When initially planning this trip, it was going to be about 3 weeks. But health issues forced that to change. So, part 1, is a motorhome trip to the Great Orion Dark Sky Festival. Read more
  • Quail Run Tripping

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Camping, Short trip, Sightseeing
  • 362miles traveled
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  • 7footprints
  • 6days
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  • A view towards Bishop , CA while Les took Indy for a walk around the neighborhood.
    Bumper sticker on April & Brent's Tesla

    A Day with Family

    March 26 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    We spent the day with Brent and April. Les had an assignment to select photographs and send them out. Jill meanwhile took April the her local library to renew her library card. This would allow her to download load books from the library to her Kindle without leaving home!Read more

  • The road to Ballarat
    Ballarat does have some "miner" residents.But some places look a little less habitable.In campView of the Panament MountainsAnother view of the Panament Mountains.Last view of the Panament Mountains.

    Beyond Ballarat

    March 27 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 84 °F

    We left Brent & April’s place and drove to 4 miles north of Ballarat, CA. The last 7 miles was pretty much all washboard, 10 mph driving. There was only a small amount of stuff that had to be put back to where it lived. We checked in at the entrance of the camp area and found a relatively level spot to park the motorhome. The wind is blowing, but is supposed to calm about sunset, maybe. Tonight’s lecture will be on black holes.Read more

  • Sunset was VERY nice.
    Our was to the talk was lighted.Les flew the drone this morning. The red Jeep is parked in front of the motorhome.Most of the encampment.

    Great Orion Dark Sky Festeval

    March 28 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    The wind did not stop when the sun went down. We went to the talk on black holes and it was very good. The speaker is a astrophysicist from CalTec. We sat in folding chairs we brought and the wind continued to blow. When we got up to leave, the bag for one of the chairs was blown away, never to be seen again. This morning, Les walked Indy over to where the talk was and found the bag snagged on the bush closest yo the talk, so not lost for ever. The wind finally stopped just before sunrise. We have been charging everything with solar, but at lunch we turned on the generator to really improve the charging because the sun is in and out of clouds today. Les will be going to look at out closest star, maybe. They have a bunch of big telescopes set up.Read more

  • Breakfast with Jill, enjoying the nice morning.
    The FightSolar charging the Bluetti unitSide canyon erosion.Looking on up Surprise CanyonTurn aroundFirst creek crossing with a motorcycle heading out of the canyon.Panament Valley outside of Surprise Canyon.White rock in the canyon.Fine black gravel washing off the mountain.Another white rock on the edge of the wash outside of the canyon.Very little telescopes that you control with your cell phone.

    Surprise Canyon

    March 29 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    Last night’s lecture was all about the Moon and again was quite good. After the lecture, we stood in lines to look through some of the big telescopes. This morning, Les fought with the telescope and finally saw the sun with sun spot. Jill sent him off in the Jeep to take pictures at Ballarat. The sun was too high to get anything of interest. On his way back, he took a run up Surprise Canyon. The road is heavily used, but rocky and gets very narrow the further into the canyon you go. The road is a cherry stem, into the Surprise Canyon Wilderness Area. There is likely a mine back at the end of the road. Les opted to stop at the second stream crossing. And yes, the stream was flowing.Read more

  • Light traffic, but slow.
    Indy is assistant driver.Les fighting the stay on the road.

    Part way home

    March 30 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F

    The Festival is over. We packed up and left the campsite. Some people left yesterday and more than half were gone before us. The washboard road was still washboard and slow. Instead of retracing our way in, we headed south through Trona and Ridgecrest to get back the US395. We hand some wind, but once we got on US395, it got much worse. We normally drive at 60 mph, by the time we stopped for lunch at Coso Junction, we were down to 35mph. Les was exhausted, so he took a nap before eating lunch. The wind had easy up a little, so we set the cruse control to 45 mph. Most everyone else was running 65mph plus. When we got to the new construction zone that bypasses Olancha, we found a big accident that was being worked. It was two pickup trucks each hauling a travel trailer. One truck and trailer had both rolled. The other trailer was on its side and truck was still attached and its rear wheels were off the ground. The accident was likely the result of high speed and a big gust of wind making a contact between the vehicles. We gassed up in Bishop again and are now back at April & Brent’s place for the night.Read more

  • Coming into Carson Valley, the storm was obscuring the view of the Sierras.

    Home just ahead of the storm

    March 31 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 34 °F

    Heading for home up US395 was a challenge. The wind picked up as we passed Crowley Lake. Then Jill found we had chain controls in two or three areas ahead. The first was at the scenic loop road from Mammoth. The road was only wet there, but it was beginning to climb for Dead Man Summit, so Les disconnected the Jeep and install the snow chains. Jill drove the Jeep ahead and Les followed. He was being passed by all other vehicles. No one else was using chains or driving the reduced speed limit. At the turn off for June Lake, Jill had pulled off to wait for Les. The road conditions app said this was the end of chain controls, but the was no sign stating that. There was only a little slush on the road over the pass, no ice. The chains required sign was turned away from view, so Les removed the chains and we drove on separately. At the north end of Lee Vining, we stopped and talked over the radios. The electronic sign in town stated high winds ahead, but nothing about chain controls over Conway Summit. We drove on, up over Conway and down to Bridgeport where we stopped for lunch. The winds, by the way, were just a light breeze, barely moving the wind socks along the road. We hooked up the Jeep again and continued on. There were no more chain controls. We got home and put both vehicles into their garages. The storm began to snow and blow after that. What a relief to be home.
    By the way, part 2 of our spring trip was a workshop for Les in Santa Fe, NM. We learned as we got home that the instructor backed out and Bostick & Sullivan was trying to find a replacement instructor. So part 2 may be canceled and we may loose the cost of the flight. We are looking at options.
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