Another Trip, Day One

Hey Central California Artist, why don’t you stay home since you love Central California so much?

Great question. (That’s what most interviewees say to almost every question.) Central California has been my home for (gasp) six decades now, but that doesn’t mean I am a homebody. Well, I actually am a homebody, because leaving home almost physically hurts. But there is so much to see, and being in the center of this massive state means all of it is accessible with only a day’s drive.

Where did you go this time?

So glad you asked! (That’s the other thing most interviewees say to the other questions not answered by “great question”.) We (Trail Guy, The Farmer, Hiking Buddy, and I) went to The East Side.

What is “The East Side”?

Great question. That is how folks on the west side of the Sierra Nevada refer to the other side. Our side is gradual, with towns, irrigated farms, and layers of foothills (and lots of fat, poor, and uneducated people*, so I am very comfortable here). The East Side is deserty and dry, lined by massive pointy peaks.

To go to the other side, passing through Yosemite and then over Tioga Pass is the closest northern route from Three Rivers.
The valley floor is a bit like Cedar Grove, only much more crowded.
Tenaya Lake is the little blue strip off in the distance. I sort of wish my Mom had gone with her gut instinct and named me Tenaya instead of Jana Banana.
At the bottom of Tioga Pass is Mono Lake. We had planned to go there on Day 2, but I got excited to put my feet in, so we went off on some dirt roads, just exploring.
While exploring, we came to this sign. I thought it had been written especially for me, because that is how I live. We had to turn around there, because we didn’t want to see if Hiking Buddy’s car could float since we needed it to get around and then back home again.

*It’s true! Read the statistics about Tulare County, and you will be appalled at us (but don’t forget that food comes from farmers, not grocery stores).

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