we also received a warm, home cooked meal of meatloaf in trade for tales of the whimsy of our journey.

Our night in Monterrey was nothing outside the norm from what we were previously catching. Option one was to stay at the Laguna Seca raceway. When we arrived, the road took a steep turn up a 16% grade to the kiosk which was of course closed for the off-season. The signs showed closures at most loops and only left were the electric locations at $37.80 a night! Ummmm, no. Once again, we are too stubborn to pay such an outrageous amount just to sleep in a car. Option two was a hot tip online that led us a half hour up the road to Carmel-by-the-Sea's Safeway. Driving into the parking lot at 11 PM, we were welcomed by other small RV's and vans parked in the back lot. Of course we went into the store and asked the workers there what the deal was. They did NOT give explicit authorization and said that grounds teams patrolled the shopping area and would promptly ask overnighters to leave. With no more options for the night, we took a chance and parked out by the other sleepers. No beds were made and the car remained in travel mode in case we were expressed to leave the area. I personally slept a total of about 3 hours cumulative keeping an eye out for cops and patrol people.

Nothing came of it and we were rolling out of town by 7 AM. A stop at Moss Landing led us to Elkhorn Slough which provided a haven for sea otters. Those furry pups splashed in the water and sunned on the sand while we watched from afar with the binoculars. We also saw some seals and a few birds worth mentioning. The drive led us from the coast, back towards Dinkey Creek, to Thor's house were we talked of everything and nothing in particular. A beautiful sunset and stir fry capped our stay on the mountain that night.

In the AM, we worked our way down the hill and South through Bakersfield. The next destination before intercepting with family was to spend a few days in the desert for a nice dry and warm stay. Well, we sure didnt get it. Our stop in the Lucerne Valley was on BLM land and near a dry lake bed.

We arrived in pitch darkness in a drizzle. The light rain was unexpected since I assumed we would stay dry for our stay in the desert scrub region of southern CA. The gnome took to the sandy unpaved road and we drove into a wall of darkness down a dry lake bed. The darkness and lake of nothingness drowned out the headlights while the massive electric lines provided disorienting structures in the sky. Managing to stay on a path, we drove till a spot manifested and we popped camp. Over night and through the morning, more rain and low hanging clouds. Strong winds were forecaster for  the next day so we didn't have high hopes for a clear day :( We just couldn't shake the dreary weather. Luckily we had minimal plans and got cosy by the heater.

We attempted to Subie splash around in the now rehydrated lake bed and quickly took on mud. With TC off, I made quick work to turn us around and back once we came. Fortunately, the lake bed wasn't the only path in and out. We scoped a few routes to get us out of our camp spot as the rain continued. That night, we snuggled in but it wasnt long before I had to wake and evacuate my stomach. Something wanted out and it kept me up all night using the lands as a scattered target practice. The rain stayed off which was nice but my innards were broken by bug or bad food.

The next day and change I spent in a sleepy stupor, unable to eat or drink as a fever took over. With no imminent plans, we waited out the symptoms until ready to move on South to the final destination of San Diego for Christmas. On the day of our departure, my illness was easing back and we hitched the camper. Snow was topping the nearby peaks and grey clouds hung low. Certain parts of the road were flooded and hail happened in numerous short bursts on the drive. Even into the San Diego suburbs, hail and micro bursts hit the area inundating the inappropriate water systems. Roads and yards were flooded and beads of hail coated roofs and cars. Regardless, we made it to our destination for the holidays and were certainly happy about it. 

We have a dry warm home in the sun of San Diego. At least till Phoenix. Lets see it rain there!

THE GNOME WISHES ALL A

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

Hittin the Old Dusty

As the season moves forward in the Sierras, the air is getting colder and the water flow, lower, thus patronage at the campground has dropped greatly. In a few short days, the Roamin Gnome will be moving on from its home at Dinkey Creek and onto the next adventures. In total we worked and lived ~70 days in the campground and we are itchin to hit the old dusty trail. The workload was fairly benign and as much complaining that occurred on the last posts, it wasn't all that bad to have money coming in and a safe place to park WITH the luxury of water/sewer/electric hookups. We have been enticed to seek employment with Dinkey Creek and CLM again next year for the whole season but are hesitant to make that sort of commitment just yet.

As for the next steps, by weeks end, we will be dusting the cobwebs, airing the tires and moving forward; albeit not that far. The gnome will travel up the road a few miles to a free camp spot while we tie up some loose ends in the area. Liz has spent hours combing through the voluminous Yosemite books from the library and is getting a list together of must-see's. I have been fairly laid back in planning so once work is done, we will set into full scale ops. Aside from Yosemite, the Gnome anticipates travelling a southern route to end up in the Denver area by mid October to visit some friends.

The cold Denver air will limit our tent campers ability to stay up there and so we will move forward past that point to somewhere warmer.

A tentative visit to our good friend Nancy is hopeful for November. Her stay in Saskatoon Saskatchewan is close enough to meet up with us around the border. These plans are still TBD and weather dependent.

As we work our way into December we may attempt another WWOOFing opportunity for a week or so to pace ourselves and help a local farmer with crop and stock. Hopefully they have Alpaca's :)

Finally, we have our eyes set on Christmas in San Diego with the Fulton fam followed by the first week of January in Arizona to see the Glaser gang. Then a potential swing-by Roswell NM as we head back to the east cost via Texas and the Southern states.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Since our time has been fleeting in the Fresno area, we made sure September did not go to waste. Last weekend we visited Los Gatos which is owned and operated by BLM and is on the other side of the Fresno valley. We pasted through hundreds of acres of farm and orchard lands, past the oil derricks east of Route 5 and into the foothills of the dry golden grasses of Laguna Mountain. Numerous small (5-10 sites) and FREE campsites dotted the road we traveled and being on a Monday, we had our pick of the privacy. We set up at Laguna Mtn at the top post. The view was incredible and Liz of course took some wonderful photos. The claim to fame of the region is its rich geology in Serpentine which was a main quarry for Asbestos manufacturing. The greenish/blue/teal rocks scattered around the hill sides were too good to pass up and we managed to snag a few good specimens for our collection. They also made for a cool Birthday present for our newly found friend Thor (a fellow rock hound) whose birthday was on the 16th. [Now you may be worried about my health while handling Asbestos related rocks but its only as a powdery dust form and inhaled over the course of some time in which Mesothelioma can be prevalent. We should be OK] We also met two lovely tarantulas on the trails.

View from our campsite

Hiking trail to a waterfall

Tarantula!

Additionally, this past weekend, we finally made it up to Mono Hot Springs (a Thor recommendation). The 2+ hour drive follows the contours of the mountain range and continues up Kaiser Pass which is a one lane width yet multi-directional use road that has just enough turn out space to not drive you off the cliff face. Blind turns around boulders the size of a house sometimes had you face to face with another vehicle and someone was left to put er in reverse. Upon entering the region, we stopped by the ranger station and received the best info on FREE camp sites that also allowed fires. This is a rarity since we didn't want to spend the 22$ for the cost of most basic sites in the area. We also received cookies from the older ranger lady on duty that day!

The road splits to either Florence Lake or Mono Hot Springs & Lake Edison. We parked at the resort which has rustic cabins, a general store, massage hut/bath house and a campground. The mile-ish hike to Doris Lake was a little demanding but the serenity of the destination was amazing. After that, we headed back to the car to put puppy away while we ventured to the hot springs which were tubs 5' deep and constructed of concrete. The temperature in the Iodine Pool was about 85 degrees and incredible with natural methane bubbles surfacing every so often. All the other pools were occupied and we were unable to find the old mud pools on this venture.

Following the advise of the ranger, we took Kaiser Pass back towards civilization and took the turn off for Sample Meadow. The dirt road was rugged at times but no match for the Subaru. The campground had very private sites with bear boxes, tables and fire pits and the facilities were clean and stocked with TP. Our site was the last in the lot and super exclusive right up against a stream giving us great white noise and uber privacy. We mostly enjoyed the company and campfire in the quiet of nature and not a busy populated campground. Hammocks were choice and we spent much of the next morning enjoying the sun rising over the pine tree tops while Ziggy patrolled the perimeter.

We packed up by early afternoon and decided we needed one more adventure so we took the turn towards Mount Tom Fire Lookout. With no expectations and no hesitation we followed more dirt roads snaking the mountain sides which offered beautiful vistas but it was nothing compared to the final view. The steep one lane and very tricky road which was not recommended for all vehicles took us to the peak of Tom mountain at 9,040'. We were invited into the lookout tower by the friendly young ranger lady on site. She spends the season tending the tower and spotting fires in the valley to radio to the fire crews on the ground and in copters. Although the seclusion of being alone on top of a mountain all summer is daunting, the view is absolutely phenomenal. We spent about an hour talking and learning about the instruments she uses, the mountain range we had a 360 of, and just life in general atop the rock. The journey down the steep rocky switchbacks was cautiously made and we returned back to paved roads eventually.

The rest of the waning daylight was spent driving the offshoot roads near Shaver Lake to find our next temporary home. Since the start of hunting season, these dirt roads have been crowed with hunters in tents and RVs living off the land and finding the prime spot for our pup is tedious. We have a few in mind and will settle over the weekend for a short stay before moving on once more.

Honey BooBoo's Flaming Stump

As we near the end of the season for the campground, our duties as hosts have changed a bit and we go from kiosk greeter to care and maintenance of the grounds. This isnt necessarily  the worst thing and has us doing odd jobs like walking each site to rip nails and screws from trees or dig out fire pits for the end of season. We also finally have a chance to clean the day-use creek areas where people have been shoving trash into rock cravases; because where else would it go? Some tasks still remain though like checking bathrooms for TP and clogs (as previously discussed) and performing the night time compliance for noise and fires.

{Small rant: Come 10pm, the campground is to become quiet. No generators, lowered or off canned music and no hecklin/hootin/hollerin. Apparently the woods are an accepatble SCREAM ZONE and this past weekend we have had children yelling for no specific reason other than to be loud. It gets old very quickly.

Labor day was a nightmare since you could imagine we were at full capacity with just Liz and I to clean and maintain 29 restrooms and make sure all campers followed the rules. At night the sounds carry through the tall pine trees and its hard to pinpoint the source. The golf cart is so easily unmistakable that when we roll around, we pass campfires of 30+ people DEAD silent with eyes beaming at us. We not only watch but are always watched. Folks know what the cart means yet there are the disobiedient/disrespectful few who, once the cart has past, will crank up the volume. The mile long campground is impossible to monitor top to bottom with one cart. We did our best performing numerous laps at "hot-spots" and remaining up and moving until almost midnight. Even so, we recieve numerous noise complaints in the morning that this site or the other was turnt up and lit till the wee hours. Unfortunately, if its not happening in the 30 or so sites right near our camper, we dont know and cant monitor. We really arent paid enough to deal with some of this sh!t.}

Anyways, last night on rounds, the grounds were surprisingly quiet and only a handful of guests were reminded to keep it down. As we past H-loop which has maybe 4 of 14 sites occupied, I spied something of intrigue in the darkness. A small flame was licking at an otherwise quiet and unoccupied site. We came around the loop to find its origin. The occupants had, for some reason, thought it would be OK to heave a 50+lb log (uncut) onto the fire ring grill to burn. Well fun fact about circles is they roll. And this flaming log with embers shootin out the sides had fallen off the grill and was laying a few feet away on a bed of highly flamable pine needles and sticks with a low hanging branch right above.

Its 10:30pm and no one in sight. We call to the site occupants and hear a voice from within the tent. A woman the spitting image of a dirty adult Honey Boo-Boo clad in sweats and Uggs emerges and asks what the trouble is. We question, in polite words, what the actual F* was going on with this flaming log. The excuses were poor at best and when asked why their fire was unattended, the golden response was given. "We were watching it from within the tent" which, mind you, had no windows open at the time. They were in the tent because they were cold. Well isnt that what a fire is for? They also confessed to knowing that this lit log was off the grill and near to roll down the hill and into their neighbors site.

Just a fact of true negligence and possibly some unintelligence could have started the next California wildfire care of site ##. The fire, starting and speading in the night would cause a cut off of the campground leaving the upper portion stranded with no exit (and of course we are living in the upper). A mass exodus of campers would fuel a huge traffic jam down the one lane road as the dead trees around them burned to the ground. Water reserves wouldnt do much as the fires spead atop the mountain. The unseasonable winds had earlier in the day would carry embers for a distance to rapidly increase spead. All this because Honey Boo-Boo's flaming stump of a fire rolled its embering body down a hill and caught all the kindling that litters the ground igniting this forest fire.

We dumped eight gallons of water on the hulk (log) and it was still giving steam. Armed with a pint sized water bottle, the firestarters were completely unarmed to battle their blaze even when ready to turn in. Glad we caught it and were ready to assist with dousing in the dark. And believe me, Liz and I gave a stern talking to good old Boo-Boo about why this is NOT OK and how to actually have a safe fire. Hopefully next time they use a little common sense before they burn.

Where the hell is Dinkey Creek?

Its been just about a week since the Gnome made its way into the Sierra Mnts about and hour and a half east of Fresno to join the Dinkey Creek Campground team. Little did we know that this momentus move would generate such an attachment to a place.

Dinkey Creek lies about 13miles north of Shaver Lake,  a popular destination for the valley and costal folk to escape to the mountains. Twisty mountainous roads lead to the area that has been historically a popular destination for vactioning and also the lumber industry. The massive pines, some of which stretch hundreds of feet high, have been growing in the forest for almost a century  or more. Nearby is McKinley Grove which is home to 150+ giant sequoias that have surpassed age definitions and are the true giants of the forest. Each day presents a pass by of these wonders as we work the satellite sites in Buck Meadow and Dinkey Fisherman.

For my part, the "challenges" of each day vary including power washing the 30 some odd bathrooms, brushing our the dumpster areas and general clean up/maintenance. Daily tasks also include compliance with campground rules, processing checkin and check outs and helping all the campers to have a wonderful time. Liz's role is namely in the entrance kiosk to help campers get in the grounds and answer any questions they may have. Puppy petting is optional but she gets to meet and greet most campers who come on by. The days are a bit longer than 8 hours but the time flys by fast and the people are extraordinary.

We may not be making millions but we get to live in the natural beauty of the area for free including water and power hookups which is a new feeling for us. So far, we are hooked on the location, grounds and people we work with. The gnome team anticipates working at DCCG for the next few months as the summer season comes to an end. This should give our bank accounts the necessary boost to keep on exploring the states post employment. We also hope our experiences and connections made will provide us with the support to move onto the next thing; what ever that may be.

The Working Gnome

After a beautiful two week visit to the Tahoe area, we were ready to go. Much of our time spent in this area was in the Library frantically looking for work. When last we left, our funds were waning and the need to work was growing. Our initail intent was to work at a campground but at a certain point, we were desparate for just about anything including craigslist gigs. We applied to just about every open position for campground host on the west coast with only a couple call backs in the works. One of the call backs was from Clayton with the California Land Management team. He was genuinely  interested in our application; either that or he was just desparate for a toilet scrubber. After numerous calls and a bit of negotiating  on my end, we were offered the position for campground host/hostess/dogst at the Dinkey Creek CG near Shaver Lake in the Sierras!! The position is exactly what it sounds like; guest check in and info guru who also cleans the facilities on site in addition to any minor fixes that might be necessary. Additionally, Liz will be allowed to drive a golf cart and/or pickup on site. (Their insurance wouldnt cover me due to a driving infraction from 2012 :( oh well. I might just buy a bicycle to jot around)

As we drive towards our new working world, a small pit of nervousness is present about our duties and new home for the next few months. We intent to stay through the season up till September. A Costco stock up will supply our stomaches for a while since the nearest store will be miles and many minutes away and only supply the basics at a premium. We dont know what to expect with connectivity to the outside world so all responses may go unread/unanswered for a time until we can get to a 3g spot.

The pay aint great but it should be enough time to refill the accounts for a while. Also the ability to add this to our resume will help in securing other prospects in the future. Finally, the gnome gets a free home far from worry about stay limits or camp fees which quickly add up. I think we're gonna rock this opportunity and have a blast making friends (and maybe a few foes who dont follow the rules) who too travel in search of adventures on the road.

-Gnome Team out

Going through the Golden State

The Golden state of California is a huge space of varied environments that needed to be discovered by yours truly. We started off this discovery enroute to San Diego where Liz's sister Kathryn lives. Before reaching sunny SD, we took a nights stay in the San Bernadino mountains at the Lytle Creek Campground. Our earlier quarry for a dispersed camping site was a failure due to the fact that it was literally at the top of a mountain whose gravel road was just enough for the subaru and had a cliff face to one side and a rock wall to the other. Out of curiosity, we unhooked the Gnome and drove to the top for an amazing view of the surrounding shrubland and with notice of the Pacific Crest trail running through the top.

Since this first area was a no go for the gnome, we headed out of the mountainous region to scout for round two. We arrived to Lytle Creek just in time and snagged one of the last spots of the 42 available. The sites were absolutely packed with families ontop of families and kids playing in the street. Even though the fee was $10, the facilities were not enough for the visitors and there was often a line for both mens and womens. Oh yeah, and bring your own TP since the graffiti  covered stall with a broken seat is sure to have none. 42 x $10 = $420 revinue a night or $840 a weekend. Seems like the funds are being allocated outside the campgrounds. . . This site was our first encounter with the California Ground Squirrel Mafia. A group of rag tag fluffy soldiers who pilfered food, dug deep holes everywhere and chirped  loudly at all threats including cars and humans. Their tenacity usually scored a meal and their quick little legs sprinted them to their hole home. Cute little buggers but that chirp tho.

When it came time to leave Lytle Creek, we sluggishly packed items in a heap due to the 95' heat at 9am. Gotdamn desert. We did our best to pack things nicely and organized since the gnome would remain dormant while in San Diego due to the home owners association and their strict rules. We arrived to the area of Mt. Helix California and were instantly shocked by the enormity of the houses in Kathryns neighborhood. The six bedroom house was to host the gnome and the two humans & 80lbs dog that travelled with it, ontop of the numerous roommates and friends and family of such who filtered in and out throughout our time spent there. We grabbed our hiking gear and setup our outdoor open air 'penthouse' on a cement pad which the sprinklers only reached a little. Most of our days spent at the house revolved around the patio table which at times sat a bakers half-dozen of people and multiple dogs including Ziggy, Lady and Hemi. Lady was the resident female pit bull who made sure that everyone was aware when a person entered the house or caused a stir in the night. Ziggy and Lady worked well in each others presence and only had a few disputes over whose tennis ball it really was; It was always Lady's. 

Hemi was a young pup of less than a year who visited for a few days and fit into the groove with the others. All three dogs running around the house with people in and out, it was stressful just to keep track of what was happening and who was involved with it.

Our time spent in the San Diego area usually involved going to Ocean Beach for a meal of burritos on the beach or to watch the sunset over dinner at the Sunset Cliffs. Additionally, we explored the vastness of Balboa Park which had something for everyone including numerous museums and a dozen gardens, a large playground for the kids and miles of walking trails to enjoy.

The weather was exceptional the whole time aside from the chilly nights and the blazing heat of the sunny afternoons. A dip in the pool would give a quick cool off for the really hot moments.

Additional activities included abalone shell and gem hunting with John (roommate) and his sister who was in town. We also participated in the Grunion Run; a fishy mating ritual of the Grunion who, at the full moon, will use the high tide to skim the sands, wriggle into the moist sea grit to lay eggs and then make their way back into the surf all under cover of darkness. The humans however have caught onto this ritual and are allowed to catch (by hand) these fish to eat. Shadowy figures with head and hand lamps ran through the surf to catch these quick creatures as they lay and go away. Quite a sight.

We also found the time to visit the Kolby Flea Market which was a whole dollar to enter. I bought a new camel back water pack for hiking and Liz picked up some brass bells which she restrung from black paracord and tied to the Gnome entrance for a pleasant chime upon enter, exit or any major movement in the camper.

Finally, we made sure to visit Fiesta Island twice for their island dog beach right near Sea World. It gave Ziggy and later on, Lady, the chance to explore the sand, sun and surf without being distracted by too many other dogs like a park would. Ziggy learned what waves were. He also practiced his doggy paddle skills.

Parting the mansion lifestyle and all its glory to return to the Gnome lyfestile was difficult but a necessary step to get back on the road with our travels. While in SD, numerous people recommended we visit Ojai CA to experience  the uniqueness of it. We plotted our trip to have a overnight in Ojai on our way to Tahoe. The road to our campsite took us up a mountainous winding road in the Los Padres range and we hoped this spot wouldnt be a dud like Bernadino. The car arrived to the site which had a drop toilet, bear proof garbages and its own ground squirrel  mafia. We dropped off the camper to move around town easier. Exploring Ojai for the better part of the afternoon, we came to realize that this town was something out of a utopia novel with overpriced niche shops and a very caring community. The vibe however didnt really stick with us and we ended up heading back to camp around 6 for a meal. Little did we know this meal would involve skinning a rattle snake and cooking the meat for a little extra protein brought to us by a scraggily looking man named Bob.

This story can be found in more detail at Liz's blog HERE.

Out of Ojai desert mountains (3k amsl), we travelled North through a flat grasslands (250' amsl) and back up the Carson Pass (8k amsl) into Hope Valley for the Scotts Lake Campground. Arriving in the late afternoon, we scouted the sites for availability at this first come-first serve free campground. Options were limited but we opted for a smaller, more private site backed up against the hill with views of evergreen trees, snow capped mountains and a vast seasonal meadow. Over the course of the week we spent there, the population for the 4th of July weekend grew from a dozen to about quadruple that with a wide variety of toys including dune buggies, atv's, dirt bikes, horses and military grade jeeps and mega trucks. It was a little exciting to see who was dusting up the trail towards us each time.

A dirt road at the campground lead up a rocky path to adventure. With a sign suggesting that motor vehicles might not want to wandering  that way, we journied with the Subarus AWD. The trail led through a beautiful forest with humongous trees and eventually to Scotts Lake with clear water and amazing views of the mountain range. The second time we went up, we took the dog for a swim on our own private beach. 10/10 would visit again.

On our third night, we were just about asleep when we heard a car pull up alongside the Subaru. We peeked the blinds to see a white Prius with two passengers. OMG Shayna and Ki arrived!! Liz and my sense of calendar was off by a day. We expected them the next evening. Luckily we had spent a majority of that day performing fixes and clean up for their arrival. We greeted them and collected their packs for the holiday weekend. Calling it a night early, we tucked in for fun adventures tomorrow.

The four of us made the half hour drive into South Lake Tahoe to explore and find out what its about. The visitor center was able to provide maps and info on the best swimming spots and the attached free museum provides insight into the areas history as a mountain lumber town with a resort aspect. After the region had been decimated of its trees, the lumber yards faded but the lake front resorts remained for the elite and wealthy. Of course some of the trees have grown back but other areas have been scaped without reverse.

Our beach choice for the day was Secret Beach, which wasnt very secret, on the east shore of the lake. We waded with wake boats and sailors alike. The clear water which is visible to a depth of 76' provided a nice chill to the heat of the afternoon on the beach. 

The night was spent by a campfire cooking up amazing meals and of course s'mores.

The next day was a relaxed sunday morning exploring a nearby scrub land with a lush stream running through it. The slight change in elevation provided drastic difference bettween who got water and who didnt.

In the evening, we travelled to Kings Beach on the north coast of the lake for 3rd of July fireworks. They were fantastic but the traffic out of town was hellish. Fireworks ended around 10 and we returned to camp by midnight. A good night sleep was had by all.

Shayna and Ki's short stay with the Gnome came to a close Monday around noon after some rousing rounds of board and card games. We were sad to see them go but greatly enjoyed their company in the beautiful Tahoe region.

The days post the holiday weekend were spent in recuperation, reflection and relaxation. Our current status is a bit lost as to where we are heading. Liz is convinced she urgently needs employment so we are set to seek out opportunities in the northwest states including but not limited to N. Cali, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colarado. . . We are looking for loose employment with a natural setting and limited hours. Just something to refill the coffers and make sure we can still feed and fuel ourselves. Should you the reader know something that may fit the bill, obviously drop us a line. We are fairly flexible on skill sets and locations with the exception for Ziggy and the Gnome of course.

Thanks for reading!