Anerson Flat Campground

When we stopped of at the Groveland Forest Service office to ask about free camping opportunities we were lucky enough to be attended to by a Forest Service Ranger. Sidearm in holster, green Forest Service approved ballistic vest on, he knew the area like the back of his hand and was happy to share his time …

A Beautiful Spring Day In Yosemite

While staying in the Stanislaus National Forest one cannot help but to be reminded how close you are to one of the most magnificent jewels in our National Parks system, Yosemite. Our second camping spot in the Forest was close to Hwy 120 and 24 miles from the National Park Entrance. Willow was not alive …

We Wrote A Song

Not really. Just changed a few words on a classic Beach Boys tune. This is just one of the songs I sing to Willow (Brown-Eyed Girl by Van Morrison is another) when I am being a dork and out in the wilderness where nobody might possibly hear me. Sung to the tune Surfer Girl by …

Ruffwear Mt. Bachelor Pad

Willow is a weirdo. It is obscene how many dog beds I have bought and how much money I have spent over the years on beds that she might very well never use. Everything from Costco $30 beds to $100, waterproof liner covered, memory foam beds from Orvis. If given the choice (and she alway does …

Oyster Point Regional Shoreline

Another one of our standard places to romp when we are in the San Francisco East Bay Area is the Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline (716 KB pdf park brochure). Along with Point Isabel and the Albany Bulb this makes up our tried and true triad of quick, easy, fun and quality places to tire out your pooch and …

Aliso Campground

TL;DR: Nice, oak-shaded campground. Free. No water. Vault toilet. Picnic tables and fire rings. Usually empty or not crowded during the week. Some nice hiking options out the back side of the campground. 4 out of 5. Would stay here again. After our time in the San Bernardino National Forest at the Clark’s Ranch site …

QuietStove Damper Cap

UPDATE #3 (01/24/19): We have been informed the price has dropped again to $39.99 with free shipping. UPDATE #2 (1/10/18): A kind reader has pointed out that the Quietstove damper has dropped about 17% in price to a now bit more reasonable $50. UPDATE #1: We have found another brand of damper cap and performed …

Point Isabel

Point Isabel Dog Park is the largest off-leash dog park in the country. It is part of the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Park and completes the trio of our standard, go-to, East Bay doggie romp spots which also include Oyster Point in San Leandro and the Albany Bulb near Berkeley. The beauty of such a close …

Four Corners

Knowing we were near the Four Corners area we made it a point to drive to the monument and take a look. It is the only location in the United States where four states meet. This is the monument to that area. It is on Navajo land and not really near anything else of note. It …

Cadillac Ranch

Just off Highway 66 in Amarillo Texas stands an iconic monument. We didn’t go looking for it when we found it, in fact we had no idea it was there. We were just driving through and happened to notice a tour bus and a line of cars parked to the side of an access road …