Van-Tramp adventures 2016

[Van-Tramp]

More pushing North
www.van-tramp.com/wp/more-pushing-north/
(Pretty much all photos in this blog post are Instagram embeds, so you have to click the link to see them)

The push North continues, making the 200+ mile drive from Mulege to Guerrero Negro, where we over-nighted after a full day or driving. This gave Kerri the perfect excuse to revisit her favorite fish taco joint in Baja, so it was done.

The following morning began an all day drive to break through the “fuel gap” (200 miles of no fuel stations) between Guerrero Negro and San Quentin. About mid way up Mex1 we passed the dirt road that we used to merge to Mex1 on the way down Baja, after leaving San Felipe, 2 full months ago. It was at that point that we were traveling uncharted territory (for us) on our way towards Ensenada.


We passed through a National Preserve with some of the most scenic views along the way. Unfortunately, we had to keep moving forward until we exited the fuel gap and arrived at our predetermined camp for the night just south of San Quintin, Baja. Here we stayed at Playa Pebellon where the dogs got to enjoy the beach and I even struck it rich (in sand dollars)

A final long day of driving closed out a 4-day,  900+ mile drive up Mex1 highway. We now relax at our week-long destination in the greater Ensenada area which I will write up in another post…

 

[Van-Tramp]

Final days of Baja
http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/final-days-of-baja/

The great push North is nearly over. Within striking distance of the American border we come upon the Ensenada area, which was going to be our entry into Baja back in January, but now it is our exit. Before making our way all the way into the metro area, we took the time to do a little sight-seeing the La Bufadora Blowhole on the Punta Banda Peninsula just south of Ensenada.

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Kerri now admits to leading me to the viewpoint directly above the blowhole, ensuring we both got drenched immediately upon arrival. “Have you really *seen* it if you did not get wet?” she asks. She is right of course.

We learned over the course of our time here that staying *in* the cities we want to visit has turned out to be a double edged sword. We want the authentic feel of Mexico with some towns, but the tourist-traps – such as Ensenada – have tended to turn us off when we spend too much time in them. So, we spent our work-week not far out of the big city, and in a much smaller community also on the Punta Banda Peninsula. Camping along the bay, under the palms, at Rancho Mi Refugio was our work-week.

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Unfortunately, it was here that I decided to perform a little maintenance on the van’s refrigerator. What was to be a simple de-ice of the ice maker turned into me puncturing the coolant line and effectively killing the fridge in the van. Not only frustrating, but a costly mistake too as these fridges start at $600 … Argh! Van-damn it!

Even fridge-less, we continued our lives (who’d a thunk?). Finishing the work week, then taking a short Friday afternoon trip into Ensenada for Kerri to live out one of her many taco fantasies.


We did walk the touristy strip, full of trinket stores and pharmacies, to fulfill the Ensenada visit. Afterwards we drove another 12 miles North to camp at our final over-night destination of Baja; Playa San Miguel.

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A well known surfing spot, Playa San Miguel does allow overnight camping with vistas of the metro area to the South. Not the most scenic or private places we have stayed in the past few months, but it put us within 60 miles of the border and within 20 of our Saturday afternoon lunch reservation at Corazon de Tierra, easily the coolest place I have ever eaten in my life with all veggies grown on-site (in their own gardens) and meats from the locals.

Anyone who knows me, even in passing, knows I am not very adventurous in my eating, but on this day I ate sea urchin, a good portion of yellow fin, roasted duck, and a whole lot of greens that I would never have chosen on my own. Other than the fish, which I could not eat all of, I finished all six courses of meal over two hours and truly enjoyed it all.
Finally, and only after another hour of driving up to Tecate, and two hours of waiting in line, we crossed back into America just after our final sunset in Mexico. It is good to be back home, where streetlamps work and the roads are wide and smooth. We drove to the nearest Casino to camp for free on our first night back home.

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome back !
Thanks for the photos , it's about the only way I can travel right now .

 

[Van-Tramp]

Joshua Tree, Pioneertown, and Pappy & Harriets
http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/joshua-tree-pioneertown-pappy-harriets/

It was the perfect plan I tell you. We were going to spend one more week in the van upon arriving back in the USA. A week in Joshua Tree National Park, and surrounding area, before moving back into the Airstream. The kink in the plan was this week’s spring break vacation plans of all the ‘normal people’. All camp sites in Joshua Tree were booked, and here we are on a Sunday afternoon thinking we were playing it safe. A Sunday drive *through* the park it is then! I have only ever been able to drive through JTNP, never able to stay a night in it.

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During the drive Kerri and I both reminisced of times long past. Back when we both use to think that JTNP consisted of a single Joshua Tree. The sole remaining tree of it’s kind maybe? When we both visited, at different times in our lives, things were so new and exciting. Ah, the pains of a full-time traveler – it becomes “normal” eventually and the excitement can be hard to find sometimes.
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The good thing that came from the kink in the plans is that Pappy & Harriet’s (our plan for late in the week) was not far down the road, and wouldn’t you know it, the house band – the very band Kerri so desperately wants to go see – play only on Sunday nights. With no reservation, we put our name on the list and sat at the bar for the 2 hour wait. A stroll through Pioneertown, and a few beers down the hatch quickly nibbled away at the minutes. Before long we were sat, ordered, and enjoying our meals just in time for the band to start playing. A few more drinks and a few more hours of watching the band finished of a very well unplanned day. Afterward we camped right next door, at Camp Pioneertown.

Really can’t ask for a better way to start the USA again.

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PS – we drove an unconventional route into the Joshua Tree area and by that route we passed through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (established in 2000) which we both had no idea existed. Luckily a sign directed us to the Visitor’s Center where we stopped in for a short [paved] hike, then continued on. This makes for my 74th National Park visited since I began my travels back in 2010.

 

[Van-Tramp]

Final ocean camping
http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/final-ocean-camping

Yea, we are back in Northern California, specifically to drop Big Blue off in storage for the rest of the year. A quick visit to my family, then off we went to Bodega Bay to get in one final week of ocean-life before heading inland for many months.

Porto Bodega Marina & RV Park has been our home for the week. Expensive as hell, but otherwise very well run and clean, Porto Bodega provided a great view out the rear windows of he Airstream…

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Each morning we would wake well before the sun, inhaled a cup of coffee each, and set out to hike a trail within the Sonoma Coast State Park. Each hike provided views of the ocean and shoreline stolen straight from postcards.

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I lived in California for 37 years before leaving, and not once have I seen so much beauty. From the Tehachapi Mountains in Southern California, and the entire Interstate 5 drive (which is normally pretty drab), and now the coast of the North Bay. My eyes were on high alert thanks to all the green grass and overwhelming numbers of fresh wildflowers. It was easy to snap a photo that would garner a lot of attention on Instagram.

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http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/?attachment_id=9535With the coast life complete, we head East to the foothills where Big Blue will wait for our return in November. From here we go South-East to Zion National Park – in the spring – on our way to Colorado. Photography should be easy going the next few weeks as well…

 

[billybob200138]

WOW!!!! Double WOW!! Really nice pictures. Thanks for posting. HoboJoe

 

[Gunny]

I've followed your adventures for a long time before I joined the forum, very well done and great pictures. Fair winds and following seas.

 

[masterplumber]

Nice, when you get to Colorado send me a PM and maybe we can get together for a beer!

 

[Van-Tramp]

Nice, when you get to Colorado send me a PM and maybe we can get together for a beer!

Sounds great,

We plan to stay up in the mountains (Nederland and Grand Lake areas) through May and June. Not sure where you are in CO.

 

[masterplumber]

I'm north of Colorado Springs, but that area you'll be in is a great place to explore. I'll have to start planning at least a weekend trip.

 

[Van-Tramp]

Malakoff Diggins State Park
http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/malakoff-diggins-state-park/

We are back in gold country to visit Kerri’s parents for a week before heading over the Sierra’s. In our last visit here we did not get out all that much. What little exploring I did (I say I as Kerri has been everywhere in this area) consisted of the two state parks; Empire Mine and a tiny portion of the South Yuba River State Park. Unfortunately, we did not make it up to Malakiff Diggins State Park up the road at that time, but that has now been resolved. As a bonus, Kerri’s parents joined us for a portion of the outing.

On our way we would cross the Hoyt’s Crossing bridge on Highway 49. Here the Hoyt Trail leads off to swimming holes regularly visited by the nude sunbathing crowds. After my last adventure in nude sunbathing, and the company I was keeping at the time, I did not join them. Instead, we watched the river kayakers make their way down the South Yuba River and too the opportunity to snap a few photos.

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We entered and parked at Malakoff Diggins State Park we pulled into the old ghost town of Humbug (also known as North Bloomfield) to pay the day use fee at the Ranger’s office. Here we toured the town, peaking in the windows of the old buildings and their museum like settings. Kerri and I day dreamed to how fun it would be to live in a old town like this, true to it’s old ways. She would operate the local tavern, of course.

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The day dreaming came to an end and we set off for a short hike to an overlook of the diggings with the parents. While it is a beautiful view today, the man-made disaster that was caused by the hydraulic mining simply was not worth it if you ask me. Even if the mine had made a huge profit – which it did not in it’s 30 years of operation – it would never equal the damages to the land, and the people below the mine, in my eyes. Although it is a shame, it is a part of our history and I am thankful that the local schools bring busloads of kids up here to admit to that mistake. Thankfully this type of mining is no longer allowed.

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A mile or so down the trail Kerri and I parted way with the parents in search of what would become the most elusive waterfall in America. The trailhead sign said it was only 1.25 miles down the path, but after easily hiking that distance we never saw any waterfall. Eventually, we turned back in search of it and only after another three-quarters of a mile did we run into another couple on the trail to ask. “Oh yea, it is about a half-mile back that way” they replied. So, we passed it twice! It must be the smallest waterfall in America too.


We gave up and returned to the truck to start back home…

[img=200x300]http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_8858-200x300.jpg[/img]

 

[Van-Tramp]

Finally leaving California
http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/finally-leaving-california/


At the end of October last year, nearly 6 full months ago, Kerri and I pulled back into California from the Oregon side. We spent the holidays catching up with family, met up in Southern California with friends, then took to Baja for three months. Now that we have returned from Mexico, here we are back in California again. Anyone that has been reading my blog – for even a short period of time – knows my disdain for California (not necessarily the state, but the government of) yet here I still am, coming up on a half-year in a California of one sort or another (Baja is Baja California you know).

So when the time came to finally pack up and leave, I was as happy as a puppy with two peckers. Even with leaving Big Blue behind (again) I was good to go without as much as a glance over my shoulder. Just two hours down the road was the Nevada State line, and I may have actually whoop’ed as we crossed it. May have.. yea right… I fist pumped and cheered like you wouldn’t believe.


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A quick stop at Cabela’s in Reno netted a new pair of hiking shoes – desperately needed as my feet were in major pain after the recent hiking stint – some fresh ammo now that I get to have *all* my constitutional rights, and then a turn to the South to get to the Mono Lake area where we planned to stay the week. It was a short lived happiness being out of California. I often forget that the 395 corridor is still in California-proper, but here I am again after escaping for a total of about 2 hours. Just a few more days and we can leave this place… again! For now, this view will do, and free camping to boot.

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[highdesertranger]

I hear you about Kalifornia. I will be in that area in about a month. highdesertranger

 

[Cammalu]

Are you two going back to Baja next year?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Van-Tramp]

Are you two going back to Baja next year?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Winter of 2016-2017? No, we ditched the trip to the South East this past winter to hit Baja with friends. So, we will do New Orleans and the South during the upcoming winter. The winter after that though, we do want to go back into Baja and stay longer in each of our favorite spots.

 

[USExplorer]

I know how you feel about leaving California. I enjoyed my time there but was very glad to cross the Arizona state line a week ago.

I haven't been north of Mammoth but I spent a few days in the Owens Valley last month. Kickin' Sierra vistas and great little towns. To the east bristlecone forests and the Saline and Eureka Valleys.

If y'all are in to hot springs you can use this map to find them: https://maps.ngdc.noaa.gov/viewers/hot_springs/ There are plenty in the Mono Lake area, and if you are taking Route 6 over into Nevada there are several remote springs south and east of Tonopah.

 

[Gunny]

Van-Tramp, if you make it thru the Dallas Ft. Worth area PM me.. Dinner is on me for the entertainment of reading your adventures.

 

[Van-Tramp]

Thanks Gunny, if I remember I will take you up on that in 10 months or so

 

[Van-Tramp]

Convict Lake
http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/convict-lake/

Now that we are back out in the wild though, the outdoor activities are back on… so on our very first day we set out to a highly recommended hike around Convict Lake. The Lake got its name thanks to some escaped convicts from Carson City back in the 1871. The lake is where the posse caught up with the convicts and a shootout ensued. No idea why the convicts came here. There really is no place to hide. Nevertheless, it is a cool story that added to the enjoyment of the day.

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Byron and Moose got to join us for the nearly 4 mile hike. Moose loved it (off leash most of the day) and Byron was a champ, both playing in the water and hiking his longest trail since his rear leg injury. You just can’t talk him into his age, he simply will not allow it.

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A few more Instagram images embedded in the blog post http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/convict-lake/

 

[highdesertranger]

hey Van Tramp what are the night time temps up that way now? Convict lake sure is Beautiful isn't it? highdesertranger