Twin Lake, June Lake Loop & Mono Lake - Day Trip from Mammoth

We head off after breakfast back up to do the Twin Lakes loop which we missed yesterday and then head back via Old Mammoth Rd, before looking up the other route in town.

Mammoth

Next we headed up Mammoth Mountain to see what was up there - quite a lot to our surprise.... we park and have a look around - there is a gondola & adventure centre, shops, zip lines, climbing walls, etc etc.
We talk to one of the ladies who says the trip around up to Devil's Postpile would be more for our money for a first trip, so we head off in that direction, stopping at the Minaret Vista Lookout.

 Did I mention it is freezing up here......most people are wearing high altitude tramping wear, big jackets and long pants!

Anyway, we head into the national park and at the gate are told that you can not drive this yourself, you must catch a shuttle from back at the village.  We head back and decide to find out more, get some tickets and there is a huge line.....we stand in line for 30-45 minutes in freezing wind when I decide to go back and ask for a refund as it is now 12.30pm and the buses still aren't here - we have discovered there are ten stops and if you get off you have to wait for the next bus - of course you cant see anything if you don't get off.  It is so cold and we would be going further up - even colder.  They were very reluctant to refund us and then say that the walk between two points is 2 hours long - this seals it for me - we really need a full day to do this in a warmer temperature. Finally I get our money back and we head back to the RV for lunch before heading off to explore other areas. 

 We decide to head around the June Lake Loop - a very scenic drive encompassing four lakes.






Daryl at Silver Lake

Wildflowers are still out this time.




Below is the local wild irises with one of the plentiful yellow butterflies floating around.






Next we go to Mono Lake - got some nice shots out of the RV last time and always wanted to go back as I have seen some beautiful photography of this area - you really need a sunrise or sunset shot - stunning.

Southern Tufta - Mono Lake has a PH10 and is 2 & half times saltier than the ocean.

A big day out and got to see lots we missed on the first trip thru this area.  Tomorrow we head off north towards Carson City & Reno.

Our little Bluejay (I think?) was back in camp tonight.

Lone Pine - Mammoth Lakes

We decide to move on the next day even though it is a nice camp - we snap a couple of pics on the way out.

We cruise into Bishop and find a tyre shop where Daryl arranges for a new tyre and puts the spare back onto the rear of the RV.  The owner, Paul, was impressed enough to offer Daryl a job.  Then we head back down town, find a park in the back block and walk down to the RV repair shop at the other end of town for the hot water bung that broke the other day.  We find the correct part and head back to the RV - hitting the road again, looking for the train museum but somehow didn't find it.....?

After a few more miles of up hill climbing, we pull over in the scenic overview and have lunch - not a bad view back over where we have come from.  We arrive in camp and set up with a few issues, having to unhitch and then stretch all our leads and pipes to the max in order to connect up after some maneuvering to find where we could park and reach them all - not a helpful camp at all. 

 All settled in, we head out to have a look around - first stop we head back to Convict Lake which we passed about 8 miles back.


When get there, the wind is blowing a gale and the temperature is very cool.

A very popular spot - party boats for rent and lots of  fishing.  Next we head back into town and up through the village into the mountains in search of the Lakes.  Snow still on the tops of the mountains.

Base of Twin Lakes(waterfall in background)

Overlooking Twin Lakes

Top of waterfall

Horseshoe Lake

Back to camp for dinner.  The temperature is dropping - weather is for gales until 11pm and when we take a walk after tea, I check the thermometer on the outside of our RV - 45F or 10C - just like being at home except the sky's still blue and the suns out!  We spot a Blue Jay on our walk - pretty.

LA to Lone Pine

In the morning we pack up and set off on our holiday.... heading north out of LA to Victorville before turning off up the 395 to Lone Pine along the Eastern Sierra's - a large mountain range in California.

We full up just before Victorville - petrol is more expensive over here at about $4.30 a gallon - still cheap compared to home but expensive for the States.  A pretty non eventful journey, although when we stop at a rest area along the way we see one tyre is worn badly and take it easy the last 40 miles to the camp we are heading for.

Owens Dry Lake

We stay at Boulder Creek again as we know it is a nice camp beside the turn off to death valley.  Once we have set up Daryl changes the tyre over with the spare so we know we are set and can make it to Bishop tomorrow to see if we can get another one.  

They put us in site 54 which is a nice site overlooking the mountains in the back away from the road, which is not a busy highway in any case - not many trucks to be found makes it nice to travel on and liked by the bikers.  

Having sorted the RV, we take a dip in the pool and relax before enjoying some cheese and crackers with a beer - its quite warm again in the pleasant mid nineties but not over 100, so we like it.

Boulder Creek RV Resort

They provide coffee & muffins each morning, which we don't say no to.

LA Roadster Show 2014

We leave Buellton heading south down the 101 for Pamona to attend the LA Roadster Show and catch up with some friends who are touring around also.  We stop in Ventura and take a look around the shops, make some lunch and then hit the road again as we want to beat the worst of the traffic crossing Los Angeles.

It is a long painful journey across the freeways, sometimes seven lanes wide on our side and Daryl has to concentrate on the driving which is a mixture of stop, start, crawl, go, stop, etc.

We finally arrive just after 3pm and get set up before meeting up with Bruce & Raelene, then heading out to dinner together with Peter & Diane and Yo & Iqbal at Applebee's.  Great night out and so good to catch up with friends again and hear their stories about travelling around New York.

Next day, Bruce & the boys kindly drops us girls off at Corvina West Mall where we all go shopping without them and they head over to the swap meet & open days.  Had a great day at the mall with the girls and bought a handbag, skirt & top - we all had bags galore when the boys collected us at 5pm and away we all went to Waldens open day - Daryl and I caught up with Tony who we purchased the 40 Coupe off last year, John Gower, Sparrow, Ned & Val Coulter, Darryll & Sandy with Bob Lord, Dave & Kay, Steve & Wendy, Neil Baker, Magoo, Richard & Kieron and Robin Silk who works at So Cal, ..........the list goes on - common joke is that there are no kiwi hot rodders left in NZ as they are all over here!

We were in the place a couple of hours and never made it inside the shop because we were too busy catching up with people....Se la vi.

We decline the dinner invite tonight as it has been a big day and a quiet one is needed!  We have toasted sandwiches on the BBQ - just what the doctor ordered.

Next day we spend at the LA Roadster Show after a small delay when the hot water sprang a leak outside and with a little tightening, it gave way completely, so we turn that off and head out.  That's a problem for later and it isn't major....

Daryl & I spend the morning walking the swap meet but didn't buy much and about 12.30 head into the air conditioned building as it is just too hot out there on the tar seal in the heat.  We catch up with Bruce & Raelene and arrange to go to dinner again.  We meet up with Duane, Geoff, Johnny Pugh, Jimmy & Kerry Keys, Curley, Kiwi Rex, Squeak, Jodie, Noel Jessop...again too many to write down but lots and lots of kiwis.

Rammie snapped spending up.....

By two o'clock I have done my dash and after tracking down Tony again, Daryl drops me home and picks up the poster & rodding magazine featuring the 40, we brought over for Tony and returns to deliver this and catch up with a few more people.

Later we join Bruce & Raelene, Yo & Iqbal, Peter & Diane for dinner - again a great night out and we discuss our various travel routes as we all depart in the morning but in different directions.  We have helped with their itinerary so we hope they enjoy it!!

A day in Solvang / Buellton

Today we are on holiday!

We climb out of bed at 8am - the day is overcast and everyone is wrapped up in jackets and jeans but to us it is still pleasant - Daryl goes for a run & I take a walk around the camp.

We have a leisurely shower and then breakfast, catch up on facebook and things - last night we caught up with both parents on skype, which was good.

About 11.30am we drive to Solvang - I stress drive as last time we cycled and Daryl nearly killed me.

This is the third time we have been here - it is a quaint Danish village, touristy but not trashy and we enjoy poking around the shops.  

Danishes & Coconut slice (aka Louise cake) for lunch.

We have timed it right again for the Wednesday Farmers Market which starts at 2pm so we wait for this to open.

Fresh flowers, fruit, veges, honeys, cheeses, candles etc etc - picked some sweet peas for in the RV.










Fresh strawberries, raspberries & blueberries - yum yum.

Fresh peaches & nectarines - we picked up some of these, strawberries, yellow butter beans & cucumber for the salad tonight - delish.  Haven't had butter beans for a long time!

Back to the camp for a swim & dip in the spa pool as the day is now bright & sunny, around 28c - very nice, we are starting to get some colour again.

Relaxing afternoon and the trusty old BBQ is still going - not bad for $40 when we begun nearly two years ago.

Tomorrow we head to LA for the LA Roadster Show.

America's Calling - June 2014

It's wet and windy at home - winter has set in and we are getting down to single digit weather temperatures - in short, Winter Sucks.

So here we are again......back in the US, for a holiday this time as we have jobs to go back to..............

We arrive and pick up the rental car for the trip over the Grapevine to Duane's place in Bakersfield - guess what - they are having their first heat wave and we arrive to over 100F.  Not a problem now as we have acclimatised to America and we can handle this, although when it hits 113F a few days later I have to admit that we did hibernate in Duane's house for most of the day.  We aren't using our air conditioning as it blows the fuses every time due to the power connections not being correct for an RV at Duane's, so she is like a sweat tin on wheels.  Lovely concrete pad outside the shed this time - almost like the Hilton.

Anyway, we uncover our baby (the RV) and dust her off as they had a wicked dust storm here not long after we left last time and we had a good covering of red dust inside and out.  

Over the next few days, we clean her up, check her out and on Saturday we head down to the smog place to get her passed........$89 & she failed - we couldn't figure this out as she had passed with flying colours last time and had no issues.  Bugger, we had wanted to start our journey, anyway, they had us over a barrel so we booked her in for first thing on Monday to be diagnosed and hopefully fixed.  

Geoff Edginton is staying at Duane's also and Greg & Stu from Christchurch stop in also.  Seems like most of the hot rodders from NZ are here this month - the LA Roadster Show is on....

Anyway we help Duane with his stock and cooking, Daryl on the BBQ and me on salads or curries.  A few bourbon's and beers die along the way.

Duane told us there were some foxes living around the back of his place and I snap these during our stay.

We also have an eventful night when a raccoon climbs a power transformer and shorted it out causing a fire on the boundary fence.  After waking Duane, who crabbed his fire extinguisher, we ring the fire brigade who arrived about the same time.  Went back to bed about 1pm and it was fixed before the morning arrived!

Never a dole moment!

Monday morning we dropped her off around 8.20am and went shopping, awaiting the call to tell us what the issue was.  No phone call and by 1.30pm we drive back and find her still sitting outside - things don't work fast in America!  Anyway after a few words by Daryl they said they would try and get to it today......

We pass at 3.30pm to see they were finally working on her and 4.30pm we got the call to say it was all fixed - funny as they said they had to ring us to tell us what it was before doing any work.  

We go back down and the guy says it is not quite right but it is close enough - I ask what was wrong with it and he says "the way he explained it to me was that the catelic converters had been bumped and this was leaking - they had just put it back in place'.  Okay, we pay the $103 more and get out of there.  

Later I comment to Daryl about this and he explains that these are welded on and no way could that have happened - the original test 2 yrs ago was 26 - the failed test was 257 (the maximum allowed is 150) - the final test is 20.  It seems that they may have stuffed up a test or something but just wouldn't admit it......

Duane says that's pretty much how it works you just hope you don't get fleeced too much in the process.  Pay it and run!

So finally, Tuesday we head off to look at a cheap run around to tow, pay the rego on the RV, return the rental and hope to hit the road before lunch.  Haha this is America....  we buy the run around as our tow car, drop off the rental, change the ownership & pay the rego on the RV, pick up some water and hoses for the RV and head back to Duane's.  We sort the insurance, another hour......

Daryl & Duane

Finally, about 2.30pm we pull out after saying our thanks to Duane, whose hospitality has once again been fantastic.  We were wanting to head to Carpentria but looks like the park is full when we ring so we try Buellton again, near Solvang - plenty of room.  Decision made, we head over the hills out of the heat and arrive just after 4pm - nice camp and has had a remodel since last time also.  A very pleasant 30 degrees with a nice breeze greets us and we plug in and set up.

We stop to check on things along route 166

Back to NZ

Once again we need to pick up an extra suitcase - who would have guessed!  We head down to Walmart with Duane for our shopping and then later the guys head up north to look at a truck for sale - that is about a four hour trip.

Duane has brought a new computer which is keeping him & Daryl busy.....  I naturally adopt the cooking role and Duane graciously hands over his kitchen, where we all pitch in to enjoy a meal and some wines together each evening before Daryl & I retire to our RV.

Over the next few days Daryl does some work on the 40 to keep her sweet - he finds a few things that are a bit scary had we known - ignorance is bliss as they say....

We cram the 40 full of "stuff" to go back to NZ - the huge boot  is chocka and the last few items end up in the cab, then make the run over the hill with Duane early one morning to deliver her to the shipping yard.

We say goodbye to our faithful 40 expecting to see her again in a few weeks.  Daryl nearly sheds a tear..
(Little did we know the US government strikes would delay our baby from leaving and we would not see her again for a couple of months).  It was a long wait!

We can't thank Duane enough for his hospitality and help he has given us and we will miss him and Cash both.  Finally we head over the hill for some last minute shopping at Citadel outlet shops before making our way to the airport and the long flight home.  Doesn't seem real and we are both happy and sad about leaving.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our travels and experiences and can recommend this to anyone - it is a great way to travel, to see the real places, meet the real people, relax and enjoy life.  Sure you still have your off days, the ups and downs that are life's little hiccups but you have those anyway no matter where or what you are doing and you really get to know someone if you live in a 29 foot can with them for a year or two.  The good, the bad and the ugly but if you're lucky like us, you end up with acceptance, understanding and a love that just keeps getting stronger and better.

Who knows where life will lead us next?

Home again - sun setting over Kapiti Island, NZ