Rounding out Oregon, then a cool California speed run

May was an amazing month of fly fishing and painting around Oregon. After the Metolius, we drove west to the coast at stayed two nights at Cape Lookout State Park before heading into Portland for a weekend with our dear friends Sam, Sara, and kiddos Eli and Heidi. It was so good to see them — there's a really special thing about hanging out with old friends until 1am even though you're all old now and have a 9pm bedtime. Everything seems easier, and funnier, with friends who are like family. 

Some nice beach walks at Cape Lookout. 

Reminder for next time: go to Riverhouse restaurant again!

We stopped by Ray and Katie Kaffer's place and had dinner with their little ones, Amara and Miles, who showed us the chickens and plants, and had fun watering the trees (but mostly each other) with the hose. Then we continued east to Hood River, then south to Trillium Lake. That was beautiful, and there were so many salamanders in the lake!

From there, we were back in fishing mode over two days at the Deschutes River at Mecca Flat. Fishing was a little tough, but Greg still caught some nice ones. 

Greg and a big colorful rainbow on the Deschutes at Mecca Flat.

Teddy oversees the Deschutes River fishing operation.

Then, it was south into California, and Lava Beds National Monument. You guys. This place is so flipping cool. I thought they would be little lava tubes. They are enormous, stunning, spectacular, dark, frozen caves. Some with bighorn sheep skulls at the bottom. Some with pictographs decorating the rocks at the cave mouth. It is an amazing place. 

Greg near the mouth of Skull Cave at Lava Beds National Monument.

Next up was Hat Creek! It was hot, but gorgeous. We spend the day fishing near Powerhouse #2, then slept nearby (note for next time: you cannot camp at the Powerhouse #2 dirt parking lot, which should be obvious because there is a small bullet point on a random sign next to the powerhouse and not at all next to or visible from the parking lot that says No Camping. Fishing was slow during the day, but finally right at dusk Greg caught this beauty: 

After Hat Creek, Greg briefly fished the Pitt River (and got beat up by his own fishing gear...got a fish on, slipped in the water, broke his net, got uppercut by his walking stick, dumped his phone & walkie talkie in the river...). Access was hard because of overgrowth and poison oak. 

We camped at Manzanita Lake, Lassen National Park for a night. That was where we always camped on our family trips as kids, and it brought back a lot of great memories. Dylan and I compared notes. For some reason, Hot Rock and the pioneer trail both make a big impression on us when we were young...we both remembered those two kind of random things. I painted at the lake in the evening while Greg fished (and caught a 14" brown). A thunderstorm rolled over us, but luckily we just got a few drops of rain. 

Unfortunately the road through the park was closed just a few miles up the road due to snow, so we didn't get to hike the peak or visit Bumpass Hell. But it was gorgeous, and nice to be back in a place where we camped so much when we were young. 

My person at Manzanita Lake, Lassen National Park, after a thunder storm.

Just getting started at Manzanita Lake, with Lassen Peak in the background.

Then, we were off to Big Sur to stay with Dylan and Jessie and kids. After one night spent at a roadside pullout near the east bay (due to wind, which was so gusty that we were afraid of driving), we made a brief stop at Indians near Fort Hunter Liggett (WOW those bedrock mortars! Too bad it was too hot to do anything else, but we'll definitely be heading back) then went over Nacimiento-Fergusson road and rolled into Lucia early afternoon on a gorgeous day on the coast. 

We loved our time in Lucia with the crew. Campfires and s'mores with Willow and Rell, games of tag (with continuously changing rules), painting in the orchard, playing "hotel" with Rell, video game hour (which was Greg's perfect nap time while the kids sat on him like a couch), a great two day visit with Danielle and Cole, tours of the bees and honey harvesting facilities, Bon Jovi, redwood tours (the kids kept saying "this is a Big Sur monument" about big trees, and the big rock), and a giant condor sitting in the Lightning Tree right above their place, which stayed overnight until we watched it take flight late the next morning. 

While we were watching it, it did some preening and we watched a giant condor feather float down into the redwoods. Dylan and the kids were immediately off and running, with one of them (I'm not sure which) yelling "I don't need shoes!" as they took off down the hill. Jessie "The Condor Oracle" found it the next day, right near the base of the Lightning Tree.

We went to Cambria for an evening to meet up with Yeti and Dad, to celebrate my Dad's last day of work. God, what an accomplishment. Dad, I can't wait to do all kinds of awesome stuff with you (and eat all of the baked goods you're going to be making, after Yeti has given you a handshake!)!!! You're the best and we love you!

The campsite at Dylan and Jessie's place in Lucia, Big Sur.

One of several redwood adventures it Big Sur with the kids.

Then, we all congregated at Yeti and Dad's in SLO for a few days for a real retirement celebration for Dad. Lots of beach time at Avila, movies, Morro Bay, cornhole, crafts, slime, baking, just hanging out with each other. It was great to have everyone together. 

After seven weeks of travel, we made our way back to Aspendell. Some mice had moved in, but the moths weren't bad. I did get a little afternoon painting of our backyard view:

June view from Aspendell, late afternoon.

We were home just long enough to get the hot tub set up when Scott, Laura, and August invited us for a weekend camping trip on the East Walker River. Which, of course, we accepted. So we were off again two days later into the beautiful Nevada desert. They got in late the evening we arrived, so Greg and I spent the day fishing and painting, roasting marshmallows, and watching the stars. 

Plein air sketch at Bighorn Campground at the Elbow, East Walker River, NV.

Me and Teddy at Bighorn Campground.

After a great couple of days on the river (only complaint: too many fish), some bighorn sheep spottings, a quick visit from Uncle Dan, and roasting hot dogs on the fire, we made an end-of-trip run to the Bridgeport burger joint for lunch before parting ways and heading a few miles south to the Virginia Lakes Road. 

A few miles up, we noticed a great dirt road along power lines (usually a safe bet) to the west, so turned off to spend the afternoon enjoying some amazing clouds, a few raindrops, and a bit of painting. There was a bit of a catastrophe when an unexpected gust of wind blew my whole easel over when I was about 90% done with my painting. It landed facedown in sagebrush, and was mostly destroyed. I reworked what I could and am happy enough with how it ended up, but man...painting outdoors is not relaxing.

Blank slate near Conway Summit.

Being up here makes me miss Mattie. Some of our earliest nomad days were in the Virginia Lakes area, roaming around in the Nissan pickup. 

We're happily camped for the night, heading back to Aspendell tomorrow for a few days before leaving on another camping trip with Scott and Laura for the 4th of July weekend.

It's good to be mobile. Even better when it's with friends and family.