Bone Creek Camp SNF - "Levi levitating his father."

I drove north to Bakersfield, then east following the Kern River to Kernville.

Just north of Kernville, moments after sunset, I stopped at a well equipped camp.

To visit with some friends: Levi, Sidney, Josh, Joey and Chuck.

After a couple of hours I drove farther into the mountains and set up camp under moonlit clouds.

About an hour after dawn and time to begin the drive to meet Josh and his family.

Later that morning they broke camp and drove higher into the forest to visit five score sequoia. 

Exterior of a sequoia.

Interior of a sequoia.

Then we drove deeper into the forest and set up camp near Bone Creek.

Levi using his heretofore unknown powers and levitating his father.

It was wonderful to camp with Josh and his boys. Completed the circle because many years ago when Josh was a about Joey's age the two of us would go camping . (No bears on this trip Josh.)

Josh and his family began their drive home while Bosco and I drove on to explore more back-roads.

Driving SE of Mule Peak.

I spotted tracks on the road.

Looks like Ursus Americanus had been strolling down the road. I wondered if that was what Bosco was growling at the night before.

Soon we were on the western edge of the Long Meadow Grove.

Bosco is in this photo but very small but that is what a Sequoia does, makes everything seem insignificant.

We took a different route back to the truck through a field of Mule Ears.

Looking at the map I noticed a named peak a short distance away. Bosco and I hiked to the top of Table Mountain. Bosco is probably thinking, "not much of summit."

Later in the afternoon, after exploring more roads, we arrived at our campsite high above the Rincon to the east.

Dusk.

Dawn and time to break camp and head for home.

Capitol Rock looming above Johnsondale.

Standing on the old bridge over the North Fork of the Kern River. I have been at this same spot during the spring in previous years when the water was roaring past with such violence that the bridge was vibrating.

Near a campsite that friends and I used to frequent at Brush Creek. (That is all I will share but it should be enough to find it.)

Same location looking down stream.

Lake Isabella, or what remains of it. The low water level is not entirely a result of the drought. Several years ago the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) limited the lake’s normal storage capacity.

Coyote Lake INF - "followed the moon on its journey across the sky"

The sun was setting behind the Sierra as we drove north on US 395 on our way to Bishop.

The view to the south.

After purchasing fuel in Bishop we found Coyote Valley Road and began the 5,000 foot climb.

Bishop in green and the Inyo Mountains in orange.

Sunset on the switchbacks. 20 years ago I made this climb in my Subaru and every couple of miles someone driving down the road advised me to turn back.

We set up camp at about 8,800 feet and watched as two planets followed the moon on its journey across the sky.

Leaving our ridge camp and on the way down to cross Coyote Creek.

Arriving at Coyote Flat. Birch Mountain, The Thumb and a bit of the Palisades far in the distance. Sky Haven looming on the right.

After leaving a note for Dan and Jeff we turned right at the junction, drove on to Coyote Lake and set up camp.

Bosco and I sat in the shade above Coyote Lake. Shame that is was dry because Bosco and I would have taken a swim. Well, it would have been a swim for him and more like a wade for me.

Bosco was soon distracted by a couple of ground squirrels.

Late in the afternoon Dan, Jeff and their children arrived.

Evening found us gathered around a campfire.

Sunrise at Coyote Lake.

A view of our camps from the bottom of the lake.

After breakfast Dan, Jeff and their children set out to explore the area while Bosco and I went on a hike.

Their first destination was the Rocky Bottom Lake overlook on the Brackett Propect road. They later reported that Rocky Bottom Lake was dry.

The evening was spent gathered around another campfire.

Leaving Coyote Lake the next morning with Coyote Ridge in the background.

Soon Dan and Jeff were far ahead. I caught up with them in Bishop. They were headed for Schat's Bakkery but I decided to drive to Lone Pine and visit Horseshoe Meadow once again.

In the parking lot we found Jo Ann, Clark, Judy and the four goats getting ready for another hike. Bosco and I joined them.

The stream running through the meadow was almost dry. Quite a change in seven days.

On the way down the hill we gave a lift to a couple of PCT through hikers. While at Clark and Jo Ann's goat ranch the hikers helped feed the youngsters.

After watching a spectacular sunset courtesy of the Sierra Wave Bosco and I drove down to US 395 turned south and headed for home.