7/7: Summer storms and a lot of socializing in the mountains

HI EVERYBODY!

There's just so much to cover from the last two weeks.

We headed south on the 395 and have been roaming around the east side for a while with different people and dogs. It's been absolutely awesooome. 

Mattie and I left Reno two Mondays ago and camped near Convict while waiting for my parents to show up with the little gremlins. 

Mattie always jumps in the tent before it's even completely set up.

She can't get enough of tent living.

Mattie stole Greg's sleeping bag while we waited for him to show up later in the week.

The madness began quickly once they showed up. 

S'mores, fishing, wandering, hot dogs, creek swimming and battles. 

Then it just got crazier: the rest of the family showed up for the Fish-Off (EVEN Dylan and Jessie), Greg and Milo came on Thursday, and we had a great weekend playing farkle, 

family, chasing children, catching fish, 

and visiting before things mellowed out again for a few days. 

Anni, Dad, Sid and Yeti at Convict.

Get 'em fly fishing young.

Buddies fishing in Convict Creek.

Sid got this one all by herself.

 

 

Greg and Milo drove down a few days later in our sweet new adventure mobile! Meet the very recently named "Ze Buff":

Greg and Milo in the air conditioned adventure mobile!

There's been plenty of sagebrush wandering, including through the Owens Valley during warm and passing thunderstorms.

Sharing space with cows, bald eagles, coyotes, 

mice carrying their babies in their mouths,

mountains and hot springs for miles and miles.

Two of my favorite guys, in one of my favorite places. Owens Valley golden hour.

The glorious Greg and Sherwins after the thunderstorms.

 Basically, we've done some low-key fishing, beer drinking, 

rock hunting, bone finding,

Whoa-Nellie-Deli eating, gin playing,

World Cup watching, hot springing,

and serious spacing out over the last two weeks.

Como se dice, "someone's gotta do it"?

Greg about to do some serious fish hunting high up on Lee Vining Creek. There was lightning and we caught 0 fish.

We finally got back to our Lee Vining Creek home and were unbelievably happy to be there. 

It wasn't long enough, but we'll be back soon.

Oh Utility Road, we've missed you.

Waking up at the Lee Vining Creek home. It's just good for your heart, whether human or puppy.

Of course, the Mobil.

Fish tacos

Thunder and lightning over Mono Lake.

Tioga Pass looming behind us.

Happy as little clams to be back at the Lee Vining Creek summer home!

Mobil Station gourmet dining.

 Also, we found the cutest outhouse

maybe in the world

in the middle of NOWHERE in the Owens Valley.

I mean COME ON.

It's just perfection.

I want one.

But it wasn't all just relaxed wandering with Mattie, Greg and Milo.

For the 4th of July, our BEST BUDDIES came up from Santa Barbara (and Portland)

for 5 days of adventure time in the mountains!

We did all kinds of awesome stuff (in between beers), like:

PETROGLYPHS. And a successfully fixing flat tires in the middle of nowhere.

(Photo credits for all pictures below to SARA and LIZ, thanks friends!).

Sam walks with humans and bears.

Deep in the Chalfant Valley, my favorite band checks out some unreal rock art.

Just...I just...yum.

 HOT SPRINGS. Wild Willy's with best friends.

With storms over the Glass Mountains and Eastern Sierra.

 

Liz, Sara, Paola, Isaac, Elissa, me and Bobby. The rest are actively wandering.

We watched the US women CRUSH the World Cup.

Drank beers and went in the hot tub at our cabin.

Went paddle boarding at the lake.

Caught (and released) lots of fish.

Walked and walked.

Played Cards Against Humanity.

Found Rincon after he chased a deer to the ends of the earth 

(or maybe just to a neighboring cabin's BBQ).

It was an absolutely beautiful couple of weeks to get summer really started.

So many of our favorite people, in our favorite places.

The whole crew of buddies in the mountains. WE MISS YOU COME BACK GUYS!!!

Now we're back at the Reno Ranch, regrouping for a few days (with rainstorms in the forecast, hooray!) before heading back down to Lee Vining and June Lake for a special wedding celebration next weekend!

We hope you're all having a great summer so far.

If anyone needs a break, come visit us on the best side!

Love from our happy summer hearts,

Allison and Mattie the Sleeping Bag Dog

PS - HI KEVIN AND DAWN!!! If you guys liked your trip to Idaho, you should really come up here and hang out with us for a while :) We want to hear about YOUR adventures to the wide open spaces! xoxo Al and Mattie Mae