Airstreams to Antelope Lake

Antelope Lake

The approach to Antelope was promising despite the enormous evidence of scorched land charred from two forest fires, one four years before and the other nearly a decade. We were stunned at how long it takes a forest to rejuvenate after being ravaged by fire. 

Charred forest to the left.

Charred forest to the right.

 Airstreams tucked into the trees.

All settled in, with plenty of space and an aft view of the lake...minus a few feet of water. Turns out that the lake is drained about 5 to 6 feet after Memorial Day. The good news was that on a Thursday after Labor Day not many folks are out there, with the kids back at school it was mostly us Old Farts. 

Our friend's Stream in the background, in the foreground, 

curious Sparky tries to identify past visitors.
A short attention span sends Sparky next door in search of his friend Ginger.

Can Ginger come out and play?

It didn't take the boys long to get the kayaks out on the water in pursuit of trout. Our friend, Richard, is a catch-and-release-kind-of-fly-fisherman, while Darrell brings home his catch for Spark and me. Brown trout smoked to perfection is pretty darn tasty.

Our orange kayak is pretty easy to spot.

The green grass is usually under water. Not sure where the water goes, but surrounding cattle and horse farmlands were looking pretty fertile.

Hard and honest work looks pretty appealing.

Extremely appealing.........could there by a horse in my future?

Oh Baby, Oh Baby.

Can transportation get any better?

Or can life get any better? 
Simple. Good. Clean. Swinging on a tire.

Hints of Fall.

Time to Winterize Our Girl.

MY BOYS

My Boys at Our Private Beach - Campsite at Granite Flat, Truckee

Another TIME OUT

 Wetlands

We are starting to really like our time outs from remodeling, besides the guest bath is just about done. SO....we decided to take Tranquila to another close by lake for a couple of days. After surveying 3 campgrounds on the lake, we found our spot, and it was  so VERY GOOD that we felt obligated to sign up for the maximum 14 days. We are only 17 miles from our front door, an easy back and forth drive to continue work on the house and still manage to hike and fish.

Who could say "NO" to 14 days here?

The June wild flowers were W I L D. We went a hike and I collected a few to take home and identify using my most excellent John Muir Laws Sierra guide book. Highly Recommended to anyone coming to the Sierra. I am also learning to identify birds. So far we have seen Sierra Blue Birds, Woodpeckers, White Pelicans, Seagulls, Robins, Sierra Blackbirds, and way too many other songbirds to remember.

Just the start of the June wild flower extravaganza in the Sierra.

Today's Treasures

Sparky checks out 3 white pelicans waiting for leftover trout-treats from fisherman.

Speaking of trout, Darrell went fishing while Spark and I lazed around the campsite.

Kiss the Fish!
Spark and I ate trout, Darrell BBQ-ed sausage for himself!

I wish I had a photo of the HUGE Strawberry Moon last night, a most perfect way to celebrate the Solstice, instead I will share this mornings sunrise.

A muted sunrise foreshadowing that rain is on the way.
Much needed rain, so we are happy to usher in summer with wet showers.

A lovely drive home past newly bundled hayfields.

This was not far from the spot I saw my first mama bear and baby cub. 
Unfortunately, I was just too darn excited to snap a picture.

TIME OUT!

After a week of house renos we needed a time out. Thankfully, 47 miles southwest we found a little slice of paradise.

"Hey, wait a minute! Didn't you forget someone? Moi? I won't scare the fish I promise"!

Faithfully waiting.

"Where's the fish"? I know, they call it fishing, not catching".

Guess it's Burgers Tonight!

So nice to get Tranquila back out on the road.

The view from our campsite.

Back On The Road Again

It felt great to get Tranquila back on the road again.

Buck's Lake

Our swim was very brief, after all, it is still May. 

A couple of days later we had snow on our back deck!

The 17 mile drive out of Quincy wound through a wide valley of peaceful pastures dotted with yellow spring flowers.  Images of horse and cattle ranches, a small white clapboard school house, and a child playing on a swing hanging from a pine tree evoked distant memories of the fifties. A feeling of "life is good" and a sense that world is a safe place came as necessary respite after watching the early morning news on television. Living in a small hamlet is a gift, and one we dreamed of for years. A dream come true, for which we are thankful everyday.

Ahhhh, Spring.

Lazy Days for Lamas and Longhorns.

Longhorn Scottish Hairy Cow - Wow!

As we climbed higher in elevation towards Buck's Lake we passed hillsides covered with Mountain Dogwood. Breathtaking. All this, and trout too, 42 miles from our front door.

Mountain Dogwood

One more reason we will return...

More Fun Awaits at Campsite #3

And more Y U M !

And beach sunsets with deer friends.

Oh Yeah, we'll be back.

Our Other Life

Life is good aboard El Tiburon in Mexico.......

 but, I am starting to miss traveling in Tranquila.

It's time to take her home to the Sierra.

Time to Migrate South

Someone has to play....

And someone has to blow the snow, my hero.

Winter Fun, blowing snow and snowshoeing close to home. We have started to miss Mexico, and El Tiburon, and Tranquila. So, A little time well spent in Morro Bay on Tranquila before we migrate further south.

One of our favorite places Morro Bay State Park.