Hello The Lake!

I'll be posting without pictures until I can figure out why they are not uploading. Sorry.

This morning I treated myself to bacon at Cheryl's Diner. Now I can't even remember when the last time was that I ate bacon. Real bacon, thick cut, not to crisp so you can suck the fat right out of it kind of bacon. It was heaven. As I was eating breakfast, a serendipitous moment happened. My theme song from FTAV came on the radio. Cool Change by the Little River Band. Wasn't that awesome? Anastamosis, again.
So on the way, and when I had cell service, I checked in with the boys and Sapphire. Seems like as of today, everything is in order at Termino.
The ride to Mono Lake was longer than expected today as Kern County was upgrading Highway 178. Ugh! When i finally got to Highway 14, the road opened up and it became smooth sailing. Although I was tempted, I did not go into warp speed mode. I'm afraid of what I may become.
As I approached Lone Pine, I paid close attention to the mountain ridges before me. I am happy to report that I saw Mt Whitney from Highway 395. It is still there....still with snow. How the heck did I miss it last year? It's so, well..., it's the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Then around 4:30 I drove into Lee Vining. Finally, Mono Lake. To me, Mono Lake is glorious. I can't wait to canoe it. I checked into the El Mono Motel and Latte De Cafe and quickly unloaded and made my way to the Mono Lake Committee tourist information center. I am all caught up on the local color.
I'm happy to say that I will be here for a few days. Going outside to watch for meteors!

Hello the River

I arrived at Our Lady Queen of Angels at noon, just in time to hear the ding dong ding from the campanella bells. I decided to stay for noon Mass and sat with my friends, St Maximillan Kolbe and Mary Magdalan. A very inspiring Mass. Afterwards, the official FTANV candle lighting ceremony took place with an extra special candle being lit outside to La Virgin of Guadalupe for Santy’s newly born nephew. The Virgin is the FedEx request line for all your urgent business. Lunch was on the plaza, and once again  the bells chimed. It was time for me to make my way  to Kernville. San Antonio Winery will wait until I can get there with my wine tasting friends Bev and Doug.  

I arrived in Kernville at 5:00pm and headed straight to the river to say hello. The night ended with a walk over to the Kernville Saloon. I met wonderful local people who live pretty exotic lifestyles.  Upon returning to my room (time unknown), I could hear the roar of the river, so I went down to the river bank to have a conversation….

Hello the River!

So glad to see you again. You are a place of good memories and once again, here with you, I can vividly recall those memories. I think of all the children, friends, my parents who we brought here fishing over the years. There were campouts, cookouts, river rafting,  fishing, and lots of  naps. Thank you for the memories, and for never changing. It feels like home to me. I remember!

The night ended with a moonlight swim in the River and then I went straight to bed. Here is a picture of my swimming hole.

Thursday Destination: Mono Lake

Farewell to Long Beach

Hello Everyone,

It's the night before Frances Takes Another Vacation and I am making my final preparations for this next adventure. The car has been inspected, the emergency kit is in place, emergency numbers are on the fridge, the flashlight,is under the seat, maps are ready and updated, GPS is working, books are packed...Vertical by Rex Pickett, and Does the Noise In My Head Bother You? by Steven Tyler, (No Neurology on this vacation!) and my ITouch has everything from Aerosmith to Bruce Springsteen to Jackson Browne to Django. I am happy that unlike last year, I took some time off to organize myself so that I don't have to bring things like the kitchen sink on this journey. I am ready.
As you know, this trip is dedicated to those people who helped me survive a challenging year. I'd like to send a special thanks to a few ...first...my sister, who has not had a vacation since I can remember. She is the hardest working person I know. She is a duplicate of our Father; Meg, who knows me inside out and lets me do all the talking; Karen, my BFF who I will not get to see on this trip but will think of everyday as I always do; my father in law, the Colonel, a traveler with gumption (little did you know how contagious you were); Maria, my new friend and Pilates instructor...part of my Anastamosis; Santy, always telling it like it is; Doug and Bev, Cheers!; the Burt Boys who love me for doing this trip and especilly love that they will have a man-cave for a week; and finally, my beloved, if it had not been for you, I wouldn't be who I am.
Wednesday first stop, Our Lady Queen of Angels, Downtown LA
Destination for Wednesday dinner...The Kern River

Final Days

After spending a few days at Mono Lake, my canoeing adventure, Bridgeport, June Lake, Virginia Lakes, dinner at the Whoa Nellie Deli, and hopefully some "catch and release", I will head south on a huge quest....Finding Mt. Whitney.

If you recall, on FTAV, I was embarrassed to report that I missed Mt. Whitney. Yes, I missed seeing the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Thank goodness my Latte Da friend Cathie, of Virtually Nomadic shared this picture with me. Now  that I am sure what Mt. Whitney looks like,  I will find it. No excuse! I just hope it still looks like this picture. I’ll be staying there for a couple of days, hiking the Alabama Hills, touring the Lone Pine Movie Museum, and water aerobics and a soak at the Keough Hot Springs.

Once I have exhausted myself at Lone Pine, population 1,610, I will be driving home to Long Beach.

So I'll be spending the weekend getting myself organized, packing, and getting the house in Long Beach,  boy safe.

Stay tuned for road trip blogging. It is going to be a great ride!

Anastamosis

I learned a new word this week. Anastamosis, in a network of streams, is the reconnection of two streams that previously branched out. A good example is the Saskatchewan River in Canada pictured below.

 Mono Lake, in Lee Vining, is my Anastamosis. Last year, I fell in love with Mono Lake. I drank wonderful coffee, ate fresh berry muffins, hiked, horseback rode, visited Bodie Ghost Town,  made a good friend, and studied the Lake. The simplicity of the ecosystem there, and the magnificence of the Lake was overpowering. The Lake and I connected, we went our separate ways, and now we are reconnecting. And, since I am a member of the Mono Lake Committee, I have to go and check up on things officially. So, I will once again stay for three days with the folks at the El Mono Motel and Latte Da Café and have several day adventures including wine tasting at the Tioga Lodge, and a front row view for a Perseids Meteorite Shower. While visiting, I will be canoeing on Mono Lake. I am hopeful that my childhood best friend will be able to come to the Lake and canoe with me, if her schedule will allow. Fingers crossed.

Well, To Begin With.....

Those of you who followed me on the Frances Takes A Vacation blog will remember that my road trip included several fantastic adventures from caving, to zip-lining, to a long horseback ride, to wine tasting and to finding the perfect bowl of oatmeal.  Those experiences were ones that I claim as my own and are now in the “Been There Done  That” archive. I can never physically manage those experiences again in this lifetime, nor would I ever want to recreate that road trip. It was special. FTAV unknowingly gave me the courage to face the upcoming year. During my recovery, I recall waking up in the wee hours of the morning, and reading  the FTAV blog several times over. I remember the complete joy I felt and what a strong sense of freedom I had, to do whatever I wanted. I could feel the wind in my hair, and the pride in being a Californian, and what it really felt like to have my breath taken away. FTAV helped me preserve my gumption.

I have new physical  limitations, so I will be returning to some familiar, and user friendly spots. I know that new adventures await.On August 17^th, I wil be leaving LB,  heading directly for Our Lady Queen of Angels Cathedral in Downtown LA for the Official  Frances Takes Another Vacation Candlelighting Ceremony. As I discovered last year, the Cathedral has some sort of familial relationship with the San Antonio Winery. Being that I am a “Good Catholic School Girl” ( yes that would be me!), I must stop, visit, and taste what they are serving that day. I will toast to my Wine Tasting partners Bev and Doug. Who knows, maybe they will be there? After my lunch time tasting, I will continue on my journey ending the day at the Kern River. I will be staying on the river bank and this time will be cooking my own dinner as I watch the River flow in front of me. This will be my view…..

The Kern River....years of family memories and good times watching my sons grow. The Kern River....Randy, and Fatherhood at its finest.

A Committment To Have An Excellent Adventure!

The Adventure:

Travel Parts of Southern, Eastern and NorthEastern California in my 2006 Red Convertible Beetle, by myself, for one week.

The Goals:

1.) Reconnect with my lake...Mono Lake, and all the seagulls, brine shrimp and alkaline flies that live there

2.) Get back to a sense of peace and relaxation

3.) Marvel at our beautiful home state of California

4.) Find Mt. Whitney this time

 

Icing on The Cake: A day visit with my childhood best friend Karen and her husband Tim.

The Challenge:

I have no map reading skills! None! Zero, Zip!

The Risk:

Leaving my sons alone for one week in LB and coming home to definite mayhem and disorder. I know, it happened last year!

The Plan:

I will be leaving my home in LB, Cali on Wednesday, August 17th at 8:00am. My son Casey will be Base Camp Chief at our home headquarters. Each evening, I will be blogging a summary of the days events for my life archives and also for your entertainment. I will be visiting a few places that were significant for Randy and I, make new friends, and I will also be adding a few new adventures that I will claim as my own.

My Oath:

I promise to call Casey twice a day so my location is known at all times, I promise not to stray from my planned itinerary (unless I simply can't resist), I will keep my cell on at all times, I will not pick up hitch hikers, I will rest when I am tired, I will eat when I am hungry , I will lock my doors, I will take my top off during the day, I will pull my top up at night, I will not let the gas tank get below half, and I will have a most excellent adventure!

Your Job:

Enjoy California with me, make comments, give suggestions, share your stories and keep and eye on Casey and Tyler.