Backpacking Trip: Meiss Lake Loop

A whole new life has opened up for me by marrying John. 

Our Camping Trip

This was my first camping trip in the 5th wheel without Mike.

Burney Falls Camping Trip

Last Friday we took off for five nights of camping

Fort Bragg Camping Trip

Last weekend

Gorgeous Bodega Bay

Just returned from a two night camping trip to Bodega Bay

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Last Tuesday we took off to the Monterey

Camping Dillon Beach

We went camping for a few nights over to Dillon Beach

Point Reyes Anniversary Trip

Last Monday we packed the 5th wheel and took off for Point Reyes National Seashore for a week of camping and fun.  It was our fifteen year anniversary.  Michael and I went on a 15 mile bike ride to Inverness and back around the countryside on a loop to Point Reyes Station on Tuesday mid morning after it warmed up some.  The weather was gorgeous the whole time we were camping except the temperature really dropped at night.  Freezing cold.  

Our friends, Gary and Janice, came over in their 5th wheel on Wednesday for four nights.  Mike and Gary went on a couple of hikes.  Jan has a bad knee and cannot walk too far, so the two of us stayed back at the campground and did our own little workouts each day with weights that we had brought along.

Here's some beautiful pictures that Mike took when he went on his hikes.

The Bolinas Ridge Trail.

This is the Tomales Bay Trail which begins at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area you can find on the map at the bottom of this post.

Thursday morning, the cutest birdie came and sat on a branch just outside my window as I was having my breakfast.

Saturday morning the four of us got up early to go take pictures (specifically of the tree lined avenue shown below) and have breakfast at The Pine Cone Diner.  Not in that order though, first we had to fill our bellies.  Nothing fancy, just a regular diner for eggs and toast and pancakes.

In black and white.

And in living color.

After we grabbed a bunch of shots of the tree lined street, we drove out to Drake's Bay and to visit the newly opened (that day was the first day) Drake's Bay Visitor Center.  Nice and clean restroom facilities, picnic tables and benches, a beautiful beach and even a small snack store stocked with lots of healthy type snacks and drinks.  The manager said she is going to eliminate all plastic bottles from the store, so you won't find regular drinking water in bottles.  There is a water fountain to fill up your water bottles if you wish.  I purchased a delicious berry drink along with some almonds.

 The pelican pictures were taken at the Inverness Yacht Club.

I'm going to do a small painting of this as soon as I get some time to paint again.

I met this lady on the dock, her name is Anne, and she shared some great restaurants with me. 

Last night we skipped our planned meal to eat at the camper, grilled cheese and soup and took her advice and went to Marin Sun Farms for a burger.  Here's another link with more information about the meat and the whole process of it;  Marin Sun Farms.

The burgers were fantastic, just like she said.  We even tried a sample of Candy Cap gelato which is mushroom ice-cream made from the milk from water buffalos which has a high fat content like rich cream.  Here's the link;  Double 8 Dairy and another link;  Double 8 Dairy.

Map showing hikes.

Olema

I've been having some serious insomnia issues for the past month.  On Monday I asked Mike out of the blue if he'd like to take off and go camping to Olema for a couple of nights.  I was thinking that since I sleep so good when we're camping that it'd be worth a try.  Well, by 11 pm Monday night after not falling asleep, I ended up taking a little blue sleeping pill to see if that would work.  It did and I slept in till 10 o'clock the next morning and it felt so good to sleep soundly.

We went for a long hike Tuesday to try to wear me out, not that I need any help in that department.  I've been feeling foggy and sluggish from not getting the proper rest.  I was also thinking that little blue pill was the magical answer and took one Tuesday night at bedtime.  Nope, it didn't put me to sleep.  I guess that's a good thing anyway because I hate the grogginess and dry mouth and all together hangover feeling I get from sleeping pills and I really hate taking any kind of pill period.

I'm working on several alternative things to help me sleep.  One is melatonin and another is a crash course on Biofeedback that my step dad instructed me on,  visualization techniques and I ordered this sleeping mask.  It'll arrive next week and I'll try it out.  I'm willing to try almost anything at this point.  I do think the melatonin is helping.  Also, getting early morning sunlight to help regulate my internal clock.

Here's the pictures from our camping trip.

Does Mike look happy to be going camping?

On our way to the Point Reyes Seashore area of Olema and Point Reyes Station.

Nicasio church.

The beginning of our hike at the Bolinas Ridge Trailhead.

Looking at the view toward Inverness and Tomales Bay.

I love the praying mantis.

There's the picnic table.

Snack; peanuts and carob malt balls.

This lizard was a monster.  Big!

See the snake head?

Came across another one trying to cross the trail.