Bass Lake, August 13th 2006

Click here to read about the side trip to Crystal Lake

Not another trip to Bass Lake!  Perhaps this should be a newsletter...

Em and I made another trip to Bass Lake on Sunday and for the first time in the last 3 or 4 years it was overcast the entire time that we were there.  No matter, the water was still nice and once dried off we were not cold when lounging at the flat area above the lake.  We certainly would have welcomed the sunshine but this trip showed us that a questionable forecast is not a good reason to not go to the lake.  Just for the record, the weather forecast for that day was sunny and 80 degrees.  

Also note that the rope swing is back up, albeit on another branch which means you swing down on the opposite side of the tree.  The swing is much less sketchy than the previous one in that you can't go as high but you also don't swing nearly so close to the tree on the way down.  Next time we go, if it is still up, I'll get some pictures.

Each summer we seem to get a new inflatable toy.  This one takes about 10 minutes to blow up and about the same amount of time to deflate.  But look at the pure joy on Em's face, how could we not bring it.

My blow up toy is considerably smaller however it brings out the oval shape of my head so nicely that it is also a must.  When sitting on the ring in the lake, the tops of my shoulders are just exposed above the waterline.

In my world, function always prevails over fashion.  In this case, had I forgotten a cap the ring would have provided ample shade while maintaining maximum breathability.

For the first time in our Bass Lake experience, horses came to the flat area above the lake.  Em and I both agree they should not be allowed.  They poop and pee where people want to spread their blankets and relax, in addition to kicking up dust and taking up a lot of room.  The riders, all young girls, started their trip from the Five Brooks trailhead which is about 6 miles one way to Bass Lake.  Earlier this year I convinced Em that we should hike to the lake by the same route.  In addition to being twice as long as the costal route it was steep (up then down) and didn't have the dramatic vistas we have come to expect along the coast.  Being a standup kind of guy, I volunteered to make the 6-mile trek back to the car while Em took the easy 3-mile downhill walk to the Palomarin trailhead.  Our timing worked out pretty well, Em only had to wait about 10 minutes for me.

I was so excited about my dinner that I took a photo of it; aioli toast with tomatoes and fresh basil.  This combination is soooooooo goooooooood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  However, don't make this meal until the tomatoes are just right, which occurs at the middle or end of the tomato season, not at the beginning.

While Em was making dinner I interrupted her about a million times to take photos of both ourselves and the food.  Twenty years from now she'll thank me.

Click here to read about the side trip to Crystal Lake

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