Susanville

 Our last day in Bishop was spent driving back roads around nearby Crowley Lake.    When we were last there with Pam and John, we discovered the fascinating Crowley Lake Columns along the shoreline.   Since the lake level varies widely, we were fortunate to be able see them by parking at the top of the overlooking cliff and crawl down the steep side to the beach level.     If you're interested in these formations, you'll have to google them because their formation is way to complex for me to explain - or even really understand.

There's Pam, back in 2015, looking down the hill towards the columns below.

This year we were determined to find a way to take the Jeep all the way down to the beach and walk from there.    As I mentioned before, we were lucky that the water level was low enough for us to be able to get to the columns at all - at some times they are completely under water.  

We traversed one steep and very rutted section (I didn't want to do it, but Dave said - piece of cake)  and then followed our satelitte map toward what looked like a gentler beach access. 

we watched a distant sandy eddy work it's way along a dry sink

We finally made it to the area I was aiming for, but decided to leave the Jeep and walk the last 100 yards to the beach because of the deep sand ahead.

The sun was shining brightly, but the pesky wind made it downright cold on the wide, white beach.    We walked on, no matter.

oh Dave.....

What a fascinating place to wander around...if hadn't been so darn windy!    We both felt sandblasted by the time we made it back to the Jeep but we were happy we made the trek.     Who knows, the next time we come back they may be gone.    

 On our way home we took a short detour through the rocky and pine tree covered woods.    We do love our Jeep!

The next day we packed up and drove north, past Mono Lake, to our next stop in Minden, Nevada, south of Reno.      Once, again, it was a two hand on the wheel kind of drive.   Wind, wind, wind.

We had thought we might stay a day or two there to do a little exploring around the Lake Tahoe area but the campground had changed since we were last there.    It is a large park and was almost exclusively populated by long term residents and everyone seemed to have a dog.     The entire park was covered with large, sharp stone (good for the ongoing drought I suppose), not a blade of grass to be found.    They had two very small fenced dog parks which seemed to be occupied at all hours of the day and night.    We tried to take Lewis out into the fields surrounding the RV park, but found them to be carpeted with fox tail weeds.     Very dangerous to dogs.    The situation was extremely uncomfortable for us all so we decided to move on right away. 

Susanville RV Park was a welcoming change.    We've stayed here before and were happy to see it was as good for us all as before.    We're parked facing a small grassy field with a small group of deer wandering about in the morning and late afternoon.

site 10

Lewis notices them as they pass by, but says nothing.

We're able to sit outside for second cup and Lew is a happy camper.....After he gets his treats he nestles down in the green grass, flat on his side, and snores. 

Yesterday we took him along on our off riad adventure.   The goal was to find a spot beside Eagle Lake to eat lunch and to let him out for a good sniff around.

As most of the other lakes we've seen, Eagle Lake was very very low.   It's barely visible from the road that runs right along it's shoreline (it's original shoreline that is....).     We kept on driving, however, because I had seen a number of forest service roads (on my California Gazetteer) that appeared to go down to the waterline.      As we always say, we came to a fork in the road, and we took it!

all alone in the woods

It was so pretty and quiet and soft that we decided to eat lunch there, in the woods, instead of finding a lake side spot.   Before we broke out our turkey sandwiches we all got out and stretched our legs.

We wandered around a bit, trying to see where the road went next.    It appeared to go up and over a dirt berm and down across a relatively dry, lava rock covered creek bed but we couldn't see where it came out on the other side.  

   

Lewis seemed to be spending a lot of time sniffing very carefully in one spot on the muddy side of the dry creek.     When we caught up to him we saw what he was obsessed with.....and decided to eat lunch inside the car instead of out in the open - just in case whoever made these large tracks was still in the area.

Lewis didn't care one bit where we ate lunch, as long as he got his turkey slice!    

After lunch we turned around and decided to take one of the other forks to see if we could find our way.     

Nope, not that one.....back to the fork and down the third option.   Nope, not that one either.   They all ended at the lava rock creek.     Sigh.

Back on the main, paved road we passed through a large area of recently burned forest (part of the Lassen fire we think).      The downed and charred trees had been dozed into huge piles waiting for controlled burns to eliminate any more fire fuel.

Finally we found a road that took us down to the water!    We all got out and Lewis took off, screaming and wabbling along as quickly as he could.    His hind legs don't work as well as he'd like but the mind was willing and there was water in his view.

slurp slurp slurp

  

He got to the water and before we could catch him he waded in and had a good long drink and dragged in a few sticks.    I hope we don't have any giardia problems this week.....ah well, he had a good time, that's all that's important, right?

We were tired by the time we got home, it was a fun day, but a long one.     Early to bed for us all!

Zzzzz

Tomorrow we leave Susanville and head to our next stop in McCloud, California.

Stay tuned!