July 28 - Leave Cal Expo for Nevada City Campground

​One last bike ride before leaving the Campground. This ride we decided to go to the DOCO, downtown Sacramento, for a pastry at Estelle’s. 

Lenny doesn’t go on bike rides much any more. When we got back, we found him in the bed Erin Loaned us. 

Left the campground around 11. When we tried to reach our campground, we realized we couldn’t turn right on McCourtney road because of construction. Since we aren’t locals, we didn’t know any other way to go. GPS didn’t offer us any help. Asked one of the construction crew. Her directions took us on a backroad halfway back to Auburn so that we could come into the campground the “back way”.  LONG way around. Didn’t arrive to the campground until 2 pm. Only supposed to take a little over 1 hour from Sac!  

The Fairgrounds staff are beginning to prep for their Fair. They told us it’s been a mad house because of the construction. Hope they finish soon. 

July 27 - Bike Ride, Haircut and Baseball Game

​Since I had a haircut at 10 am with Kevin and we wanted to ride bikes, we started at 7:30. Cool ride but enjoyable along the American River.

Saw turkeys who are not afraid of us.

 My haircut was right next to Trader Joe’s, so stopped there for a few groceries. 

REI is close to our campground so we shopped there for a while but ended up not buying anything. On to Target where I saw several crocheted dresses. 

Then it was time for the baseball game between Oakland As and Boston Red Sox. Shan, Drew and Carl are Red Sox fans. Fun time cheering for them. They won with a grand slam - 4-1. Oakland will be moving to their new location in Vegas soon.

July 26 - Cal Expo Campground

​Drove twisty-windy Route 50 from South Lane Tahoe to Sacramento. 

I crocheted and Lenny slept while Bill drove.

Visited with Drew and Erin til they went to dinner and we went to journey to the Dumpling again. So good. 

July 26 - Leave Crawley Lake, Dispersed Camping near South Lake Tahoe

​We’ve stayed at this dispersed campground twice before. It’s in Hope Valley, at the intersection of Route 88 and 89. Great place to stay when you want to go to South Lake Tahoe. 

Sat around read and crocheted. Good rest day. 

Sunset gave us a pretty display. 

July 25 - Hot Springs, Hike, Bishop

​started our morning off with a foot soak in the Whitmore Tub. We turned off 395 at Benton Crossing at the historic green church (for future reference). There are a couple spots for our RV.  Next year!

Sierras are in the background. 

What we see from a camp site. 

Left camp for a hike on the Fairy Forest Loop Trail. Although it is only a 1.5 mile hike, it was straight up through the John Muir Wilderness before it started downhill along the Hilton Creek.

A few wildflowers were at the last stages of blooming.

A look back to Crowley Lake from about 7,560 ft

We walked through pines and aspens, a nice hike through the “fairy” forest.

Crossed Hilton Creek for a little rest before finishing. Look at the little bridge we crossed. A little shaky.

As we got closer to the end of the hike this rubber rabbitbrush was blooming. 

We had wanted to go to the brewery in Bishop BUT the temp there was 103! Decided to go back to Distant Brewery in Mammoth. 

July 24 - Kayaking and Hot Springs

​We decided today would be our kayak day z and boy what an adventure. 

Beautiful lake, easy access at Fish Camp. If/when we come back to the east Side of the Sierras, we want to stay at Fish Camp, right at the lake. 

Look how ca the water is.

Sierra Mountain range all around us.

We wanted to kayak to the columns that Carl and Shan took us to several years ago. BUT we didn’t make it  the wind kicked up. Since it was so hard to row, we had to walk our kayaks for a bit. 

After a lot of rowing hard, we finally made it as far Pelican Island. Still not back at the place we launched our kayaks but there was a road I could walk back to the truck and drive to pick up Bill and the kayaks. Another adventure but neither one of us wants to do that again soon. 

Here’s a look back at where we had kayaked to before the winds picked up…a long way!

After a rest and some lunch, we jumped in the truck and went to explore some hot springs. 

We are going back tomorrow morning when it’s 60 degrees no 91! 

There’s one other hot springs we found called Wild Willy’s. Of course we had to try that one, too. A long walk to reach them but on a boardwalk.

That’s it for today, 13,000 steps. 

July 23 - Crawley Lake

​Our next adventure is at Crowley Lake.  The “campground” I had booked was in a mobile home park, packed in like sardines. So not ideal but we have hook ups and it’s near Crowley Lake. Plus, we have met our next door neighbors, Gordon and Daylight. They have made their home so inviting with plants. This spot is the highlight of the park. 

When we arrived, we took the afternoon to wind down from all the excitement of the past several fun-filled days.