Posted August 17, 2016 – Narrated by Carmen
It hit us a few days ago when we were hiking to Arrowhead Lake at Mammoth Lakes.
It’s been five weeks since we left San Diego.
True, we’re intending to go places we’ve never been but that’s only half the story: we left our home behind. Home was the starting place … was.
“Lucille, I’m gone.”…were my grandfather’s last words.
One year from now, Jim and I plan to be in the best health of our lives, nevertheless, leaving San Diego is like a little death.
Five weeks. That’s two weeks longer than any vacation we’ve taken in the last 40 years. So, our homing mechanisms kicked in, and left us numb.
We tried to soak it off …
..then went back to Beauty and grabbled Pico de Gallo for a dog-friendly Happy Hour at Mammoth Mountain Brewery where we reflected on our self-imposed homeless situation over salad, chips, and beer.
We now understand what the traders, trappers, miners, farmers, missionaries and settlers meant by “pushing west”.
Home is the stability that provides thrust – the strength to depart and move along … move on … move away …
Yep, our noses are hop-forward … (Can you tell we just came back from a beer fest?)
Even before the blowout on Hwy 395, we had plans to upgrade our tires and wheels in Northern California. We’d been reading great reviews about the Michelins, so rather than cry in our beer we made our way to the Bluesapalooza.
And it was the right thing to do … it was as if San Diego had caravanned behind us to Mammoth…
Lost Abbey 
Monkey Paw 
Coronado 
Karl Straus 
Stone 
Green Flash 
Societe
… and into a beautiful forested wunderland where, all day long the nicest people you’ll ever meet just hand you beer.
…and play pretty music and sing you songs
Then, after a couple more days of hiking, Jose and Edgar from J.R. Tire Shop fitted Beauty with some shiny new tires that were suggested by Vinnie and Vinnie’s Northbay Airstream Repair.
Looking good, we hit the road to Mono Lake.
Everything you’ve read about this eerie ancient lake is true and then some …
We had planned to stay overnight and go paddling early the next morning – but, after talking to the ranger about the unusually calm afternoon weather conditions, and observing that dry-camping choices were minimal – we opted to take a two-hour mid-day paddle.
So, we unhitched Beauty at the Mono Lake Visitors Center …
… and drove The Beast to Navy Beach where we inflated The Smurffs.
Mono is nearly indescribable.
Never have I felt more like an Earthling – my senses turning in on themselves. Everything is more. The water has it’s own method with deep greens and blues merging, shifting, mesmerizing like shimmery ball-gown fabric.
The dry, salty electric air sets one on edge, in an exciting way.
The unearthly stillness and pin-drop silence of water, landscape and even the wildlife, makes the place feel as if it’s brimming with secrets no one will ever know, enhancing the sensation of skimming across a mirage.
Perhaps that’s why so many paddlers die there. The illusory visual perspective gently loosens your grasp on space and time.
Exhilaration and abandon replace the natural fear of predation and cause some souls to venture deeper … Then, fifteen minutes later an unhindered westerly wind – 40-70 knots – whips up four-foot, hard-salty swells that knock the adventurer out of the boat and dash her, or him against thousands of razor-sharp salt structures …
Contemplating these things, we stayed with the ranger’s instructions to hug the shoreline for about an hour and a half.
Then we deflated the kayaks, tossed them in the back of the truck and returned to the parking lot of the Visitor’s Center where we took cold showers, grabbed a bite to eat and decided where to go next …
Three hours later, we arrived in Tahoe with no reservations.
Exhausted, we pulled into a campground near the bustling Zephyr Cove area, advertised as “full.” Jim did his charming thing and secured us a tight, rambunctious space for the night.
The next morning we set out in The Beast to hunt for quieter digs on or around Lake Tahoe.
Score.
We call it, The Point of No Return.
If you want to see our exact route, click here.
*photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) were taken and copyrighted by Living In Beauty.
Beautiful. What a lovely journey…from festival to moonscape Mono lake to Tahoe and your Point. The Point looks lovely.
Wish you were here, Jan … It reminds us of Hawaii. I seriously recommend Tahoe in August. Xoxo
So well written. I am on the edge of my seat! I can’t wait until this is a BOOK! :O)
Since you wouldn’t last a minute in Mono Lake on an inflatable kayak, I would definitely recommend the book 😉 xoxo
You would love talking with the European paddlers on Navy Beach! Adventurous people!
Wonderful! So glad you survived Mono Lake. Love the pictures and the story.
Can’t wait to see you, Sis! You must see Tahoe in August! Perfect sunny days and warm nights There are no mosquitoes! Xoxo
Go Guys! My adventure isn’t posted, so I’ll share with you on this thread (eventually will post some photos on Facebook). I just secured an apartment in Prague and enjoying some Czech beer in my new adventure. Last night a friend from San Francisco (who I met at Burning Man in 2001) was in Prague. I will spend some time with him again today. Ten days in Prague and I meet an old friend–that was cool and welcome. Keep in touch…only when it is convenient. herb
Herb, what an adventure you are on! Please let us know when you start posting photos.
How beautiful!! My husband and I have been full timing for 2 1/2 years now, but haven’t been able to get to that beautiful part of the country yet! We can definitely relate to your feelings about leaving your home though. What did you do with the doggie when you unhooked the airstream and went kayaking for a few hours? Thanks for sharing your journey!
2 ½ years! You have quite a head start on us. Hope we connect sometime on the road. Right now our plan it to head north in California, arch east through Oregon, then Idaho, then Grand Tetons, Thermopiles, down through Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi. Pico is a rescue dog who we found abandoned on a dirt road in Mississippi 8 years ago. Since we moved into the Airstream in April, he has gotten comfortable with the idea of the trailer being his home. Any time we leave him in the Airstream, we open up both roof top fantastic fans, one pulling air in and one pushing air out to refresh the insides and keep it comfortable.
Life flies when we’re having fun! Good travels, my friends!
Thank you! Hope to see you this fall!
Amazing photos and the ongoing dialogue really makes me feel like I am traveling with you.
Also, nice phrase, “no mosquitos”. We are in upstate Vermont and I am tending to ten mosquito bites–grrrrr! Guess I should have used the Deep Woods Off that was on the counter. Nice, non-verbal hint from our hosts. Travel well, dear friends!
We are trying to be better at taking photos, but all we have is an iPhone. Thanks for the good wishes! Tahoe, like Mammoth and Big Bear, has no mosquitos, so once again, we love hanging outside in the late afternoon, early evening. We found an amazing natural product that is a mosquito repellent from http://www.otterwax.com. It is called “Otter Wax Apothecary Mosquito Repellent. Check it out.
Did you get a tire monitor system for your new tires?
Not yet.
I’m assuming Vinnie suggested 16″ upgrade. For TPMS I went with TireTraker for my 2008 Classic 25fb when I switched the GYM over to 15″ Michelins. When these tires need replacing I”m going the 16″ route. The sensors screw on the valve stems and provide tire pressure alarm for low and high pressure thresholds and temperature thresholds. https://tiretraker.com.
Good luck.