Big Basin Camping

1990 was a very busy year for me.  Recently divorced, dating someone else, each of us had young children -- so we retrofitted then took off in this Chevy van.  It had custom benches in an L shape so there would be room for all 5 kids to sit as we traveled.  The back half was piled with sleeping backs.  Under the benches was storage for all our things.  We "roughed it" -- each of us only carrying a small duffel.  

But one thing roughing it taught us:  how to be more independent.  One weekend, I decided I needed to get away, just me and the kids headed up to Big Basin to camp.  We didn't bring much, just essentials.  I don't recall if I planned out any meals to cook -- I'm guessing we just had hot dogs cooked over the fire (My fav meal when we're camping!)  

We explored, chopped wood, took a hike, looked at the Redwood trees, and didn't bother with setting up a tent.  We just slept in the van.  We brought along pumpkins to carve, as this was October.  Luckily, it hadn't turned cold yet!  

This was 30 years ago now, and I have no idea what my daughter remembers.  I just know that she wasn't a big fan of camping after she became a teenager!!!

Good times, family memories, makes life worth living.

Mission City Travelers

Mission City Travelers is travelin' again!  

Here we're camped out at a lake ... 

the Swilley's brought their dune buggy - 

it sure was a fun thing to drive!!    

You can see it was a cold and windy campout 

as we strung sheets or blankets to block some of the wind!  

It might have been cold, but we were having too much fun to notice! 

"Oh,it was so cold. In the dune buggy is 

Oliver, Linda, David , Lori and even Buffy! 

Of course Lee is driving with neighbor Joe Sturgil riding shot gun. 

I think it could have been Lake Berryessa" says Dorothy Danielson

Another Camping Trip

Here we are, at some scenic place, it's a beautiful waterfall,

but I can't remember where we were! 

Seems this is Columbia, CA - Gold Country! 

That's me, long hair, wearing my favorite pair of pants.

This was back when it was fashionable to have 

extra large bell bottomed pants! 

A beautiful lake, with a wonderful bridge ..... 

An old fashioned town, and perhaps a stagecoach ride.... 

One of my pet peeves has always been unmarked photos.

And now that we're in the technological age, this same

pet peeve is about photos posted without words.

Sometimes the story behind the photo is more important 

than the photo itself! And generations from now,

someone will want to know the where's and why's.

At the Lake

What's a vacation without a trip to the lake?

camping, swimming, boating .....

Great lookin' fins, David! 

A tower of tubes, and a pile full of cousins! 

And no day at the lake is complete without a nap -

Sweet dreams, Uncle Rodney! 

Someone's going skiing - but just look at that 

beautiful sky and puffy clouds!

Fall Camping Trip

Looks like Mission City Travelers is camping out again.

Looks like we headed somewhere in the snow .... 

Go Mom!!!

This looks like Lori ..... 

Guess it wasn't snow all over, but it's still a treat for kids 

raised in sunny California!

We even built a snowman!

Mission City Travelers

There was always something going on 

when we traveled with this bunch .... 

this looks like a version of the Washer Game

along with the ever popular Lawn Darts.

Great shot, Dad!!

On December 19, 1988, CPSC banned the sale 

of all lawn darts in the United States.

Dad and David on the waterslide .... wheeeee!!

Yellowstone, Pt 4

Jeff, Jerry and Jim .... 

I wonder if they're waiting to start something?

or just finished with something?

As with every campout, or family gathering,

there's always good eats!

To be this close, to feel such a part of nature ... 

Growing up more "city" than country, I found all this

breathtaking and amazing!

 (I have to admit, I was also full of that teenage angst 

and am sure the amazement came after I grew out of that!)

Yellowstone National Park, pt 2

Cousin Julie loved to take Buffy on walk after walk!

The scenery was so beautiful ... hiya Grandpa, Dorothy and Grandma Pape!

To catch a glimpse of such majestic wildlife going about his day  

We weren't the only camera buffs shooting photos! 

Yellowstone National Park is located in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. 

It was established by the U.S. Congress and 

signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872.

It spans an area of 3,468 square miles,

comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges.

Oakwood Lake

Let the Summer Begin!!

Here's our new tent trailer -- a better alternative

to actually sleeping on the ground in a tent!

Note Buffy's backside as she snoops!!

After a few trips out, we had it down to a science to set up

and break down camp - we all had our jobs, which made it so simple!

Our "inaugural trip" was to Manteca Waterslides!  

Also known as Oakwood Lake, it opened in 1974.

Backwards or forwards, oh what fun to slide in the water!

Oh the many hours we spent sliding,

or just floating on an innertube in the lake.

We enjoyed this place a lot!

(As you'll see from more and more photos.... lol)

Donner State Park

Donner Memorial State Park is a state park of California, 

preserving the site of the Donner Camp, where members of 

the ill-fated Donner Party were trapped by weather 

during the winter of 1846–1847. 

Caught without shelter or adequate supplies, 

members of the group resorted to cannibalism to survive. 

A pretty waterfall along our trail

The mountains seem to go on forever here in Truckee, Calif

And David doing a little rock climbing on this hike!

Camping Again!

Beautiful lake up in "gold country"

where we've headed camping again with the Albin family.

We must be hiking up to the top with Buffy and David in the lead!

David and Lori at water's edge.

Water, logs, rocks, hiking, balancing .... 

We were an adventurous family!

Summer Camping

Looks like we've gone camping .... in a tent?!?

That part, I don't recall, must have been one of the first trips out

and we're deciding if we like the whole tent thing?

Up in the California mountains somewhere ... 

We're camping with the Albin family

Legs Lori .... enjoying the warm sun! 

(I'm betting the river was chilly!)