2006 GMC 2500HD w/2001 Lance 845

Previous years' travels: 2006 2007 2008  2009
2010 2011 2012(Alaska) 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019  2020  2021  2022  

                    States Visited Map     
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Campsite & Other Photos (click links)

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Ramblin' 2023 has started!!!  Ride along with me here and see the sights!

Check out last year's ramblin' here.

Sign my guest book or email me with any questions or comments.  Safe travels to you!

Stats for 2023 are below.  Less camping than normal due to off the road during mid summer heat ... and old age!.

-2122 miles.  Lowest miles ever!  18 year total about 147K mi.

- 39 nights camping (including 14 (36%) boondocking, but excluding in driveways, etc.) in 15 different campsites.  14 (36%) nights @ $0/night.

- $14.36 average campsite fee, with discount, and $18.36 without.  Free campsites (boondocking, etc.) included in average cost.

12/31/23

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a long time. But, unfortunately, I haven't been doing any camping since my last entry. Had some planned, but the usually cool fall weather got too hot when I had my trip planned. I'll try to post my yearly stats within another month or so, but they won't be very impressive compared to years ago. Old age and hot weather are taking their toll on my ramblin’. Happy New Year to everyone and hope you have lots of fun camping in 2024!!

17

9/27/23

Cerro Alto CG (USFS) 7 mi NE of Morro Bay, CA off hwy 41 via about 1 mi of narrow, curvy, paved road. Campground sign on hwy at entry road.  1000 ft.
 

 
Another Site Pic
Within CG #1
Within CG #2
Within CG #3
Another Rig Pic

22 very secluded paved campsites along a narrow road, most well apart.  Some sites are for tenrters only, with a short walk up a hill from parking.  Small wet weather creek alongside road.  Popular hiking trails accessible from campground.  Vault toilets. $35.

3rd time here. "Small" creek got big during winter storms and caused some sites to be closed.

16

8/30/23-
8/31/23

Within CG #1
Within CG #2
Within CG #3
Nearby View #1
Nearby View #2
On The Way Here
 

Secluded CG in a beautiful State Park on the coast.  50 paved sites on level land in two sections in a canyon.  Feels more like a typical USFS CG, than a State Park one.  Loads of hiking available along with a beautiful beach cove. Spectaclular scenery.  You can even hear the waves crashing at your site when the surf is big! Vault toilets.  $25.

Decided I'd better do some camping again before I forgot how. :)  Still be awhile before I get back on the road.  Sixth time here (since it's only 5 mi from home).

8/12/23-
???

Back home for a while to be cooler.

Will try to get in a night or two now and then in local CGs until I get back on the road in mid Sept to early Oct.

15

8/10/23-
8/11/23

Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival.  Near Tres Pinos, CA 500 ft.

Within CG #1
Within CG #2
Within CG #3
Within CG #4
Bluegrass Pickers #1
Bluegrass Pickers #2
On The Way Home

Held at San Benito County Historical Park,  Lots of grass to camp on and scattered shade.  

My first time here.  Enjoyed seeing some friends and hearing some good music.

8/9//23

Same campsite as 6/4/23  Gilroy Garlic RV Park

8/4/23-
8/8/23

Visiting my 2 kids

14

7/31/23-
8/3/23

Westside Regional  Park CG (County) in Bodega Bay, CA.  30 ft.  

Other Campers
CG View #1
CG View #2
CG View #3
CG View #4
CG View #5
Low Tide Crabbers

47 paved and level sites in 5 rows.  Trees between some of the rows for possible shade.  Back-in and pull-thru sites.  Right beside beautiful Bodega Bay with benches to watch the boat activity.   Possible foghorn every 5 seconds during night, but you'll get used to it. :)  Launch ramp with parking adjacent to CG.  Flush toilets & showers.  $7 dump station. $41 (w/tax).

Knew I wouldn't see much sun, and I was right. :)

7/18/23-
7/30/23

Visiting my 2 kids

Tired of the hot weather (even at 7K ft.).  Visiting my 2 kids and deciding whether to return to home for a while and resume ramblin' in the fall.

7/17/23

Same boondocking spot as 7/13/23

Wanted better cell signal, so moved bavk here.

7/16/23

Same boondocking spot as 6/16/23

Got tired of the skeeters, so moved back here.

13

7/14/23-
7/15/23

Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground.  South of Lake Tahoe, CA in the Hope Valley area.  2.5 mi SW of the hwy 88/89 jct and 5.2 mi S of hwy 88 on Blue Lakes Rd.  7500 ft. 

Other Campers
CG View #1
CG View #2
Poor Tree

Great boondocking spot.  One of my favorite in this area. It's on the edge of a beautiful meadow, with great views of the forest and mountains.  Creek is a short walk and hidden in the bushes.  Adjacent paved road that leads to lakes and campgrounds results in some daytime noise.  $0.

Many others here inlcuding many skeeters!

 12

7/13/23

Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground.  South of Lake Tahoe, CA in the Hope Valley area.  On Blue Lakes Road at the junction with CA88..  7100 ft.

CG View #1
CG Lake
Other Campers #1
Other Campers #2

This is a USFS Sno-Park.  Always see RVers here when I pass it, so I thought I'd better see how it is.  Worked out fine.  Less noise from CA88 then I expected. Nice lake on one side.  No shade.  Vault toilet.  $0

7/12/23

Same boondocking spot as 6/16/23

11

7/8/23-
7/11/23

Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground.  South of Lake Tahoe, CA in the Hope Valley area.  1.3 mi SW of the hwy 88/89 jct then N through open gate.  7100 ft. 

 
CG Meadow #1
CG Meadow #2
Within CG #1
Within CG #2
Mud Hole

Popular boondocking area visible from hwy.  Main area is a level, deadend dirt road with sites along the sides.  Good part time shade in most sites. Nice meadow visible from many sites and a short walk. Main downside is traffic noise from hwy and camping traffic (ATVs, etc) on dirt road beside sites.  Overall a good spot and the price is right at $0.

When I was here about 3 weeks ago, this area was closed.  Someone told me it opened about a week ago. Signs warn of muddy road.  I stayed in a spot just before a muddy area I didn't want to cross.

10

7/7/23

Sand Flat CG (USFS).  29 mi E of Placerville, CA on US50.  3900 ft.
 

 
CG River #1
CG River #2
CG River #3
My Site Again
Within CG

29 sites on level land, usually close together. A mix of needle and leaf type trees.   Between a busy hwy and the fast flowing (in spots) and boulder strewn S Fork American River.  If you have a riverside site, river music helps to override hwy noise.  Dump station ($??) . $28.

7/5/23-
7/6/23

Visiting a friend in Grass Valley, CA

9

7/4/23
 
Happy Birthday USA!  

Lakeside CG (USFS).  Exit 188B from  I80 in Truckee, CA and go about 4 mi N on CA89 then E on Prosser Recreation Area road for 1+ miles. 5700 ft.  

Lake View #1
Lake View #2
 

40+ dirt/gravel sites on level land.  Some are small and close together and others are large and well apart.  Many beside the medium sized Prosser Creek Reservoir.   Nice view across lake to dam and mountains.  Vault toilets.  $20.

5th time here.

8

7/3/23

Site From Rear
My Backyard
Within CG #1
Within CG #2

Didn't have a reservation, but lucked out.  No sites open when I arrived about 10 a.m., so I waited until noon and drove around and found one open for the night. Yay! 3rd time here.

7

7/2/23

Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground.

[No photos]

 A few miles from previous site. Hopefully it is legal for boondocking. :)

6

6/30/23-
7/1/23

Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground. From I80 near Truckee, CA, take CA89 N for 8+ mi.  Turn left on Sagehen Rd and take the next 2 right turns.
6400 ft.  

My Backyard
Area Flowers #1
Area Flowers #2
 

Super nice boondockiing spot near CA89, but far enough from it to barely hear traffiic.  Amid tall, tall pines.  No other feasible sites within my view, so I had it all to myself!  Road in front of my site had a few vehicles a day pass.  Road about 50 yards away the same.  $0.

Third time in this spot.  Unfortunately, USFS officer stopped and told me it was not authorized for boondocking (aka dispersed camping).  Bummer!

5

6/29/23

Alpine Meadows CG in Martis Creek Lake NRA (COE). From I80 near Truckee, CA, take North Shore Blvd S about 3 mi then 2 mi E on Martis Creek Rd.  5800 ft.

CG Meadow #1
CG Meadow #2
Near CG
On The Way Here
 

Nice CG with 25 paved sites on level land. Groups of tall pines provide varying shade to sites. Beautiful view of large meadow from back of CG. Very peaceful at night.  Dirt road from CG leads to small, narrow lake with good fishing reputation (catch & release only??). Some small aircraft sounds from nearby airport.  Some planes are towing up gliders.   Sixth time here. I like this place! $20.

Would have stayed longer, but all booked for the 4th weekend.  Hope to get the nearby boondocking spot I got last year for the 4th.

6/17/23-
6/28/23

Visiting my 2 kids

 Nice CG with 25 paved sites on level land. Groups of tall pines provide varying shade to sites. Beautiful view of large meadow from back of CG. Very peaceful at night.  Dirt road from CG leads to small, narrow lake with good fishing reputation (catch & release only??). Some small aircraft sounds from nearby airport.  Some planes are towing up gliders.   Sixth time here. I like this place! $20.

Would have stayed longer, but all booked for the 4th weekend.  Hope to get the nearby boondocking spot I got last year for the 4th.

4

6/16/23

Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground.  South of Lake Tahoe, CA in the Hope Valley area.  2.5 mi SW of the hwy 88/89 jct and 3.6 mi S of hwy 88 on right side of Blue Lakes Rd.  7500 ft. 

I'm Hiding
Road Closed
River #1
River #2
Near Site
Pretty Wildflower
Nice View
On The Way Here

Nice, good sized dirt spot beside the pavel road. Some shade.  Right where the small Carson River crosses the road, so you can enjoy the music.  Not perfectly level, but not bad (YMMV).  The usual $0.

Had hoped to camp further up the road, where I've been many times. Road was closed about 1/4 mi ahead.  Minimal traffic due to being closed, so being right beside it was not a problem.

3

6/9/23-
6/15/23

Robinson Creek CG (USFS).  9 mi SW of Bridgeport, CA on Twin Lakes Rd.  7000 ft. 

Fast Creek
Full Creek
Lake & Mountains
Beautiful Sunset
On The Way Here #1
On The Way Here #2 
Local Scenery #1
Local Scenery #2
Local Scenery #3
Local Scenery #4

Very popular CG with 54 paved sites in tall pines on level land.  Shade varies significantly with site. The very nice Robinson Creek wraps around the CG.  Usually good fishing, if they have stocked recently.  Many sites on the creek.  My favorite Sierra CG. Several other CGs and two large lakes nearby.  $28.

Another fun family campout with my daughter and son and family.  This was my 47th straight year to camp in this area!  Not as nice weather as usual, with several light rain showers, but still a great time! Creek flowing high and fast, due to snow melt.

6/5/23-
6/8/23

Visiting my 2 kids

2

6/4/23

Gilroy Garlic RV Park.  In Gilroy, CA  200 ft.   

First stop of the summer part of Ramblin' 2023!

Within CG #1
Within CG #2

 

Very nice commercial RV park with 170+ paved sites.  Most RVers here appear to be "extended stay" folks, but the park does have short stay spots.  All the usual amenities: showers, laundry, pool, etc.  Close to large shopping centers with stores and eating places.  Some hwy noise from nearby US101.  $70 (back-in with full hookups).

7th time here.  Don't usually stay in this type of CG, but it's what worked into my schedule best.

5/14/23

Now back home until early June departure for extended ramblin'.  Stayed tuned!!

1

5/11/23

Parkfield, CA ("The Earthquake Capitol of the World") for the Parkfield Bluegrass Festival.  NE of Paso Robles, CA in farming country.  About 15 mi off of CA41/46 or  25 mi off US101, via San Miguel.  1500 ft.  

Welcome Sign
Stage View #1
Stage View #2
Night Stage
Cool Pic
Stand And Salute!
Dobro Picker
Kids & Horse

My 9th time at this great mid-sized bluegrass festival.  Try it, you'll like it.  Out in peaceful ranching land.  Weather was a bit hot, around 90F. Lots of good music by national, regional and local acts. I listened to the stage music and jammed with local friends.  My daughter joined me for the festival, which made it even more enjoyable.