A Quick Drive up CA-395

Bishop, CA
Boondocking


The truck and trailer were packed and ready to go so after dinner we could pull right out of the RV park at the rally.  The truck was already gassed up as we said our goodbyes and headed out about 7:30pm on March 30th.  Our plan was to drive west and through Death Valley. We've driven this route before with a small livestock trailer many times so we were a little worried about the steep grades knew we'd be driving. It was dark just as we entered the park.  The daytime temps were in the 90s so it worked out well that we left in the evening.  As we pulled into a mini-mart/gas station we stretched our legs and grabbed a drink and a snack.  It was in the mid 80s still!  It felt great for this time of night but we were glad we weren't there in the daytime.  So far the grades weren't bad at all. Once we headed out of the park on the western end, wow, we were surprised how steep the grade was going up.  Neither of us remembered it being that bad.  The truck did fine with the engine temp only going up a little but we sure wouldn't do that during the day with outside temps in the 90s.  It seemed to never end.  Once we leveled out we were quite relieved.  There were a few places in mind to overnight depending on how far we felt like driving.  We were getting tired but held out until we got to Bishop where we overnighted in a grocery parking lot.  There were a couple of other rigs there too and no signs stating we couldn't be there.  So we crashed about 12:30am.

The alarm was set for 5am but we could've slept much longer.  We were shooting to arrive at my brothers in Placerville by noon so we got dressed and grabbed something to eat across the street and hit the road.  Wow, what a difference in temperature.  The full moon was just above the mountains in Bishop and it was 32 degrees.  It was a beautiful sight as the sun started to rise not too much later and cast a pink glow on the snow covered mountains of the Sierra Nevada. 

I love the drive along 395 on the eastern flank of the Sierras.  It is so scenic!  After you turn north out of Death Valley area and hit Lone Pine you're in high desert.  Interesting how we just drove near the lowest point in the contiguous US (Badwater Basin in Death Valley at 282 ft below sea level) and then drove past the highest point (Mt. Whitney at 14,494 ft.) both in California and only 85 miles apart as the crow flies.

The snow was nice to see after being in the desert for 3 months.

 

The drive takes you past Mono Lake where you can see some of the tufa columns in the lake.

 

Driving through Bridgeport.

There is SO much to see and do along 395, but we have been here many times and were in a hurry.

 

The Walker River that we like to fish.  Right now it's swollen with snowmelt and running pretty fast.

 

The sheep were grazing in the fields.

Hope Valley after crossing into California from Gardnerville, Nevada.  Getting closer!

One last turn and we'll be back in Placerville in less than an hour.

 

As we come "down the hill" the snow is gone and it warms a little bit more.

Bridal Veil Falls in Pollock Pines.

An back to those wonderful (not) gas prices in California.  We parked the rig at my brothers and after a quick shower we are at my parents for Easter.  Phew.  What a drive.

 

 

Me, my brother Steve and sister, Kris.

 

2 of our kids, Shane and Kaylee.

 

Sister-in-law Diane, Alex & Brennan, Ryan.

My Dad and my brother.

Diana and Ryan, our oldest.

My Mom had made a nice surprise for all the grandkids.  It was a Memory Box which had pictures of them since they were born until present time, items that I had made out of clay and paper machete when I was little, letters to Santa and from summer camp and a summarized genealogy book.  Each one was personalized for that grandchild.  You could tell she put a lot of time into these and we spent well over an hour looking and laughing at all the pictures and stories.  It was wonderful and I know they will cherish these.

Another yummy dinner of lasagna.

 And to finish things off, cigars Ryan had brought back from Cuba.

 

It was a long ride home but well worth it to be back with the family!