Convict Lake

Amazing this is just a couple miles off 395. With too much campground anxiety we drove the sites and picked 74. I mention the number because once again Francesca thinks we had the best one. It was next to a hidden bridge to walk to the store, open view, and in an embarrassment of riches was close enough to just get wifi from the fishing store.

After paying we went to the day use area and put in the boats. It was a bit windy.

The next day Francesca went boating and walked around the lake. I went on a great motorcycle ride up McGee. I got a couple of good pics of Convict Lake.

Crystal Basin

Perhaps Loon Lake and Ice House Reservoir would be a better name, but the area off Hwy 50 we went to is called Crystal Basin.

We took our time looking at everything before camping at the far end, Loon Lake. Ice House Reservoir was first. Francesca was not enamored with the large campground, but liked the smaller one in the middle. Interesting to see a dirt bike path along the north shore.

The trip to Union Reservoir proved the lake to be too big. The first campground was completely empty, but it was about to close. The big one in the middle was open, but not attractive. This lake has a 7 mile paved bike path along the east shore.

So on we went to Loon Lake much higher up in the mountains. We checked out the campground for the first time without the kind of "campground anxiety" we normally have and then wondered off to the north shore. We looked at the campground there, but is was crowded and close together. Then we checked out the beginning of the famous Rubicon Trail.

After returning to the campground we took a place next to the lake, but I couldn't help seeing a better one that the host said was taken. However I spoke to others who had seen them pack up and leave. After some tactful, well as tactful as I can get, conversation with host we set up on the better one.

 

As people came to check out the place next to us we heard them say the parking was too small and they would like to wait for us to leave for more privacy. I got the idea to make CD of barking dogs and squabbling kids with rap music to play in the RV when people are walking by. Am I a bad person?

I rode the motorcycle a short ways up the Rubicon, but then thought better of it. I came in the other way and got just past Wentworth Campground. I did take a picture up on a slab, and then went riding on the fire roads north of this which was much  more fun on a bike.

Loon Lake has exposed rock and great views of the high country

Enjoyed our wine and sunsets

The third day we went to Ice House Reservoir. It was a little low, but not bad.

Very nice day. Can't really get a picture of the two of us together.

on the way out we looked at Wright Lake, very nice

Lake Alpine

Hwy 4 is one of my favorites. It is narrow and crazy dangerous coming up from the east side. There are great places where you can just pull off the road.

But we went to a pretty lake called Lake Alpine. We spread out at the lake camp site. Going mid week we got a spot, but really the best thing would be to stay at Silver Tip which is only a mile from the lake.

The lake is a high alpine lake. I always like the rocks formation with pine trees that characterize this altitude.

First time we have had crap weather. It was also the first time I used the awning, not for sun, but rain.

There is a little back way bike path from Silver Tip down to the Lake. It is sort of paved. There is a well paved bike path along the north shore from the east to west camp sites.

It was not the best weather for kayaking, but we brought them so we had to use them.

Wine tasting

Of the many rewards being clean and sober one of the greatest is driving other people while they drink. We stayed in Gold Country and went to the Eldorado wine places. We just buddied up with Dean at his full hookup place as an extra car.

Most Wineries are very pretty like this first one, Gold something

However they bought the most at a place that was like a tiny strip mall with a number of wineries represented

For the first time we camped with just the kind of people we normally try to stay as far away from as possible. Is was kind of fun.

Of course I could see good clouds over the Sierras. It is always a good bet that when I decide not to fly it will be good.

The only thing the camper did was not give us the expected battery life. However all my normal test show the battery as good.

Oregon Beach

The first trip of the year. I thought when I put it all away it was ready to go. It was prepared, but I was filled with anxiety.

First stop was Crater Lake. Being winter there was little traffic. We had the camper parking all to ourselves.

We really could not go anywhere. However the view is worthy of at least one good picture.

Francesca got a better one to merge.

The destination was Cape Lookout Beach. Anytime of the year is usually bad weather at any Oregon Beach. However the weather was perfect and no one like it better than the dog.

Took a sightseeing trip to Cape Mears Lighthouse. We were told the wales could be seen there, but someone forgot to tell the wales what time to perform.

Then off to Tillamook Air Museum in the WWII Blimp hanger.

It doesn't look so big from far away. However it is enormous.

Cool display of old radio equipment.

  

Here is my next camper conversion:

One plane I had never seen was the Japanese Oskar.

And more boring pictures of planes:

 https://picasaweb.google.com/112495916934888574485/201403Oregon?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKav7cjYnZfiMQ&feat=directlink

Really enjoyed a burger in cafe. In the rafters is a Rutan Quickie with model airplanes. I had to explain that it was real airplane, not a model.

Super nice campground right on the beach.

Saw some real 4X4 sportsmobile contenders. The Dodge has Sterling written in the grill.

However just being on the beach was great. A little wind in the afternoon, but not enough for the paragliders to stay up for long.