Catching up from last weekend, because it’s been busy… I had written a note to my future self the last time we visited Big Basin on how to drive there. I must say, I think I gave myself some solid advice. Even though Big Basin, California’s first state park, is just ten miles away from some of Silicon Valley’s most populated areas, the twisty approach through dense redwood forests makes it seem much more remote. In the Santa Cruz mountains, you have to be careful which roads you take, because some of them are really only “roads” and are definitely not appropriate for trailers. Even the good roads are a lot to navigate in the dark at the end of a long week. So we got there just fine, but I was tired and ready to chillax with a glass of wine upon arrival.
Opening the door, I realized this was not going to happen right away. In nearly five years of camping, this was the first time we had both missed this particular crucial pre-launch stow-for-travel step. Our Pur water pitcher gets filled before every trip with nice filtered drinking water for the weekend. Upon arrival, discovering the pitcher lying on its side on the floor, it was very clear that all 18 cups of it were evenly dispersed on, around, and under the Chilewich floor mats, as well as over every storage area floor surface. There have been two times in Dory’s history when I’ve used every single spare towel we had on board and I guess I’m glad this time was used for water only. Filtered water at that. So really, you can think of it as a very thorough, and long overdue, surface cleanse. The pitcher was kaput, but it had lived a good life as pitchers go. And there did not seem to be any other damage sustained. And special thanks to the good friend who gave us the Dory beach towel. Wine delayed, but well earned.
Saturday, Richard did one of his favorite rides and I did the report writing thing. When he came back, we did a repeat of the loop trail that takes you to the Sempirvirens Falls. The last time we went, it was in the heart of the drought and the falls resembled a leaky faucet. This time it looked more respectable and certainly worthy of a photo stop. Here’s a side by side comparison of drought vs. non drought:
After the hike, we enjoyed afternoon nappy time and then a Blue Apron dinner. We own the fact that we are filtered water prima donnas and complained frequently about the chlorinated taste of the campground water. We have already purchased a new pitcher and realize we will be among the first to go in the coming apocalypse because we’ll refuse to drink the water. We’re ok with that.
Total miles: 97.0, 3 hours 17 min, 15.9 mpg, site 67. No hookups, no solar anywhere. Generator hours. Dump with weird grate over the top. Trailer friendly sites are designated. Nice bathrooms.
