Kennedy Meadows 8/8/19

I got up and got ready to go home. It took me about an hour to have some oatmeal for breakfast and get everything put in the car. I didn’t pack the tent and sleeping bag, since I plan to air things out when I get home.

With the adjustments I had made it the previous day, it seemed to be a little better with sleeping in the hammock tent last night. I think the sleeping bag I got is not keeping me warm enough, though.

I wanted to say bye to John, the fellow I’d met when I arrived, but he’d packed up and departed earlier, apparently. There have been a few more people coming and going yesterday and today, but still not crowded at all. They say weekends are busy, though.

I saw a California Scrub Jay this morning, come to bid me goodbye.  Good luck trying to find him in these photos!

Kennedy Meadows 8/7/19

It really cooled down overnight, and though the hammock tent worked very nicely for me during the night, I could feel some of the chill where I was directly up against the fabric of the hammock. I made a few adjustments later in the day to reduce the sag a bit.

I had a nice breakfast of Quaker Oats and sausage jerky, then hiked up to the spot by the river with my fishing pole.

 I spent most of the time untangling line and trying to disengage the hook from my clothing or river  vegetation. But I did get a strike, with a couple of seconds of pull, and a splash when I got a shiny glimpse. But then he was gone.

It sprinkled a bit, but all was soon dry again in the warm, dry heat. But I was inspired to set up the rain fly for the tent when I got back to camp.

I also spent some time replenishing my water supply from the river, using the filter system I had brought, which is working out quite well.

After another nice stew and peaches dinner, I went down to a nice place by the river that is right by the campsite and tried to fish a bit more. No luck though.

Kennedy Meadows 8/6/19

I camped at the Kennedy Meadows Campground for a couple of days. I drove up Monday the 5th to attend a meeting of the Orange County RR Historical Society, then drove to Adelanto to stay overnight at the Rodeway Inn. I got there about 11:00 pm, and left the next morning to drive the rest of the way. I got to the campground about 9:30 am and easily found an available campsite. They have 37 sites, and only two others were being utilized (and the folks in one of them had been gone hiking for three days). I talked with the other camper, John, who was very nice, and is from Valley Center! 

I decided to set up at site 37, and putt up my hammock tent and tried it out.  It seemed to work nicely.

Unfortunately I don’t have cell service here, and my phone would not work with the wi-fi they have at the local store, so I drove back to 395 where cell service came back and called Laura to say hi, and that I’d gotten a site.

When I got back to my camp I had a bite to eat, then walked around the campgrounds a bit. It is really pretty here.  

The campground is near the South Fork Kern River, and the Pacific Crest Trail goes through the campground. I hiked up it (north) for a half hour and found a spot that looks like it would be a nice place to sit and fish so for a while tomorrow. There were quite a few swift’s along the trail, which was really fun.

For dinner, I used my old Boy Scout mess kit and a stereo stove to heat up a can of Dinty Moore stew, and also had some diced peaches. 

I also got a fire going, using some wood left by the previous campers, and kindling I’d gathered on the road up to the campground.

My Bike Trip - Father's Day Card

The kids made me a Father's Day card that was based on my bike trip, which I thought was really swell.  They even had one of the little kitties I met on the trip!