Goodale Creek Campground (CA)

Goodale Creek Campground was another beautiful location we were reluctant to leave. Margaret found it using the Campendium app after we'd spent the previous night (06 May 2019) on U.S. Forest Service Land northeast of the town of Big Pine: a location where we thought we would have a cell signal, some quiet time, and great views. It turned out there was a peek-a-boo signal (which is highly frustrating!), and we also had an incident of a disgruntled, drinking person, who showed up the following morning. He seemed very displeased that we were camping where he wanted to meet someone. He did finally leave without incident.

We ended up driving back into Big Pine seeking a signal and a new place to camp—hence, our lovely six-night stay at Goodale Creek Campground. What an amazing alternate choice it was!

 Photo by Margaret.

The campground is not far off of Highway 395 in Owens Valley with the Eastern Sierra Nevada to the west and the Inyo Mountains to the east. It was very quiet with large campsites, modern vault toilets, trash, and recycling. It also had a decent T-Mobile signal (2 out of 4 bars LTE for most of our stay). We had planned to stay two nights, as I was waiting for a General Delivery package in Big Pine; but the package ended up being a day late. Margaret and I both loved Goodale Creek so much that we decided to stay until the following Monday.

Our dinner the night before arriving at Goodale Creek Campground was Tofu Scramble & Potatoes O'Brien. Yum!

 Vegetable Tofu Scramble and Potatoes O'Brien. Dinner and photo by Virginia.

Purple wildflowers near our campsite. Photo by Margaret.

View of snow-capped Eastern Sierras from our campsite. Photo by Margaret.

Western view of Roadtrek parked in our campsite with trees! Photo by Margaret.

Another lovely view. Photo by Margaret.

Since we had a cell signal, we were able to keep up with things, such as the weather. And on Thursday evening we received rain in Owens Valley and fresh snow on the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was so amazingly beautiful!

Morning of the 4th day after a snow storm the night before. Photo by Virginia.

 The Inyo Mountains from our campsite. Photo by Virginia.

 The Eastern Sierra Nevada from our campsite. Photo by Virginia.

On Sunday, 12 May, all three of us (Margaret, Peaches, and I) walked around the campground taking photos and videos. The weather was clear and cool, and the sun felt divine. 

A simple walking bridge over Goodale Creek. Photo by Margaret.

 

A wild rose popping up next to the creek. Photo by Margaret.

 12 May 2019: The creek level was up and rushing through the campground. Video by Virginia.
[If you have trouble viewing this embedded movie,

 you may view it directly on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/K5d97lWYCdw]
 

After our walk, Margaret said we should take advantage of the warm weather and wash our hair. As I was moving one of the camp chairs, I nearly stepped on a snake (not a rattler)! I'm guessing it was a Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake (from a photo on a herpetology site). After a startled scream from me, it simply slithered off into a nearby bush to hide. Margaret washed my hair for me, and then washed hers afterward. I sat in a chair supporting my messed-up neck with my hands. She stood over me using the outdoor shower nozzle with warm water. What a treat it was having clean hair!

Clean hair, thanks to my sister! Selfie by Virginia.

 Steamed and sautéed vegetables in marinara sauce over organic brown and wild rice and spinach. Meal and photo by Virginia.

I read three books while staying at Goodale Creek...

Purple Orchids  | The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo  | Sins Duet

Eastern view of Roadtrek in our campsite. Photo by Margaret.

We left Goodale Creek Campground on the morning of 13 May 2019. Both of us would like to return someday in the future. We recommend it wholeheartedly!

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Manzanar National Historic Site (CA)

After leaving Alabama Hills on 05 May 2019, we stopped briefly in Lone Pine for some more groceries and at the post office to mail some things and pick up a General Delivery item for Margaret. We got on our way with plans to stop just 12 miles north at the Manzanar National Historic Site, known officially beginning June 1, 1942, to its closing as the Manzanar War Relocation Center.

 The sign's appearance hasn't changed. All photos by Virginia.

The restored sentry posts at the entrance.

Manzanar (Spanish for "apple orchard") was the first of ten military-style camps established to house Japanese-Americans who were to be "excluded" from the general population after the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Roosevelt. By July 1942, the incarcerated population of Manzanar was nearly 10,000. Those people had been taken from their homes and transported here to suffer the harsh desert climate extremes, primitive barracks, lack of privacy, waiting in lines for meals and latrines, and working at one of the many jobs intended to make the camp self-sufficient. The camp remained open until November 21, 1945, when the War Relocation Authority forced those incarcerated to leave and gave each person only $25 and a one-way bus ticket to a new life.

Manzanar was named a California Historical Landmark in 1972; and in February 1985, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places by being designated as a National Historic Landmark. The visitor center is housed in the former Manzanar High School Auditorium.

 

 The visitor center with the Eastern Sierra Nevada in the background.

The 814-acre site also contains, among other things, restored sentry posts, a replica guard tower, reconstructed residential barracks, the ruins of several gardens, several building foundations, and portions of the sewer and water system.

California Historical Marker.

National Historic Site sign. 

We spent about two hours on the grounds, most of that time in the impressive 8,000 sq. ft. visitor center.

A guard tower replica. 

The Layers of History exhibit.

Flags representing the ten relocation camps.

 War Relation Authority (WRA) exhibit.

ID Tag Station exhibit. 

I thought the exhibits, tone, and mood of the site was somber, respectful, and effective in portraying what life was like for those incarcerated there. I was particularly moved by this large graphic that listed the names of the over 10,000 Japanese-Americans who spent time at Manzanar during World War II.

This rafter-high graphic makes a powerful statement. 

We watched the film, Remembering Manzanar, looked at all the exhibits, and browsed the book store. We were in the Visitor Center until close to closing time; so we left there to drive the 3.2-mile auto tour loop, stopping at the cemetery. The cemetery, where only five graves of the fifteen who were buried there remain. In total, 146 of those incarcerated died at Manzanar.

 The auto tour was well marked and offered many points of interest.

The Manzanar Cemetery.

  The "Soul Consoling Tower" by incarceree stonemason, Ryozo Kado.

In pop culture, Manzanar features prominently or is mentioned in several motion pictures, such as Snow Falling on Cedars, Come See the Paradise, The Karate Kid, and the television movie, Farewell to Manzanar. It has also been referenced in the television show Cold Case.

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Alabama Hills National Scenic Area (CA)

We left Red Rock Canyon State Park on the morning of 01 May 2019, once again heading north. We stopped briefly in Pearsonville to catch up on our iPhones, to call my daughter, and to get veggie subs at Subway. (We added our own tasty vegan Provolone cheese, Tofurky deli slices, and our preferred special condiments to make them extra yummy!)

We drove to Lone Pine to get a few groceries (mostly produce). All the while, I was gawking at Mount Whitney, which is a major draw for hikers/mountaineers. Then we let Google Maps continue to direct us to our next camping adventure—Alabama Hills—where we hoped to boondock for a few days. [NOTE: In March 2019, Congress designated the Alabama Hills as a National Scenic Area as a part of the John D. Dingell, Jr Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.] After searching for an easily accessible campsite just off the main road (Movie Road) so Margaret’s Roadtrek wouldn’t bottom out on the rocks and potholes, we found a perfect pull-through site next to Movie Road farther in after it turned into a smaller dirt road. It was close enough to level that we only needed one leveling ramp. The view made almost anything worth it!

And what a welcome it is! Photo by Virginia.

Alabama Hills colorful granite. Photo by Virginia.

 

 Sunrise shadow and the view! Photo by Virginia.

After setting up the Roadtrek and putting the chairs out, I sat and took in the absolutely breathtaking grandeur of the area. The Alabama Hills area is eye-catching on its own, but with the Eastern Sierra Nevada as a backdrop…oh my! Margaret and I both thought these majestic mountains looked like a painted mural. They were towering and craggy gray with the snow looking like it dripped heavily from a painter’s brush. I couldn’t get enough of that view, which meant I sat outside for hours—the first morning with some spicy chai. When I went into the Roadtrek (after I lost my shade) to continue reading, I was drawn to look at them through the window every few seconds, no matter how good my current read was. Waking up in the morning, I could admire them through the window over Margaret’s bed as the sun rose behind me, casting them in a mild gold light.

Peaches enjoyed the view, too!

Peaches on the lookout! Photo by Virginia.

 Panorama of our gorgeous view. Video by Margaret.
[If you have trouble viewing this embedded movie, 

you may view it directly here: https://youtu.be/8X87wNUZFO4]

Left to right 1 of 4: Our view of the fascinating boulders & majestic Sierras. Photo by Margaret.

Left to right 2 of 4: Our view of the fascinating boulders & majestic Sierras. Photo by Margaret.

Left to right 3 of 4: Our view of the fascinating boulders & majestic Sierras. Photo by Margaret.

Left to right 4 of 4: Our view of the fascinating boulders & majestic Sierras. Photo by Margaret.

Since we were right next to the road, there was quite a bit of traffic. I was surprised by the amount, even in the darkness of the early morning. It's a very popular place to camp, but the area is so vast that each rig can camp well spaced from the others. I think the entire area is granite. The boulders are granite, and the ground and roads are decomposed granite. The vehicles crunched as they drove over the roads, and all the pedestrians crunched as they walked or jogged. So, it wasn’t only a visual wonder, it was an audible one, as well.

On our second night there, Thursday, I cooked up miso ramen for dinner and topped it with some sautéed tofu, onion, mushrooms, and bell peppers (Miso Rice Ramen with Tofu & Veggies). It was pretty good, but I should have tossed some garlic in there too.

 Miso ramen with tofu and vegetables. Photo by Virginia.

There was absolutely no cell service at our campsite, but on Friday morning we drove down toward the southern entrance/exit where there was enough of a signal that I could receive a phone appointment call, and we could catch up online a little. It was great checking up on everything, but the entire time we were there I was worried that someone would take over our campsite. Oh, the anxiety! Imagine how happy Margaret and I were to find it unoccupied on our return. Whew!

Each morning I sat outside with my Kindle while Margaret took Peaches for an “adventure walk,” which she gets very animated for—Peaches, more than Margaret. ;>) In fact, I finished four books in the five nights we stayed there. Yes!

 

The Boy  |  Angel  |  Ambush  |  Eleanor & Grey

Each evening we enjoyed dinner from the comfort of our beds while we watched a couple or so episodes of a show Margaret had downloaded from Amazon Prime Video. It was called Cruisin’ Route 66 by Michael Wallis. It seemed appropriate since we had so recently done just that, albeit for a short length.

Saturday’s dinner was Amy’s vegan lasagna, slowly defrosted and cooked in the skillet, cut up, and served over whole wheat rotini pasta, plus a simmered marinara sauce with onion, garlic, and Italian herbs (Amy's Lasagna, Pasta Marinara, & Veggies). I steamed some garden-style vegetables, too. Just before serving, I tossed some cashews on top because who doesn’t love cashews?

Amy's Lasagna over whole wheat rotini plus marinara sauce with steamed veggies. Photo by Virginia.

We can’t recommend strongly enough that you visit this area if possible. It is very special! It is also BLM land and costs nothing to visit here. [The remainder of this paragraph was composed and inserted by Margaret for clarification.] We camped here because many sources indicated that it was an option. When I checked the BLM Website, the camping symbol indicates that camping is one user option, even though it isn't mentioned in the descriptive text below. Of course, the text also says horseback riding is a popular (and therefore assumed to be okay) activity; however, the equestrian symbol is not posted. Hmmm. When I checked the online BLM brochure (publication date 09-30-2018), all the wording about camping on the BLM land is vague and suggestive (hinting at dedicated campgrounds being preferable) but no strong statement about it being day use only. For example, the following statement on the brochure only mentions the City of Los Angeles owned lands in the area and not the BLM lands: "City of Los Angeles owned lands in the area are open for day use only." Very confusing, yes? LOTS of people were camping there, and we camped within BLM boundaries. We would do it again, but you all need to decide for yourselves.

Leaving this area on 06 May was the most difficult departure of any of our stops yet. It has its own kind of draw that’s difficult to express adequately.

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Randsburg, Coso Junction, Red Rock Canyon State Park (CA)

We gassed up the Roadtrek before leaving the “big city” of Barstow, CA, on 25 April 2019 and drove west on Highway 58 before heading north on Highway 395. After crossing from San Bernardino County into Kern County, we stopped for a visit in the old gold mining town of Randsburg. There were 70 residents per the 2010 U.S. Census; and according to the town’s Wikipedia page, it relies on tourists but only opens on weekends and holidays. Since we visited on a weekday, the only business open was a tavern, which we chose to forego. It was nearly 100°F; so we left Peaches in the Roadtrek with the generator and A/C going. After checking out the exteriors of the cool historic buildings on the main drag, we continued driving north.

 

Randsburg Historical Marker. Photo by Virginia.

Randsburg general store. Photo by Margaret.

Randsburg business. Photo by Virginia.

The landscape along Highway 395 varied between chaparral-covered flat desert and lava rock-strewn hills for many miles. Once we reached Inyo County, we happily noticed farmland, trees, and snow on several peaks of the Southern Sierra Nevada. Margaret and I had talked about several camping options but ended up parking and staying several nights in Coso Junction where there was a huge flat area to park, a convenience store, and a good cell phone signal. We spent many hours during each day catching up with photos, the blog, and other online tasks. Margaret was able to map the remainder of our trip in California, too. In the evenings we ate simple meals, watched more Bosch episodes, and did some reading.

The Roadtrek at Coso Junction. Photo by Virginia.

The Eastern Sierra Nevada. Photo by Virginia.

 The Coso Range. Photo by Virginia.

One of the places we had considered camping was Red Rock Canyon State Park, but we ended up skipping it on our way north for some reason. So, during our stay at Coso Junction, we decided to backtrack the 50 or so miles and stay for two nights. The drive south on Highways 395 and 14 was beautiful!

 The foothills of the Eastern Sierra Nevada. Photo by Virginia.

The weather was blessedly cool, and there were thunderstorms for much of the way. We arrived at the park at 1:00 p.m. on April 29. Even though the stormy weather continued, we were able to level the Roadtrek and get settled in without getting wet. The park is self-check-in, which meant driving through the campground to find the campsite we wanted before heading back to register. Margaret used her Senior Interagency Pass for a 50% discount—two nights for the price of one! (Yippee!) On the way in, Margaret and I both exclaimed about how perfect the many washes would be to ride horses in. The years of riding are behind us both, but the memories are happy ones.

[If you have trouble viewing this embedded movie, 

you may view it directly here: https://youtu.be/t5A-Uo1nR0g]

Near the entrance of Red Rock Canyon State Park. Photo by Virginia. 

Entrance of Red Rock Canyon State Park. Photo by Margaret.

Ricardo Campground at Red Rock Canyon State Park. Photo by Virginia.

The Roadtrek in our campsite by the cliffs. Photo by Virginia.

The erosion-carved cliffs at our campsite. Photo by Virginia.

That first night I made a delicious skillet dinner (Tofu Cubes & Veggies Over Spanish Rice).

 Dinner on our first night at Red Rock Canyon SP. Meal and photo by Virginia.

The next day I went for a stroll around camp and went again later in the morning with Margaret and Peaches. Dogs are allowed everywhere here on park grounds but must be on a leash. So we all enjoyed our walk on the nature trail. The weather was cool (about 70°F) and calm in the morning; but gusty winds kicked up later in the morning, which meant staying in the Roadtrek for the remainder of the day. Margaret finished reading the book, Be a Nomad Change Your Life by Robin Barrett; and I continued reading the latest thriller by Tami Hoag titled, The Boy. We were very glad we decided to drive back to Red Rock Canyon State Park; it was worth the extra miles!

 This trail was marked well and an easy walk. Photo by Virginia.

Joshua trees along the Desert View Nature Trail. Photo by Virginia.

A bright pink cactus bloom along the Desert View Nature Trail. Photo by Virginia.

Margaret's dog, Peaches, aka the Lizard Hunter! Photo by her auntie, Virginia.

A good read, and a great view. Photo by Virginia.

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