Wednesday, July 16, 2014

To Mammoth Lakes, CA

We left Bishop, CA today and traveled north again along US-395 climbing in elevation to over 8,000 feet by the time we arrived in Mammoth Lakes, CA where the mountains are just as spectacular as those we saw at Lone Pine.  The road continues to follow the valley that runs between the mountain ranges, climbing steadily with our RV taking it in stride thankfully.  The further north we progress, the more storm clouds we see gathering over the mountains to our northwest and ultimately we see rain falling from them with an occasional bolt of lightning slicing through the dark gray clouds.  We stop along the way and see one park before the rain reaches the coach.
The park is just off the highway and we find a place to park the RV and car without having to disconnect just a few steps from the entrance to the park.  A large stream runs through the park entertaining both young and fishermen alike.  The stream flows into a lake on the property and creates a wonderful area within the park for a serene view for anyone to enjoy.
Our inspection revolves around a pleasant conversation with the park hosts and Jim is given a grand tour of the grounds while I compile the computer information we need.  While we are here, I see the most amazing cone someone has collected and put in the office at the park.  It is incredibly heavy and huge-every bit of a foot long.  I cannot find out what it is from (pine, fir, conifer or something else) but will keep looking to identify it for us.
Then we continue on to Mammoth Lakes and find a late lunch in a small cafe after checking into our RV park for the next three days.  It is delicious.  Mammoth Lakes is busy with a Jazz Festival starting the day after our arrival.  The RV park where we are staying has virtually no Wifi and phone service is marginal.  This is a condition we will have to become accustomed to over the next several stops and it is frustrating since so much of our work depends upon it.  This town is both a summer and winter destination with ski slopes nearby and shops catering to a multitude of sports for either season.
Relief from the heat is wondrous and we can finally turn off the air conditioner in the coach.  The altitude does have an impact on our breathing and heart rates whenever we walk about the park.  We are staying now in the woods and fir trees rise all around us and pine cones collect about the back edges of the spaces and in the common areas around the park's buildings.  It is hard not to collect a bag of them to take home to decorate for Christmas.  There is a bike path that runs along the highway and we see people walking and biking by the front of the park.  It is pleasant and a relief to relax here without the heat.

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