EAST SIDE WONDERS/WANDERS, Pt.3

On our last full day in the Owens Valley, we decided to go up. First stop was in Mammoth Lakes for gas, then we set off on a trail that went UNDER Highway 395. That was a little claustrophobic but quick, thankfully.

Our first destination was: Lookout Mountain. And what a beautiful view it provided looking back at our trail and the ski slopes in the distance. It’s no wonder Mammoth Lakes is such a popular year-round destination.

Then it was back down the trail to a maze of roads that, happily, navigator Colleen was able to decode. Getting to the top of Bald Mountain was a bit nerve-wracking—especially when we met a few quads coming down the same narrow road…with a steep drop-off just outside my window. 😉

But we made it to the top—9,100’. On a clear day, we’d have had a better view of Mono Lake and all the peaks, but the clouds cooled things down and even produced a few rain drops. 

After our tailgate lunch, we drove the forest maze to Highway 120, which took us to the south side of Mono Lake and provided the most startling wildflower show (these photos courtesy of Colleen).

We didn’t have time to explore the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve because we had dinner reservations at the Restaurant at Convict Lake. Yummm… But here’s a link to this fascinating wonder of nature:

www.monolake.org/learn/aboutmonolake/naturalhistory/tufa

The lake was another casualty of the water wars with L.A., but a grassroots effort in the mid-1970s to “Save Mono Lake” was successful. If you ever get a chance to visit, make sure you check out the Visitor Center.

Since I don’t get out much 😉, I’m super excited to be part of Tule Publishing’s annual CHRISTMAS IN JULY Facebook party. 

Look at this cool line-up.

I’ll be there with some fun prizes. Please drop by, if you can. (If you’re not a member of the Tule Book Club on Facebook, you’re missing out on a great community and a whole lot of fun books, prizes and interesting people.
www.facebook.com/groups/TuleBookClub)

Last week's Q&A was: Will you be watching fireworks this 4th of July? (Yes, on TV counts.)

We had a lovely Independence Day barbecue (yes, on the new Traeger) and enjoyed watching the fireworks displays on TV. Pyrotechnics has come a long way from the ones I remember in my youth—Roman candles and bottle rockets. 😉 But I hate to think how much $$ went up in smoke, too.

My two randomly selected winners this week are:

Janet Failing
and
Joan Harris

(Janet and Joan congrats. Please email me your pick of either a $5 Starbucks or a $5 Amazon gift card.)

Q&A

This week’s Q&A: Watching the televised July 4th celebrations made me cringe a little. So. Many. People. I have yet to attend anything large-scale with crowds of that size. How ‘bout you? Have you “mingled with the masses” yet? Y or N.

(Two winners will be chosen by random drawing to receive either a $5 Starbucks gift card or a $5 Amazon gift card. Please reply the usual ways:
email or on my DebraSalonenAuthor Facebook page.

Stay well, my friends, and happy reading,

Deb

Upcoming: Possibly…a guest travel blog and beach reads…even if you’re not at the beach..