Subes for life!

After a few glorious days back in Yosemite, I decided to not push my luck with the rangers this time and I headed out before they chased me out. (That, and I heard a hiker say that, “The bears are so hungry this time of year, they’ll even eat people!” And, sure enough, as I did my walking circuit of Curry Village one evening, the overnight parkers were doing the needful and filling up those bear lockers with their bags and bins and totes and toiletries.)

And so, off we go, meandering our way back to Santa Cruz for mom’s 88th birthday.

I am using that pic since it’s the most recent view from my “office,” but I have better shots of the same view which more clearly show the dazzling deep blues of the sky and the water, the endless whitecaps on windy days, the undulating amber hills, the scrubby oaks, and the hungry hawks circling above. I’m just too lazy to go back and look for them. So, there! But, also notice how far the water has fallen, after being at the 100% full mark just a couple months ago. Californians are thirsty!

Alas, no dinosaurs spotted on this visit. I asked the boat launch ranger if dinosaurs ever roamed here, and he said, “Look at the beautiful water!” But, he was trying to upsell me on the $8 parklet admission at the time. That, and I think he remembered kicking me out of my private overlook/office at closing time a few months back.

This is the kind of spot which I’d gladly pay to park overnight. My van-lifer meetup camping neighbor Steve suggested that more places should allow overnight parking, for free or for a nominal fee. And since I’m a wise ass I said they have places like that: they’re called campgrounds. But, no no no that’s not at all what he meant. Not a camping spot, just somewhere to park overnight for $5 or $10, use their restrooms and refill water bottles and the like, and then roll on the next morning. I like the idea. And this state park is the perfect example, as there is currently no camping available.

Maybe if I’d slipped that ranger a $20 he’d have let me stay and look at the beautiful water. But for now, we move along and bandit camp where we can.