MERCED NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 2.
Day 150 – When we initially got to this campground we paid for four nights, but we have decided to stay a little longer. This morning we extended this stay by one night. We’re not through bird watching at these excellent wildlife refuges yet.
Continue readingSAN LUIS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 2.
Day 149 – Low 40’s this morning and sunny. We left the campground before 11 a.m. to begin today’s bird watching adventure. First we went into Los Banos to Subway and picked up sandwiches for lunch. Then we drove to the second unit of San Luis NWR, the Bear Creek Unit. We did not go to this unit on Monday when we last visited this refuge.
Continue readingMERCED NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 1.
Day 148 – Upper 30’s this morning when we got up, and sunny. The morning sun was perfect for Rob to take some pictures, and the birds were out in force. Every morning the girls sit on the dashboard enthralled by all the activity here.
Continue readingSAN LUIS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 1.
Day 147 – It was sunny and in the mid-30’s this morning when we got up. The campground was very quiet last night. The birds were chirping away and some Tule Elk were grazing on the grass in front of the RV, not very far away. Rob went out to take some pictures.
Continue readingTRAVEL DAY
From: Hidden View Army Corps of Engineers Campground at Henley Lake Recreation Area, Raymond, CA.
To: Basalt Campground at San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area, Gustine, CA – Merced & San Luis National Wildlife Refuges.
Day 146 – Today’s the big day, Luca fans. Mark & Mark pick up their puppy today. Hopefully we’ll get a picture for the blog, hint hint, Mark! Meanwhile, the girls were taken without complaint to a new campground. This morning Java & Gracie were playing a game of “Who Is The CopyCat”?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAEDI!! WE HOPE IT’S PURRFECT. SEE YOU SOON.
Day 115 – Completely clouded over this morning, breezy & 44 degrees. We hear a major storm is sweeping up the east coast. Good luck to our friends and relatives!
31 miles
BIRDS OF A FEATHER……..
Day 114 – 7:30 a.m. & 46 degrees, cloudy & overcast. The birds outside were loud & busy this morning; the girls were plastered to the windows excitedly watching them from the inside. We left at 9:35 for another day of Wildlife Refuges. The pictures & viewing won’t be quite as good with the lack of sunlight but enjoyable anyway.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
Day 113 – It’s a new year & the beginning of Week 17, Trip #3, for us. It looks more clear today; the water in the reservoir looks more blue & there seems to be less brown in the air today. This is good! We lived in the smog for many years & I guess you just get used to it. But having been away from it for so long, it’s really amazing when we encountered it again. 43 degrees this morning at 8 a.m., sunny & mostly clear.
HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE EVERYONE! LET’S ALL BE CAREFUL OUT THERE, IF DRIVING TONIGHT!
Day 112 – Rob put the bubbly in the fridge this morning. Grin. It was 42 degrees and partly cloudy. So far, not totally clear out, but not that brownish haze either. As I write this, Rob is already out taking bird pictures. There’s a lot of beautiful magpies in the bushes near the RV eating red berries. They are large and noisy (like a jay), black & white with brilliant blue/green tails (if the sun catches them in the right light). We’ve already seen hawks overhead. It’s gonna be a good day. Rob hasn’t gotten a picture of the magpies yet, but he did come back with other pictures this morning.
A CHANGE OF PLANS.
Day 111 – 36 degrees and partly sunny this morning. The Sopranos family group set up their chairs overlooking the river right by our “back yard”. The dog squealed & barked & got yelled at. And Simon Cowell joined them with his fishing rod. No, really, some guy who we swear was the spitting image of Simon Cowell walked through our back yard with his fishing rod towards James Gandolfini & crew. By 10 a.m. it was noisy enough that we’d decided to pack up & leave town. We’d booked this site for 3 nights with the intention of staying another three if the birding was good. We’d only stayed two nights so far, but Rob had done some research and found a promising area south and east of here: A large reservoir with several campgrounds near the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge which has three Refuge drives and numerous hiking paths. The reservoir itself has hiking & biking trails & kayaking opportunities. We decided to go ahead & move on. The prospects for peace & quiet at the current campground did not look good.
128 miles