New Bed, New Digs & New Fabulous View – Bishop, CA
Well what can I say. We got the new Sleep Number bladder, inflated the bed and just like that Paul found himself out of the crypt and level with the world….Yeeeehaaaa! After almost 2 weeks of sleeping in the dumps it was skip-around-the-RV-frikkin’ miraculous! I no longer have to peer into the depths to find him and I can {{gasp}} sleep through the night without rolling into a ditch. Not only that, since we’ve replaced all “moving” parts in the bed, at this point it pretty much qualifies as a brand new mattress. I still hate the darn thing, but at least there’s nothing else that can really break.
But our streak of fabulousness did not end there….
While in waiting mode at June Lake I had been sleuthing the internet for our next RV site. I’m always looking for those hidden gems…the out of the way super-awesome campground that no-one seems to know about…and by pure dumb luck I seem to have whatever genetic quirk is needed for finding them. After a few hours of digging, up pops Horton Creek BLM on my radar. Small out-of-the-way spot….nice. $5/night…very sexy. Surrounded by mountains…oh yes, yes. Almost zero reviews anywhere…heart-stomping perfection! This simply had to be the spot I was looking for and I zoomed over to Lu & Terry to tell them the good news. Although not nearly quite as excited as I was with my “discovery” (which may, I admit, have been partially due to my crazy eye) they acquiesced to giving it a try.
And man, did we hit the jackpot.
We made it out of June Lake after one of our coldest nights yet and arrived to warm temps and mountain glory at our new BLM site. Tons of space, tons of oh-so-amazing 360-degree views. To top it all off we were greeted by one of the most spectacular light-shows I’ve seen in a while, followed a day later by a night of soothing rain opening up to stunning morning views of snow on the mountain-tops (we made it out of June Lake just in time it seems. Last night 5 inches of snow dumped at the higher elevations…eeeeek!)
Total RV perfection!
We’ll be spending at least a week here exploring the area before we head down to our next location at Lone Pine. In the meantime we’ll be enjoying a level bed, a spectacular view, and friends to share it with. Does life get any better than that?
A good sunset, I wondered about the sunrise…
I didn’t catch the sunrise since it was still cloudy when we woke up, but the sun burst thro’ just a few hours later. It was a wonderful show!
Nina
If our bed popped I’d have to move to the couch. Now I’ve added to our “must have” list for our full-time RV: alternate sleeping option! Sleeping on wood for that long? Brave soul.
If it hadn’t been for our foam mattress topper, he would have given up after the first night! Still want to swap out this bed at some point. It’s a shame new mattresses are so darn expensive.
Nina
sounds like you found the perfect balance to perfection…..good job Nina….
we are enjoying the balloon festival in Albuquerque ( yes you must do it) and the one night anniversary in Santa Fe…the next time you go there you must go to the International Folk Art museum…..
Thanks Jil! We will definitely add both to “our list”!
Nina
Oh Nina, I love those pictures…Mt. Tom, the White Mountains, the Sierras, and the glow of sunset. Thank you for sharing. I have never heard of that campground. We are kinda shy about going on dirt roads but if you can do we should be able to!! Looks wonderful.
As long as the road is firm, packed dirt you should be fine. Lu & Terry are also “beast-size” and made it easily. Many of the BLM campgrounds in CA are very good value, and very pretty surroundings too.
Nina
That’s a spot that I hadn’t heard of either. You’ve got a good eye, Nina! Your photos are gorgeous, and there will be more in that area at this time of the year. You will love it.
This is a GREAT time of year to be here, and this is a fabulous campground. Very happy we decided to stop and explore Bishop. Completely missed this area last year.
Nina
I met you at Tugman, I hosted there may, june 2012. Can you tell me what your living expenses are per month/year i am a full timer and recently lost my wife to illness. I am trying to figure out what my expenses might be. I know you live pretty frugal but i figure with all your travels , fuel, mishaps etc. i can come close to figuring what i might need as a single, traveling. Thanks.
I’m so very sorry for your loss! I do remember meeting you at Tugman and enjoyed our chats there. You’re a great host!
I haven’t posted an official budget in a while, but our last update is HERE. We’re still running about the same. Despite gas prices going up, we’ve travelled far less this year, so our gas $$ are still very reasonable. Also we hosted for 2 months this summer and will be boondocking much of this winter so expect camping prices to be low too. Probably the only thing that’s been more expensive this year has been health care and maintenance/repairs. We had some stuff come up early in the year and have used about double our usual budget on that.
Nina
If you guys are going to Death Valley, be sure to go to Badwater, walk out onto the salt flats, turn right at the point most people stop walking to, and go ~100 yards and you will be in the middle of really cool salt crystals that everyone seems to miss. We did this last April – the park rangers told us about it.
Nice tip! We probably won’t make it to death valley this time around (altho’ I do love that place in winter), but will add the idea to our list for future visits.
Nina
Hey Nina, what do you folks use for heat when out in the boonies? I’m looking towards a Wave heater….Thanks,
Upriverdavid
For past 3 years we’ve used Mr.Buddy. I like the flexibility of being able to use it with separate 1lb canisters (and also move it from room to room). But I’ve heard very good things about Wave. Don’t think you can go wrong with them. Just need to make sure you have sufficient ventilation in the RV whenever you’re using these…we crack a window and open our roof fan, plus we never use them when we’re sleeping.
Nina
These pictures were absouletly beautiful. Wrote that one done on our bucket list.
Absolutely beautiful shots.
There’s a spot to look up for our summer trip next year! Wow. We’ll be traveling up 395 in April. Maybe, just maybe, it’ll be our home for a few nights. Please mark and X on a rock near where you are, so we can find the spot!
If the weather is good I definitely recommend it as a stop. Lovely spot! I will be sure to leave a “nina was here” sign 🙂
Nina
What are the day/night time temperatures there this time of year?
Anywhere from 35-45 lows to 65-80 highs. We’ve got a bit of a cold spell right now, but it’ll be back to 80 high by end of this week.
Your photography makes me gasp. Each time I think I’ve seen the best of it, you surprise yet again with another post. We have had a grand time caravanning with the two of you. You did good when you chose this spot. It is friggin’ beautiful out here. We are now dry-camping/boondocking converts thanks to you! Next up will be the solar panels for us. 🙂
I love the fact that we’ve bought you over into “the dark side”. Now I just need to convince Terry to do some full-out boondocking……hehehe
Nina
I think we are ready to fully move to the dark side. You are pretty persuasive, you know? 🙂
$5 a night for that view…amazing!
Yup, it’s a helluva deal 🙂
Hi Nina, we are envious of your new location. Keep up the great blog, we really enjoy it. We enjoyed meeting you and Paul at June Lake, hope to meet up with you again sometime. we are now back at our sticks and bricks home in central oregon. Doug and Barb Hinman
It was great to meet you guys too! Hope we get to catch up on the road again sometime!
Nina
Check out Fossil Falls if you get a chance, pretty cool place.
GETTING THERE: Fossil Falls is located 45 minutes north of the city of Ridgecrest on the east side of US 395. Take the Cinder Road exit. Once you reach the parking area, there is a trail for you to follow, though not difficult, sturdy shoes are recommended due to its uneven surface. NOTE: PLEASE SUPERVISE YOUNG CHILDREN IN THIS AREA AS THE TRAIL LEADS TO THE TOP OF A SHEER CLIFF.
CHEERS for the tip! This may be one of the outings we add to our time in Lone Pine. Nina
Looks like you are having fun. Will have to meet you sometime this winter for a little boondocking 101. We have not done it yet. Will get a small gen soon. We will in the SD area in Nov/Dec. Looks like the Horton Creek BLM needs a camphost? R U interested? Take Care… Hans
Hi Hans,
Yup, maybe we’ll meet-up in the desert this winter. We’re also scheduled to be in San Diego, but only for a month (around Christmas) and will then head off again to the boonies. Horton Creek is VERY cool, but not the kinda place I’d want to camphost. For $5/night I’d rather just stay!
Nina
Great photos. Lee Vining, Bishop, Lone Pine are my favorite areas. Been going up there since 1972. I’m a long time member of the Mono Lake Committee and charter member of the Eastern Sierra Land Trust. One trip that’s nice is to take the Silver Canyon trail back down toward Laws. Down only and STEEP. Recommended for 4×4 bobtails only. I’ve also been to the UC research station a few times in the late 70’s. Hell of a view from 14k+ elev. I belong to the Bishop Amateur Radio club and used to do their tower work up at the White Mt. radio site. I’ve been prospecting and mine hunting all over the Eastern Sierra and have a lot of old mining equipment, bottles, insulators, etc that I’ve collected. It’s illegal to collect in the Bristlecone areas. Thanks for the pics and continue to enjoy my fav areas.
-tim
k6tpk
tpk@sonic.net
Concord, CA
Hi Tim,
Lovely to “meet” you on the blog. Thanks for the tips on some other places for us to see in the area. We’re most definitely coming back again. It’s one of our fav spots of all time.
Nina