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Okay, what does one of our adventures need? A great breakfast and hot springs!
Friends from
down south, fellow teachers in one organization we instruct for, wanted a
getaway - just camping, relaxation, and no shop talk. Sounded great to us! We
were invited to join them up Rock Creek Canyon on the Inyo National Forest,
classic High Sierra country. Rock Creek is off of 395 just south of the Mammoth
Lakes turnoff.
Staying in a
developed campground and spending a lot of time on meals and socializing is a
bit foreign to us. But, we are good sports and these are really special people.
And, you can’t go wrong having the outdoor cooking instructors along!
Leaving
Friday morning, we had breakfast at Hays Street Cafe in Bridgeport. We have
been getting breakfast here for years; great cinnamon rolls. They're open for
breakfast and lunch.
And then we
had a nice hot springs soak. The rain, snow, and wind made the spring water
feel extra nice.
There are
several campgrounds up Rock Creek Road. In the summer this place can be packed.
East Fork Campground is the big one and accommodates large RV's. Another popular
campground is Rock Creek Lake. The parking arrangement there seemed odd and
would not appeal to us. Our friends had previously stayed at Pine Grove (Upper
& Lower - we stayed at Lower) and that was our meeting place. No
reservations, first come served, small number of units (9 & 11). All in all
this was an old fashion small campground. We would stay here again.
This was our
friends’ first opportunity to see our FWC/ATC hybrid camper. They were in
tents. Since they provided most of the cooking supplies, most activities were
at their site right next to us.
This was our
first summer season visit up Rock Creek. We have backcountry skied up here in
winter
Saturday we
spent on a day hike up into the John Muir Wilderness. With our great winter
this year, snow pack is high and the melt has been slow. If you go high, be
prepared for the white stuff.
Weather on
Saturday on the east side was cold and cloudy with a low pressure storm system
over Nevada. With proper clothing and gear, this can be a great time to
experience the high mountains.
Saturday
night dinner entree was apricot chicken. All cooking this weekend was in dutch
ovens. We played cards around the picnic table into the night. We were feeling
quite civilized, and fat and happy.
During our discussion
on what to do on Sunday, we learned they had never been to Bodie. It was on our
way home and they were spending another night.
So.....good
bye God, we're going to Bodie!
Or is it,
good, by God, we're going to Bodie!
Bodie is
truly one of this area's treasures.
A few more
of Bodie.
We parted with our friends mid afternoon and we headed north. A great
weekend with great people in an absolutely spectacular part of the
west.
Over the decades I’ve been to Bodie more than 50 times. I’ve skiied into Bodie, rode my snowmobile, have even driven its streets after dark. I’ve been there during the wild winter of 1983/1984, when the only things poking above the snow was the schoolhouse cupola, a few random power poles and parts of the Standard Mill. I snuck into the railroad depot back in the 1970s from the Grey Mill, only to be intercepted by a ranger who saw my dog on the crest; in 1991 I was given a personal tour by the geologist with Galactic, who were doing exploratory work. I have walked or have driven along nearly the entire length of the railroad from south of Mono Mills to the Bodie depot; once having gone with a friend who got us high centered on the grade near Warm Springs and we had to hand dig his truck to get it unstuck after dark on a frigid winter night. That made our celebration afterwards at Bodie Mike’s in Lee Vining very special indeed! I haven’t been to Bodie since 2000 and I miss it. However, it has gotten somewhat commercial. My favorite time to visit is after autumn snows, when there is less tourist pressure and those who can are too scared to drive in the snow so pass it by.
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