All told we spent almost four months back in California. It’s been a story of parks, homes, and hotels. I must say that after eight months away the first thing we re-noticed about California was the expense. Camping costs at least a third more and it’s a la carte. The state parks of other states include showers in the fee. Not California… and then there’s the extra car fee – which is spreading (free if you tow it in behind an RV… not free if you drive it in… even though the RV crowd drives em in and out all day once they’re parked). So in addition to the twenty-five to thirty-five we paid per night we got hit with an extra car fee AND we had to pay for showers… when we could find em that is. Sometimes as much as two dollars for five minutes. Trust me… it adds up pretty quick for a family of five. So… we decided not to let the dogs shower.
Then there’s the rules… everywhere you turn there’s those unhappy red circles with a slash through them. No stopping, no dogs (dogs have it particularly bad here), no camping, no drinking, no swimming, no hiking…. it’s no wonder people are leaving. Ah… but then there’s the weather… and it’s no wonder people are staying. Spend a few days in the temperate, non-humid California sun and you instantly forget it all.
Here’s a quick California recap: We spent a good chunk of time in the Sierra’s. Lake Alpine, Pinecrest Lake, Mono, Murphy’s, Kennedy Meadows, and Sonora is the short list. Ironically it was the first summer in many years that we didn’t go to Yosemite. But frankly we had so many great, peaceful, remote spots that fighting the crowds just didn’t seem all that appealing.
While exploring Pinecrest we stumbled across a Morgan car group… I’d never heard of them either (they’re partly still made of wood if you can imagine) and met the coolest family… The Gerdts. We also had a lot of fun with the Sedlmeyer’s. Dan literally makes Pinecrest habitable and his wife Lisa has a VERY inspiring life story.
I worked for a week at the Cal Berkely alumni camp with my GREAT friend Jim Triolo (one of the BEST human beings on earth!) We stumbled across a fantasy fair that the kids were able to volunteer at. Camped with the wonderful Gerdts in Mendocino… it was the first time we’d seen the ocean in almost nine months! Then the Gerdts did the unthinkable… actually two unthinkables… they made INCREDIBLE pizza while camping, and they had us over to stay at their house for a few days. Most couldn’t survive the experience of the latter but honestly… we couldn’t break them. We visited… of all things… the Jellie Bellie factory. It was quite fun. And we had many great and memorable meals and conversations.
Then it was off to my Brother Scott’s in Silicon Valley and reconnecting with many old friends… it was more great fun… and many very good beers selflessly sacrificed themselves to us. When we could handle no more merriment it was off to SLO for the holidays.
For the first time EVER we were timed out of a campground… curse those California rules (only 20 days… A YEAR!), and it was a nice one. Right on the beach in Morro Bay. The weather was spectacular. So I HQ’d the family at the Sands Inn in SLO (this is THE BEST hotel in town – not the poshest but the BEST combination of facilities and service that you’ll find) while my brother and I attended the SF Giants fantasy camp in Scottsdale. My bro’s a pretty good baseball player and… I’m not. I think that this is way of getting even with me for all the times when I fully exercised my internationally recognized, god given rights as a big brother. Anyway, it’s a lot of fun! It’s also extremely well run. Bill Laskey does a really tremendous job every year. It’s become our annual Bro Trip and I look forward to the yearly humiliation… I wonder what that says about me.
