Lee Vining

Sep 13     Bishop - Lee Vining     66 miles     2 hours

We continued on Hwy 395 to Lee Vining. It took us a long time because we stopped at a rest stop for lunch. The quaint town of Lee Vining is at a higher elevation and a lot cooler here. We're staying at Mono Vista RV Park for 5 nights, water and electric for $34.72 per night. Very crowded here, they really pack everyone in. After 2 nights we'll be moving sites. It's so busy, we can't get 5 nights in the same site. The location is perfect. Lots to explore in the area.

Our site for 2 nights

Silver Lake

Sep 14   We took a drive out to June Lake Loop today. A scenic 16 mile loop around four glistening lakes. Autumn brings a phenomenal display of colorful aspens along the loop, unfortunately, we're a couple weeks early. Still very scenic, beautiful drive.

Grant Lake

We checked out Oh Ridge Campground. Very nice campground overlooking June Lake. Dry camping for $27.50 per night.

The beach at June Lake

Wouldn't mind staying here next time we're in the area.

June Lake

Another view of June Lake

Hard to see the waterfall

Mono Lake was our next stop. One of the oldest

View of Mono Lake from the visitors center

lakes in the western hemisphere, Mono Lake is hauntingly beautiful.

The lakes most distinctive feature is its eerie tufa towers. We did the one-mile trail winding along the shoreline and among the tufa towers.

Tufas

California gulls

It's also a sanctuary for birds. Tiny green plants called algae capture the sun's energy, then become food for millions of alkali flies and trillions of brine shrimp. Over a million birds feast on the shrimp and flies.

We stopped at Whoa Nellie Deli's for lunch. Excellent food and lots of souvenirs for the surrounding area.


Last stop was a store in town to buy some much needed rugs for the RV. We're real happy with the purchase, beautiful!








Sep 15     We had to change sites today, so we had a late start this morning.

Our new site for the next 3 days

We went to Bodie State Historic Park, about a 40 minute drive from Lee Vining.

Methodist church built in 1882

Memories of California's wild gold mining days come alive on Bodie's long abandoned dirt streets, with 170 of the town's relic buildings preserved in a state of "arrested decay."

 From 1877-1888 Bodie had an estimated 10,000 residents and produced more that $35 million in gold and silver.

Inside one of the houses built in 1900

We spent about an hour touring the area. They charge $8 per person and $2 for a map of Bodie.

Swasey Hotel 1894

Stamp Mill

Schoolhouse

Inside the schoolhouse

This house had 5 children, notice the rocking horse

Travertine Hotsprings

After we had lunch we drove to Travertine Hot Springs. Kind of small with 3 pools.

As we approached, an older, fat, naked guy started talking to some other people around the pools. He wasn't in the pool, he was standing outside...in all his glory! Everyone else was stripping down and getting in.

Very uncomfortable for us, needless to say, we decided not to go  in.

Old naked guy standing outside the pools