Kayaking Tomales Bay Day 2

The night was cold but bearable, I've spent much colder nights in a tent. In the middle of the night I was awakened by what I assumed was the sound of a raccoon scrambling around in the cockpits of the plastic kayaks. I don't know why he was so interested in the boats, we didn't have any food in there. Sure enough in the morning the seat of my kayak was covered in sand tracked in by the nighttime visitor. We awoke around 7:30 to a cool morning, which quickly warmed as the sun rose, bathing the campsite in a serene orange light. Eggs and bread made up our breakfast along with a cup of tea.

The tide was going out in the morning, so about 9:00 the Kayak Guy and I climbed into our boats and headed out for the mouth of the bay. The water was mostly calm. We passed several boats of fisherman, some pulling up crab traps. The seals, loons and grebes were out in force again. The Point Reyes shore to our left was made up mostly of rocky cliffs, which eventually become Tomales Point, which sticks out into the ocean to form the entrance to Tomales Bay. There is a shallow spot in the middle of the bay not far from the mouth where the waves break, but nearer to the shore the water was calm. Closer to the mouth larger waves break all across the bay so we pulled our kayaks out on a beach before we entered the rough water. We had paddled for about two hours. While the KG set up a fishing line, I walked along the small beach and scrambled amongst the rocks when the beach gave way to rocky coast. Not a lot going on in the small tidepools, a few sea stars and crabs but little else. We ate the rest of our bread with peanut butter and a small package of Chips Ahoy cookies for lunch. Another group of kayakers pulled their boats out down the beach from us.

The tide had gone out farther in the hour we spent at the small beach and was about to start coming in again. We decided to paddle out a little farther toward the bay entrance and rougher water before heading back to our campsite. As we launched the kayaks the KG asked me what I would do if the wave caught my kayak broadside. Lean into the wave I replied, confident in what I had learned from last year's surf zone class. We headed out toward the tip of Tomales Point, but the water quickly became too rough and we turned around. The waves were now breaking all across the bay, not just in the middle. The KG headed out into the middle of the bay to surf the larger waves while I tackled the smaller waves closer to shore. The waves were larger than I had paddled in and it took some effort to keep the boat from getting swept broadside. I glanced over to see the KG had capsized, I thought about going over to help but I had my hands full with the rough water I was in and where he was it looked worse. A wave did catch me and spin the kayak broadside I remembered the conversation we had before launching and I leaned into the wave which carried my boat along and set it down in the calm water after the wave broke. By this time the KG had gotten back into his boat, amazingly enough he managed to hang onto his hat, but was not so lucky with his sunglasses.

On the way back to camp we made a brief stop at Hog Island, which is very small. A lot of seals haul out on one side of Hog Island so you must land on the west side. The rest of the paddle back to camp was uneventful. The quail returned to our beach shortly after we did. Some soup for dinner and another fire by the beach completed our day. Again the dark and cold came early so we retired to our sleeping bags for a long night's sleep.


Kayaking Tomales Bay Day 1; Kayaking Tomales Bay Day 3

Click here for the flickr photo set

Kayaking Tomales Bay Day 1

Often, when I tell a bay area local that I like to kayak the person I am talking to will say "oh have you been to Tomales bay, it's such a nice place to paddle and you can camp on the beach" even when said person has never been to Tomales Bay he or she will sing its virtues. So Thanksgiving week the Kayak Guy and I planned a camping trip to Tomales Bay. We've done enough camping trips now that we're very thorough at planning everything out. A long list of equipment and supplies needed for each meal is written down in a blue notebook named the "Book of Knowledge" so we don't forget anything. The Sunday before Thanksgiving we laid out all our camping and kayaking gear on my living room floor, ready to pack it into dry bags. The kayaks had been loaded onto KG's car earlier that day. We got ready to check off our list of equipment and discovered the book of knowledge was missing. The thought of losing all the meticulously made records of prior travels was more distressing than losing the plans made for this trip. We searched high and low at my house and his house, then as a last resort made a trip to Safeway and there in the lost and found box lying amongst abandoned bric a brac of other shoppers lay the book of knowledge. We were so happy to have found it we did not even stop to be annoyed that Safeway hadn't bothered to call the number hand written in large silver letters on the front of the book to say the store had found it. Back at home we easily packed everything into a dozen dry bags for the morning's trip and loaded them into the car. The last prep task was to chop all the vegetables we would need for the trip and pack three food bags for breakfast, lunch dinner that should remain in the fridge until we left in the morning.

Monday morning KG and I arose bright and early to drive up to the Point Reyes visitor center to pick up a camping permit. The park ranger filled out our permit, gave us his spiel about not burning down the park and sent us on our way. From the Bear Valley visitor center we drove up highway one to Marshall. At the Hog Island oyster farm we made a quick stop to pick up two dozen oysters for dinner. Just north of Marshall we pulled into a small parking lot at Nick's Cove where one can leave a car overnight for $10. We unloaded the kayaks, stuffed all the firewood, drybags, and other equipment into the hatches, tied a few remaining things to the decks of the kayaks and changed into our kayaking clothes. The KG commented thoughtfully that we had too much room left in the kayaks, we're forgetting something. I responded that we were only on a three day trip, there wasn't that much stuff. No, he persisted, and finally asked where's all the food that was in the fridge last night. Still in the fridge I said. We looked around the area of Highway One where we were but there was no where to buy groceries so we decided to just get on with the trip, we had some food and were surely not going to starve, camping so close to civilization.

We launched the very heavy kayaks from the concrete boat launch at Nick's cove at just around noon on Monday. I had never paddled a loaded kayak before and could immediately feel the extra weight as I paddled. We paddled straight across Tomales Bay and south along the Point Reyes coast to our camping spot, Tomales Beach in less than an hour. We passed many loons, grebes, buffleheads, other birds, seals and sea lines as we paddled. A small flock of quail greeted us at Tomales Beach. We set out tent on a flat spot of sand, and unloaded everything from the kayaks onto a tarp in hopes of keeping sand from getting in every nook and cranny. In the afternoon I went for a short paddle while KG finished unsuccessfully. The shoreline along that part of Point Reyes is made up of steep cliffs leading down into the water with sandy beaches hidden sporadically along the coves. Shortly the wind came up and I returned to our camp site. We made an early dinner of oysters over the fire, along with a few sweet potatoes roasted in the coals. It got cold quickly as the sun went down so we climbed into the tent for a good night's sleep around eight o'clock. Even though the lights along the Marin shore, and occasional truck passing on highway one reminded us we were close to home, the millions of stars in the night sky made it feel like we were out in the middle of nowhere.

Kayaking Tomales Bay Day 2; Kayaking Tomales Bay Day 3

Click here for the flickr photo set

Three Nights in Joshua Tree - Day 4 the end

On the last day of our adventure Bucci and I woke in the back of the 4runner once again agreeing that it was a much more pleasurable place to sleep than the tent. After a quick oatmeal breakfast we packed up the camp, burned all the remaining wood in an amazing display of pyrotechnics and said goodbye to our campground neighbors. We headed off to the cactus garden in the southern part of the park. Joshua Tree National Park spans two desert regions. The Mojave Desert in the northern part of the park is where the Joshua trees are found. As you drive through the transition zone to the Colorado Desert these unique trees become sparser and the Cholla cactus becomes more abundant. The cactus garden is a treasure trove of these Cholla cactus. At the start of the trail we picked up and informative brochure which explained the mainy characteristics of the jumping cholla, pencil cholla and desert life in general. The trail wound through a natural stand of cactus so garden is a bit of a misnomer but it was a very interesting place.

Having plenty of time to get back to LA and no other plans for the day Bucci and I stopped in the ranger station at the Cottonwood exit station to inquire about taking a 4 wheel drive road out to I-10. The ranger said the 20 miles would take us 2.5-3 hours and we should be fine in our 4 wheel drive. We decided to try it for at least the first seven miles which would take us to Pinkham Canyon, then we could turn back if time was against us. The sign at the entrance to the Pinkahm Canyon Road looked similiar to that of Geology Tour Road so we didn't waste time stopping to read it. Big mistake - Pinkham Canyon Road is not only a four wheel drive road, it is a high clearance road. The scenery was gorgeous, the road wound its way far from civilization, through many washes and down throuh Pinkham Canyon. Along the way we came up against enormous rocks, steep dropoffs, large washouts and in general were in way over our aheads. But we pushed our fears aside and perservered through it all to make it the entire twenty miles to I-10. The car was badly scratched, Bucci's (who did an excellent job of driving) nerves were frayed, the beer bottles in the cooler were broke, but we reached our destination. As they say it's really all about the journey and from first to last in Joshua Tree we made the most of ours.

Three Nights in Joshua Tree - Day 3

Day three started much better than day two after a very peaceful night and a new appreciation of redneck camping (I hate to admit just how enjoyable it was to sleep in the 4Runner). Bucci and I set out in the morning to hike up Ryan Mountain. The signpost at the trailhead announces the Ryan mountain trail as a "reaffirmation of life". I'm not sure it was quite that amazing but it is a good hike. Ascending over 1,500 feet in 1.8 miles the hike is steep, and being in the desert very dry. There is a nice spot three quarters of the way up which must catch a little rain as the bushes provide a refreshingly green resting spot. The top of Ryan Mountain (5,457 ft) affords a very good view of the mountains and basins that make up Joshua Tree. It was warm enough again to be hiking in shorts so a very enjoyable hike to start the day.

After a quick run into town to pick up more firewood we headed off to Geology Tour road. We dutifully read the sign at the start of the road warning that it is a non maintained road requiring four wheel drive. Somehow we missed picking up the booklet explaining the geology features so mostly we just enjoyed the view. What a view it is! The road winds down into the Pleasant Valley. A very flat valley floor, the mountains rising up around us. The sun was warm on our backs as we made many stops to take loads of pictures and videos of the beauty around us. As the sun sank below the mountains we headed back toward the Belle campground. Where on this night it wasn't windy or terribly cold. But we slept in the truck again anyway!

Three Nights in Joshua Tree - Day 2

The night was cold and windy. Very, very windy. In the morning Bucci and I fruitlessly searched White Tank campground for a more sheltered campsite. We then drove over to Belle Campground to continue our search. After picking up a leftover pile of 2x4's and deciding on a new campsite we drove pack over to White Tank to pack up our gear. When we got to Belle someone else was in our campsite, we were heartbroken. Eventually we picked out another site with a good western view, affording us as much evening light and warmth as possible. We unpacked all the camping supplies, re set the tent, staked it down and decided to tie the fly down with an extra rope to combat the wind. As we fumbled around with the last rope the wind got the better of us and blew the tent with all our sleeping gear in it off the stakes, into a bush. After extracting the tent from the bush, we detached it from the bent tent poles and glumly threw the hole mess in the car. With a whole morning wasted we set off the the 49 Palms Oasis figuring if we were at the park we might as well see something of the place.

Bucci and I slowly ate our lunch in the car, making a mess of things in the process. Finally we gritted our teeth and stepped out into the cold and wind. Only it wasn't quite as cold and windy. As we started hiking it was actually warm. After about 10 minutes on the trail I stashed the jacket I was wearing behind a rock and took off several other layers. The view behind us was amazing - the town of Twenty Nine Palms stretched out below us. We hiked on in shorts and t-shirts up a ridge through the hardscrabble desert. I rounded a corner and came upon the most amazing sight - there in the middle of the desert was a huge stand of Fan Palms. As we approached the oasis I couldn't believe my eyes. It was the most beautiful place I have ever been. The fan palms form a dark, cool moist grove where the afternoon light filters in. The view around is all brown desert but the oasis is a wonderful enclave of green. We stayed in our own little eden as long as we could - taking pictures and reveling in the beauty of it all. A place even more amazing because of the disastrous morning we had had.

The sun sets early in December so we hiked quickly back to the car, wanting to catch the sunset at Keys view. Driving to the top of Keys view one climbs to over 6,000 feet. The view is extraordinary. We gazed out over the park, Palm Springs, and the Salton Sea in the distance. The wind was intolerable but the sunset was a wonderful orange. On the drive home we glimpsed in the headlights a coyote scampering off into the brush. Bringing the day's adventures to a close, possibly the greatest turnaround of a day I have ever experienced!

Upon returning to camp Bucci made a blazing fire and we cooked up a tasty chicken stew for supper. As night grew late the wind died down. Still dreading the thought of another cold night in the tent we cleared out the 4Runner, put the seats down and settled in for a very comfortable sleep.

Three Nights in Joshua Tree - Day 1

A few months ago, Bucci who lives on Joshua Tree Court in a far off land sent me a beautiful picture of a sunlit Joshua Tree in the California Desert. So on a sunny afternoon in early December we found ourselves driving a rented Toyota 4Runner the two and a half hours from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree National Park for three nights of camping in the desert. I-10 winds through the San Gorgonio Pass and just past the largest windfarm I've ever seen we turned off onto highway 62 which would take us to the park. We couldn't resist stopping to snap some close ups of the windmills, which is easier said than done. Upon exiting the car I was nearly blown over by the gale force winds and had a hard time holding the camera steady enough for a picture. I now understand why the wind farm is exactly where it is.

We arrived at the Joshua Tree ranger station a little after three pm. After picking up a map, paying an entrance, filling up the water jugs and getting some campgound advice from the ranger we headed off to the White Tank campground. The campsites all surround a big pile of large rocks (a tank?) and with few other campers we chose one with a nice view and what we thought was some shelter from the wind. The sun was about to set when we reached the campground so we quickly put up the tent then ran off to take some photos during the sunset. We hiked the short way to Arch Rock, wondrously bathed in the evening light with the moon just above. Back at camp we made a campfire to ward off the cold and dark of night then cooked up some guacamole burgers for a delicious end to the first day of our desert adventure.

Kayaking Isla Espiritu Santo Day 3

Once again woken by the early sun the morning started with coffee and a cooked breakfast. Some of the group went on a short hike, I stayed behind to relax, read and take more pictures of the scenery. Once into the kayaks we paddled about two hours to a gorgeous beach surrounded by high ridges for lunch. This day I was paddling a green Necky kayak a stable, well handling boat which I liked a lot. As a side note Necky makes a kayak from 100% post industrial materials, what a great idea!) After a lunch of salads on one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen Rafael led us on a hike up one of the ridges. We stopped in a cave high up that the native people would have once used to shelter from storms. Painted markings and rounded out grinding stones are still in evidence. After admiring the views from the top for a while we descended back down to the beach and started off again in the kayaks.

The afternoon was very calm as we paddled by Rooster and Hen islands. The water was crystal clear and we could see many fish swimming below as we came to our final camping beach. The afternoon was again spend snorkeling along coral reefs with the best display of sea urchins and fish yet. As the stars came out in the evening Rafael told us a Mexican folk tale about the pearl divers of Espiritu Santo. I can't remember the last time I was somewhere I could see the Milky Way, but there it was in its beautiful starry glory!

After a last night of camping on the beach (sand, sand everywhere!) we set off over rougher waters for one last bit of kayaking past more red cliffs and white sandy beaches. Around noon we arrived at our last lunch beach and all too soon the motor skiff was there to bring us back to La Paz. The kayak guy and I rode the three hour bus ride back to San Jose del Cabo, checked into the Hotel Tropicana and immediately jumped into the warm swimming pool. After a wonderful hot shower we settled in for our last meal in Mexico at our hotel where a fantastic Cuban band was the evening's entertainment. The journey home was long and arduous and best left forgotten, I can't express how happy I was to eventually be back in Oakland.

Kayaking in Baja was a great experience, I hadn't known the area was so beautiful. Overall there was probably not enough kayaking in this trip, though I enjoyed all the time spent snorkeling. I often say that I like camping, but when I am actually camping there's not a whole lot that's enjoyable about sleeping in a tent, not showering and having sand everywhere. The warm dry days and hot cooked meals certainly made this a more comfortable than usual camping trip. The thing I like best about camping is being unplugged for a number of days. When I get back I miss the quiet, the focus you have without TV, radio or a million things going on outside your window.

Day 1; Day 2

Flicker Set

Kayaking Isla Espiritu Santo - Day 2

The night proved to be windy and the sunrise filtering in through the tent walls got us up early. After a quick cup of coffee and breakfast of fruit and yogurt we packed up our bags and tents. With other still packing up the kayak guy and I set off for a short hike in the canyon behind camp. The island environment is very much a desert. A few wildflowers creep into shady spots but most of the plant life is cacti. I've never seen so many different kinds of cacti pipe organ, barrel, jumping, prickly pear and others which I do not know the name. Occasionally we would see one blooming a bright yellow or red breaking up the orange color of the rock and dust. The lizards were out in the morning sun and very unafraid as we passed by.

When we returned to the beach it was time to launch the kayaks and be on our way. I was in a Seda kayak, usually the kayaks I'm in are too big for me, but this one was just my size and I liked it quite a bit. We paddled across the small bays below towering red cliffs. The pelicans dove, the frigate birds soared and a few grebes and a kingfisher made an appearance. As we passed by some vultures devouring something on a rock I couldn't help but wonder if it was a pelican body. The pelicans in old age often go blind from having dove at the water so hard for so many years, and many die by diving onto the rocks when they can no longer see the water.

After landing on our camping beach and a lunch of ceviche the afternoon was spent snorkeling and more snorkeling. I was astounded by the number of sea urchins and star fish to be found. There were also angel fish, porcupine fish, a sea cucumber and many other wonders of the deep. After coming out of the sea we had the very pleasant opportunity to shower under a bucket of fresh water pulled up from a well. There's nothing more refreshing than rinsing off two days of salt, seat and sand!

Some of the group went for a sunset cruise around Whale Island while I stayed onshore with a few others to watch the pelicans dive and take picture after picture of the spectacular sunset which only grew more beautiful with every passing moment. The dark of night came eventually and with the lantern broken no light to spoil the starry, starry sky.

Continue the adventure:
Day 1; Day 3

Flicker Set

Kayaking Isla Espiritu Santo - Day 1

Isla Espiritu Santo lies just off the tip of La Paz on the Sea of Cortez side of Baja California. La Paz, the setting for Steinbeck's The Pearl is a beautiful town, with a gorgeous walkway along the water. Waiting outside our hotel to be picked up for four days of kayaking I couldn't help but think I would have liked to spend another day in La Paz. Annasellie the guide from Baja Outdoor Adventures arrived promptly at 7:50, the kayak guy and I loaded all our gear into the van which then stopped at other hotels in La Pa to pick up the rest of our group and brought us to the BOA office. At the office we picked up snorkel gear, put together our paddles and left behind anything we wouldn't be needing for the next four days.

Everything we would be needing was loaded onto a motorboat that would ferry us out to Isla Espiritu Santo. On the boat ride out to our first camping beach we passed by an island of nesting great blue herons, and the trio of islands we would see again later Rooster, Hen and Whale Islands. After dropping our gear off at camp the boat took us out to the tip of Espiritu Santo where a colony of sea lions live. Annasellie spoke a bit about the sea lions, boobies, jelly fish and other marine life we would see. We were then free to jump off the boat and snorkel to our heart's content. It was a wonderful spot, sea lions swimming all around us, an archway to swim through with a ghostly jellyfish in the dark below and all sorts of coral and scores of fish of which I have no idea what most of them were.

After an hour or so of snorkeling we returned to our camp where Annasellie introduced us to Leah and Rafael our guides for the rest of the trip. After a quick lunch Rafael went through the camp setup and a rudimentary introduction to the kayak. All nine of us went out and did a quick wet exit, the KG did a roll to the oohs and aahs of the audience. Leah took us out for a short paddle beneath the looming red cliffs which would be our backdrop for days to come. Back at camp Mario, the cook had whipped up a pitcher of margaritas for happier hour and a dinner of chicken fajitas. The more fun members of the group played a game of Fun!Fun!Fun! while I sat out and watched the stars and wrote the day's adventures by the warm light of the lantern.

Continue the adventure:
Day 2; Day 3

Flicker Set

The Return (Day 5 of a 5 part series)

On the third night in the silicone impregnated nylon shelter there was scant rest for the weary. The wind had picked up that day and grew fiercer during the night. The adventurers hunkered down in their sleeping sacs as the wind howled down the pass hitting the tent with madness. All night the two lay awake feeling one gale blow by just as the next one was building strength.

The day dawned bright but cold. Without a pause for breakfast the travelers broke camp and set out on the trail to leave the mountains behind. Along the way they met others who were on the way to cold adventure. The happy hikers were glad their time in the wilderness had been so isolated. A group on horses was encountered and the man at the end of the string mentioned a silver knife he owned had been lost along the trail and could the pair keep an eye out for it. Along the trail the adventurers came along some grazing llamas, more people, and an ill kept camp the type of which give bears a bad name. The two hardly paused and though they moved quickly the trip out seemed much longer than when they had trod the path three days before. A glint of silver suddenly stuck our heroine’s eye, it was the knife lost by the young cowboy. As promised when the pair finally reached the trailhead she left it at the pack station with a note and hopes that the owner would recover it.The hearty wanderers drove reluctantly out of the mountains with a new sense of just how big those mountains really are. Many stops were made to take photographs and admire the scenery. They traveled back through Yosemite where in the days they were gone veins of yellow started creeping up the rock faces where trees which grew along the streambeds heralded the coming of autumn. The weary souls stopped to admire the grandeur of Yosemite and though they wished to stay the night, there was no room at the inn or anywhere else in the park, as it was a holiday weekend and overrun with visitors.

And so our heroic pair returned, late at night on a Saturday, to a small apartment in the city by the city by the bay from whence they had departed some days before.



Day 1; Day 2; Day 3 ; Day 4;

A Long Day's Journey (Day 4 of a 5 part series)

With grand plans to climb Mt. Langley the voyagers awoke at first light, well rested after a warm uneventful night. The dynamic duo set out on the steep climb to New Army Pass. Things were not well with our heroine who moved at a snails pace but felt things would get better as the day went on and besides they had plenty of time to reach the goal. Her energetic companion urged her on and the two stopped for a quick breakfast at High Lake on the way to New Army Pass. On top of the pass they finally saw to the other side of the ridge that towered above them. The views of the Big Whitney Meadow and surrounding mountains was tremendous. Mt. Langley remained a long way off and so the adventurers started down to Army Pass and the long climb from up to Langley. The trail grew confusing and often the wrong path taken. Our heroine spent all her thoughts on putting one foot in front of another hardly having the wherewithal to string together four words – I lost my hat. Yes the hat was lost, photography forgotten yet they continued on. A beast appeared in sheep-like form on a rock high overhead and the pair gazed in amazement at the creature, which was later determined to be a deer. Near the summit top they left their packs by a boulder to try to reach the top unburdened. A few steps later our heroine could go no more and crawled under a rock for a nap. The wise pair decided it was time to turn around – a few hundred yards from the summit at an altitude over 13,500 ft.



On the descent our heroine became positively giddy with oxygen skipping along the trail, racing back up New Army Pass. However the altitude had finally caught up to her sturdy companion. She urged him onward, step-by-step and finally they were back on top of the pass. They met some kindred spirits on top of New Army Pass and traded tales before continuing on. Our heroes strode wearily back into camp, made a hasty dinner and climbed into the tent to await whatever new terrors the night would throw upon them.

Day 1; Day 2; Day 3 ; Day 5;

High Above It All (Day 3 of a 5 part series)

Unfortunately the night did not prove restful for the weary wanderers as the air and the ground were bitter cold and the sleeping bags they had packed in were not sufficient. The brave souls rose at first light and as the sun rose they soon grew warm in the still morning air. The morning was spent exploring the area, tinkering about camp and soaking in the sun and mountain air. After a lunch of Ultralight Joe’s Moosegoo the wanderers set out for an afternoon exploration. A ridge was climbed from which one could see all the way to the East Coast (or at least across the Owens Valley to the Inyo Mountains). The pair stood proudly above the lakes and camp and spent a time taking it all in.

On the way back to the campsite the adventurers discovered a sunnier, flatter spot near a small puddle of a lake which they decided would be a superior place to set up shelter. The camp was moved, baths were taken, and the contented pair settled in for another frigid night.



Day 1; Day 2; Day 4; Day 5;

The Adventure Begins (Day 2 of a 5 part series)

The adventurers awaken early to set out on their expedition. A stop is made to gather nourishment at McDonald’s and a meeting held with the local Ranger. The severe Ranger and her sensitive assistant takes down copious amounts of information about the travelers and their planned route, warns of dangerous frozen precipitation above 12,000 feet and verifies the adventurers are “bear aware”. A tale is told of persons either missing or perished on nearby Mt. Whitney the previous day. And so the pair nervously departs the settlement of Lone Pine.

The eager explorers motor 20 miles and gain 6,000 feet in altitude to the start of the Cottonwood Lakes Trail. At the trailhead the optimistic pair set out in good spirits and briskly hike 4 hours to Cottonwood Lakes. Along the way they maneuver across babbling brooks, encounter ice along the trail, cross a large talus and marvel at the sub alpine terrain. Cottonwood Lake #3 being the first lake of the chain induces the hikers to pause for a spell. They speak for a time with Jason who bestows on them gifts of apple and GORP.



The adventurers continue on to Long Lake where a tent is pitched, and camp set up. Our heroine splashes in the frigid mountain lake and is refreshed. The bear canister is opened, the campstove lit and a rehydrated dinner enjoyed by the shore of the lake. The bear vault is then stored well away from the camp and the weary wanderers retire to their silicone impregnated nylon shelter.



Day 1; Day 3 ; Day 4; Day 5;

Little Trip to the Big Mountains (Day 1 of a 5 part series)

Our heroine and her companion set out for a 5 day trek into the wilderness.They motor through the wondrous Yosemite National Park along the Tioga Pass Road encountering stunningly beautiful scenery. The pair take a short hike to view the big trees; but the intrepid adventurers have little time to stop and gape at the natural wonders as they head for their embarkation point of Lone Pine.

Day 2; Day 3 ; Day 4; Day 5;

Adventures in Silicone

A sure fire recipe for disaster:

One brand new lightweight tent
Tent seams that are not sealed
Silicone tent sealer
Plastic syringe for applying seam sealer

Mix all of the above on the living room floor of one small apartment full of cat hair.

They make seamless bras, seamless digital maps, seamless Photoshop patterns, seamless corporate transition teams so why can't somebody make a seamless tent. Knowing I had to face the Herculean task of sealing the seams of my new tent sooner or later I scheduled this past weekend for the job. The first evening went well enough. I filled the syringe with silicone and was able to more or less draw a bead of waterproofing along the seams. Then I went back and filled in some missed spots with a paintbrush. It was tiring work and halfway done I'd had enough for the day as I was getting too tired and careless. I cleaned up the syringe with water as best I could. After all how do you get a sticky, plasticky substance out of a syringe? I was able to push water through it so I figured it was clean enough. Somehow I thought all the little threads of silicone still in the syringe would just stay stuck to the sides not be pushed out the nozzle causing a clog. The next day, feeling confident from my prior success I squeezed a whole lot of silicone into the syringe and started to work. Only the plunger couldn't be pressed down without all the strength of my arms against. And then only a small thread of silicone emerged. I cut the tip off the nozzle. Hoping that's where the clog was. It wasn'’t. But how do you unclog a syringe filled with sticky goo? You can't. So I pulled out the plunger to try to dig the silicone out and apply it with a paintbrush. The stuff got everywhere - all over my hands, in my hair, everywhere except on the seams. But I couldn't waste the silicone so I just kept going continuing with the mess. This is the point in a project where I would usually quit and just sit back and cry. But I couldn't waste the silicone, I had to continue. I cursed out my ex-husband, I can usually blame things on him, because honestly if the jerk hadn't left me I wouldn't be sitting here in my wonderful California apartment, with my very expensive tent about to go on a dreamy trip to the Sierras, with gunk all over me. No, I'd be sitting in Minnesota, dreading the winter and getting ready to go on some wet, buggy trip to northern Wisconsin. I felt so much better, I continued and somewhat messily finished the seam. I then managed to get the syringe completely unclogged, ordered more sealer and am ready to start again. Stay tuned for an update on the finished tent next weekend.