Angels Camp California

Angels Camp California

April 18 - 25, 2025

We left Monterey Friday around 10:30 for the 3.5 hour drive through rolling green foothills to Angels Camp. Special note here: Murray hates all forms of transportation but the motorhome is by far the worst. Despite all our efforts to make him feel safe he basically trembles throughout the journey. He does the same on long car rides and always on our sailboat so we quit taking him out on the water.

Angels Camp is just lovely. Pretty mountains, gorgeous wild flowers, abundant wildlife. So far this is where Sue would like to settle down and buy an old victorian, plant a garden and raise goats. The town itself appears to be economically depressed with lots of vacated businesses and places for sale even on the main street. Our campsite was nice though with mature oak trees, and a fire ring. Appropriately, frogs started sounding off starting at 7 each night(1). 

On Saturday we went to Calavaras Big Trees State Park which features two groves of Giant Sequoias. Though we have been there before it is still quite an eyeful. We learned about the history of the park including when some dude saw the Discovery Tree while tracking an injured grizzley. 

Very big trees.

When he returned home telling everyone he'd seen the biggest tree in his life, no one believed him. He led others there which resulted in the tree being destroyed. For example they removed the bark to sell it as souvenirs to people on the east coast.  Ultimately though environmentally minded people led efforts to preserve these trees, hence the park.(2) 

Day three found us at Historic Columbia State Park which is basically a small town focused on preserving the legacy of the Gold Rush., Unfortunately it was Easter Sunday so the town was overrun with tourists and at least two adults dressed in scary rabbit costumes. We fled after taking a short look around. 

Sue's favorite instrument. Also the subject of a joke on the Prairie Home Companion joke episode years ago: Q: "What's a sentence which will never be uttered in the English language? A: "Is that the banjo player's Porsche?"

On Wednesday Denis took the day off so we could travel an hour plus to Yosemite!  That first vista of the valley as you come around the winding roads after entering the park from the west still impresses. The snow melt was just starting so the falls were especially roaring and the Merced river was. overflowing its banks.

El Capitan

Murray filed an anti-discrimination lawsuit
over Yosemite's trail policy!
If Squirrels can drink out of drinking fountains,
Dogs should be allowed on trails.

Sue hiked in the Angels Camp area as usual, but despite gorgeous settings – especially near New Melones Lake where some of the best trails were (along with the unfortunately named "Glory Hole Recreation Area").  She was not fully comfortable due to multiple signs at every trail head warning of Mountain Lion sightings, sometimes with a paper taped to the sign stating that the sighting was recent. Add to that each trailhead was almost completely empty and no other hikers were on the trails. Add to that Sue’s generalized anxiety and vivid imagination. Actual thoughts that ran through her head: "well everyone will say she died doing what she loved" and "my friend Wendy Craig will now have TWO friends who were killed by Mountain Lions." Eventually donning her emergency whistle, one hiking pole, accompanied by a ferocious black poodle, she did relax on her final hike. 

We cooked almost all of our meals which were generally pretty basic - grilled protein with veg. One night Denis made Pad Prik King, (thai dish with green beans), which was great and we ordered an Instant Pot so we could try out Elaine Stern's recipe collection!

A Day in the Life

What's a typical day like on the road?   

Coffee and a biscuit to start the day!

It all starts with planning the next destination. Murray gets out the big map and charts the course to our next camp area He always seems to lead us back to San Diego though so we need to re-calibrate. 

I like Pink!

Klaus tries to help but he is a bit clueless though he is good at locating dog treat stores.

Monday through Friday, Denis is working. It is not too different from working remotely from home, just in a smaller area. Starlink has made this possible and has not dropped a Zoom call yet! His workday tends to skew earlier so we can go on a hike later in the afternoon. We have been travelling on Fridays so after the morning meetings, we hit the road.

Sue got to enjoy the various personalities he works with. She started playing a drinking game every time they mentioned “PowerShell” or "API". 

Riganante does not have a doggy door so Sue gets up every morning around 7:15 or so to let the dogs out to go potty while Denis snoozes away. She then goes back to bed until around 9 when she takes them for a long walk. Then chores, hiking, reading, puzzles, etc. Sue is a bit of a slob but we're finding there is no room for slobbery here as we have like, 350 SF so lots of putting stuff away right after you use it. 

Since we towed our Honda CRV she can take day trips, go shopping, explore, etc. 

Here are a few pics of our motorhome. It's a 2008 Itasca 37 footer. It's old but quite cool looking inside with curved maple cabinetry.

The cockpit! Murray's bed (aka "The Iceberg)
lies between our two chairs. 

Dining area with our portable e-picture
frame which was a great gift from Leo and Kaelyn.

Small but usable kitchen.

Surprisingly comfortable couch.

"bathroom" sink in our hallway next to our loo.

This is what Riganante looks like getting over THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS' worth of diesel. (3)

View from our bedroom window.

Murray, the HR manager is outstanding in his field.

Footnotes

(1) "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" was a short story by Mark Twain.

(2) The Discovery Tree was 300 feet high, base over 24 ft diameter. Its felling and exhibition caused a lot of pushback and eventually was instrumental in the passing of the Yosemite Grant to preserve Yosemite and the Big Trees grove.

(3) Riganante holds 90 gallons of diesel!