55 Counties

California has 58 counties and as of this vacation, I have visited 55. I still need to see San Diego, Imperial, and Inyo. On this trip I did enter the Inyo National Forest but I don't believe I actually crossed the county line.

This is Mono Lake. It is beautiful. I may want to vacation here one day.

There was a bit of construction on 395 so there were times drivers would just turn their cars off when traffic was one way. I got some good shots that way.

Lee Vining, the city where you can find Mono Lake

Friendly bear

Oh, no! It's got me!

Just kidding. The bear was nice. And this Mono Market was a great shop. There were so many vegetarian and vegan options, I couldn't believe it. (My particular breed of bear is actually pescatarian, I do like an occasional fish.)

55

"Goodbye, God, I'm going to Bodie"

I have been wanting to visit Bodie State Historic Park for a long time and on this trip, I was able to do just that.

Bodie is about an hour's drive north on 395 from Mammoth Lakes. It is well worth a trip if you are in the region. It is rich in history and is a great place to visit. I don't know that I would call it "fun" since so many tragedies occurred here. It is spooky, and even when the park is busy, it's still quiet.

For those attached to their devices, this park does not have wi-fi, and I could not get a phone signal.

When you look in the windows, you'll see the buildings look as though everyone just dropped what they were doing ad left. That is pretty much what happened. Stores are still stocked, hoes still have the usual stuff like linens and toys.

I can't even begin to imagine what it was like for the early settlers to arrive. There is a six mile, unpaved dirt road that is very rough even on a modern utility vehicle. These people came on horse and buggy up and over mountains and around winding roads.

It's eerily beautiful.

Yosemite

This was my first visit to the Eastern Sierras in California.

I left home in the morning and drove a long way to get to Yosemite. I have heard many things about the park.

What I didn't know is that there is a $30 vehicle admission fee, even if you aren't staying in the park. So it's a sort of toll, like one would pay to cross a bridge. I thought that was a bit much.

I wasn't staying here, but I figured since I was being charged anyway that I may as well get out and see some of the sights.

I'm not sure of the names of the various lakes or mountains here. It is very beautiful.

I do want to come back one day and have a proper visit. But I have officially been here so this does count as a visit.

I feel so at home in the woods.

 

Yosemite National Park is huge! I'm sure I would need a whole week to see it all. Maybe one day.

I continued on Tioga Pass to get to my destination for the weekend: Mammoth Mountain.