We arrive at this the Culp Valley Primitive Campground late at night. The sun set hours ago and the only light comes from a few dispersed campers already in position and a faint glow from the city's light pollution across the mountains. As with many primitive camping sites, there isn't a lot of signage to indicate where to go. After a bit of fumbling about, though, we managed to back into a little nook and settle in for the night.
After spending all day wandering around Morro Bay, we have little time to travel to a campsite before dark. Fortunately, Montaña de Oro State Park is only six miles south of Morro Bay.
It is about lunch time as we approach Morro Bay. Without any particular plans for the day, we agree to pause for lunch by the water. Yet, it doesn't take too long for us to discover that we will be staying for a lot more than just a meal.
If you close your eyes and listen, you might think you are in the echoing halls of a labyrinthine restroom as the entire population of a broken cruse ship strive to handle food-poisoning. Yet, the sound of moist flatulence is actually coming from a different orifice and species.⠀
So, we've been raving about Big Sur a bit. But here is the down side: rock slides. I'm sure you've heard plenty about them. The slide between Mud Creek and Salmon Creek Station is expected to close that portion of Highway 1 through 2018. That means no through-routes of Highway 1. For trailers and other large rigs, that means Highway 1 is an in-out trip starting in Northern California. But we have a truck camper and are taking the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.⠀
We are done wandering in eastern and central California. It's time to go to the coast. It's time to head to Big Sur and Highway 1.
After a few days to recover from our wintery detour, we are ready to go exploring. Our first priority is to enjoy the Amador County wine region. Could we go wine tasting in Napa? Sure. But that is crowded and overexposed. There is plenty of fine wine to be discovered across California. And our hosts are well versed in their local wineries.
We had a simple and scenic plan when leaving the Alabama Hills. We would trace the eastern Sierras up to Lake Tahoe and then cross over to the Western Sierras where friends were ready to great us upon our arrival. However, before we could even reach Bishop, highway patrol waved us over. There were extreme gusts along our route, we had to take a scenic detour through Nevada.
After tearing through the American west, it is a relief to finally take a bit of time to relax in the Alabama Hills. Those familiar with the location are envious. Those who are not familiar probably question what a place called “Alabama Hills” is doing outside of the state of Alabama. But, I assure you, you are familiar with these hills, even if you didn’t already know it.
When we pull off I-40 for Petrified Forest National Park, I expect to be looking at rocks. Yet, it takes us a while to get to the rocks. We are so distracted by the breathtaking views! The Painted Desert is result of the Chinle Formation. It is a mineral deposit from river beds over 200 million years ago, during the Late Triassic Period.