Bridgeport, California: Dave planned our route today and I had paid it no never mind. We have traversed this route numerous times. Leaving Bishop at the very early hour of ten o'clock (for us). We continued north on Highway 395 and took a detour to Mammoth Ski Resort. Wow has this place changed since our last visit years ago. When we camped here (May) in our first motorhome, we were the only RV in the campground. It froze overnight and no one ever checked us in, or asked us for a fee. Today it was completely full.
Dave wanted to drive up to the ski resort to take a photo for (his) Brother Steve who loves to ski here.
The road up to Devil's Postpile was closed and there was no parking available for the required shuttle bus to the postpile. We had to miss this. Thank goodness we saw this (I live with a geologist) years ago when there weren't zillions of visitors. Mammoth was just crazy today with tourists. No place to park. Terrible traffic. Not your desired nature experience in any way. Hundreds of people were in line to ride the gondola to the summit of the ski resort. Hundreds more in line for ice cream. We fled to the next stop on our route - the June Lake Loop, which was also completely packed with cars. No where to park. People perilously crossing the road.
June Lake is absolutely gorgeous, forget the crowds. Just don't visit in the tourist season or a weekend? We left the June Lake cluster and continued on Highway 158. (Thank you Reader Cindy for this advice.) With every mile we passed from June Lake, the traffic lessened and we had beautiful views up to Horsetail Falls. We pulled-over at an vista point over Grant Lake (there are several lakes on the loop), had a sandwich and a beautiful vista.
Our last stop today was to Mono Lake. Though we have visited many (many many) times, today is the first time the lake was not blue. It was green. (I do not think The Donald has anything to do with this.) Happily the water level in this controversial lake is rising. (It has no outlet, and is fed by one river, several small streams and also underground springs.)
The Mono Lake Visitor Center is a great place to stop on Highway 395. Views over the lake, interesting historical and flora/fauna displays, a gift shop with postcards and books, plenty of parking (and RV parking), bathroom facilities, and it is air conditioned!
After visiting Mono Lake we continued to a campsite DT had reserved for two nights. What we are going to do here for two days is a mystery to me. A beautiful reservoir though, so our view is lovely and the temperatures are only in the 80s. There were massive white pelicans on the lake.
I cooked dinner again, seriously, like I do every night. Since we had passed through countless trout streams and lakes, I served an appetizer of (Danish) smoked trout from Fishwife. Seriously loving this fish. Just a smear of cream cheese and the trout fillets placed on top.
Easy dinner tonight. I had one cup of homemade chicken stock (frozen and vacuum-sealed), and a package of frozen Aritsola Cacio e Pepe Ravioli (triangle-shaped). The stock was heated with a parmesan rind and poured over the boiled pasta. Perfect meal - with an avocado, tomato (the remainder of the tomato used in our lunch sandos) and Kalamata salad.
So, I wrote the 4L's are in Venice, Italy. Well, our Family of Friends Kathy & Woody are also in Italy with their #2 daughter. Guess who ran into each other?
How fun is this!
Until my next update, I remain, your lake-loving correspondent.
Campground Information: Paradise Shores RV Park