6/19/2026

 6/19/2026

Today we didn't travel far. There was a lot of road construction with delays as they installed fiberoptic lines. We saw evidence of the 2021 Dixie Fire for miles. Lunch stop, Lake Almanor and then on to Gurnsey Creek Campground, on the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. Online it said the campground was full, but that was only the group sites. Plenty of availability. We are here 2 nights. Cost of the site per night was 1/2 price at $7.00, but we paid $3.50 because of our National Parks Senior Pass. What a deal.

Digging the trench for the cable

Lake Almanor

Dixie Fire 2021 evidence

6/18/2026

 6/18/2026

We needed fuel. Price comparison: Lake Tahoe- $7.69 a gallon (diesel) OR drive east over the mountain to Mendon $4.36 gallon with our Open Roads app discount at a Maverick station. (50 mile round trip, but it was worth it.)

Lots of road construction in town and up the west side of Lake Tahoe. Beautiful scenery! We are camped early-Granite Flat Campground on the Truckee River, Route 89, because we had trouble finding a campground. Many have only group campsites.

Sammy's first swim ever!

Our next RV

Bottom of Lake Tahoe

Mountain Road to get fuel

On the west shore

Anchored out

Boats surrounding the island

River is right behind the trees

Sammy loved it

New friend

We are in his campground.  Not sure he's happy.

6/17/2026

 6/17/2026

Each day is unique. Big down hills and steep uphills on Route 108, Sonora Pass, 9624 feet. Neither of us had seen 26% grades up or 25% grades down before. We saw the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at the bottom of Hwy 108, Bridgeport, CA.

Monitor Pass on Highway 89 had some steep grades, too. Early in the day we took a Google maps suggested road and saw goats and llamas in a rural farm area. Fuel prices today, $6.61 gallon diesel. Our lunch stop was at Donnell Vista. We made it to Lake Tahoe and grabbed a campsite at Fallen Leaf Forest Service Campground. (200 campsites + 6 fully enclosed yurts).

Forgot to mention that 2 campers were broken into last night by young bears who found screen doors open and no owners in sight! That won't happen to us!

Cute Mr. Goat

Llanas

Headed for the Overlook

Poppy at our lunch stop

View from the overlook

Selfie

Steep road after the Overlook

Pic at the overlook

We've never seen these grades before-STEEP

Just like a roller coaster

More steep grades

The Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training center.
They practice cold weather and high altitude warfare.

Our campsite at Lake Tahoe

6/16/2026 Yosemite

6/16/2026

 Up early so that we could spend the day driving around Yosemite. (Curry Village; Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, Exploration Center/Theater; Glacier Point Road; dinner outside the park at Lucky Buck Cafe-138 miles total). The movie at the Exploration Center was top notch- -better than any other National Park movie.

Driving through the park

One of many rushing streams

Waterfall beauty

View from Glacier Point

This old guy climbed to the top of the rock for a pic and people cheered.
Here he is on his way down.

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6/15/2026

6/15/2026

We were up early to beat the heat, but it has persisted throughout the day. I am posting more pics than usual because it was hard to choose. We arrived at Hodgdon Meadow Campground in Yosemite. Heatwave here until tomorrow afternoon. We were warned upon entering the campground about a nuisance bear that is raiding campsites for food. And yesterday, a dog was sprayed by a skunk. Both are on our radar.

I had a chance late today to play my dulcimer at this beautiful campsite.

Change from desert to mountains

Where we are headed

Mono Lake: The Navy blew up things in the water in the 50s/ 60s

Seismic test site for the Navy in the 50's and 60's

Rock protrusions in Mono Lake

Waterfall just before the park

Here for 2 nights

Smooth rock everywhere

Flowers growing in crevices

Campsite for 2 nights