Mt. Pinos Camping

 We went camping with Colleen, Rigo and Liana over our long Memorial Day weekend, up Mount Pinos to a new-to-us campground. 

It was full of huge pine trees, loads of pine cones, beautiful views, and very quiet.

At 8,250 feet elevation, the campground got a little chilly at night.

There was a 1930s ski lodge near the property, and this cute little cabin was next door. Both have been abandoned for years, though in the cabin, there was evidence of squatters from about 10 yeas ago, judging by the newspapers inside.

We ate well, we relaxed, played games, and read. The sites were huge, and very quiet.

We enjoyed Colleen and Rigo's 1967 tent trailer again, perhaps for the last time, as they're looking to sell it. I'd love to buy it but we can't store it. It's really a joy to use and sleep in.

We were playing Triominoes, similar to dominoes. 

We had a lot of laughter playing Mad Libs around the fire.

It was a great trip!

Santa Barbara County Camping

The three of us went camping in Santa Barbara County over the weekend and had a great time. This was a new campground to us, but not far from Paradise, where we've been before. It was a small campground but the spaces were large and the neighbors were quiet. Very peaceful.

We also had some nature shows! This great blue heron was hunting lizards, and then we noticed he had a gopher! Oh my!

We also had hawks in the trees overhead, being loud and eating prey, as well.

For the first time, we went to Lake Cachuma, which had a lot to offer - a nature center and garden, marina and restaurant/bar with live music, camp store, amphitheater, campsites and restrooms. 

Violet was excited to try fishing again, or, casting, as the case may be. Not much catching going on. 

We then went into Solvang, where we found a bakery to get desserts and a coffee.

After Solvang, we drove around Santa Ynez before returning to our campground to make dinner.

And a lovely dinner it was! Salad, hamburger, grilled onions and mushrooms.

Breakfast the next morning was just as nice.

On our way home, we stopped at Cold Spring Tavern, which was a restaurant on the stagecoach route in the late 1800s. It was very popular on a Sunday afternoon with motorcyclists and families. 

We then stopped at Chumash Painted Cave, which we learned about at the Lake Cachuma visitor center. 

It was out of the way and very interesting.

Near the painted cave was this lovely stream.

Then, it was time to head south. We made one more stop, in Carpinteria to put our feet in the sand, before heading home. 

Mt. Pinos Camping

 Wheeler Gorge was (again) booked up, but we made our annual (much belated) birthday camping trip over the weekend with our favorite camping friends.

McGill is up past Frazier Park on Mount Pinos, only about an hour from home. It's a big tree area that I know as a cross-country skiing region in the winter.

It was beautiful, and we had perfect weather. 

We four adults took a nice hike on a trail that connected to the campground.

The wildflowers were amazing!

Colleen looked them all up, and this one was called a snow plant, which is like a fungus.

Our home away from home!

We played campfire games, and laughed a lot.

Marshmallows and s'mores - you can see how huge the sites are, with how far away our campfire was from their trailer, and then our trailer behind again. The large sites made for very quiet mornings, which was so peaceful and relaxing.

Packed up and ready to go! It was nice having such a short drive back home.

Camping in Paradise

 We went camping at one of Violet's favorite spots, Paradise in Santa Barbara County, over the weekend. This time, joining us and the Rosaleses were two other families, including Eric and Christina, who Stace helps when he has worked on the tiny house.

We were so blessed to stay in Colleen and Rigo's new vintage tent trailer! It is so roomy inside, and in such great shape. 

You can see the setup with the kitchen outside, and we had two large beds.

The men above, and the ladies here.

Rigo promised cold hard cash if Violet would bring back stones that he could take home to his garden. Vi was game.

Violet has said she'd like a dog like Koa someday.

Stace was nervous about backing up while towing the trailer, but all went very well.

We have a new way to camp!