Day 64 Saturday March 16

B did well generally and why not

Historic Wolf Creek Inn

      Frosty leaving the inn. Minimal breakfast in the sitting room, but I recalled finishing a jar of granola meant for breakfast late last night so no complaints. Bashed up i5 all day, stopped to return keyboard and do costco at oldy moldy just to get back in the swing. Ferry was smooth except ticket woman was fussy about the vehicle length, fussy in general, never seen her before, possibly an impersonator. Laurie in chair on lawn as we arrived home waving a quarter empty wine bottle. Out to Portico just because, dog food and bread at Star store. The record ends here.

Day 63 Friday March 15

Our spot on the Sacramento at Durango RV in Red Bluff

     Early bike ride through Red Bluff with a bear claw at the only coffee and pastry place I saw; S did a walk of the same hour's duration and off we went after the standard breakfast to, S signed us up for a stay at the historic Wolf Creek Inn, to Wolf Creek. The i5 was a fine and noble engineering feat to experience after so many days of washboard or back roads. The staff at the historic inn, the woman, the kid, and the husband, was a fine feat of human hospitality but the town was straight out of a Stephen King novel. Dinner in the old inn was burgers and wine and random chats with the 12 year old.  A Gene Autry rendition of "My Daddy's on Deathrow" played in the background.
     B was added to the ticket for 10$ and is resting quietly at the foot of the bed. She has been alert and watchful since we came to this place.

Day 62 Thursday March 14

Sutter Buttes 1

Sutter Buttes 2

Sutter Buttes 3

Sutter Buttes 4

This is just an approximation

       Dipped and dived from New Melones Tuttleville Reservoir camp along the hills east of the Sacramento Valley until we took a wrong turn and descended into the valley passing through a pleasant little town called Snelling among others heading to Yuba City for a bike trail ride straight as a ruler toward the Sutter Buttes. More time travel, this time to 9th grade field trip. Parked the van and the dog on Hooper street. Wikipedia says there is no public access to them Buttes although us 9th graders went down in the ICBM underground silo and shock mounted quarters and tubes deep inside those Buttes in about 1961; we loved it almost as much as staying at school and harassing Mr. Hughes and Mr. Hooper.
     Struck out after pedal to Red Bluff posh rv park on the big river. There we are now in the pool and the tub kicking back with the duck couple who joined us there. They have a dog spa here. Also blue water fountains where if you are situated close to them it reduces the noise from that i5 bridge just up river. Tomorrow I would like to go to Shari's for Pie.

Day 61 Wednesday March 13

Angels Camp

Paicines

     Snake out of the Gabilan Mountains (breakfast at the Paicines Store which was time travel) into the big valley San Joaquin and into the industrial zone of Fresno for a visit to the Sports Mobile van conversion factory and a tour of it from Jason. It was kind of a kick. Bumble bumble up various east of 5 and east of 99 two laners all of which were fine. Eventually we are near Angels Camp the town but in a spiffy state park on New Melones Reservoir near the town where the angels camped in the past. The host was cranky and I ratted him out to the park ranger, who was himself angelic. This New Melones Tuttleville Reservoir camp is shiny and new but half closed and 95% empty.

Day 60 Tuesday March 12

start of the high peaks hike

the end of the high peaks hike

     Drove to High Peaks trailhead after a leisurely morning starting with the standard breakfast. By 12:30 we were on the up and up to the home of the condors but the buzzards had taken over the sky above the peaks and the clouds came in and the wind as well and the big dogs sat at home. After a 6 mile loop on Condor Gulch and High Peaks trails we were broken and needing rest. The tom turkey crew came into camp while I slept and S witnessed their ritual display as in the Thanksgiving paintings. There was also the coyote who came through this morning looking fit and nonchalant. S tried the showers and found them scalding and uncontrollable; the pool is still closed for winter.  The Spring Breakers are rumored to come in tomorrow and we’ll be gone. This has been a great  interlude. B is a bit bored.

Day 59 Monday March 11

Carla and S go under boulders

Creek goes under the boulders

     Country Inn and Suites, did I mention the suite? Free breakfast so went whole hog; not S. Google directions to i5 and on to Coalinga for grocery and to slide onto 198 to Pinnacles National Park  on a twisting mountain road like Kern Canyon but Kern was Mordor and this soon became the Shire. Emerald hills and valleys with yellow highlights. Pinnacle had a Shangri la feel and we settled in for a two day stay. Hiked the Bear Gulch trail after a bike to the trailhead from camp. Young woman from San Luis Obispo asked it she could hike with us. The three of we went down under the boulders with the falls and creek and we were transported by the strangeness. Came back into the light and hit the Rim trail back with condors overhead. S and I decided this would be a good place to call an end to the journey and head home directly, but it is a thousand miles so who can say about good or bad just yet.

Day 58 Sunday March 10

No photo from this day so here is a nice generic

From Furnace Creek Sunset parking lot camp after french toast breakfast set off I believe north and east into the Owens Valley thence to Lake Isabella and the Kern River Canyon thus into Bakersfield from the east and finally into this Country Inn and Suites by Radisson. Thought to camp on the Kern but the toilets. In truth most camps were closed still for the winter; the ones that were open had a neglected look. Did checkin to the hot springs on the old Kern Canyon Road. S went for a dip but I walked all the way down there without proper equipment and thus just sat and watched S and the 8 or so people down there. Red Robin for dinner. Walked B past the shell shocked house next door that says it sells Christmas trees and has a couple of active dogs in the compound, also the East Indian grocery, insurance agent and pizza shop. Laundry later. Should mention the length of the hall way to the laundry room. It was the length of the building and the building was long, like science fiction long and I made many trips so that I closed all my rings.