Early August Adventures
The Methodist Church in Bodie, built in 1882 and now part of the historic ghost town.
Wednesday, August 3, was the first full day off from camp host duties we'd had in over two weeks. Our normal routine is to be on duty 3 days and off duty three days when the other host in our campground would be on duty. On Sunday, July 17, the other camp host at Eagle Point Campground pulled his trailer out and left for the season without giving any notice to staff. Needless to say, he won't be invited back. We helped cover responsibilities on what would be our days off by doing camp check in the morning and selling firewood most nights. Thankfully a new host was found and he arrived this week so we got to leave early in the morning. We headed down 89 to 395 to Bodie State Historic Park and Mono Lake.
Early morning sun glow on Emerald Bay
Heading down 89 to meet up with 395.
Beautiful and dramatic scenery as seen through the dirty windshield.
After 10 miles of dirt road the ghost town of Bodie is in view behind the road grater.
The sign at the base of the flag pole welcoming us to Bodie State Historic Park.
All signs in the park are made to look like the "arrested" decay of the buildings.
Multiple bronze signs near the parking lot.
What remains of the town of Bodie.
There are approximately 5% of original buildings remaining from this old mining town.
Rob on the running board of an old blue truck.
Notice the beautiful clouds behind?
The weather was perfect for our adventure with highs in the 70s.
The doorway is the only recognizable feature remaining of this building.
Inside the school room with desks like I remember from 4th grade.
The front of the school room.
This school, with other classrooms, once housed over 600 students.
Inside the only remaining church building - the Methodist Church.
This sanctuary reminds me a lot of other Methodist Church sanctuaries built in the late 19th century, including Colfax, Downieville and North San Juan where I preached my first sermon as a lay speaker over 35 years ago.
The grey building slightly up hill from the others is the Standard Consolidated Stamp Mill.
We took a tour at the Stamp Mill and learned about the history of Bodie and the process of getting gold, and silver, out of the ground. I have heard about the gold mining process many times over the course of my life having grown up in Grass Valley in the heart of gold country, but this was the first time I heard that gold and silver were extracted together and melted into the bars that would be sent to a mint to separate the gold from the silver. I don't know if that mixture was unique to this area of Bodie - I want to find out more about the gold mined in Grass Valley. It was truly amazing to both of us how much energy had to be put into the building of this town and the mining of gold here - it's a long way from anywhere, including forests that the wood came from - and all for the end product of gold, a mineral that in the 19th century was only used for jewelry and of course money. Actually kind of weird when you really think about it.
Because of the rain that was approaching - with thunder and lightening - we opted not to walk around at the lake much. We'll have to save that for another visit, perhaps next summer. We'll also have to verify that the visitor center will be open there: turns out it's not open on Wednesdays which is when we were there. After leaving Mono Lake we went into Lee Vining to find ice cream before turning around and heading back to Lake Tahoe.
Do you see the little bird?
White Breasted Nuthatch (I think)
This little bird was flitting around in the bushes in front of me at the Overlook, August 4.
Today, August 4, I would hike to Cascade Falls and beyond.
The hike to Cascade Falls is just under a mile, but my plan was to go cross country beyond the falls. There is a lake, Snow Lake, above Cascade Lake and Falls, that is not on a trail. Someone told me it wasn't hard to get to by climbing up the hill. I didn't make it to the lake this day - think I'll have to try following the creek instead of crossing it next time I try - but I did enjoy the challenge of being off trail and seeing different sides to mountains I've hiked around for years.
Lake Tahoe is behind.
Looking up the granite I would hike up toward Dick's Peak.
Snow Lake is somewhere below Dick's Peak.
Wall or stairs?
This looked like walls I had to find my way around, but son Shawn and niece Emily would call it stairs.
I hiked to the top of South Maggie's Peak last summer.
I am much more comfortable going up than down, and am always careful to not go up something I think I might not be able to get comfortably back down.
Cooling my feet in the snow cold creek on the way back down.
Indian Paintbrush along the trail on the way back.
This is said to be one of the most photographed spots at Lake Tahoe, but I think the view from our Overlook at Eagle Point Campground rivals it. And we don't have to compete to get parking for our view which we walk to once or twice daily!
Friday, August 5, was a rainy day with light rain falling most of the day until late afternoon. We were on duty so we got to drive around in the gator for camp check twice, but with rain gear we didn't get too wet. The total rainfall was less than a half inch, but every little bit helps and after the rain everything smelled fresh and new.
A view looking north from our Overlook after a rainy day, August 5.
Another view from the Overlook on the evening of August 5.
Freel Peak is covered with clouds above South Lake Tahoe.
Beautiful clouds by beautiful Mt. Tallac.
Puddle on August 6, the day after the rain.
There is pollen on the puddle surface and several moths caught in the water.
Close up of one of the moths - I don't understand why they got trapped here.
Early morning light on Fannette Island, August 7, with Vikingsholm reflected in the water.
Our daughter-in-law Lindsey and granddaughters Sophia and Naomi came to camp Saturday, August 6 - Tuesday, August 9. The girls taught me a couple of card games, including their favorite, "James Bond," we of course spent time at the beach, hiked to the beach at Vikingsholm (almost 4 miles round trip), enjoyed s'mores around the campfire, and played miniature golf with daughter Ruth and granddaughter Avi one day when they came to visit for the day. It was great to have them here enjoying our beautiful summer home!
Sophia and Naomi ready to beat me at "James Bond."
Naomi inside a Cedar Tree near Vikingsholm.
Naomi and Sophia in the refreshing water near Vikingsholm after our 1.8 mile hike down.
Sunset from the family campsite on August 7.
Naomi and Sophia making s'mores, which they did every night.
I of course joined in the s'more making and eating!
Naomi and Sophia looking at the lake from their seat on a rock.
All the girls who came to visit:
Ruth, Avi, Sophia, Naomi and Lindsey.
Ruth being a kid in one of the toys outside the miniature golf venue.
The skies have been beautifully clear at the beginning of August - quite a contrast to last year's smoke from all the fires in the area. When I mentioned how beautifully clear it's been to someone they said, "Don't jinx it by talking about it," but I just feel so grateful for it that I will talk about it. When I was at Kings Beach for 11 years as pastor at the United Methodist Church there August skies were rarely as clear as this. When I hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail for 18 days in 2016 there was never a day as clear as these August days, so I will be open about my gratefulness for it!
Pretty moon behind clouds on August 8.
Sunrise on August 9.
More early morning beauty on August 9.
Pretty clouds on the evening of August 9.
Sunrise on August 10.
A cool looking cloud bank behind the mountains on the morning of August 10.
Beautiful clear sky and blue lake on August 10.
My sister Elizabeth, Rob and me at the overlook on the evening of August 10.
It was good to have a short visit from my sister as she made a detour from Grass Valley where she was planning for celebrating her 70th birthday in September in the place where we grew up.
A closeup of Straus
Not very pretty close up of Elsie.
Straus looking very pretty.
Erin has the same problem getting pictures of Straus - he's camera shy.
Elsie looking pretty.
Miniature cougar, or Elsie?
With Ruth and Erin in the background in the "island" house.
I was in Bodie Ca in 2016 with Mike Shelton. Got lots of photos. I also loved that little church & the old school house. I'm hoping to return there with Brad. It's interesting how they had very little activities to keep them busy then as, I noticed the chin up bar in their saloon.
ReplyDeleteBodie is one of my favorite places to go - when I was a kid, we lived so close that we would typically visit annually. :) love your journey!!
ReplyDeleteLove my armchair travels, thanks to you and View from My Window on Facebook.
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