Our latest trip took us up the Ca. coast via Hwy 101 and into Oregon to Sunset Bay SP to spend some time with Eugene friends.
Since we were to meet our daughter,who works in San Raphael for lunch we spent a night at
Samuel P Taylor SP. This has been a nice find as it's quite during the week and close to Pt. Reyes National Seashore.
The drive to the next nights stay was hot and the road seemed to be full of RVs. We stopped at Gerberville for gas and it was 100* but by the time we got close to Redwood NP the fog was around and the temps cooled. Not many Elk at the field north of Oric but the few there were nice to view. One large male and a few younger ones plus about a dozen females.
This night found us in Mill Creek SP and also a great find. Nestled in some old growth redwood and Big Leaf Maple the camp site we had was almost like we there alone. After a nice shower to cool off and some trail walks we had a nice night of quiet.
Heading out north the next morning we checked out some other camping places for future reference.
There are some county parks in the Del Norte county around Crescent City that would do and they are first come first serve.
Our stay at Sunset Bay was fun. It's a family campground but again we had a spot that was quiet.
Visited with friends and their grand kids and had some good times.
At this campground there is a garden from the mansion that was there many years ago. The flowers were showing off nicely, especially the roses.
After out time there we had choices. 1, drive more of the coast but to many people and not sure if we could get spots to camp. 2, drive east up the Umpqua River Scenic drive and toward the Cascade Lakes area but there were some fires north so didn't want to be a part of that. 3, drive through and spend time at Lassen as we haven't been there for a few years,but again fires and loads of smoke in the area. 4, just call it the end of the trip and drive home down I 5 but didn't want to do that either.
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Since we were in the Diamond Lake area and the weather and smoke weren't a problem we spent a night at a nice site along the lake's northern side. Had a nice sunset with the distant smoke adding color to it,and another quiet night.
Crater Lake is only a short distance from Diamond Lake area and it's been 25 years since our last camping visit there we found a spot that was so big you could have built a house on it. Site D-29. Lots of room and firewood if you wanted.
We had not walked the trails there and had a great experience this time. The surprise was that the wild flowers were still around and actually not many people out and about, but also not any animals either.
After two great nights of evening thunder/lighting/rain storms we continued south for a long days drive to the Ebbetts Pass area and some time at Mosquito Lake.
Since we had a cabin in the area, Dorrington, we spent a lot of our time up in the high country. But never overnight since we had a cabin to sleep at.
This was such a treat, the camp ground at Mosquito Lake has 11 spots and it was just 3 of us camping there. The road,Hwy 4 next to the CG was very quiet very few cars travel this road in the evening/night.
We had a super treat on Thursday night as an early evening storm was building in the west than moved on east over the crest and this gave us a show that lasted for hours. We watched it build and as the sun went down and the moon came up, the sight was one of the most spectacular sunsets we have seen.
Our trip home from there was uneventful except for the stop at the Aria bakery in Murphys for some treats.
Usually we don't get out into the camping crowd during July/August but with some planning it all worked out. Thanks for reservation camping,it does have it's place.
We have already planned on doing more time in the Ebbetts Pass area.
This site at Mill Creek among the Big Leaf Maples and old Redwoods was
one.
Sunset Bay with the light house at the entrance to Coos Bay.
The rose garden at Shady Acres in the SP was such a treat.
Got some ideas for the home garden.
The coast line there is very rouged and the strata of rock layers is
interesting.
Some of the late flowers on Annie's Creek at Crater Lake.
This was about all the animals we saw and this guy had his mouth full.
This is Plaikni Falls, off the east rim road at Crater. The trail was a
nice walk with a lot of rock work and flowers still out.
The top of the falls with a lot of color to the flowers.
Didn't expect to see Pine Drops this late but many were around.
This is the Pinnacles area also off the east rim drive.
The lake was quit hazy so the dark blue color didn't show.
More wild flowers on the Castle Crest Trail. A great rock garden and
meadow, built back in the 20'/30's by the Boy scouts.
Got this sighting at the rest stop on 395 just south of Susanville.
It's a Scamper built in 1990,couple were from southern Ca.
Were on there return from northern Washington and reported smoke all the
way south. Yuck!
Our spot at Mosquito Lake, good view of the lake and pass off to the east.
Our late afternoon snack and view. Doesn't get much better.
The above 4 photos were the evening storm, no rain just fantastic
color. We just sat on the rocks and let the show work itself.
Can't have a trip without a nice moon shot.
I have endless photos of this shot from snow covered to this.
The first light reflection was fantastic. It's the best we have seen.
Our site from across the lake at dawn.
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