For the last week or so of the summer, we had planned on taking Penelope camping in Yosemite, with five nights in the Valley and three more at Tuolomne Meadows. Alas, big wildfires were encroaching and then burning in the Park, and eventually the Valley itself was closed. We drove instead to Pinecrest, in the Stanislaus NF, north of Yosemite but the same geo- and bio-system, a place we'd visited before, and spent seven pleasant days and nights there with our grand-daughter. In retrospect, Pinecrest was probably a much better choice anyway, much more kid-oriented, with a lake, swimming beach, boat rentals, fishing, big general store, and even a small lending library. Penelope enjoyed it and probably will want to return.
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Just beyond Escalon, Le Sport's alternator went out; we drove back into town
and found the Main Street Garage, where owner Mike worked after hours to
get us repaired and back on the road; only in a small town...; above, an apparent
Art Deco church in town |
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| P enjoying one of Grandma's home-made healthy popsicles |
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When we arrived at Pinecrest, smoke from the O'Donnell Fire thirty miles up
the road to the Sonora Pass, had invaded Pinecrest Lake; we retreated to the
camper to reconsider, research other options, reconsider some more... |
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By early afternoon, the smoke had blown off and stayed well away the whole
week we were there |
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| Our campsite |
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| P at the beach with new-found friends |
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| Fortunately, our site had a natural stage; P needs to dance... |
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| Fishing with Grandpa |
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| Fishing can be very slow... |
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| But still a fun experience |
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| Between visits to the beach |
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| Neat place |
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| Among the big trees |
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| Breakfast scene |
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Later, fooling around with Grandpa at Nordstrom's; photo
by Penelope |
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At a yakatori restaurant in Los Altos--her choice--
celebrating her first day of second grade |
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