We also changed things up a bit by breaking up our drive. About half way to our final destination we stayed the night at Boulder Creek RV park. The four hour drive to Mammoth becomes a five or six hour drive after you add in all the stops we have to make, (Carter has to pee, 20 minutes later Kyle has to pee-because of course he didn't have to go when Cater did, pull over to get more milk out of the trailer for Cameron, get gas, more separate potty breaks, kids screaming-pull over to let them stretch and get the wiggles out, stop to give Deuce some water, and so on, and so on.) The kids usually do really well but they don't sleep that long in the car anymore and they get antsy just knowing that we are headed someplace fun! Usually by the time we get there Gregg and I are dreading the drive home. Hence this years break in the drive.
Boulder Creek was a gem. We had never been there before,we'd just seen it on our way by. We got there after dark, but it had full hook ups so we basically pulled in, plugged in, and were done! We didn't even have to unhook from the truck. We had a good air conditioned night sleep, and woke up to a beautiful view and happy kiddos! In the daylight we did a little exploring and found that they have a beautiful club house with a big screen T.V., free coffee and muffins in the morning, a huge bird cage, tortoises, a pool and spa, playground, and more. Awesome! Next year we are going to take more advantage of some of those amenities.
Our little home for the night!
Look at the view just outside the RV.
After having that nice break, the couple our drive into Mammoth seemed to fly by! We got there, got set up and had the kids happy and covered in dirt by 10:30am. The weather was perfect, cool and breezy. Chris and Penny and the girls joined us, arriving after lunch Thursday. It was so great to have them there with us. The kids absolutely LOVE spending time with them, and Gregg and I do too! The extended weekend consisted of playing, lounging, reading, cooking, quad riding, eating, sightseeing, talking, laughing, lots of fishing, and tons of family fun and bonding.
Don't tell me I can't eat dirt! I'm on vacation!
Cammie wasn't about to let the boys have all the fun on.
Daddy was very slow and careful and she loved her turn on the quad.
Gregg and Chris did a wonderful job cooking.
Sitting around the campfire as a family was one of my favorite parts of each day.
Gregg and Chris did a wonderful job cooking.
Sitting around the campfire as a family was one of my favorite parts of each day. Gregg and Chris are very entertaining, though I bet they'd deny it!
Saturday was our day for sightseeing. First we fueled up with a huge breakfast thanks to Gregg and Chris.
Don't bother me, I'm eating!
First we went to the Fish Hatchery. It was so cool to see so many trout so close up. You could buy a hand full of pellets to feed the fish for a quarter. They went nuts of course and the kids loved it. I think Kyle drained every last quarter from Auntie Penny's purse, bless her heart for indulging him.
The boys were mesmerized by the feeding frenzy.
Each section of the canal held groupings of fish of a certain size. The further you walked, the larger the fish. Some were huge!
Chris is an avid fisherman and was able to tell us a lot about the fish. The boys were just interested in throwing more food to them.
After the excitement at the hatchery we went to the Hot Creek Hot Springs. It was kind of a hike from the parking lot down to where the hot springs sat at the bottom of the mountain, but we were up for it.
This was the view from the top. It was amazing to see the naturally bubbling water and plumes of steam, as well as all of the different colors.
No one is allowed to get in the water anymore because the ground is so unstable. It's fenced off, but you can still get pretty close. The sulfur smell was certainly present.
It's hard to see in the photo, but this little pool right by the fence where we were standing was actually boiling and bubbling away.
Just so pretty! A little (well big) nature made hot tub!
Beginning the hike back up to the parking lot.
Carter buttered up his buddy Uncle Chris for a ride.
Cammie didn't have to do to much of begging herself for a ride from Auntie Penny.
Saturday was our day for sightseeing. First we fueled up with a huge breakfast thanks to Gregg and Chris.
Don't bother me, I'm eating!
First we went to the Fish Hatchery. It was so cool to see so many trout so close up. You could buy a hand full of pellets to feed the fish for a quarter. They went nuts of course and the kids loved it. I think Kyle drained every last quarter from Auntie Penny's purse, bless her heart for indulging him.
The boys were mesmerized by the feeding frenzy.
Each section of the canal held groupings of fish of a certain size. The further you walked, the larger the fish. Some were huge!
Chris is an avid fisherman and was able to tell us a lot about the fish. The boys were just interested in throwing more food to them.
After the excitement at the hatchery we went to the Hot Creek Hot Springs. It was kind of a hike from the parking lot down to where the hot springs sat at the bottom of the mountain, but we were up for it.
This was the view from the top. It was amazing to see the naturally bubbling water and plumes of steam, as well as all of the different colors.
No one is allowed to get in the water anymore because the ground is so unstable. It's fenced off, but you can still get pretty close. The sulfur smell was certainly present.
It's hard to see in the photo, but this little pool right by the fence where we were standing was actually boiling and bubbling away.
Just so pretty! A little (well big) nature made hot tub!
Beginning the hike back up to the parking lot.
Carter buttered up his buddy Uncle Chris for a ride.
Cammie didn't have to do to much of begging herself for a ride from Auntie Penny.
We relaxed back at camp the rest of the afternoon.
This was the campground scene from our "porch" off of the RV. It was like a little Blaufuss Compound.
The boys love Courtney and Ashley so much that they were content to just sit and watch them clean and sweep out their tent. So funny. Later they napped in it with them.
Much of every ones time was spent fishing, but Gregg was the only one to actually catch anything. He ended up with 5 or 6 that he was able to get back to camp. Oh ya, he usually came back soaked up to his armpits.
Fish heads anyone?
The boys love Courtney and Ashley so much that they were content to just sit and watch them clean and sweep out their tent. So funny. Later they napped in it with them.
Much of every ones time was spent fishing, but Gregg was the only one to actually catch anything. He ended up with 5 or 6 that he was able to get back to camp. Oh ya, he usually came back soaked up to his armpits.
Fish heads anyone? (I love that the angle of the picture put the fish face right where Gregg's should be.)
Cammie had plenty of people to snuggle with when the got the evenings got cold. Here she is with Ashley.
Courtney's turn.
Ah, a beautiful relaxing campfire at the end of a wonderful trip!
I'm already looking forward to next summer when we get to go again!
Cammie had plenty of people to snuggle with when the got the evenings got cold. Here she is with Ashley.
Courtney's turn.
Ah, a beautiful relaxing campfire at the end of a wonderful trip!
I'm already looking forward to next summer when we get to go again!
