Note: Click on small photos for a larger one. Click on
the USA flag-map (
)
to see the actual camp location (balloon marker) on a map (+/- 50 ft).
Ref #
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Date
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Location
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Campsite & Other Photos (click links)
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Comments
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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!
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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.
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12/31/23
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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!!
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17
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9/27/23
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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. ![](shape_united_states_3.gif)
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![](photos9/RVSep23_38_tm.jpeg) Another
Site Pic Within
CG #1 Within
CG #2 Within
CG #3 Another
Rig Pic
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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.
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16
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8/30/23- 8/31/23
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Islay Creek CG, Montana de Oro State Park. 5 mi SW of
Los Osos, CA (via Los Osos Valley Rd and Pecho Valley Rd). 100
ft.
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![](photos9/RVAug23_78_tm.jpeg) Within
CG #1 Within
CG #2 Within
CG #3 Nearby
View #1 Nearby
View #2 On The
Way Here
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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).
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8/12/23- ???
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Back home for a while to be cooler.
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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.
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15
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8/10/23- 8/11/23
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Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival. Near Tres
Pinos, CA 500 ft. ![](shape_united_states_3.gif)
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![](photos9/RVAug23_50_tm.jpeg) Within
CG #1 Within
CG #2 Within
CG #3 Within
CG #4 Bluegrass
Pickers #1 Bluegrass
Pickers #2 On
The Way Home
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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.
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8/9//23
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Same campsite as 6/4/23 Gilroy Garlic RV Park
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8/4/23- 8/8/23
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Visiting my 2 kids
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14
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7/31/23- 8/3/23
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Westside Regional Park CG (County) in Bodega
Bay, CA. 30 ft. ![](shape_united_states_3.gif)
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![](photos9/RVAug23_23_tm.jpeg) Other
Campers CG View
#1 CG View #2 CG
View #3 CG View
#4 CG View
#5 Low Tide
Crabbers
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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. :)
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7/18/23- 7/30/23
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Visiting my 2 kids
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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.
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7/17/23
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Same boondocking spot as 7/13/23
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Wanted better cell signal, so moved bavk here.
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7/16/23
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Same boondocking spot as 6/16/23
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Got tired of the skeeters, so moved back here.
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13
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7/14/23- 7/15/23
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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.
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![](photos9/RVJul23_47_tm.jpeg) Other
Campers CG View
#1 CG View #2 Poor
Tree
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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!
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12
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7/13/23
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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.
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![](photos9/RVJul23_41_tm.jpeg) CG
View #1 CG Lake Other
Campers #1 Other
Campers #2
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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
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7/12/23
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Same boondocking spot as 6/16/23
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![](photos9/RVJul23_31_tm.jpeg)
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11
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7/8/23- 7/11/23
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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.
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![](photos9/RVJul23_25_tm.jpeg) CG
Meadow #1 CG
Meadow #2 Within
CG #1 Within
CG #2 Mud Hole
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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 $0.
When I was here about 3 weeks ago, this area was
closed. Someone told me it opened about a week
ago. Signs warn of muddy road. I stayed in
a spot just before a muddy area I didn't want to cross.
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10
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7/7/23
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Sand Flat CG (USFS). 29 mi E of Placerville,
CA on US50. 3900 ft. ![](shape_united_states_3.gif)
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![](photos9/RVJul23_19_tm.jpeg) CG
River #1 CG
River #2 CG
River #3 My
Site Again Within
CG
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29 sites on level land, usually close together.
A mix of needle and leaf type trees. Between
a busy hwy and the fast flowing (in spots) and boulder
strewn S Fork American River. If you have a riverside
site, river music helps to override hwy
noise. Dump station ($??) . $28.
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7/5/23- 7/6/23
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Visiting a friend in Grass Valley, CA
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9
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7/4/23
Happy
Birthday USA!
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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. ![](shape_united_states_3.gif)
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![](photos9/RVJul23_5_tm.jpeg) Lake
View #1 Lake
View #2
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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.
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8
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7/3/23
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Cottonwood Creek CG (USFS). 5 mi S of Sierraville, CA on hwy
89. 5600 ft. |
![](photos9/RVJun23_199_tm.jpg) Site
From Rear My
Backyard Within
CG #1 Within
CG #2
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Nice CG on sloping land with about 50 paved, mostly level sites in
2 separate areas. Plenty of trees. Some road noise, due to close hwy. $20.
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.
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7
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7/2/23
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Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground.
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[No photos]
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A few miles from previous site. Hopefully it is legal for
boondocking. :)
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6
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6/30/23- 7/1/23
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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.
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![](photos9/RVJun23_194_tm.jpeg) My
Backyard Area
Flowers #1 Area
Flowers #2
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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!
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5
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6/29/23
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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.
![](shape_united_states_3.gif)
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![](photos9/RVJun23_182_tm.jpeg) CG
Meadow #1 CG
Meadow #2 Near
CG On The Way
Here
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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.
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6/17/23- 6/28/23
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Visiting my 2 kids
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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.
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4
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6/16/23
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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.
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![](photos9/RVJun23_175_tm.jpeg) I'm
Hiding Road
Closed River
#1 River #2 Near
Site Pretty
Wildflower Nice
View On The
Way Here
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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.
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3
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6/9/23- 6/15/23
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Robinson Creek CG (USFS). 9 mi SW of Bridgeport, CA on
Twin Lakes Rd. 7000 ft. ![](shape_united_states_3.gif)
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![](photos9/RVJun23_54_tm.jpeg) 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
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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.
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6/5/23- 6/8/23
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Visiting my 2 kids
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2
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6/4/23
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Gilroy Garlic RV Park. In Gilroy, CA 200 ft. ![](shape_united_states_3.gif)
First stop of the
summer part of Ramblin' 2023!
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![](photos8/RVJun22_3__tm.jpeg) Within
CG #1 Within
CG #2
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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.
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5/14/23
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Now back home until early June departure for extended
ramblin'. Stayed tuned!!
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1
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5/11/23
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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. ![](shape_united_states_3.gif)
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![](photos8/RVMay22_23_tm.jpg) Welcome
Sign Stage View
#1 Stage View
#2 Night Stage Cool
Pic Stand And
Salute! Dobro
Picker Kids
& Horse
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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. |