Fertility 2.0 Monday August 27, 2012

Oh joy!  We are in a spot to stay.  It is quiet.  It seems to be developing into an international area because we hear voices emanating from the many camps springing up around us speaking languages we don't comprehend.

What's new this year?  We could call out....  In fact we called Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and Santa Rosa.

We biked out to the playa on this clear beautiful morning.  There were several art cars already moving about.

A lot of art cars were boats.

Some were self-propelled.

This was the main entrance to Center Camp:

Some playa art was finished:

and some was not.

Do you think he really blew it up all by himself?

We each bowled a lane at the Toilet Bowl.

I cannot remember if anyone won.

The Man was white this year.  Here is part of the inside which was put together meticulously.  You could walk up to a single viewing level.

Does this  mean he is a eunuch?










The wind came up early around noon.  It was tough getting back to camp.  We holed up until it was time to go to the Art Model Camp for a session of drawing.  There were two men and one great gal who posed for us.  The dust came and went, came and went.

Center Camp Main Entrance at night with dust particles.

Center Camp Main Entrance at night without dust particles.

Art cars waiting to get night driving licenses.

Fertility 2.0 Sunday August 26, 2012

The view to our left:

The view to our right:

The gates opened at 6 pm, so we are now at the head of our line and ready to drive in to choose a camping spot.  But we are rooted in place because no one can see where to drive in the whiteout.  It must clear before we are given the go ahead wave.

We are at our chosen spot of 4:45 and Hyacinth before 8 pm.  WOW!   It seems too good to be true.  While it was still light and so nice out, we walked out to the playa.  At the end of 5:00 was an amazing long wharf leading to a sunken ship.  It was so well crafted, and shot out fire, too, of course.

Our corner was too good to be true.  It's hard to tell early on about what your neighbors will be doing--like playing rap music all night long- which seems to be what was happening to us.  After conversing with the only human making the music within the 100 feet of loud sound, we headed west down Hyacinth.  The first place we picked had a full blast generator going.  I guess they can't leave home without....  Our next stop on Hyacinth between 5:30 and 6:00 was quiet. This could be our home for the week.

Woods Lake, California

On our way to Burning Man 2012 we stopped for a night at Woods Lake.  It is a beautiful camping area well off but close to Highway 88 that summits at Carson Pass in the Sierra Mountains at 8,574 feet (2,613 m).  There are other Eldorado National Forest places to camp, but this one is the best, and this was our third time here.  It is small, quiet, and mostly filled with tent campers.  Our 22 foot motor home just fits a campsite parking spot.

Woods Lake is near the Pacific Crest Trail, but we only hiked Lost Mine Trail. An abandoned car provided a resting place on the way up to Round Top Lake.

Wildflowers are still abundant in late August.

The red fruit is currants, a favorite munchy of bears...and other wild animals.

Snow is still on the mountains above Round Top Lake.

Heading back down to Woods Lake.

Cambria, California

Cambria, California is one of those delightful communities in which you can drive by in almost the blink of an eye.  You must watch out for it and cruise off an exit to find its flavor.  There is a beach side and an inland side so don't think you've seen it all by stopping on one side only.

We saw many deer wandering safely in the wooded neighborhoods.  Val and Gil, family/friends, are volunteer guides for the nearby elephant seals.  Whales can be seen migrating off the coast.  Acorn woodpeckers are everywhere.  Tide pools are teeming with sea life.

North up Pacific Coast Highway 1 you can see Hearst's Castle and its wandering zebra then continue on to Esalen and Big Sur.  South will lead you to Morro Rock and San Luis Obispo or Paso Robles.

Girard Ridge Overlook

The second week of June Linda and Bill and Jim and I spent two nights at the Girard Ridge Overlook, a former fire lookout cabin in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest that was built in 1931 and in use until 1981.  It is one in which you can drive right up to.  In January Linda had the inspiration to suggest this adventure, and we booked it then.

The views were wonderful.  Castle Crags was to the west.

Mt. Shasta was to the north.

Apparently at one time, Mt. Lassen could be seen to the Southeast.  There are big scotch pine and white fir trees that now block that view.

The cabin, which was 14 feet off the ground and enclosed by 360 degree windows, had two cupboards, two twin beds with mattresses, and a table with four plastic chairs.  We drank margaritas, played Scrabble, and watched for animals at night.  I think we all stayed awake a little too long in hopes (or dread) that Smokey the Bear would amble by.  He never did; nor did anything else.

During the day we hiked down a fire road and onto the Pacific Crest Trail.  We saw lots of wildflowers including blue and yellow lupin, Pacific dogwood, Indian Paintbrush, and some we did not know.  The weather was beautiful: few clouds, a gentle breeze, and comfortable temperatures.

We brought a Coleman stove to cook our meals, solar heated water bags for showers, and chairs to enjoy the new fire pit.  You have to take everything in with you and carry it all out with you.  No water is available either.  There is a nice (really) vault toilet close to the cabin.  You walk through some day lilies and hazelnut bushes to get to it.

Check out time was noon, so we headed down soon after and stopped by the Sacramento River.  Jim and Bill found it to be very relaxing.

Esalen's Fiftieth Fourth

Steve called and invited us to Esalen's Fiftieth Fourth. Jim has been there to the baths, but I had never been. It was in the middle of the week, so we decided to go hear music (three bands), eat a picnic lunch, explore the site, and take a bath. For a holiday outing along Highway 1 in Big Sur, California, we had a really fine day.

Esalen Institute is not open to just drop by for a class or a bath. I have driven by it frequently in my life but have never been inside until this last Fourth of July. We have friends who have conducted classes and taken classes here as well as partook of the baths in the very early mornings. This was a big treat for me.

The music was great. Jocelyn led hula hoop yoga between band changes. A pelican decided to join in causing much amusement. S/he waddled out right by us.

After walking through the beautiful and extensive vegetable gardens, we took a bath.  The lovely bath structure has both a quiet area and a silent area.  Even though there were a lot of folks today in the baths, we had a most enjoyable and relaxing time in both places.

The mineral baths are warm and inviting. The view is spectacular.   I will return someday to experience more of Esalen.

Santa Barbara Mission 2012 Chalk Paintings

         

The chalk paintings were created Memorial Day Weekend.  We did not see them until a week later for Austin's 16th birthday. 

                     Kylie helped her 3rd grade class make this one.