Yes it's another one of those working couple lets get out of Dodge weekends. Neither of us could remember the last just the two of us with no agenda weekender that we took so We figured it was time.
I checked all the usual suspects and of course none of the nearby national or state parks that were still open had any open campsites and we didn't really want to drive any further than 2.5 hours so we settled on a private RV Park at Angels Camp in the Sierra Foothills/ California Gold County. They were welcoming of our TC and 3 dogs, they just happen to have a dog park with an agility course on the property. Full hook ups although we just plugged in for power.
As typically happens on an after work hit the road, both of our jobs ran late and we didn't pull out until 7 pm The drive and traffic getting out of town wasn't too bad, Bit of stop and go through Tracy on 205, then we hit the hwy 99 hwy4 nightmare. They are rebuilding the intersections and the detour is horribly marked. After 20 minutes of getting turn sideways I said the heck with this and took Mariposa road east to Jack Tone rd north and back onto 4 east. We rolled into Angels Camp RV Resort at 9:30pm. They had our resevation up on the late arrival board along with a nice map to our site. Easy pull through, side to side level and slightly nose high , perfect.
The dogs gave me that can we go out for a walk now look
The Forecast had beed for temps in the mid 30s so I had put the fiberglass batts behind all the outer compartment doors and changed the bedding to flannel sheets and thick down comforter. I also put the foam panels over the windows. It was 37 Saturday morning but we never really need to turn on the furnace overnight as it was only 57 inside which for us is a perfect sleeping temperature.
In the morning we slept in then took the dogs to the dog park, they played while we had the hot beverages of our choosing.
Our Campsite
With that we headed into Angels Camp. Parking was easy in the off-season, I can't imagine what it would be like in mid summer.
We wandered into the visitor center, our original plan was to go to moaning caverns for a cave tour and zip lining but we were feeling beat and when we overheard the lady behind the counter telling some other folks about Columbia State Park and how the folks were going to be out in period clothes our choice was made.
On the road again through the foothills
someone was trying to get my goat
So for many years California has experienced a severe drought. We stopped in a pullout where hwy 49 crosses over the New Melones Reservoir, a dammed and flooded section of the Stanislaus River. Normally the water level is at the tree line. Today it is almost down to the original river level exposing the old ferry crossing
too much traffic
We came to a fork in the road and took the path less traveled
Finally we entered Columbia and wandered the old downtown
hmmm the bar is right next to the court
oooooh Chocolate and candy, yes we bought a bunch.
The Livery, awesome hearse and buggy collection
we were having fun
The Fire House, the exterior is all metal
The pumpers
Great place to spend the afternoon. But the stomachs started to grumble so off to Sonora for Mexican food
then back to the Campsite where we let the doggies play until dark.
Sunrise and the approaching storm
It started dumping as soon as we hit the road. We headed north to the town of Lockeford on hwy 88 home of Lockeford meats and some of the best sausages in the world.
I love old water towers
The meat counter at Lockeford meats we bought a dozen Smoked Dakota Sausages a 3 pound marinated Tri Tip Steak and 6 slim jim style sticks
Further on down the road in Lathrop we stopped for an awesome hot fudge sundae and some bags of chocolate...we were roughing it for sure but hey someone had to do it.
Oh yeah we did stop in at bass pro shops in Manteca for some odds and ends> note the new shades
Then the winds kicked in. Solid 40mph on I5, I205and then it got bad on I580 and the Altamont. Fuel mileage really dropped and when the wind was from the side the pressure on the doors created a really loud howl at the top of the door seals. The Rig was rock solid through all of it though. No sway, no steering wander. No way in hell am I every going back to a SRW with a mid to large TC. The F350 has the camper package, upper and lower stable loads( 3 wedges) and 10 psi in the airbags.
The windmills on the Altamont were cranking
Well it was early and we were having fun, and we do live in the wine country so I hung a left and off to Page Mill Winery we went. Its a mere 2 miles from our house. It was bring your own bottle weekend. You bring a washed empty bottle and they fill it with wine from a oak barrel and cork it for a 10 dollar fee (we just happened to have 4 bottles with us) plus we picked up our wine club shipment and Ruth did a tasting. Great way to end a trip, we do like to spoil ourselves.
I checked all the usual suspects and of course none of the nearby national or state parks that were still open had any open campsites and we didn't really want to drive any further than 2.5 hours so we settled on a private RV Park at Angels Camp in the Sierra Foothills/ California Gold County. They were welcoming of our TC and 3 dogs, they just happen to have a dog park with an agility course on the property. Full hook ups although we just plugged in for power.
As typically happens on an after work hit the road, both of our jobs ran late and we didn't pull out until 7 pm The drive and traffic getting out of town wasn't too bad, Bit of stop and go through Tracy on 205, then we hit the hwy 99 hwy4 nightmare. They are rebuilding the intersections and the detour is horribly marked. After 20 minutes of getting turn sideways I said the heck with this and took Mariposa road east to Jack Tone rd north and back onto 4 east. We rolled into Angels Camp RV Resort at 9:30pm. They had our resevation up on the late arrival board along with a nice map to our site. Easy pull through, side to side level and slightly nose high , perfect.
The dogs gave me that can we go out for a walk now look
The Forecast had beed for temps in the mid 30s so I had put the fiberglass batts behind all the outer compartment doors and changed the bedding to flannel sheets and thick down comforter. I also put the foam panels over the windows. It was 37 Saturday morning but we never really need to turn on the furnace overnight as it was only 57 inside which for us is a perfect sleeping temperature.
In the morning we slept in then took the dogs to the dog park, they played while we had the hot beverages of our choosing.
Our Campsite
With that we headed into Angels Camp. Parking was easy in the off-season, I can't imagine what it would be like in mid summer.
We wandered into the visitor center, our original plan was to go to moaning caverns for a cave tour and zip lining but we were feeling beat and when we overheard the lady behind the counter telling some other folks about Columbia State Park and how the folks were going to be out in period clothes our choice was made.
On the road again through the foothills
someone was trying to get my goat
So for many years California has experienced a severe drought. We stopped in a pullout where hwy 49 crosses over the New Melones Reservoir, a dammed and flooded section of the Stanislaus River. Normally the water level is at the tree line. Today it is almost down to the original river level exposing the old ferry crossing
too much traffic
We came to a fork in the road and took the path less traveled
Finally we entered Columbia and wandered the old downtown
hmmm the bar is right next to the court
oooooh Chocolate and candy, yes we bought a bunch.
The Livery, awesome hearse and buggy collection
we were having fun
The Fire House, the exterior is all metal
The pumpers
Great place to spend the afternoon. But the stomachs started to grumble so off to Sonora for Mexican food
then back to the Campsite where we let the doggies play until dark.
Sunrise and the approaching storm
It started dumping as soon as we hit the road. We headed north to the town of Lockeford on hwy 88 home of Lockeford meats and some of the best sausages in the world.
I love old water towers
The meat counter at Lockeford meats we bought a dozen Smoked Dakota Sausages a 3 pound marinated Tri Tip Steak and 6 slim jim style sticks
Further on down the road in Lathrop we stopped for an awesome hot fudge sundae and some bags of chocolate...we were roughing it for sure but hey someone had to do it.
Oh yeah we did stop in at bass pro shops in Manteca for some odds and ends> note the new shades
Then the winds kicked in. Solid 40mph on I5, I205and then it got bad on I580 and the Altamont. Fuel mileage really dropped and when the wind was from the side the pressure on the doors created a really loud howl at the top of the door seals. The Rig was rock solid through all of it though. No sway, no steering wander. No way in hell am I every going back to a SRW with a mid to large TC. The F350 has the camper package, upper and lower stable loads( 3 wedges) and 10 psi in the airbags.
The windmills on the Altamont were cranking
Well it was early and we were having fun, and we do live in the wine country so I hung a left and off to Page Mill Winery we went. Its a mere 2 miles from our house. It was bring your own bottle weekend. You bring a washed empty bottle and they fill it with wine from a oak barrel and cork it for a 10 dollar fee (we just happened to have 4 bottles with us) plus we picked up our wine club shipment and Ruth did a tasting. Great way to end a trip, we do like to spoil ourselves.
