Tag: rv camping

Jackson Meadows #4 2015

It’s the end of August, and I spent 3 days camping at Jackson Meadows, again.  This time I had the entire camp loop to myself.  Just me and Ben this time since Biggs had stitches that did not need to get in the dirt.  I caught 6 trout, kept the big one, a heavy 16 incher.  Beautiful weather, Ben and I swam together and he also swam along next to me while I kayaked.

We hiked up the south end of the lake, which is a big meadow, now dry, exposing foundations of old buildings that had been covered up when the reservoir was created.  Apparently the reservoir has gone thru many changes over the years.  It started as a Log Crib Dam in the 1850s to deliver water to the hydraulic gold mines via 80 miles of flumes and ditches.  About 1875 the dam was raised to form a reservoir 2.5 miles by .5 mile wide.  Then in 1883 the dam was again being strengthened and raised when it either collapsed or was dynamited with the resulting flood took six lives and  caused tremendous damage along the Yuba River Canyon and Sacramento Valley.  Then in 1965 the dam  was reconstructed to the state its in now.

Sierra Buttes
My fishing kayak

Jackson Meadows #3 2015

Jackson Meadows Reservoir was once again a great trip.  Met up with my buddy Gary Goldsmith who taught me how to do night sky photography.  The Perseid Meteor shower was going on and I got up at 3am to try and shoot it.  Quite hard to do since the shooting stars happen so fast.  All you can hope for is that while the shutter is open for 15 seconds, one happens within your frame.  I had no such luck.  But its amazing to see all the stars that show up beyond what the naked eye can see.  It was also interesting to see light from Truckee, I guess, coming over the mountains from the southern sky.

Due to the constant water problems at East Meadows CG, the USFS decided to put in vault toilets starting with one right near Gary’s site #30.  It was amazing to see the thing installed within a day and a half.  The normal flush bathrooms are shut down cause of lack of water and port-potties installed.

We spotted a single pelican out on the water, unusual.  Also we believe we saw a bald eagle soaring over the lake along with some nice views of a hawk.  Fishing was pretty crappy the first two days with a only two 4″ trout caught and released.  But the third day had more luck with three catches and two saved for dinner.  My CG neighbor, Randy, caught 4 nice trout using a Rapala countdown.

Not much in the way of photos.  No great sunsets, Pass Creek was just a trickle.

Gary and Benetar
My site #34
Milky Way
Biggs and Ben
So many trees around campsite, hard to see stars
Busy resting after the PCT
New pit toilet
big nose Ben
Biggs cooling off, one dirty dog with bad ear
Selfie
Gary
Windy so great sparkles on the lake in the afternoon
Normally this is a big waterfall.

Loon Lake #2 July 2015

Our second trip to Loon Lake this year, back in my old campsite #17.  Parked right next to us were our friends Gary and Cheryl Goldsmith, in #15, along with their pup, Benatar.  Weather was delightful this time with lows at nite around 48 and days mid to high 70s.  And no bugs!!  Beautiful sunny days with great cloud formations, but often rather windy.

We hiked along shore line since the lake was down another couple feet since June, probably less than 50% at this point.  And hiked a couple miles along the Rubican trail into desolation wilderness.  Swimming and kayaking also, as usual.

I got to try out my new Garmin fishfinder and loved it.  Showed depth and temperature of the water, and of course, fish and fish depth, including sized icons of small, medium and large.  It wasn’t until the third day that I started catching trout using my worm and dodger setup, trolling.  Got three, kept the big one (15″) and gave it to Gary and Cheryl for dinner.  I also lost another three just when i was about to net them.  Fishing best along our campground shore, the boat launch area and by the pump out structure where I found the to be a huge hole about 60′ down and packed with fish, all at the bottom.  Probably 50 fish down there.

Anyway, a great trip, lots of laughs with good friends, Qwerkle (Kate consistently beating me) and cocktails and PBR.  Not too many pics, but here they are.

Cheryl with that big rainbow trout I caught (photo by Gary Goldsmith)
Two mature gentlemen at cocktail time
Cheryl and Biggs hanging (photo by Gary Goldsmith)
Kate enjoying the sunset while hanging.
Ben taking a break along the trail
Four happy campers sometime around happy hour (photo by Gary Goldsmith)
Benatar at his campsite
Kate checking out the climbability of whale rock

Loon Lake #1 June 2015

Our first campout this year at Loon Lake, and due to the drought  we found it to be at the 50% level.  Highly unusual since this lake, on opening day is usually full to the tree line.  Apparently the powers that be decided to dump half of it into Union Valley Reservoir.   Not sure why.  Also, this time I tried a bigger, more private site at the end of the campground, #28.  It was terrific.

This time Atticus joined Kate and I, our grandson, for the first couple days.  We played Qwerke (Atticus was amazing!) and Chicken Foot, swam, went kayaking, fished, looked for bones, climbed rocks and did lots of hiking.  I think he had a great time, I know I really enjoyed having him along.  When he left on Sunday morning with Kate and Biggs, Ben was quite sad, until he hit the water, then all sense of loss was gone.  Ben did a whole lot of swimming this time but never tired of it.  He absolutely LOVES the water.

Weather was really hot.  Got up to 95 in the Rv, 87 in the shade.  So we had to run the AC one night for half an hour just to cool it down.  Also lots of bugs.  Kate and I went home with too many itchy red spots.  I think Atticus didnt get as bit.   I hope not.

I didn’t do great in the fishing department but did catch two nice trout while kayak trolling in the morning.  I did “catch & release” to Kate’s dismay.  It rained on Sunday after they left, and I then found holes in this 30 year old RV awning, which I quickly patched with good ole’ duck tape.  Worked good enough.  I’ll probably have to replace it after the season is over.  Only other event was I found a frog on the kitchen counter one morning and had a mouse (or chipmonk) visit in the night and tear up the toilet paper in the commode.  I’m going back again in a week and I surely hope there are less bugs this time.  Also will bring a bigger fan.  The rocks and boulders were quite challenging getting that heavy kayak down to the water but I did finally find a path thru the woods that was relatively smooth for the wheels.  Rather out of the way but at least doable.

Atticus, rock climber
Atticus and Ben at campsite #28

Jackson Meadows #2 June 2015

June 7 -10th.  Jackson Meadows second trip this year.  This time I was in site #30.  An awesome view, nicely private (thats why it’s called  the honeymoon site), plenty of shade where you want it and sun where you need it for the solar panels.  But … a pretty steep hike down to the lake.  Not far, but steep.

Weather was great up until Tuesday afternoon when it clouded over and began raining around 7pm.  Also with thunder and lightening which, as usual, freaked Ben out completely.  He seemed to feel the safest place to be was tucked in the leg area of the passenger seat side of the RV.  That is until his calming meds kicked in, and I was able to coax him to his bed.

The Yeti and solar panels worked great and kept my rv batteries totally charged the entire time.  Pictures below show the setup for the Yeti relative to the batteries and the nice spot I was able to set the panels.

Fishing was not great  but good enough.  I caught three trout but decided to do the “catch and release” route this time.  I very much dislike killing fish.  As usual, the kayaking early in the morning, with the lake like glass was just fantastic, whether I caught fish or not.  I put the dogs in “Doug” the RV and give them a pigs ear to chew, hoping to keep them busy enough to not complain when I go fishing.  However, Biggs would have none of that business the second day.  He musta barked for an hour and a half inside the RV while I was on the lake.  I could hear him all the way on the opposite side.  Luckily he didn’t really bother the neighbors, and there really weren’t many in the campground anyway (midweek and just before school is out).  This time I found good fishing in the relatively shallower water to the left of the campsite near the end of the finger.  Tried several lures, however the only thing that worked was the SEPS dodger followed by a fat worm.

Here are the pics.  I took all with my little Lumix this time.  I like to always bring it with me, just in case but didn’t think I would be doing much photography since I have been here a zillion times now, so didn’t take my better camera on hikes etc.  The normal posers, Ben and Biggs, are  in many of these as usual.

Pass Creek Falls
Ben a little bummed because we are leaving and its raining.
Cliff at site #30
Not many campers so lots of time to play ball with Ben
Site #30
Cliff at site #30
Site #30
Xmas colors
Mr. Happy.. Biggs
Site #30
A tiny, tiny wildflower
Site #30
solar panels – boulder 15s
My Yeti 150 solar converter and battery
Solar panels setup

Jackson Meadows First Campout in 2015

Wouldn’t ya know we  have another terrible drought year with nil rain all winter, but when it does rain, its on the Memorial Day weekend.  My first campout this year.  Oh well, I love weather anyway.  I find it fascinating.  Plus it really only rained a lot on the first day and nite.  Also made for beautiful cloud formations.

I had my lucky site #34 however, with regard with to the fishing… not so lucky.  I got skunked.  Zilsch.  One strike is all with four days of fishing from both the kayak and from the shore.  What worked last fall, yielded natha this time around.  But trolling in my kayak early in the morning while the lake was smooth as glass and the sunlight beginning to spread across the lake and the only sounds were my paddles hitting the water and the sounds of a wide variety of birds singing …. was  absolutely delightful.

Next year I will book it after Memorial Day weekend.  Way too many people.  A huge group of friends (not mine) from Reno took up almost the entire loop I was in .  Probably 30-40 kids and 20 dogs, all running thru my campsite on their way to the lake.  Baseball games, horseshoes, and some other thing that just seemed  to make a lot of noise.  They did paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, biking endlessly around the campground loop and splashed around in the freezing water while the outside temp was about 60 at best.  Little kids sure can handle the cold.  Anyway, it was kind of fun to see everyone enjoying themselves so I let it be.  Kate loves the sound of children playing, for me … eh, its ok for a while.  But Monday after everyone left and only two other campers in my loop… it was awesome.  So quiet and peaceful, I was sad to leave on Tuesday.

First day I got there I was lucky to have a break in the rain while I got my camp set up.  But shortly after it started raining again and continued thru the entire night.  I thought the lake was going to rise and take away my kayak.  That was a useless worry.  Metal roofs really allow you to listen to the rain, which is nice … for a while.  The next morning it did stop, I went fishing, and Kate arrived around 11.  Rain off and on, so we played Qwerkle inside when it was too wet outside.  Took a nice hike up Passe Creek which is running just great right now.  Waterfalls look terrific.  Saw some bizarre mushrooms that look like the formation of pods from the “Invasion of the body snatchers” movie.  Kate brought  dinner of some amazing shrimp and lemon linguini pasta dish.  Wow, it was amazing.   She left early the next morning since Memorial Day is a big weekend at the cemetery so she had to work.  We only live an hour and 45 away so its rather convenient.

This trip I got to try out three new addons to my old RV (now known as Doug).  A Goal Zero Yeti 150 and two Boulder 15 Solar panels.  Worked great keeping Doug’s batteries charged and recharging my laptop so I could finish Game of Thrones Season 4.  Also in electrical, I installed numerous LED lights throughout which gave off more light and took a lighter toll on the batteries.   For heat, since Doug’s heater is extremely temperamental not to mention a power drawer, I got a Mr. Heater Buddy … which works off LPG canisters and totally kept us warm while it was in the 30s outside.

Anyway, here are the photos..

Pretending…
Pass Creek
Ben
Ben relaxing while I have my PBR
New fallen tree over the path to the lake, makes it a bit more interesting.
Pass Creek
some really wierd looking mushrooms, spores .. whatever.
Long way path to the lake, Dogs headed home to my RV in the background.
For Ben chasing sticks tossed in the water … the bigger the better.
Pass Creek
Biggs

Jackson Meadows October 2014

October is probably the best month for camping and fishing.  Empty campgrounds, hungry fish, nice cool weather, fall leaves and low lakes providing lots of shoreline exploring.  East Meadows campground was in its final week with only one other camper sharing the whole place.  The camphost had long gone, dogs could run free and it was so quiet and peaceful.  Until it started raining around 2am Wednesday morning and didn’t let up till the afternoon.  Lots of wind too.  So much, so that I had to take up the awning for fear it would rip.   Temperatures dropped to high 30’s or low 40’s.   For that rainy Wednesday we stayed in the RV and I finished two books and started a third.  I loved it.

Kayak fishing was the best ever.  I started fishing Tuesday morning and within 60 seconds of tossing out my trolling rig with a worm on the end, I had a fish on.  The strikes were constant.  I fished two hours on Tuesday, three on Thursday and just one on Friday, the day I left.  I caught 16 trout and took home 13.  Sizes ranging from 15″ – 12″.  No monsters but a whole lot of action.  I use a SEPS dodger with a worm about 18″ behind.  I have a specific area of the lake where the fishing is consistently awesome.

The East Meadows campground on Jackson Meadows Reservoir is now closed for the season, but the adjacent campground, Passe Creek CG is left open all year, so weather permitting (until it snows) I hope to make at least one more trip up there.  As seen in the photos the lake was down the most I have ever seen, but still beautiful.

When I first arrived at East Meadows campground
Top left my RV and bottom right my kayak. My short hike from home to boat.
Ben’s favorite friend to chase.
Always great views from my favorite campsite
Couldn’t decide which was better.
Large expanse of hard sand offered Biggs and Ben a great place to stretch their legs and run.
Ben
Ben swims along side while Biggs and I are in the kayak.
Mud hens
Biggs chasing Ben
Best Friends
After the rain
After the rain
Sierra Buttes in the background, looks like a volcano
On a hike around the lake.

Loon Lake #4 September

This was going to be my last trip to Loon Lake this year and I was so looking forward to kayaking, fishing and beach combing while the lake was down.  I love the boulders and granite formations that become exposed once the water recedes.  Meanwhile the King Fire had started near Pollack Pines but I figured it was far enough away to not affect me.  Well, not really.  Even though the lake air was clear, they had closed the main campground.  However, I found I could go to the other side of the lake where the North Loon campground was located and it was open.  It was good enough for the evening but I was concerned about getting my kayak down to the lake.  It was a pretty good distance encumbered by boulders of all sizes.  And once I got it down, imagine the struggle getting it back up.  Also around 2pm the wind had shifted and the air became rather polluted with smoke.

Well the next day I strapped on my wheels to the kayak and slowly but surely made my way down.  I marked the route so I could use it going back up.  The morning was gorgeous and the dogs and I went for a kayak ride.  Ben swims alongside while Biggs rides in the bow.  The idea is to give them plenty of exercise so that when I leave them in the RV the next morning while I fish they will be more relaxed.

The next morning I woke up to a gorgeous sunrise, the likes I had never seen before.  It happened at exactly 6:30 a.m. and only lasted a few minutes.  Luckily I got some great photos of it.  I kayaked over to the south shore, where the regular campground is, and then west shore, then back.  Trolling all the way.  I only caught one trout, a bit disappointing, but I had  caught two the other morning from the shore.   Now on this day, Wednesday, the afternoon was clear, although I could see the billowing smoke in the west.  I planned on staying till Friday.  However, around 4ish the only other camper on the lake came over and told me that Wentworth Springs road was closed and they were closing Icehouse road to incoming traffic due to the fire.  Stumpy Meadows reservoir had been overtaken by the fire, which is on my normal route home.   The smoke clouds were exceptionally massive and scary looking so I figured if I had to evacuate quickly, getting that kayak up from the lake would really slow me down.  So I got right on that task.  Actually, dragging it up  was slow going but not too bad.  The wheels on the kayak worked great, especially having them strapped on really tight, but this time gravity was not my friend.  Once I got the kayak up I figured I just better leave all together.  Then on my way driving out  on Icehouse I met up with a couple fire fighters who were on their way to evacuate any campers on Loon Lake (stupid enough to still be there), and I was the only one, so I would have gotten shagged anyway.  I didn’t get home till after sundown but was glad to be safe at home with my sweet Kate.

Subsequently I put up an interactive map of the fire here.  Check it out.

When I first arrived
Sunrise 6:30AM
Sunrise Wednesday morning
I love walking along this ganite and exposed beach
Lake way down offers lots of stuff to explore
Fascinating boulders
Biggs likes to back in to the water.
Smoke was coming in, in the afternoon.
Smoke from the fire in the background. Start of Rubicon trail
You can barely see my RV at the top of the rise. This is what I had to drag the kayak thru.
Trolling for trout
From out in the middle of the lake you can see my RV in the middle of photo.
Fire getting bigger. Smoke plumes.
Smoke in the background
Cool rock formation
Biggs smiling in the wind.
Biggz
Huge smoke plumes
Lake is way down at the end of summer.
Plumes getting bigger and closer, maybe time to go.
Smoke, not clouds.
Leaving after it got scary. Smoke plumes in the background
Smoke plumes and clouds?
Veiw of the fire from route 50 east of Pollack Pines.

Jackson Meadows #4 September 2014

Jackson Meadows, site #34 with just me and the dogs 9/2-9/5.  However, this time I was able to bring my kayak, on my new trailer.  It worked out great!  Tried trolling with a flasher (dodger) by SEP’s.  With a worm on the end, it was awesome.  Silky smooth lake in the mornings.  So much fun to glide along, looking at the scenery and waiting for the strikes.  On Friday, last day, I went out at 7:30am, back at 9:30 and had caught 8 trout.  Three of them I released since I only want to keep those over 12″, plus the limit is five per day.  Total caught whole trip 12, kept six.  Dogs stayed in the RV while fishing.  Then we went for a boat ride, with Boggz on board and Ben swimming alongside, which he loved.  He could easily swim across the lake no problem.  Also got a lot of reading in and hammock time.  A very good trip.  One more time for East Meadows campground (10/13-10/17) then it closes and i will be going to Pass Creek, which they leave open during the winter.

Jackson Meadows #3 August 2014

This third visit to Jackson Meadows we took the grandkids, Olallie and Atticus.  They only stayed over one night but we got in swimming, fishing, hanging (in hammock), dominoes, campfire and an all around great time.  I missed them all when kate took them home on Tuesday.  I stayed for a couple more nights.  Got some fishing in, caught 3 rainbows, took home two.  And started some new books.  Also enjoyed my new hammock.  Very quiet campground, with hardly anyone there the first part of the week.  Always the benefit of going during the week and after school has started.  Temperature got down to 49 in the mornings. Here are some pics, Kate took the vertical ones.

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