Porchtime, products, advice and legends
By LL copyrighted
Fundays Calendar
"Simpsons" sign on for 20th season. Characters make $400,000 per episode. Funny, disturbed suburban family of humanoids ties with all-western themed, Gunsmoke, for longest prime-time TV series.
june 19-28 Reno Rodeo-A hoot and then some. Lots of western champions competing with: in the background-the Sierra, and in the main arena-some great stock and riders.
Summer is on...
Favorite Parade: Pick any town in the Eastern Sierra sometime around July 4-6th, and you're likely to see a parade. Mammoth's can't be missed. The Town closes down Old Mammoth and Main Street for the annual display of patriotism and craziness. Look for: Art Show, Mono Council of the Arts says, with lots of locals showcasing art in the Footloose parking lot in Mammoth.
Favorite Hamburger Stand: Lots to pick from. Look for crowds outside from noon to 1 p.m.--when everyone eats lunch around here. Mono Cone in Lee Vining is especially welcomed on hot July and August days. They make great chocolate malts.
Bridgeport bound-check out Virginia Creek Settlement in the canyon, and good shakes @ Jolly Kone in Bridgeport. Further up the road, Walker Burger is good eating. Border Town-Topaz's casino is a perfect place to stop and take in Topaz Lake. From the casino's lounge area, the big windows offer sweeping views of the big blue lake. Gas prices can be comparable with Gardnerville/Minden.
Favorite Fishing Spot: Things are picking up around the region. DFG has started the summer stocking regime, and it's really a matter of getting a good camping spot. South=Lake Diaz, near Lone Pine. Boater friendly spot. Fishing and lazing around the shoreline. Independence has some well-kept secrets as does Big Pine. Fort Independence will soon be running a casino/resort, and the tribe hopes it is as successful as its Paiute relative in Bishop--the Paiute Palace Casino. Big Pine visits should include a dinner at Rossi's Steak and Spaghetti restaurant. Home styled food served in a neat atmosphere. Call ahead of time on Fridays and Saturdays, they are very popular. Check out the bar attached to the restaurant for an authentic look at Owens Valley history and legends. Best BP fishing is up the canyon. Amazing vistas, rushing Sierra creek, and fish like it here. Bishop Creek has lots of places to drop a line in. I like South Lake and a good hike, and I enjoy North Lake's tiny campground. It's refreshing to see a camping spot with less than 30 sites--try a dozen or so. Fishing is fun here, with no motors-it's so quiet. The small alpine lake makes a perfect sundown loop. Virginia Creek, above Conway Summit, from an angler's prospective is one of those pristine experiences. There are still snowfields around, and the Virginia Lakes and above lakes are a high Sierra fishing Kodak moment. Be prepared to be winded the first day or so. It's at 9,000-feet and the passes to Yosemite climb to more than 12,000-feet. Bridgeport has Twin Lakes and Buckeye Canyon, two treasures outside of Bridgeport. Don't know of a better place to see wildflowers, cascades, and alpine blue lakes than these spots. I'm not endorsing staying at any one place, pick a camping spot and make it your own. Smith and Mason Valley/Yerington, NV bear mentioning as they have ties with the Eastern Sierra families and businesses. The Hunewill Guest Ranch, outside of Bridgeport, has family connections with the open range near Mason/Smith Valley. Every winter, Stan and Jan Hunewill's outfit moves to the Nevada valley to winter over. Check out the fishing in the Walkers (East and West), and there is some nice camping in Walker Canyon too. The East Walker River is a fly-fishing haven, and there are large brown trout to be caught in this mountain river.
Favorite Camping Spot: Too hard to pick! I've had great fun in the Sonora Pass area (north of Bridgeport), and I've had great campfire popcorn in Pine Creek Canyon, north of Bishop. I can't decide yet. I'm still acquiring memorable entries. One thing to remember about camping-you don't have to play by anyone's conventions. Just let it all go, and put extra syrup on the pancakes in the morning. Walk barefoot around camp, and get sap on your feet. Complain about it when you return to your working life. Maybe you won't remember the sap if you dance around the campfire with spirits in your hand!
Favorite Sunset Drive: There isn't a bad one in the area. Personal shortie fave=backside of Crowley Lake, looking toward Sierra. Or viewing mighty Sierra from hot tub on north side. I also like up and down Pine Creek Canyon. Watch for deer! The Whites, backlit, and the illuminated Owens Valley below are pretty spectacular. Whitney Portal sports a nice view of the Owens Valley, looking at the twinkling twilight sparkles of Lone Pine. Anyway around Round Valley, or Bishop Creek. Not to miss-the Panamint Mts.-high up with views down to the old "Shotgun Road." Or anywhere you can be at that magical time of the day, when light is crossing over to night.
Favorite Wooding Site: Only locals would appreciate this. Wooding sites are designated on wooding maps, and hopefully your wooding trip can coincide with a road trip and overnighter. My wooding trips are always an adventure, and you need a partner with good eyes and a strong back. Lazy 'nes and blind bats need not start toward my old Dodge wooding truck. Wood season goes into November in some places of Mono County, and make sure to coordinate some fun with the wood loads.
Don't be an ED!
Scene: The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see. He spotted an unattended trash can in an Old Mammoth backyard. Next to the trash can is a set of coolers, housing some chicken breasts and brewskies.
ED: The bear completely ransacked the backyard, Lil.
Lil: I told you ED not to leave that sttufff unattended. You just don't listen, EDDDD.
ED: What are we going to do about the barbecue, Lil?
Lil: That's Nooott my problem, ED.
*DON'T LEAVE FOOD UNATTENDED. YOU WILL GET UNWANTED VISITORS. DON'T FEED THE WILDLIFE. DON'T BE AN ED!
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