The Gleason's: September 2010

Yet another camping trip but this time for a week. We headed up to Los Gatos to have dinner with Nate, Alyson, GiGi, and Pop Pop and then it was off to Lake Tahoe. It was a little slow going getting there...we were in the bus after all....but the campsite was great and, being the week after labor Day, there was hardly anyone there.

D.L. Bliss SB

We spent the first night in one of the upper campground loops and had a hearty meal of homemade stew - Yummy! We shared a neighbor's campfire and then were off to bed. The next day we hiked down to the beach...which gave us some great views but we also realized that we didn't want to make the same trek every day, so we moved down to the beach loop for the next two days. We got a great campsite overlooking the beach and tucked off to the side. There was even a split rail fence around the perimeter that Bix loved cruising around on. The weather was a ittle iffy...it drizzled one day and got really cold at night...but the following day was sunny and warm...well...warm for Tahoe.

Bix making a dust storm

He loved being an explorer in the dirt

Bix and mommy on the hike down to the beach overlooking Lake Tahoe

Bix fell asleep on the hike so here's us chilling at the beach

Then he woke up and needed a snack

Getting ready for the trek back

Campsite #2 - Bix cruising along the fence

And playing in the dirt

Brian trying to catch a fish from the shore - no such luck!

One cold morning

Still cold so we went for the big jacket!

Finally warmer and a walk to the beach

Then a hike to the balancing rock

Sunset over the lake - sort of

Hanging out by the campfire - cold again!

Last day - bright and sunny - here's Bix playing on a log - boy can he climb!

Bix and dad hamming it up

Tuolumne Meadows

Thursday morning it was off to Tuolumne by way of the Tioga pass. Slow going again of course but a great drive. Bix discovered a new love for munching on apple cores so that kept him busy for a good part of the trip. We stopped off en route to see Mono Lake from the lookout and pulled into the campsite just before dark. Gotta love the bus - no tents to set up. Brian managed to get a fire going despite damp wood and we ate dinner, piled stuff int eh bear box and headed to bed. The next morning as we were packing up, someone drove by concerned that our food was out. Apparently our campsite is the bear's favorite to visit and the bear has even been known to break the defenses of the bear box and help himself...but no bear sightings for us. We did however get to breakfast with a huge buck who roamed right through our campsite eating his own breakfast meal. No pictures of that unfortunately as we wanted him to enjoy his meal and not be bombarded by the dear paparazzi.

On the road with an apple

Overlooking Mono Lake - still got the apple!

Curry Village

Friday morning we headed down to Curry Village. We were looking forward to warmer and not so dry air at this point...and a little civilization is always nice. We checked in and unloaded the car. Ahhh...beds and a door and a floor for Bix to play on. We each took a nice warm shower, Bix included (The Tahoe showers had turned cold after the first night :( ). Brian got to enjoy in a Curry Village pizza for dinner (I had cold meat!). The next day was all about relaxing and taking the tandem - on which we fitted a front mounted bike seat for Bix - into the village proper. We ended up at the Awahnee - who wouldn't? - and had some drinks while Bix flirted with all the people around us. Then Bix got to crawl around on the grand lawn - which he found thrilling. Then it was time to head home. But we will definitely be headed back to Curry Village next year!

Climbing on some granite slabs on the way to the valley floor