January 16, 2025 - Montana de Oro, Return to Fresno

 

Title: January 16, 2025 - Montana de Oro, Return to Fresno
Hike Info : Description :  Menu : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking Car

Trail head: Bishop Peak Trailhead on Foothill Road

Trail: Bishop Peak

Destination: Bishop Peak

Actual Destination: I pooped out after half of a mile 

Distance:  0.85 miles ¹

Start Time: 11:52

End Time:     1:17

Travel Time:  1:25 (0.60 mph)

Moving Time:  0:40  (1.27 mph)

Elevation Rise:  401'

Descent: 392‘

Maximum Elevation: 680'

GPS Tracks

  ¹This is the amount which Gary did. Sherri and Steven went further, maybe 2-3 times further.

Description:

I slept warmer last night. Maybe it was having two pairs of socks on or maybe because it felt warmer most of the night until about 6 this morning. The wind started blowing then and the chill factor went up. I finally woke up at 7:30, but I learned my lesson yesterday and did not escape the warmth of my sleeping bag until 8:30.

When I got up, I took Korra for a walk just to the Spooner Cove and then back. I think Steven had already taken her out earlier. He slept in his hammock. Apparently he slept warm, but the bright moon got in the way of sleep.

While Sherri fixed our pancake and bacon breakfast, I cleaned out our tent and took it down.. Steven got our car packed. Even with all of this, it was after 11 before we left our campsite.

Bishop and Gary

 

 

 

We decided to climb Bishop Peak outside of San Luis Obispo, since Korra can go here. We have used a couple different trailheads in our past climbs of Bishop. Steven suggests we use the one on Foothill Blvd. When we get there, there are signs on a fence blocking the trail saying Private Property. I am concerned because I know some hikers disregard private property. We discuss it and decide to go to one of the other trailheads. But I spotted a sign which indicates that it is OK to hike it during daylight hours, just be responsible hikers. I asked a man in his vehicle and he indicated this is OK. Steven and I talked-he indicates that he tried to communicate that to me. So we go over the fence, some more limberly than others.

 

 

 

Korra watching Sherri climb up a slope

Now the fun starts. Steven and Korra take the lead. We all cross a bog before going up the slope towards Bishop. I immediately go into a very slow stride up the slope. I pass up Sherri, but I can feel the climb. On my first break, having caught up with Steven, he tells me that this trail is shorter than the other trails. In my mind, that says that this already moderately-strenuous trail is even more strenuous.

View from as far as Steven and Sherri went

I do not have long to wait to see how strenuous it could be. The trail goes even steeper, not hand held steep, still enough that I am glad I have my poles and there are some worn steps. Sherri has been catching up with me and we all stop and rest under the shade of some trees.

San Luis Obispo

A few minutes later, we set off again. After going up about another 20’, I am breathing hard and feeling like I need to stop. I tell the others to go ahead. I will decide if I want to continue going up. There is a nice little place to sit and that is what I do. I think it is a few minutes later, but in reality I think it is about 20. As I am thinking of going on up, Steven sends a text with a picture which looks like a pretty gnarly climb. Maybe I will not go up. Then Steven said they are considering going out another way.

Los Osos Road area

That convinces me that maybe I should not go up and that I may be of more use in going down. I picked my way down the very steep part, even scooting on my seat for a short time. But for the most part, it was a lot easier going down than going up.

Gary plodding back to the car

When I get to the car, I read and wait. I get an occasional report about what is going on. Then they get about 0.2 miles from the Highland Trailhead. So I scurry to get over to that trailhead. It takes me about 10 minutes, at least I think that, to get to that trailhead and I find them waiting for me. I ferry Steven and Korra back to their car.

Bishop Peak

Steven recommends that we go to the Firestone Walker Tap Room in Paso Robles. It sounds good to all of us and off we go. Steven arrives there before we do and has a table waiting for us. Sherri wants to share a burger and salad-I want all of my burger, being the stingy guy I am. All in all, we are content and well satisfied with our meal. Then it is time to travel home. It is about a two hour trip home and Sherri and I get there about 5:45. Steven got home before us. It was a good trip.

Menu

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Pancakes, syrup, jam	Firestone Walker Tap Room	Home	Energy Bars, Jelly Belly

Extra Photo's

Steven and Gary

Gary and Sherri on the initial climb

January 14, 2025 - Go to Montana de Oro

 

Title: January 14, 2025 - Go to Montana de Oro
Hike Info : Description :  Background : Menu : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Car

Description:

I got up a few minutes before 7 and had my breakfast. Then got a few odds and ends ready to go. Yesterday I was able to get most of our stuff together with Sherri getting most of the food together. Once I got the car packed, I sort of puttered around until Sherri was ready. 

 

 

 

Our Campsite, #16

We left the house about 10:45 with me driving. But Sherri wanted to stop at Starbucks close to 41 for a coffee. By the time we waited in line, it was about 11:10 before we got on 41. The drive was mostly uneventful. The one thing was someone trying to pass on the other side and was about a second and a half away from hitting us. We got to Paso Robles about 1 and stopped at Margie’s Dinner there-a local chain. 20 years ago Steven introduced us to Maggie's as a place which has good food and hearty portions. It does not seem to have changed. I had a Philly Beef sandwich with a side of fries; Sherri was an egg Benedict with her comment that it was very good.

Then it is off to Montana de Oro. The weather is clear and sunny with a slight breeze. The car says it is 61 degrees. Inside the car it is nice. We get to our campsite at Islay Creek about 2:30. A ranger waves at us and we inspect our campsite.

We have site #16, a site I had picked out due to the proximity to the outhouse. At our age, this is important. But the downside is that I had not seen the actual campsite, except for one photo. Most of the places to pitch a tent are on a slant. Also I am thinking that tonight I will appreciate the cushioning of the Mondo King mattress pad. The ground is very uneven with lumps and divets. Sherri should be OK as I brought her cot and pad, so she will be above all of that.

 

The sun went down behind the hill close to us about 4pm. It got decidedly cooler then. We had set up the tent by then and got it ready for us.

It is cold outside

Night Sky attempt

Because it was cool, we walked the campground, getting ourselves re-familiarized with it again after being away for about 8 years.I do not recognize the spot which we camped at then, Sherri may have. But the campground does sound quiet. We continue to the front of the area, close to Spooners Cove. This is the main area of the Park. Here we look out over the Cover, admiring it, then retire to a bench and wait for the sunset.

 

 

Almost Full

This happens at about 5. Nice color with trees being silhouetted. We then head back to camp and into the car where it is warmer and more protected from the wind. And now to figure out when we want to go to bed. I suspect it will be sooner than later. In the meantime, I will be reading The Challenge of Acts by NT Wright and a bit of my Book Group’s book Down on the Corner by Cary Baker. I got into my sleeping bag at 9:30 while Sherri came in a few minutes later. I noticed a clicking sound from the wind and had Sherri check the poles on the tent. I had not put some of the clips onto a pole. Sherri remedied that and came to bed. Once I got my bag warmed up, it was OK and I went to sleep.

 

 

 Background

Margie’s Dinner, Paso Robles. When our son was in San Luis Obispo, he introduced us to Maggie’s Dinner as a place which had good food and large helpings. That has not changed. I had a Philly Beef sandwich for lunch and my wife had an Eggs Benedict. Both were good, not the greatest, but very satisfying.

Menu

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Home	Margie Dinner	None	Misc

Extra Photo's

Dusk from our campsite

Setting sun

Places: CA-Spooner Cove

 

 

Spooners Cove-0' (Morro Bay South OE W) (35.2749753, -120.8907365)
Legal: T__S, R__E, Sec_

Description : Trips : References : Pictures 


Description:

According to Wikipedia, Spooners Cove is named for Alden B. Spooner II who first settled above the cove (then named Buchon Cove) with his family in 1892

According to GNIS, also called Spooner's Cove-Hoover, Mildred B., et al. Historic Spots in California. 3rd edition. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1966.

Trips:

• 
  

References:

• Wikipedia
• California State Parks-Montana de Oro
  
• SLOCal
• California Beaches
• 
  

Pictures:

•