I wake up to the sound of a screeching female voice.
Well, so much for soaking up the stillness. I look out the window and see teenagers climbing the rocks nearby. What? Today’s Monday. Shouldn’t they be in school? Then I remember it’s Columbus Day.
Spike and Bridget go out to investigate.
I put the coffee on and go outside to sit in my camp chair next to the open door. Now the girl is yelling to produce an echo. This is what it’ll be like on weekends. We’d better find a new camp. We’re too exposed here anyway.
I pack everything up and we pull out.
This is why I rarely unhitch right away when dispersed camping. I’ve found it’s best to live in a campsite for a day to make sure it’s where I want us to stay.
Back on Movie Road, I see in my side mirror someone behind us towing a Casita.
I pull over. It’s “Casita Greg” and his wife. I met Greg during the parade the day we arrived at Lone Pine. He and his wife have been camping at one of the campgrounds nearby. He gives me directions to a level, secluded campsite they found further back in the Alabama Hills.
“A big motorhome was parked there. They just moved out.” Then he adds, “We’re leaving now. We’re gonna’ camp there the next time we’re here.”
I thank them both and head for the site.
I park the BLT next to two big boulders so that they form two sides of an outdoor “room” with the BLT being the third side, and a pleasant view the fourth. I park so that the BLT’s refrigerator is shaded in the afternoon. I grab the patio mat out of the PTV (important to keep sand out of the BLT), unfold it, and stake the corners against the surprise wind common in the desert. Then I position my lounger and side table on the mat. I like this! This is shaping up nicely!
I set up the canine condo and also put out the dog bed.
Spike and Bridget come back from inspecting the perimeter of our site, take a big drink, and pick a place to settle next to me. Yes, this is home!
(As soon as I receive in the mail the gift of a camera promised me by a dear friend, I’ll post lots of photos of our campsite, the Alabama Hills, and Mt. Whitney. I’m postponing reports of the area until I have a working camera.)
I do what I’ve been wanting to do for months — clean out the PTV!
All this moving around the West has everything tangled up and dirty. I devote one day to taking everything out, sorting and setting aside things to donate or throw away, cleaning out the dust, sand, pine needles, etc., and putting my possessions back in an organized way. A side benefit is I find the cheapo sewer hose that came with the BLT!
Later the crew and I make the short trip into Lone Pine.
I pick up some groceries and drop some trash in the bins by the park. At the Visitors’ Center at the south end of town, I buy a postcard for my aunt in northern New York who doesn’t go online. I find the post office (closed for Columbus Day), the movie museum, a thrift store, a hardware store, and the library.
I’m going to enjoy staying here for two weeks!
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 