“RVSue? RVSue?”
Bridget and Spike jump out of bed. “Just a minute! I’ll be right out!”
I pull off my jammies and throw on some clothes. Outside our campsite at Washoe Lake State Park south of Reno, Nevada, I meet Mel, Gary, and their King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who live in Carson City.
“Sorry to drop in so early. We were afraid we’d miss you. We brought coffee!”
After a conversation at the picnic table, we say goodbye and I set about breaking camp. The goal today is Mono Lake and Lee Vining. Mel and Gary told me that I have a few high passes to drive through, lots of hills, and winding roads. I take their advice and fill up the tank in Carson City at an ARCO station ($3.99 a gallon).
Once you’re out of Carson City area traffic, it’s a beautiful drive.
The cottonwoods are bright yellow streams flowing down the mountainsides. Bushes in the wetlands are brilliant orange. Of course, my Nikon digital camera quits on me, refusing to project its lens, the same problem I had with the previous Nikon I returned. Exasperating! Some of the most gorgeous scenery I’ve come upon in the past year and the camera is useless!
Halfway up a long, steep mountain grade, we encounter road construction.
Beautiful fall foliage and I get a pic of stalled traffic!
We sit for about a half hour waiting for the pilot car. I utilize the time to work on and swear at my camera. I don’t know if it’s the result of the former or the latter, but suddenly the blasted camera lets me take a photo of the line of traffic (!) and then dies again. I miss photos of several stunning views.
The approach to the valley where Mono Lake is situated is breathtaking.
We stop at an overlook and inexplicably the camera decides to work long enough for a few more photos.
The panoramic view is three times as wide as this photo.
- Stickers cover the guardrail at the overlook.
See the tiny cars below?
Nina (wheelingit.wordpress.com) commented under yesterday’s post inviting us to stop by their campsite at Oh!Ridge Campground on June Lake. I drive in but I can’t find their site among the many loops.
June Lake is gorgeous with bright blue water like Crater Lake with turquoise water near the shoreline. You’ll have to take my word for it because my stinkin’ camera . . . oh, never mind . . . . Go take a look at Nina’s blog.
Tonight the crew and I are camped in the Inyo National Forest in Hartley Springs Campground (free!).
It’s a few miles south of Lee Vining and Mono Lake. The road up to the campground is narrow and topped with a layer of white volcanic dust. Except for a truck camper, everyone in the campground is using a tent. I draw the attention of several campers as I drive around looking for a site. I can just imagine what they’re thinking.
“Who’s that crazy woman bringing a travel trailer up here!”
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 