tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59256280370067004752024-03-13T16:02:10.090-07:00California Camping OnlineA blog related to camping in the state of California. This site will have campground reviews, tips, comments and other items that encourage and foster communication to all that want to camp in California.C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-88538299419502685392011-12-27T13:04:00.001-08:002012-01-11T12:51:51.161-08:00California Campground Reservations Using County Websites.About this time of the year, many people are starting to plan out their annual summer camping vacations. Problem is, after looking at some of the popular reservations sites in California, things are already starting to fill-up. Now days, trying to get a popular camping site requires the same amount of effort as getting tickets to a popular rock concert or sporting event. So how do you find a campsite when everywhere you look shows filled up campgrounds? My advice, is to search for open campsites in the various counties of California. . California like the rest of the states in the United States is broken up into multiple counties and most of the county municipalities run their own websites and camping reservations systems. Below in the this post I have posted a quick how-to for getting those allusive camping reservations.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mn571-f1Xp4/Tvph0sfi17I/AAAAAAAAI8Y/7048jWQFE3A/s1600-h/Counties%252520for%252520California%252520Camping%252520Reservations%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Counties for California Camping Reservations" border="0" height="415" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MGVeuuFJ8pA/Tvph02Z2DlI/AAAAAAAAI8g/kELJ9fdDOJE/Counties%252520for%252520California%252520Camping%252520Reservations_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Counties for California Camping Reservations" width="278" /></a><br />
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By looking at the map above think about were you would like to camp and find the corresponding county's name. In this example, I want to spend some time in Morro Bay California, but <a href="http://www.califcamping.com/2009/01/morro-bay-state-park-california.html">Morro Bay State Park</a> is reserved months in advance. Using the search term “San Luis Obispo County Camping” I pull up the following results in Google.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6WrP1buqw14/TvpbHCpOkcI/AAAAAAAAI8I/N-TBQaTCg3A/s1600-h/California%252520Camping%252520reservations1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="California Camping reservations1" border="0" height="221" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T_0SEvKwODk/TvpbIo48KQI/AAAAAAAAI8Q/1Gm4sX3UouY/California%252520Camping%252520reservations1_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="California Camping reservations1" width="348" /></a><br />
Clicking on the <a href="http://www.slocountyparks.com/">www.slocountyparks.com</a> link brings me to a list of campgrounds located in San Luis Obispo County. Another way to search would be to use the county's name and the search phrase “parks and recreations” An example of this would be “<a href="http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/parks/Camping/info.html" target="_blank">San Diego County Parks and Recreations camping</a>”. The idea is to be creative with your search phrases as each county will have a different website and differences on how they handle their campgrounds and reservations.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9HpNxLa7DC4/Tvplxj4zMDI/AAAAAAAAI8o/WPtDhkLD-hw/s1600-h/San%252520Luis%252520Obisbo%252520camping%252520reservations%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="San Luis Obisbo camping reservations" border="0" height="186" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YlYvlQ16g7U/TvplyP2PAFI/AAAAAAAAI8w/qKpjTeclDm4/San%252520Luis%252520Obisbo%252520camping%252520reservations_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="San Luis Obisbo camping reservations" width="338" /></a><br />
Based on a little research on this site, I found out that El Chorro Regional park campground is located about 5 miles from Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. The county of San Luis Obispo currently uses a phone reservation system and the majority of the sites at this campground are first-come, first-serve. Since this campsite is not listed in the Reserve America system, the majority of the time if you arrive a few days before the weekend you can grab a spot at this great location on the central coast of California.<br />
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Searching the county websites for a campground reservation could take some work and additional time but is a great way to find those campgrounds that are not on everyone's radar during the busy summer months. Even if the campsites are full, be sure to check back weekly as there maybe some openings and your competition for these spots will be on the low side. Who knows, you may actually find your favorite new camping spot using this method. This is exactly what we did a few years back to find <a href="http://www.califcamping.com/2009/07/mt-madonna-county-park-campground.html">Mt. Madonna County Park</a> in Santa Clara county.C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-56975164043633955402011-08-21T11:06:00.001-07:002012-01-18T13:23:00.112-08:00Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Campground ReviewThis was a hard review to write, normally my camping experience involves a location in the mountains or one of the great state beach campgrounds that dot the California coast. We decided to change it up on our last annual Thanksgiving camping trip and give the KOA Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay a try. I’ve heard good things about this private campground located a few miles north of Watsonville on highway one. This place is huge and has a lot of activities to keep the family happy.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Td0th0te-qI/AAAAAAAAIXc/LoGv3KkyV-c/s1600-h/Koa%20Santa%20Cruz%20best%20campsite%5B4%5D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="Koa Santa Cruz best campsite" border="0" height="157" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Td0tisPoejI/AAAAAAAAIXk/_sdSF3x8AIQ/Koa%20Santa%20Cruz%20best%20campsite_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Koa Santa Cruz best campsite" width="200" /></a><br />
<strong>Amenities </strong><br />
This private campground is packed with the following amenities some of which require a additional fees. Call in advance, before you make reservations as some of the activities are seasonal.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Pool <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Td0yaoHni2I/AAAAAAAAIYk/y_bhXv4wBTU/s1600-h/Swimming%20Pool%20at%20KOA%20Santa%20Cruz%5B4%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Swimming Pool at KOA Santa Cruz" border="0" height="122" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Td0ybdJSa9I/AAAAAAAAIYw/bxVBli76K6E/Swimming%20Pool%20at%20KOA%20Santa%20Cruz_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Swimming Pool at KOA Santa Cruz" width="155" /></a><br />
</li>
<li>Jacuzzi<br />
</li>
<li>Video games<br />
</li>
<li>Game rec room<br />
</li>
<li>Mini market<br />
</li>
<li>Landry<br />
</li>
<li>Jumping pillow (the kids love this) </li>
<li><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Td1euDd59aI/AAAAAAAAIZk/Z6N9SOkl8kw/s1600-h/Koa%20Santa%20Cruz%20jumping%20pillow%201%5B10%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Koa Santa Cruz jumping pillow 1" border="0" height="107" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-loNgPkW008M/Td1eu1GTenI/AAAAAAAAIZs/TE1a3AEpTDk/Koa%252520Santa%252520Cruz%252520jumping%252520pillow%2525201_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Koa Santa Cruz jumping pillow 1" width="153" /></a>Coffee cart </li>
<li>Small fenced dog parks<br />
</li>
<li>Basketball<br />
</li>
<li>Game room<br />
</li>
<li>Mini golf<br />
</li>
<li>Bike rentals.<br />
</li>
<li>Ping pong <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Td0ydTDXOSI/AAAAAAAAIZA/h8cwfvsAkkc/s1600-h/Mini%20Golf%20at%20KOA%20Santa%20Cruz%5B6%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Mini Golf at KOA Santa Cruz" border="0" height="119" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Td0yeJKMaSI/AAAAAAAAIZI/4fwdMn_6E6A/Mini%20Golf%20at%20KOA%20Santa%20Cruz_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mini Golf at KOA Santa Cruz" width="153" /></a><br />
</li>
<li>TV room<br />
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<li>Dog wash (self-serve)<br />
</li>
<li>Kiddie train<br />
</li>
<li>Playground<br />
</li>
<li>The recreation hall can accommodate up to 150 people so a large group functions like a family reunion can be hosted here with ease.</li>
</ul>
<strong><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/cacamping/SantaCruzMontereyBayKOA">Photos for Monterey Santa Cruz KOA</a></strong><br />
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<strong>Best time to Visit</strong><br />
At the time of our visit (Thanksgiving weekend 2010) the park was sparsely filed. From what I hear the place get's crowded in the summer being in such a great location on the California coast. I'm not sure if I would brave the crowds to spend time here in the summer as we camp in a tent trailer. Your best bet is during some of the slower months in the spring and fall. In talking with one of the employees, she recommended coming in early June if your plan to spend time here in the summer.<br />
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<strong>Best Sites</strong><br />
The campground has all types of sites, from simple tent sites to large 50 amp hook up sites There are several pull thru sites with large patios.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jJHcdLsyhAM/Td0tnAou60I/AAAAAAAAIZw/edagBE_0XTk/s1600-h/Koa%252520Santa%252520Cruz%252520Best%252520campsite%2525206%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Koa Santa Cruz Best campsite 6" border="0" height="161" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Td0tntpsEqI/AAAAAAAAIZ4/LLITX1wkOXs/Koa%20Santa%20Cruz%20Best%20campsite%206_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Koa Santa Cruz Best campsite 6" width="189" /></a>As with most private campgrounds in California, privacy between sites is poor. Some sites are better than other with shrubs and trees between them. if you have a tent trailer or small RV, sites 99, 68, 67,213 214 and 215 would be worth checking out. Please note there is a additional fee for site specific reservations. The tent camping area is more like a group type arrangement. Tent campers will be sharing a large grass area with multiple campers. This might work well if you have a group of tent campers such as a scout or youth group.<br />
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<strong>Cabin Rentals</strong><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rcQakRgoO7U/Td1ewq1Q6UI/AAAAAAAAIac/YcAPs6T_NkY/s1600-h/KOA%252520Santa%252520Cruz%252520cabins%252520for%252520rent%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Photo Credit: by Vicky Mougenot" border="0" height="136" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-99PWsmFAo7k/Td1exNHCLEI/AAAAAAAAIag/XndWsDSiy7U/KOA%252520Santa%252520Cruz%252520cabins%252520for%252520rent_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KOA Santa Cruz cabins for rent" width="172" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Like other KOA campgrounds in California the KOA has several different variations of camping cabins. These are a cross between camping and a motel and sleep 4 to 6 depending on the size of the unit. Make sure to bring your bedding and some of you camping supplies.</span> This location also has camping lodges which are equipped with a bathroom, limited kitchen facilities, linens and bedding.<br />
What to see if the trailer life is for you. this location also has a airstream trailer for rent which Includes a queen bed, two singles, TV, bathroom, kitchen with utensils and microwave.<br />
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<strong>Bath facilities</strong><br />
The bath facilities are spread about the campground and at the time of our visit were sparkling clean. The bathhouse included multi-stall toilet facilities and multiple wash basins. There are also multiple private showers with plenty of hot water. The facilities we encountered were well maintained.<br />
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<strong>Cost</strong><br />
I usually don’t talk about cost in my campground reviews as these vary and are normally not a budget buster when on vacation. I would consider this one of the more expensive places in California for camping. The cost for sites varies on the type of sites and the time of the year. Prime time in the middle of summer is going to run you from $55.00 to $125.00 per night for a campsite.<br />
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<strong>Fishing</strong><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">There is no fishing at the campground, surf fishing is available at many of the nearby beaches. The closest municipal pier for fishing is Seacliff State Beach Pier north on highway one.</span><br />
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</strong><br />
<strong>Pets</strong><br />
Since this is a private campground, I would call for the most current policy. At the time of our visit pets were accepted on leash and must remain in the RV or tent during the evening. Some of the camping cabins and lodges are pet friendly.<br />
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</strong><br />
<strong>Overall Impression</strong><br />
Over the years I have wanted to camp here but cost was a factor with us. We also camp in a tent trailer so the thought of being shoehorned in between a couple of large RV was not overly appealing I did a drive by visit back in 2009 during Thanksgiving weekend and based on the sparse number of people I decided to camp there for Thanksgiving weekend 2010. If you look in my <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/cacamping/SantaCruzMontereyBayKOA">photo section</a> you will see a few of the more private sites in the park. Would I go here again? Yes I would try to stay during the off season. Would I go here in the summer, probably not unless it was just for a overnight stop. If you have stayed at this park please leave a comment so others can get a better overview of your stay here.<br />
During our visit there were multiple group activities and events such as bingo and potlucks to get to know your fellow campers.<br />
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The staff at this private campground is top notch and very friendly. While their price is at a premium, the staff goes out of their way to make your camping experience special. <br />
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<strong>Tips</strong><br />
Perks such as nightly trash pickup, firewood delivery are a nice bonus <span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white;">Manresa S</span></span>tate beach is located about a 1/2 mile down the road. I personally like Rio Del Mar beach just north of the campground on highway one as it is dog friendly beach and I can find a spot to park, even on the busiest weekends . If you have additional questions please contact me at <a href="mailto:Craig@califcamping.com">Craig@califcamping.com</a>, as always comments regarding this campground are always welcome and appreciated.C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-10576044701980337502011-07-23T11:43:00.000-07:002011-07-23T11:43:37.111-07:00New coastal campground to open in O.C. - OC Science - The Orange County Register<div>This is great news about a new campground opening up near Laguna Beach in southern California. This is the first time I have heard of a new campground opening up in the last few years. Money for the new campground was already approved before the states current economic wows. Due to the location I expect the new Morro campground to remain full most of the year. Click on the link to read the full article. If you have a chance to camp at this location please share your thoughts in the comments section.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/06/23/new-coastal-campground-to-open-in-o-c/130673/">New coastal campground to open in O.C. - OC Science - The Orange County Register</a>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-27340319893762146722011-06-01T09:36:00.000-07:002011-06-01T17:07:47.137-07:00Mt Madonna County Park Archery Range<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just had to post a quick note after coming back from a camping trip at <a href="http://www.califcamping.com/2009/07/mt-madonna-county-park-campground.html">Mt Madonna County Park</a> this past Memorial Day weekend. On our last visit I discovered the archery practice range and forested target course. While I'm not a expert in archery I was impressed with the facilities which include a 100 yard practice area and 40 target stations throughout the hillside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ju0753J1GQA/TeZovKgyzQI/AAAAAAAAIbE/N-Mc_gnTH4o/s1600/IMG_0146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ju0753J1GQA/TeZovKgyzQI/AAAAAAAAIbE/N-Mc_gnTH4o/s320/IMG_0146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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My son's and I limited ourselfs to the practice range but it was treat to see some of the archers hit a target 70 plus yards away in a knock you hat off windy day. I have a new appreciation for the skills of these outdoors-men and women. This area of the park has a group of picnic tables, garbage cans, and porta potties available. I would like to give a special thanks to the Mt. Madonna Bowman for maintaining the facilities throughout the year. Please note, you will have to bring your own archery equipment but you can always pick up a set via eBay or a garage sale to get started. See my Amazon link below for the set I bought my youngest son.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=califor-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000BTJUM4&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-44436892661728272402011-05-13T16:56:00.000-07:002011-05-13T22:59:51.174-07:00Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras - Memorial Weekend 2011<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PSmomHTym-4/Tc3E5Dex3fI/AAAAAAAAIVw/g0yzvwVsaLQ/s1600/Morgan+Hill+Mushroom+Festival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PSmomHTym-4/Tc3E5Dex3fI/AAAAAAAAIVw/g0yzvwVsaLQ/s200/Morgan+Hill+Mushroom+Festival.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Just want to put a word out for this fun event Saturday and Sunday during Memorial Day weekend. This will be our 4th year in a row at the Mushroom Mardi Gras. While the campsites in the area are all reserved, I highly recommend this event if you're in the area.</div><div><br />
</div><a href="http://www.mhmushroommardigras.com/"> Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras</a>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-37624456840196473182010-01-07T11:47:00.000-08:002011-05-13T23:03:06.787-07:00Easy PVC Pipe Camping Gear, the Trash StandIn a prior post, I wrote about the website <a href="http://www.gspiglet.org/pvc.htm" target="_blank">Perfectly Versatile Campsite</a> and their great collection of easy to make PVC camp gear. In the next few weeks, I will focus on a few individual items to get the word out to the camping public.<br />
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This week, our focus will be on the PVC trash stand.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/S0Tn7_f5zCI/AAAAAAAAHGs/Ops6aFU1ETw/s1600-h/trash%20stand%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="trash stand" border="0" height="183" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/S0Tn88d0h9I/AAAAAAAAHG0/rNNwtOZmVYM/trash%20stand_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="trash stand" width="244" /></a> <br />
I don’t know about you, but this is a good alternative to taping the bag to the table or tying it around a tree limb. Once assembled, you can place this close to the cooking station or near the picnic table for easy cleanup after meals. If you have kids, you can make this one of the items they set up at camp when you first arrive.<br />
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B_BHXnqu3M45NTAzYmEyMmMtN2Y5ZC00YzM0LWE3OTAtNzY4MjlkNzY2ZmEy&hl=en" target="_blank">PVC Trash Stand Instructions</a><br />
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I have broken down the complete set of instructions so you can just print out the trash stand setup (thinking green). To see the full collection of the PVC camp furniture go to the <a href="http://www.gspiglet.org/pvc.htm" target="_blank">Perfectly Versatile Campsite</a> website where you can download the entire set.C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-14492604374211872232010-01-05T12:44:00.000-08:002011-08-29T20:53:36.971-07:00Coleman Hot Water on Demand Review<i></i><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><b>Update 1-24-10</b></i></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Recently at my house, we had a hot water slab leak and we decided to go ahead and replace all the hot water lines in the house. To make a long story short, the hot water was shut off for a week. We used the the Coleman HWOD unit for the week and it preformed flawlessly. The key was to keep the unit inside (when not in use) or covered and warm. We must have pumped over 200 gallons of water without fail. I have changed my recommendation to 4 stars. My only complaint, is the dial knob seems to stick sometimes and make temperature adjustment difficult.</i></div><div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:de9ebefb-4464-42e8-b746-26c1090de5bb" style="display: block; float: none; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 425px;"><div id="795dd36e-2fdd-47b8-b36f-7393b54d75d3" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><br />
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In an earlier review, I raved about the BAL Light Trailer leveler. At this point, I cannot say the same thing about the Coleman Hot Water Heater on Demand (CHWOD).<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Sz7tY3qhknI/AAAAAAAAHDI/qLtzQgu89_0/s1600-h/Coleman%20Hot%20Water%20Heater%20on%20Demand%201%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="Coleman Hot Water Heater on Demand 1" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Sz7tZXghsjI/AAAAAAAAHDM/h8ScXvQH2L8/Coleman%20Hot%20Water%20Heater%20on%20Demand%201_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Coleman Hot Water Heater on Demand 1" width="244" /></a> <br />
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The idea behind the Coleman Hot Water Heater on Demand is that you charge the lead acid battery overnight and attach a small propane bottle inside the unit; next, you drop the submersible pump in a bucket of water or the included collapsible water jug. A quick turn of the knob will light the burner and pump up water from the source and heat it to the desired temperature, if hot water is needed it can only be obtained by continually holding the knob to the hot side.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Sz7tZ74KJQI/AAAAAAAAHCo/fQ8zPyLu6zk/s1600-h/Coleman%20Hot%20Water%20Heater%20on%20Demand%204%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="Coleman Hot Water Heater on Demand 4" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Sz7taXsRB3I/AAAAAAAAHCw/jbQkCD8ntQU/Coleman%20Hot%20Water%20Heater%20on%20Demand%204_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Coleman Hot Water Heater on Demand 4" width="184" /></a> <br />
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Coleman states that you can enjoy up to 40 gallons of hot water, enough for you average camping trip. Unfortunately, my use of the unit was less than ideal. I kept running into a low battery condition after a few minutes of use. Calls to Coleman customer support had them send me a new battery and then finally a new unit. I will spare you the details, but over the course of four camping trips, the units have failed with the exception of one trip.<br />
<br />
After reading more online reviews about the unit, I have found that if the unit is left out in the cold in high humidity conditions, you will get the low-level battery error. When I camped at <a href="http://www.califcamping.com/2009/08/wishon-bass-lake-campground-review.html">Bass Lake</a> where the temperatures was near 100 degrees, the unit worked like a champion and without fail.<br />
<br />
The jury is still out on this unit. It is rather large and heavy and takes up a lot of space. Cost is around $200 and for that price needs to work every time you turn the knob. If you camp in a drier climate or can keep it he car our trailer between uses then this unit might fit the bill. I have no problems with the water output or temperature of the water with the CHWOD. If the unit works as advertised then I would be the first one to give this a high rating, at this point I can only give it a two and a half stars. I will post up some updates as I use it on future trips.<br />
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</b>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-29101739554991513282009-12-11T11:02:00.001-08:002009-12-11T13:49:47.229-08:00Mt. Madonna County Park Thanksgiving Trip 2009<p>I just wanted to post a quick photo from our recent outing to Mt. Madonna County Park. On this trip, it was a little cooler and we had one day of rain. A plus about this campsite, (maybe a minus) is that we are only 10 miles from the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.0119444444,-121.58&spn=0.1,0.1&q=37.0119444444,-121.58%20%28Gilroy%2C%20California%29&t=h" title="Gilroy, California" rel="geolocation">Gilroy</a> outlets. When it rained, the family and I were able to brave the crowds for black Friday and pick up some great deals. </p> <p>We loved the big site with power and electrical hook-ups in the Valley View I campground. The site was so big that we were able to setup the badminton net and still have plenty of room. </p> <p><img title="IMG_0126" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="IMG_0126" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SyKXVofdT4I/AAAAAAAAG3g/PYCRNpDZ23k/IMG_0126_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="196" width="150" /></p> <p>The only issue during the trip is when the power went out in the campground on the last night. Not a big issue, as the trusted tent trailer furnace kept us warm for the evening. This was actually the first time I used the furnace in the tent trailer. Normally a small ceramic heater is all that is needed to keep us warm and toasty during our fall and winter camping outings.</p> <p>What to find out more about Mt. Madonna County Park? Please read my complete review from Memorial Day 2009.</p> <p><a href="http://www.califcamping.com/2009/07/mt-madonna-county-park-campground.html">Mt Madonna County Park Campground Review</a>.</p> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/674b4cc5-d219-4fc5-9f6e-6b622b5e2788/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=674b4cc5-d219-4fc5-9f6e-6b622b5e2788" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-40261243280765117932009-12-03T14:37:00.001-08:002011-08-29T21:02:26.090-07:00BAL® Light Trailer Tire Leveler ReviewHave you ever purchased a product and wondered how you ever lived <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SxiJdsoEN1I/AAAAAAAAGww/yZk6-vuIots/s1600-h/Ball%20Leveler%202%5B4%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Ball Leveler 2" border="0" height="156" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SxiJeSvcxHI/AAAAAAAAGw4/K6SFx1WwVOg/Ball%20Leveler%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Ball Leveler 2" width="204" /></a>without it? Well the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/BAL%C2%AE-Light-Trailer-Tire-Leveler/dp/B000BH5MAA" target="_blank">BAL Leveler</a> is one of those special products. After many trips using boards and sets of Lynx Levelers blocks this product is the real deal and will have your tent trailer dead on level in a big hurry. <br />
The unit folds flat for storage and comes already supplied with the ratchet wrench. The leveler is placed under the wheel that needs to be raised, my trailer has 12“ <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SxiJeknDYEI/AAAAAAAAGxA/WRiHXfxULuw/s1600-h/BAL%20Leveler%201%5B5%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="BAL Leveler 1" border="0" height="144" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SxiJfILEuUI/AAAAAAAAGxI/QUQJe1_dE_Q/BAL%20Leveler%201_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="BAL Leveler 1" width="184" /></a> wheels so I place a block of wood to help close the gap. I threaded the long screw, added some light grease and used the ratchet to crank it up to a level position. My Colman-Fleetwood Yuma tent trailer is not that heavy so its easy to get the tire off the ground. Once this is done it’s a matter of getting the front and back level with the trailer stand.<br />
Another great feature is that this unit will securely chock the wheel and has less play then other wheel chocks. I still use my current set of chocks on the other side. With both of them in place, my tent trailer is a lot more stable now.<br />
The leveler will only lift your Pop-up about six inches. It is not advisable to put boards or blocks under the leveler. At <a href="http://www.califcamping.com/2009/08/wishon-bass-lake-campground-review.html" target="_blank">Wishon Point at Bass Lake</a> I had to dig a hole on one side for my tire to allow leveling with the BAL Leveler.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SxiJfn8kRtI/AAAAAAAAGxQ/yY_aNj6kXg4/s1600-h/Ball%20leveler%203%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="Ball leveler 3" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SxiJgMfVnhI/AAAAAAAAGxY/hEgtQz4_XeM/Ball%20leveler%203_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Ball leveler 3" width="244" /></a> <br />
You will find a great debate on the Pop-up forums about using this product. A lot of people still like using the blocks and driving back and forth to level their trailer, but for about $70.00 (including shipping) this unit will cut down on a lot of camp setup frustration.<br />
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My rating on this device is a solid 5 out of 5 stars due to the time savings and how it will securely chock the wheels. In my opinion, this is money well spent if you own a pop-up tent trailer.<br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:b909a860-c677-46a7-a7d1-3171d0a18181" style="display: inline; float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div id="dcdb0e2b-ad73-4372-a77c-f96041f33368" style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuxdJyMU2RY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('dcdb0e2b-ad73-4372-a77c-f96041f33368'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/GuxdJyMU2RY&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/GuxdJyMU2RY&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SxiJgm67lyI/AAAAAAAAGx4/i4uCgQMcrhc/video06c69fc93a71%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none;" /></a><br />
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<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/3e237540-dc45-47b8-93c8-b66bd849094e/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=3e237540-dc45-47b8-93c8-b66bd849094e" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-15975272927056946492009-11-20T14:14:00.001-08:002009-11-20T14:38:02.074-08:00Camping in the Mild California Climate<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 259px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Starlight_Mountain_-_encampment.jpg"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Starlight_Mountain_-_encampment.jpg/300px-Starlight_Mountain_-_encampment.jpg" alt="Encampment, Starlight Mountain Festival." style="border: medium none ; display: block; width: 249px; height: 170px;" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Starlight_Mountain_-_encampment.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></p><p>With Thanksgiving around the corner, camping is on the mind of some people in California. The family and I will be heading out for our second annual Thanksgiving camping trip. Why camping for Thanksgiving? Well it’s a good break between the kids soccer and football games and with a multitude of climate ranges in California, there is always somewhere in the state where the weather is nice. This year some of the extended family is going up with us, so maybe we can start a new tradition.</p> <p>Our next trip is to <a href="http://www.califcamping.com/2009/07/mt-madonna-county-park-campground.html">Mt. Madonna County Park</a>. I will try to post up some pictures on the blog as we camp. This will be our third trip to Mt. Madonna in the last year. I also plan to scout out a few more campgrounds in the area for next summer’s travels. Everybody stay tuned and have a Happy Thanksgiving.</p> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/b4f10ad6-1a14-47dd-be9b-7d9c86b531c8/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=b4f10ad6-1a14-47dd-be9b-7d9c86b531c8" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-57162625213654059542009-09-18T14:38:00.001-07:002011-05-20T16:56:26.827-07:00Keeping the Smartphone going while Camping.As more and more people transition from regular cell phones to the new line of internet enabled smart phones, battery life away from the home and vehicle can become a concern. Take my example, before my trip to Bass Lake in July 2009 I purchased a new <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_OS" rel="wikipedia" title="IPhone OS">IPhone</a> 3GS. One thing that I quickly realized was the limited battery life this unit had. While I am not new to <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone" rel="wikipedia" title="Smartphone">smartphones</a>, the rate at which the unit used the battery was a surprise to me. I have listed a few tips that will help keep your phone going on those longer dry camping trips. <br />
<ul><li>If there is no signal, go ahead and turn the phone off. <ul><li>Some phone can use a lot of power trying to pick up a signal, if you’re in a remote area it is better just to turn the phone off or place it in flight mode. </li>
</ul></li>
<li>Adjust your power options to turn the screen or backlight off sooner. </li>
<li>Turn down the brightness </li>
<li>Disable push e-mail and have the phone fetch e-mail once every hour or not at all (hey you’re camping you deserver a break). </li>
<li>Bring the phone car charger. <ul><li>You would be surprised how a quick run to the camp store can add a few hours' worth of use to your phone. </li>
</ul></li>
<li>Consider purchasing an extra spare battery or external battery-charging device. <ul><li>I always carried a spare battery for my old <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Treo" rel="wikipedia" title="Palm Treo">Treo</a>. Since the IPhone has a non-removable battery, you will have to purchase a charging case or battery. While these items are expensive, they can be life saving in an outdoor emergency. Here is a list of couple of external charging devices. <ul><li><a href="http://www.mophie.com/juice-pack-air-p/1059_jpa-ip3g-blk.htm" target="_blank">Mophie juice pack air</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.case-mate.com/iPhone-3G-Cases/Case-Mate-iPhone-3G--3GS-Fuel-Battery-Extender-Case.asp?gclid=CNfYjKyV_JwCFRQpawodcjjcbg" target="_blank">Case-mate</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.energizer.com/products/energi-to-go/Pages/cell-battery-charger.aspx" target="_blank">Energizer Energi To Go</a> (non-IPhone) </li>
</ul></li>
</ul></li>
</ul>With some of the tips listed above, you should be able to make it to the end of your camping trip.<br />
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<strong>Good Eating:</strong><br />
Dining choices are limited to the near-by <a href="http://www.millerslanding.com/store.html" target="_blank">Millers Landing Grill</a> and the <a href="http://www.theforksresort.com/restaurant.html" target="_blank">Forks Restaurant</a> on the campground side of the lake. <a href="http://www.basslake.com/duceys.html" target="_blank">Ducey’s on the Lake</a> is a 15-minute drive on the other side of the lake. Each of these locations has a general store to pick up forgotten items.<br />
<strong>Fishing:</strong><br />
Fishing can be good in the spring and fall at this lake. A combination of bass, trout, and other warm-water species are available. During the summer the warm-water temperatures make this lake a prime area for wakeboarding and tubing.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SqMvJDIJ9oI/AAAAAAAAGaE/G1NJh6UDbZQ/s1600-h/Bass%20Lake%20CA%20Lakeside%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="Bass Lake CA Lakeside" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SqMvJWD6eTI/AAAAAAAAGaM/a1dJxzB3tOM/Bass%20Lake%20CA%20Lakeside_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bass Lake CA Lakeside" width="244" /></a> <strong>Hiking</strong><br />
Several hiking trails are available at Bass Lake. The following is a small list of trails to try out:<br />
Willow Creek Trail and Angel Falls<br />
Goat Mountain / Spring Cove Trails<br />
Way of the Mono Interpretive Trail<br />
For more information check out the Bass Lake Trail Page <a href="http://basslakeca.com/trails.html" target="_blank">from BassLakeCA.com</a>.<br />
<strong>Critters:</strong><br />
Due to the low elevation and abundant water source mosquitoes and wasp can be an issue. An ample supply of insect repellant is mandatory. The majority of Bass Lake regulars have invested in those big screened patios to keep the pests out while eating around the picnic table.<br />
Squirrels and raccoons are around the campground. Please remember to store your food properly, either in the RV or the vehicle. There are a few bears around, but they are not as problematic as the bears in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.8333333333,-119.5&spn=1.0,1.0&q=37.8333333333,-119.5%20%28Yosemite%20National%20Park%29&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="Yosemite National Park">Yosemite</a> up the hill.<br />
<strong>Things to do:</strong><br />
In the spring and fall, fishing and hiking are the top activities. As summer rolls around and the water temperatures warm up, then everyone hits the water to cool off. There are two paved boat launching areas (Pines Resort and Wishon Point). You can also rent boats and other watercraft at <a href="http://www.millerslanding.com/boats.html" target="_blank">Miller</a>’s, <a href="http://www.theforksresort.com/boat_rentals.html" target="_blank">Fork’s</a> or <a href="http://www.basslakeboatrentals.com/" target="_blank">Pines Resort</a>. <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SqMuqSaApEI/AAAAAAAAGZ0/FIDyVLGxOt4/s1600-h/bass%20lake%20wishon%20water%201%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bass lake wishon water 1" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SqMuqyKlvTI/AAAAAAAAGZ8/f8a_aX9d1wg/bass%20lake%20wishon%20water%201_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="bass lake wishon water 1" width="244" /></a> <br />
<strong>Insiders tip:</strong> <br />
If you’re looking to rent a boat try early morning or midweek (Monday – Thursday) for a discount. You can also ask for a discount if you see a lot of unused watercraft sitting around the rental dock.<br />
<a href="http://www.califcamping.com/2009/08/wishon-bass-lake-campground-review.html">Part one of my Wishon Bass lake Campground Review</a><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/9dcdd3d6-0136-4deb-8299-6ba7ef3404d2/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=9dcdd3d6-0136-4deb-8299-6ba7ef3404d2" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-58619685064742289342009-08-27T15:26:00.001-07:002009-08-27T15:29:09.116-07:00New Type of Camp Grill<p>I saw the <a href="http://www.safarichefgrill.com/">Safari Chef Grill</a> the other day at our local SaveMart grocery store. This is one of those items you just have to stop and take a look especially for us outdoor types. This baby looks to have everything you need for cooking up all kinds of tasty dishes. The manufacture says it is “simply the most versatile portable grill you can buy on the market”.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SpcIJv6dOXI/AAAAAAAAGW0/ufQHJULrmO0/s1600-h/Safari%20Grill%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Safari Grill" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Safari Grill" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SpcIKW4JrtI/AAAAAAAAGW8/4XjcC7-jp0s/Safari%20Grill_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="283" width="148" /></a> </p> <p>The price is a little steep at $99.00 plus tax, but I would be willing to give it a shot if is truly compact and can get the job done. If you have this grill or have seen it, in action please send me comment below or send me a tweet at <a title="http://twitter.com/CalifCamping" href="http://twitter.com/CalifCamping">http://twitter.com/CalifCamping</a></p>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-83799652739133308542009-08-05T13:01:00.001-07:002009-09-05T20:45:45.830-07:00Wishon Bass Lake Campground Review<p><a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.3126,-119.55&spn=0.1,0.1&q=37.3126,-119.55%20%28Bass%20Lake%20%28California%29%29&t=h" title="Bass Lake (California)" rel="geolocation">Bass Lake</a> is located in the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.4166666667,-119.166666667&spn=0.01,0.01&q=37.4166666667,-119.166666667%20%28Sierra%20National%20Forest%29&t=h" title="Sierra National Forest" rel="geolocation">Sierra National Forest</a> about 15 miles from the southern entrance to Yosemite. At an elevation of 3,400 feet, Bass Lake is a great place to enjoy water <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SqMtWA_Gg0I/AAAAAAAAGY0/15rrxKcLGN4/s1600-h/Bass%20Lake%20CA%20Lake%20View%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Bass Lake CA Lake View" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" alt="Bass Lake CA Lake View" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SqMtWftLl9I/AAAAAAAAGY8/RSZeRAQjou4/Bass%20Lake%20CA%20Lake%20View_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" height="209" width="274" /></a>activities during the summer. During the spring and fall, Bass Lake is an oasis for fishing and other activities. Wishon is the smallest camp at Bass Lake and set at the end of the lake, near the dam. There are several lakeview and partial lake view sites to choose from.</p> <p> <strong>General information:</strong> </p> <p>The Wishon campground is located a few miles off of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_41" title="California State Route 41" rel="wikipedia">California State Route 41</a> about 35 miles north of Fresno, California. This lakeside campground is open May to September. Reservation for the summer months are recommended and can be booked <a href="http://www.recreation.gov/campgroundDetails.do?topTabIndex=CampingSpot&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=71721" target="_blank">online</a>. Wishon campground has 47 campsites, several of them that are double sized for up to 12 people and 4 vehicles. Each site includes picnic tables and fire pits. Piped drinking water is available at several locations around the campgrounds. Camp hosts and firewood sales are also available on site. There are sites for RVs up to 30 feet long. The sites are a combination of dirt and graded dirt. There are some sites with a lot of slope, so leveling may be an issue for RVs. </p> <p> <strong>Campground Photos:</strong></p> <p><em>Click on the picture below to see all the Bass Lake Wishon Point pictures.</em></p> <blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/cacamping/BassLake?feat=directlink"><img title="Bass Lake Wishon 13" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Bass Lake Wishon 13" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SpNzXXx8OgI/AAAAAAAAGV0/av3QYj62vqE/Bass%20Lake%20Wishon%2013%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="140" width="183" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/cacamping/BassLake?feat=directlink">Bass Lake Photos</a></p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Bath Facilities:</strong></p> <p>There are four bathhouse buildings in the campground. Of the buildings I observed, the bathrooms are private stalled with flush toilets and washbasins. I have seen cleaner facility at some of the State Parks, but these were acceptable. Showers are not available at the campground. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SqMtWyhrWMI/AAAAAAAAGZE/hw1zZAiTbAM/s1600-h/Bass%20Lake%20Wishon%205%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Bass Lake Wishon 5" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Bass Lake Wishon 5" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SqMtXcJH9bI/AAAAAAAAGZM/tIwk3QGCcPk/Bass%20Lake%20Wishon%205_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="184" width="244" /></a> There is a private shower building located at <a href="http://www.millerslanding.com/" target="_blank">Millers Landing resort</a> which can be reached via a trail located by campsite 18. Price for the showers is 3.00 per five minutes, and they are open as late as 10:00 PM. Please check with the resort to get the exact hours as they can change during the season. </p> <p>Our family was able to set up a Cabela’s shower shelter and take a quick shower using our Coleman Hot Water on Demand unit. </p> <p><strong>Pets:</strong></p> <p>Dogs are permitted, two per site, and must be kept on a 6-foot leash during the day and need to be in confined areas overnight. </p> <p><strong>Best sites:</strong></p> <p>If you’re looking for a lakeview, you will need to reserve sites 1 through 4 months in advance. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SqMtXnXFm1I/AAAAAAAAGZU/iwrIIFfyTWo/s1600-h/Bass%20Lake%20Wishon%2017%5B8%5D.jpg"><img title="Bass Lake Wishon 17" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" alt="Bass Lake Wishon 17" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SqMtYFY2WkI/AAAAAAAAGZc/k6i1pcqRkxk/Bass%20Lake%20Wishon%2017_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="right" border="0" height="182" width="239" /></a> If you’re looking for a peak of the lake through the pines, then sites 40 through 47 are a good bet. If you’re looking for a short walk to the nearby store, restaurant, and showers, then sites 9 through 18 will keep you close by. Be aware of the steep uphill walk back to camp.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.califcamping.com/2009/09/wishon-bass-lake-campground-part-2.html">Continue to Wishon Bass Lake Camp Review Part 2</a></p> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/760860ee-ac34-4df9-942e-83a3de5db8e1/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none ; float: right;" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=760860ee-ac34-4df9-942e-83a3de5db8e1" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><span class="wlWriterPreserve" id="preserve11089fe249f54b6aa706a64e2893d49d"> <script src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer" type="text/javascript"></script></span></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-91382529718018393582009-07-17T09:15:00.000-07:002009-07-17T12:47:18.470-07:00California Camping Online Upcoming Trips<p>I have been asked if I have some future camping trips scheduled the rest of this summer. Good news, the family and I will be heading to <a class="zem_slink" title="Bass Lake (California)" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.3126,-119.55&spn=0.1,0.1&q=37.3126,-119.55%20%28Bass%20Lake%20%28California%29%29&t=h" rel="geolocation">Bass Lake</a> in the Sierra National Forrest and our annual trip to <a class="zem_slink" title="San Simeon State Park" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Simeon_State_Park" rel="wikipedia">San Simeon State Park</a>, all in the next month and a half. Keep checking back and I will post up my detailed reviews on each camping location. If you are not a follower to my <a href="http://twitter.com/CalifCamping" target="_blank">Twitter feed</a>, please join me, as I provide links to news items that relate to camping in California.</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/CalifCamping" target="_blank">CalifCamping on Twitter</a></p> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/a3b08078-5425-4c97-9f63-858f0bc7738f/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=a3b08078-5425-4c97-9f63-858f0bc7738f" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-14453564291677605672009-07-13T15:22:00.001-07:002009-07-14T10:24:24.033-07:00Free admission to more than 100 National Parks this weekend.July 19-19 2009 <p>If you need a reason to get away this weekend the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.nps.gov/" title="National Park Service" rel="homepage">National Park service</a> is waving fees for several parks in California this weekend. While <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_National_Park" title="Death Valley National Park" rel="wikipedia">Death Valley</a> might be out of the question a quick day trip to Yosemite or Sequoia <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoia_National_Park" title="Sequoia National Park" rel="wikipedia">National Park</a> may be on order. Please note this does not include camping or other recreational fees.<br /></p><p></p><p class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 191px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9422542@N03/1172657894"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1270/1172657894_a6f04f5d62_m.jpg" alt="Sequoia National Park, California" style="border: medium none ; display: block; width: 157px; height: 207px;" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9422542@N03/1172657894">bercired</a> via Flickr</span></p><p></p><p><b>California</b> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/cabr">Cabrillo National Monument</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/deva">Death Valley National Park</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/jomu">John Muir National Historic Site</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/jotr">Joshua Tree National Park</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/lavo">Lassen Volcanic National Park</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/labe">Lava Beds National Monument</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/muwo">Muir Woods National Monument</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/pinn">Pinnacles National Monument</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/safr">San Francisco Maratime National Historical Park</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/seki">Sequoia National Park</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/whis">Whiskeytown Unit National Recreation Area</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/yose">Yosemite National Park</a></p> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/bceff043-7b3c-4ac1-afb3-45342ae071cd/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=bceff043-7b3c-4ac1-afb3-45342ae071cd" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-44767957387298460302009-07-06T22:59:00.001-07:002009-11-20T14:23:00.401-08:00Mt. Madonna County Park Campground Review<p>How would you like a campground that is set in a secluded redwood coastal area in the <a class="zem_slink" title="Santa Cruz Mountains" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.1107808333,-121.844675833&spn=1.0,1.0&q=37.1107808333,-121.844675833%20%28Santa%20Cruz%20Mountains%29&t=h" rel="geolocation">Santa Cruz mountain range</a> with a multitude of activities a short drive away? How would you like to actually be able to find a campsite without reserving six months in advance, yet have<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlLkHp5yc1I/AAAAAAAAGB0/gmwrg_Rjv-Q/s1600-h/Mt.%20Madonna%20County%20Park%20sign%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Mt. Madonna County Park sign" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" alt="Mt. Madonna County Park sign" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlLkIERw_XI/AAAAAAAAGB8/2s5FHYJUq0Y/Mt.%20Madonna%20County%20Park%20sign_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="right" border="0" height="184" width="244" /></a> all the great amenities that some of the State Park sites offer. Well, at the expense of some of the local area people getting upset with my revelation, I am going to reveal the wonderful gem of a campground called <a href="http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/parks/parksarticle?path=%2Fv7%2FParks%20and%20Recreation%2C%20Department%20of%20%28DEP%29%2FFind%20a%20Park&contentId=b9f18a77d9784010VgnVCMP230004adc4a92____&cpsextcurrchannel=1">Mt. Madonna County Park</a>. This is our new favorite campground.</p> <p><strong>General information:</strong> </p> <p>This park is located on <a class="zem_slink" title="California State Route 152" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_152" rel="wikipedia">California State Route 152</a> at the top of Hecker Pass about 10 miles west of Gilroy (from US 101) or 8 miles east from <a class="zem_slink" title="Watsonville, California" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.92,-121.763611111&spn=0.1,0.1&q=36.92,-121.763611111%20%28Watsonville%2C%20California%29&t=h" rel="geolocation">Watsonville</a> (from SR 1). There is a <a href="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/bus-mh/busmap-d05.pdf">45-foot restriction on vehicles</a> on this section of 152. The park is open all year and reservations can be <a href="https://gooutsideandplay.org/" target="_blank">booked online</a>. There are 4 campgrounds located through out the park with a total of 118 sites (17 with partial hook-up) two group sites, and 5 youth group areas (tax exempt status needed). Each site includes picnic tables and fire pits. Food lockers are available at sites without partial hook-ups. Piped drinking water is available at several locations around the campgrounds. Free ranger-led programs are available every Saturday evening in the summer months. Camp hosts and firewood sales are also available on site.</p> <p><strong>Campground Photos:</strong></p> <p><em><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/cacamping/MtMadonnaCountyPark?feat=directlink" target="_blank">Click on the photo below to view the photo gallery.</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/cacamping/MtMadonnaCountyPark?feat=directlink"><img title="Mt. Madonna County Park entrance" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Mt. Madonna County Park entrance" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SmDV3oGGpQI/AAAAAAAAGG0/YHfPQW86dF8/Mt.%20Madonna%20County%20Park%20entrance.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="160" width="210" /></a> </p> <p><strong>Bath Facilities:</strong></p> <p>There are many facilities with multi-stalled flush toilets. Cold running water and air hand dryers are available. I noticed that there was electrical power for hair dryers in the Valley View #1 location. A new shower building (9/08) is located just south of the Valley View #1 campground. At this time, the showers were free, and they close each day at dusk. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlLkJn5OIJI/AAAAAAAAGCU/LKMs7bxNTos/s1600-h/Mt.%20Madonna%20County%20Park%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Mt. Madonna County Park 2" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Mt. Madonna County Park 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlLkKPYOY1I/AAAAAAAAGCc/gsN-6uhlhy8/Mt.%20Madonna%20County%20Park%202_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="184" width="244" /></a> </p> <p><strong>Pets:</strong></p> <p>Dogs are permitted, two per site, and must be kept on a 6-foot leash during the day and need to be in confined areas overnight. </p> <p><strong>Best sites:</strong></p> <p>Those looking for hook-ups will be staying in the Valley View #1 section of the park. Due to the amount of trees, the majority of the campsites are very nice. I didn't see any sites where I wouldn’t want <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlLkKsokLUI/AAAAAAAAGCk/87aH0HfZVLI/s1600-h/Mt.%20Madonna%20County%20Park%203%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Mt. Madonna County Park 3" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" alt="Mt. Madonna County Park 3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlLkLNlnSfI/AAAAAAAAGCs/fekYaMVk8mo/Mt.%20Madonna%20County%20Park%203_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" height="182" width="239" /></a> to camp. If you’re looking for more privacy choose the outer loop at each campground. Need a few sights for a group, then the interior of the loops will be your best bet. Best sites for those looking for partial hook-ups are 116B, 113, and 107. If you have a tent trailer or small travel trailer (less than 20 feet) spot 139 is a good bet. </p> <p><strong>Good Eating:</strong></p> <p>Dining choices are limited to restaurants in either Gilroy or Watsonville; each has a selections of the various chain type restaurants and grocery stores. The Mt. Madonna Inn restaurant is close to the park, but I can’t verify if it open at this time. </p> <p><strong>Fishing:</strong></p> <p>Sorry, folks, but fishing is not available in the park. There are many beaches 10 to 15 miles east of the park, north and south of Watsonville. Nearby <a href="http://www.pintolake.com/">Pinto Lake</a>, also in Watsonville, offers the closest freshwater fishing.</p> <p><strong>Hiking</strong></p> <p>Mt Madonna Park is a hiker’s paradise, and one of the few places where leashed dogs are allowed on the trail. There are several trails in the park, from oak woodland and dense chaparral to redwood forest with green ferns. An easy hike is to the ruins of the cattle baron Henry Miller’s summer home. Pick up a trail map when you arrive at the park or <a href="http://www.sccgov.org/SCC/docs%2FParks%20and%20Recreation%2C%20Department%20of%20%28DEP%29%2Fattachments%2F332554mt_madonna.pdf">download it here</a>.</p> <p><strong>Critters:</strong> </p> <p>During Thanksgiving 2008 I accidently left some dog food out and I had a couple of particularly aggressive raccoons come into the camp. It was a little difficult chasing them away. They must have a love affair with kibbles and bits. My fault, as proper food storage will eliminate most issues.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlLkLgVyMMI/AAAAAAAAGC0/-CIYP011OAg/s1600-h/Mt%20Madonna%20%20Campground%20review%20critters1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Mt Madonna Campground review critters1" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Mt Madonna Campground review critters1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlLkL79LcjI/AAAAAAAAGC8/WQkampf5Tg4/Mt%20Madonna%20%20Campground%20review%20critters1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="177" width="232" /></a> Other animals in the park that could cause some issues are rattlesnakes, squirrels, and birds. Mountain lions are in the park, but sightings are rare. </p> <p><strong>Things to do:</strong></p> <p>Inside the park there are 14 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, archery, white deer pen and a visitor center where the natural history, geology, and cultural history of the park.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlLkMYJgYBI/AAAAAAAAGDE/TmW2PCCKO04/s1600-h/Mt%20Madonna%20White%20Deer1%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Mt Madonna White Deer1" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Mt Madonna White Deer1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlLkM9cXDiI/AAAAAAAAGDM/8JxdAku_szI/Mt%20Madonna%20White%20Deer1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="184" width="244" /></a> </p> <p>One of the great features about Mt. Madonna County Park is its southern bay area location. Within one hour’s drive is Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Jose with numerous activities. </p> <p>A favorite for those with younger children will be the nearby seasonal <a href="http://www.gilroygardens.org/">Gilroy Gardens</a>. At nine miles away, this family friendly park is the only California park with a horticultural theme. Crowds and lines are usually short, even on the weekends.</p> <p><strong>Insiders tip:</strong> </p> <p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=rio%20del%20mar%20beach&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS320US320&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl">Rio Del Mar Beach</a> is a great beach near the town of Aptos. Even on holiday weekends you should be able to find a spot nearby to park. This is a dog-friendly beach with a beachfront restaurant offering a doggie menu.</p> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/760860ee-ac34-4df9-942e-83a3de5db8e1/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none ; float: right;" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=760860ee-ac34-4df9-942e-83a3de5db8e1" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-5111677409347894182009-06-03T10:51:00.001-07:002009-06-03T10:51:59.751-07:00National Parks around the country free for three weekends this summer.<p>As a way to stimulate the economy and promote visitation to the National Parks, the Department of the Interior announced that the National Parks Service will offer three fee-free weekends this summer.  I have included the list of the free parks in California where you can take advantage of this special offer.  </p> <p><strong>From the National Park Service</strong></p> <p>Mark your calendars for fee-free weekends this summer:</p> <ul> <li>June 20-21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend) </li> <li>July 18-19, 2009 </li> <li>August 15-16, 2009 </li> </ul> <p>And to make the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors on this summer’s fee free weekends with the their own <a href="http://www.nps.gov/cgi-bin/intercept?http://www.parkpartners.org/view/324/28725/Special-2009-Offers.html">special offers</a>.</p> <p><b>California</b> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/cabr">Cabrillo National Monument</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/deva">Death Valley National Park</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/jomu">John Muir National Historic Site</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/jotr">Joshua Tree National Park</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/lavo">Lassen Volcanic National Park</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/labe">Lava Beds National Monument</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/muwo">Muir Woods National Monument</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/pinn">Pinnacles National Monument</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/safr">San Francisco Maratime National Historical Park</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/seki">Sequoia National Park</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/whis">Whiskeytown Unit National Recreation Area</a> <br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/yose">Yosemite National Park</a></p> C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-44117435875424153242009-05-15T09:26:00.000-07:002009-11-20T14:27:43.357-08:00Wawona Campground Review Yosemite National Park<p align="left">This campground is located 8 miles from the quiet southern entrance<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3ZBvdBrI/AAAAAAAAGDk/fXB7g4bqYqI/s1600-h/Wawona%20campground%20Yosemite1%5B15%5D.jpg"><img title="Wawona campground Yosemite1" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" alt="Wawona campground Yosemite1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3Z-hQWVI/AAAAAAAAGDs/15lQC3yCbkI/Wawona%20campground%20Yosemite1_thumb%5B11%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="right" border="0" height="156" width="191" /></a><br />to Yosemite and has a nice<br />riverside setting and a more<br />open, less crowded feel<br />then some of the other<br />campgrounds in Yosemite<br />Valley. The sights of the<br />valley are a 45-minute drive<br />away. The Mariposa grove<br />is 10 miles away.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong>General information:</strong></p> <p align="left">Located on the south fork of the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced_River" title="Merced River" rel="wikipedia">Merced River</a>, the Wawona campground campground is open all year. From October to April, the sites are first come, first served.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3amJ71XI/AAAAAAAAGD0/Vn6iDwEiSSA/s1600-h/Wawona%20campground%20Yosemite8%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="Wawona campground Yosemite8" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" alt="Wawona campground Yosemite8" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3bYU-AQI/AAAAAAAAGD8/x3zOsLZrJeI/Wawona%20campground%20Yosemite8_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" height="215" width="255" /></a><br />Reservations for campsites can be obtained from May to<br />September. This campground has 93 sites for tents and RVs, one group site, two horse camps and piped in fresh<br />water. Each site contains a picnic table, bear food locker and a fire grate. There are campsites for RV’s up to 35 feet long. Check the reservation website for details.</p> <p><strong>Campground Photos:</strong></p> <p>Click on the photo below to view the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/cacamping/WawonaCampgroundYosemiteNationalPark?feat=directlink">photo gallery</a>.<br /></p> <p><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/cacamping/WawonaCampgroundYosemiteNationalPark?feat=directlink"><img title="Wawona campground Yosemite5" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Wawona campground Yosemite5" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3b17rSwI/AAAAAAAAGEE/F0moL4VwyxA/Wawona%20campground%20Yosemite5%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="131" width="171" /></a></p> <p> <strong>Bath Facilities:</strong></p> <p>There are six multi-stalled facilities with flush toilets. Shower are located in Yosemite Valley at the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry_Village" title="Curry Village" rel="wikipedia">Curry Village</a> or Housekeeping camp. You and the family might want to grab a shower after a day of sightseeing in the valley before heading back to camp.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3cQAzVOI/AAAAAAAAGEM/RzmhVICQgHg/s1600-h/Wawona%20campground%20Yosemite2%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Wawona campground Yosemite2" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Wawona campground Yosemite2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3de3WhwI/AAAAAAAAGEU/6khEVhFP15A/Wawona%20campground%20Yosemite2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="184" width="244" /></a> <strong>Pets:</strong></p> <p>Dogs are permitted with the exception of the group and horse sites. <a href="http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/pets.htm">Yosemite has various regulations</a> regarding pets around the park and it is advisable to check them in advance, before staying at the park.</p> <p><strong>Best sites:</strong></p> <p>Most people will look to get a spot next to the Merced River. The B and C loops are more forested then the A loop. Some of the sites can be close together. This<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3eCJ4cCI/AAAAAAAAGEc/YCF76mrL-ws/s1600-h/Wawona%20campground%20Yosemite%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Wawona campground Yosemite" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" alt="Wawona campground Yosemite" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3fT3-RII/AAAAAAAAGEk/TXzdbf8GeYw/Wawona%20campground%20Yosemite_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="right" border="0" height="209" width="274" /></a><br />is Yosemite, so you can expect some company,<br />especially in the summer. One thing for sure, the atmosphere is not as crowded as the campgrounds in<br />Yosemite Valley.</p> <p><strong>Good Eating:</strong></p> <p>Not a whole lot of dining choices around in these parts. The <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wawona_Hotel" title="Wawona Hotel" rel="wikipedia">Wawona Hotel</a> dining room is close by, but might be a bit fancy for the camping set. The hotel serves a western-style outdoor BBQ on Saturdays in the summer. Contact the hotel directly for the start date and hours of operation (209) 375-1425. The town of Fish camp and Oakhurst are 15 to 25 minutes outside of the campground with a various assortments of restaurants and grocery stores.</p> <p><strong>Fishing:</strong></p> <p>While there is fishing available in the south fork of the Merced River at the camp, I have not seen many anglers catch fish. It is my understanding that trout plants do not include <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.8333333333,-119.5&spn=1.0,1.0&q=37.8333333333,-119.5%20%28Yosemite%20National%20Park%29&t=h" title="Yosemite National Park" rel="geolocation">Yosemite National Park</a>. If you have caught fish in the Wawona campground area please let me know in the comment section.</p> <p><strong>Critters:</strong></p> <p>Yosemite is major bear country and if you do not store your food in a <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3f8lBZqI/AAAAAAAAGEs/wn_qFw_7pMQ/s1600-h/Yosemite_Black_Bear%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="Yosemite_Black_Bear" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" alt="Yosemite_Black_Bear" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SlN3gXdrnXI/AAAAAAAAGE0/FXnORtKopV0/Yosemite_Black_Bear_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" height="156" width="224" /></a> responsible manner, you can<br />expect a visit from Mr. Black Bear. Please make sure to<br />read the Yosemite Bears and food storage guide before your trip. Other animals in the park that<br />could cause some issues are rattlesnakes, squirrels and birds. Proper food storage will take care of the birds and squirrels. </p> <p><strong>Things to:</strong></p> <p>There are numerous activities in the southern portion of Yosemite National Park. A few are of these side trips are listed below.</p> <ol> <li>Golf <ul> <li><a href="http://www.yosemitepark.com/Activities_Golfing.aspx">Wawona golf course</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.sierrameadows.com/">Sierra Meadows (outside the park)</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/mg.htm">Mariposa Grove (Giant Sequoias)</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wawonahikes.htm">Day hikes in Wawona and Mariposa grove</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.ymsprr.com/">Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad</a> </li> </ol> <p><strong>Did you know?</strong></p> <p>The <a href="http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_WawonaHotel_History.aspx">Wawona Hotel is National Historic Landmark</a> with the current building dating back to the late 1800.</p> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/86339bfd-7150-472c-b3c1-34526c1eed45/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=86339bfd-7150-472c-b3c1-34526c1eed45" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-91806603604104486652009-05-13T12:10:00.000-07:002009-05-13T13:19:15.476-07:00Recession-Proof: Private Campgrounds<h4><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/print/smallbiz/content/may2009/sb20090512_499502.htm" target="_blank">Low-cost, family-friendly private campgrounds, most of which are small businesses, are doing well despite the travel slump</a></h4> <p><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/print/smallbiz/content/may2009/sb20090512_499502.htm" target="_blank">Here is a great article by Karen Klien at Business Week</a>, that shows private campgrounds around the country are doing well in these down economic times. I do not have to tell you that a camping vacation can save you ton of money vs. the drive/fly, hotel vacation. An interesting fact stated in the article, is that there are over 8000 private campground operators in the country with half independently owned by multi-generation families. </p> <p>Another fact listed is that many of the private campgrounds are adding or improving existing amenities. Most of the higher-end campgrounds now have pools, cable T.V. and Wi-Fi.</p> <p>I really like the more natural settings of the State Park and National Forrest type campgrounds. I am always on the lookout for a private campground that provides a balance between amenities and a natural park like setting. If any of my readers would like to list their favorite private campgrounds please list them in the comment section below.</p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4001feb5-292e-4868-ab4a-a4484961e73a" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; float: none;">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Campgrounds" rel="tag">Campgrounds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/State+Park" rel="tag">State Park</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/National+Forrest" rel="tag">National Forrest</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/California+Camping" rel="tag">California Camping</a></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-51377956711910943772009-05-04T11:11:00.001-07:002009-05-04T11:13:15.991-07:00Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park to get temporary bridge<p>Some great news for the folks in the Big Sur area. The Monterey County Herald reports, that the Department of Parks and Recreation will pony up the money to install a temporary bridge to allow access to the main campground. Hopefully they can get this all ready for the upcoming Memorial day weekend. Click on the link below to read the full article.</p> <p><a href="http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_12279307?nclick_check=1" target="_blank">Temporary bridge to be installed at Pfeiffer State Park</a></p>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-57789535865490216112009-04-22T21:13:00.001-07:002009-07-10T13:23:59.712-07:00Renting gear for camping in California<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SfVSM8-A8qI/AAAAAAAAEdw/yaTc3HBZKqg/s1600-h/Camping_Gear2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329256116540994210" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; width: 245px; cursor: pointer; height: 158px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-YvljV0usY/SfVSM8-A8qI/AAAAAAAAEdw/yaTc3HBZKqg/s320/Camping_Gear2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>If you’re flying into California from another state or country and would like to camp, there is an option to rent camping gear from a large sporting good store in the general area close to your campground.</p> <p>In <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.7816666667,-119.792222222&spn=0.1,0.1&q=36.7816666667,-119.792222222%20%28Fresno%2C%20California%29&t=h" title="Fresno, California" rel="geolocation">Fresno, California</a>, which is an hour and a half drive to <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park" title="Yosemite National Park" rel="wikipedia">Yosemite</a>, Kings Canyon, and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.4333333333,-118.683333333&spn=0.01,0.01&q=36.4333333333,-118.683333333%20%28Sequoia%20National%20Park%29&t=h" title="Sequoia National Park" rel="geolocation">Sequoia National</a> parks, Herb Bauers a well-established local sporting goods store, has camping equipment rentals available for your trip. For $150.00 per weekend you can get a family size tent, 4 sleeping bags, a propane lantern, propane stove, and an ice chest. Call the store at 559-435-8600 to inquire about the current price and rental terms. By combining this set with a few items from the local dollar or thrift store you will be set for a rustic back-to-nature experience. If you have the space in your luggage, an air mattress can add some much-needed sleeping comfort. A couple of camp chairs can be purchased at the local Wal-Mart for $10.00 each.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p> <p>While the planning, camping rentals and extra shopping may sound like a lot of work, it will be worth it to wake up at or very near one of the national parks listed above.</p> <p>Follow up 5-12-09</p> <p>Just heard about a website called <a href="http://www.lowergear.com/" target="_blank">Lowergear.com</a> that allows you to choose gear to rent online and they will ship it to you before your trip. </p> <p> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:c4bc2aba-0b86-4c01-b18a-d59531a87f56" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; float: none;">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/camping" rel="tag">camping</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Yosemite" rel="tag">Yosemite</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/gear" rel="tag">gear</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/rental" rel="tag">rental</a></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/8062ec9a-661a-49d7-a175-58b95cde0f14/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=8062ec9a-661a-49d7-a175-58b95cde0f14" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-6335170571163816192009-04-22T11:43:00.001-07:002009-07-07T09:39:11.440-07:00Campsite reservations are up over last year<p>I found an <a href="http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090421/ARTICLES/904219935?Title=Campsite-reservations-up-over-last-year" target="_blank">Interesting article from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat</a>. The article shows a double-digit increase in camping reservations from last year. </p> <p>Now that<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Se9lRlMvmBI/AAAAAAAAEc8/TzRc2-2L_EY/s1600-h/California_Campground%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="California_Campground" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" alt="California_Campground" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Se9lSLnmaOI/AAAAAAAAEdE/CdenfnTp8pc/California_Campground_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" height="176" width="231" /></a> money is tight, more families are starting to turn to camping as a way to save the annual vacation trip. Online reservations for county type campgrounds are also noted in the article. </p> <p>We have noted in prior posts, that the county parks can be a great way to find a site, especially when some of the state parks are full. While it is nice that more people are discovering camping, long-term campers will need to start getting reservation further in advance to guarantee a spot at your favorite campground.</p> <p>I have included links below to a couple county parks sites. I have personally stayed at <a href="http://www.califcamping.com/2009/07/mt-madonna-county-park-campground.html" target="_blank">Mt Madonna County Park</a> in Santa Clara County and will be returning during the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend.</p> <p><a href="http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/camping/index.htm" target="_blank">County of Sonoma camping information</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/parkschp?path=%2Fv7%2FParks%20and%20Recreation%2C%20Department%20of%20%28DEP%29%2Fmain_menu%2FCamp%20Here" target="_blank">County of Santa Clara camping information</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <span style="font-size:78%;">Technorati Tags: </span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Campsite" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">Campsite</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">,</span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/reservations" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">reservations</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">,</span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/vacation" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">vacation</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">,</span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/campgrounds" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">campgrounds</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">,</span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/parks" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">parks</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.califcamping.com.blogspot.com/search/label/parks" rel="Tag"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></a>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-75497990788762108142009-04-21T15:32:00.000-07:002009-07-10T13:12:39.783-07:00Pictures from Yosemite Valley<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 310px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Odocoileus_hemionus_californicus_and_Yosemite_Falls.jpg"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Odocoileus_hemionus_californicus_and_Yosemite_Falls.jpg/300px-Odocoileus_hemionus_californicus_and_Yosemite_Falls.jpg" alt="{{w|California Mule Deer}}, Odocoileus hemionu..." style="border: medium none ; display: block; width: 244px; height: 241px;" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Odocoileus_hemionus_californicus_and_Yosemite_Falls.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></p><p>Taking my advice from a post on April 12th, the family and I made a day trip to <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.7216666667,-119.646388889&spn=1.0,1.0&q=37.7216666667,-119.646388889%20%28Yosemite%20Valley%29&t=h" title="Yosemite Valley" rel="geolocation">Yosemite</a> on Saturday to see how the waterfalls were looking in the valley. While I have seen bigger flows in May, The falls were spectacular. I was amazed at the amount of people that were there on a Saturday in mid April but once we parked an used the quick and efficient shuttle buses, I was able to get some great pictures. </p> <p>As a side note, I noticed that there were some empty campsites in the Lower Pines campground at the time of our visit. A quick check yesterday, listed a few spots still open in the North Pines campground for this weekend.</p> <p><a href="http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/camping.htm" target="_blank">Yosemite Campground Reservations</a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Se5JcseKABI/AAAAAAAAEbs/-UYgO29kLAE/s1600-h/Yosemite%20Fall%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Yosemite Fall 2" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="Yosemite Fall 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Se5JdNx54zI/AAAAAAAAEb0/tQo8bxxIhQA/Yosemite%20Fall%202_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="266" width="203" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Upper <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Falls" title="Yosemite Falls" rel="wikipedia">Yosemite Falls</a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Se5JdpkwUuI/AAAAAAAAEb8/6-ENbc_AJXE/s1600-h/Upper%20Yosemite%20Falls%202%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Upper Yosemite Falls 2" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="Upper Yosemite Falls 2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Se5JeEjQmbI/AAAAAAAAEcE/xol0zMYVQNk/Upper%20Yosemite%20Falls%202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="244" width="184" /></a> </p> <p align="left">Another vantage point of the upper portion of Yosemite Falls.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Se5Jek-hYOI/AAAAAAAAEcM/k39-vQIXT_M/s1600-h/Half%20Dome%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Half Dome" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Half Dome" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Se5JfFJltqI/AAAAAAAAEcU/bSQJeEThynU/Half%20Dome_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="184" width="244" /></a> Half Dome</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Se5Jfu0u99I/AAAAAAAAEcc/jhOOTftEGs8/s1600-h/Bridalveil%20Falls%203%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Bridalveil Falls 3" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="Bridalveil Falls 3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-YvljV0usY/Se5Jf5YjZ1I/AAAAAAAAEck/W9oHn1XItTs/Bridalveil%20Falls%203_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="244" width="170" /></a></p> <p align="center">Bridalveil Falls</p> <p></p> <span style="font-size:78%;">Technorati Tags: </span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pictures" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">Pictures</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">,</span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Yosemite" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">Yosemite</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">,</span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Upper" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">Upper</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">,</span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Falls" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">Falls</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">,</span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bridalveil" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">Bridalveil</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">,</span><a href="http://technorati.com/tags/waterfalls" rel="tag"><span style="font-size:78%;">waterfalls</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.califcamping.com.blogspot.com/search/label/waterfalls" rel="Tag"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></a> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/38cbbf2b-8396-4cf4-be7d-03e72e8a0023/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=38cbbf2b-8396-4cf4-be7d-03e72e8a0023" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5925628037006700475.post-429327418217061292009-04-14T14:23:00.001-07:002009-04-28T13:16:56.356-07:00Forest Service announces campfire restrictions<div style="font-family: arial" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="font-size: 100%">It is likely that more restrictions will be forthcoming as the state enters into its third year of drought. Before you head out to your camping destination, it is a good idea to check out what fire restrictions might be in place. <br /> <br /><a href="http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/apr/10/no-headline---nxxfcforest11/" target="_blank">Ventura County Star campfire restrictions story</a></span></div> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:70ef3e8d-be4d-44cd-9ffa-dd887c119909" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/campfire" rel="tag">campfire</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ventura" rel="tag">Ventura</a></div> C travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902026280832747405noreply@blogger.com0