An Abbreviated Fourth

7/7/7 11:15 p.m.

Merced Yosemite Travelodge


After the lengthy Oregon diatribe, I'm wondering: Can I summarize this five day getaway in one page?


It's the annual pilgrimage to Clear Lake for the 4th of July and this year I chose a route through South Shore Tahoe with the first night back at Granite Flat Campground along the Truckee River. This way, I could see the Mammoth parade in the morning and fireworks at Tahoe City that night. I met six sociable retirees from Denair at the campground who welcomed me into their circle.


The hot, hot, HOT 5th of July took me down Highway 20 to Nevada City for some shopping, strolling, a macchiato and later, a Mexicali burrito. After a leisurely stock-up at the air-conditioned Target in Yuba City, I arrived late at the 108 degree Clearlake Park.







Yesterday was cooler. 102 seemed pretty comfortable. I did a coffee run to Java Express, had a nice swim and then a kayak excursion with cousin Jer to Gooseneck and took a rushed shower before heading off to to Konocti Harbor Inn for the Earth Wind and Fire concert - and more fireworks. Dancing is fun. Philip Bailey rocks.


Cooler still today. After a lovely outdoor luncheon with pal Sal at Wappo Grill in Calistoga, I jammed to Walnut Grove for a barbecued rib dinner at Wimpy's with Jackie. It's great to eat your way across the state! I ended up in Merced in time to catch the end of Live Earth on the telly.


Tomorrow, I've planned a Yosemite adventure before returning to my cool high Sierra home. As Neil Finn aptly put it as I embarked on this getaway "Don't Stop Now." (The-X played the new Crowded House tune as I was heading up to Tahoe). Another one for the books (or the blog!).

How to avoid screaming kids in the condo pool

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I needed to get away from all the noise outside of my home, and the bouncing kids and barking dog in the unit upstairs. Resort condo living is a challenge during peak vacation months.

I really wanted to spend the weekend down in the Devil's Postpile area, but was apprehensive. Town was very crowded and the shuttle parking overflowing. I was prepared to be turned away
but I had nothing to lose except a little time and a bit of gas. Worse case scenario: I'd find another campground. Still, I felt strangely stressed.

At the guard station, the told me there were a few spots open at Agnew Meadows, a few at Red's Meadow and at least one at "Upper Soda." Yippee! I bumped into Carol from Reds Meadow Services as I was taking the dirt road into Agnew and she assured me there were some nice spots available.

I chose campsite #21, which seemed decent, but as I walked to the pay station I noticed #1 was empty. A slightly hidden, spacious site, ringed by tall firs with a small creek meandering alongside. The Valhalla of the camping world! I ran back to Virginella and slammed it into reverse to relocate ASAP. Perhaps the best spot I've ever snagged.

I set up the tent, ate a turkey sandwich along with celery sticks and homemade pepper dip and washed it down with some watered down iced Arrowwood Cabernet. (Sounds weird I know, but pretty tasty!)

By 4:00 p.m. I was headed out on the Shadow Lake trail. It was a gorgeous August afternoon, the trail was uncrowded and I found a great sense of ease and peace. Very welcome, after the last two weeks of inner turmoil during the production of SCT's "As You Like It" I swear, if one more person asked me if I was in the play, I was going to lose it!

I reached the bottom of the "up" to Shadow at 5:30 and realized that since my intended turn around time was 6:00 pm, the minute I made it up there, I'd have to turn back. Instead, I slung my hammock along the headwaters of the San Joaquin River and read "Island of the Blue Dolphins."

Returning to camp at 7:30, I prepped the campfire, made a dinner of bratwurst and rice salad, finished off the Cab (straight up, as nature intended) and toasted marshmallows while listening to "Rumpole of the Bailey" on my Walkman. I kept scanning the star-strewn skies for meteors as the Perseid shower was peaking over the weekend. I didn't spot one, but didn't feel like I needed a lucky wish. It had been a great day.

I was comfy in my tiny tent but woke frequently with strange dreams. I greeted the day at about 8:30 a.m., strolling to the waterfall I had heard throughout the night. I came back to coffee, the LA Times and the Blitzkuchen I had made the previous morning. What a nice treat. There was time for another walk around the glorious wildflower filled campground, a little clean up and the chance to linger in the beach chair gazing at three juncos hopping around the tent in search of seeds. One caught a flying insect mid-air!

The loudmouth in the site next to mine turned out to be a really nice local who offered me firewood as he prepared to leave. I now had total quiet and solitude for a spell while packing the car, reading and snacking some more before returning to the choruses of Marco Polo back home.

I don't think the kids will bother me as much when I get back.