Best Camping Trip Ever Part 4: The Flood!

Saturday night at Camp Penthouse, and the following tranquil scene as evening fell:

We were warm and cosy in our gigantic tent. I remember falling asleep to the gentle sound of raindrops on the canvas fly (the roof bit that goes over the top of the tent).

Zzzzzzzzz.

*insert happy dreams of bears and chipmunks*

Zzzzzzzzz.

Zzzzzzzzz.

I woke around 6am, and my first conscious thought was one of contented satisfaction that my bladder was not demanding a bathroom stop right then and there. I rolled over and snuggled down to sleep a little more. I was aware of perhaps more raindrops than had lulled me to sleep the night before, but I was warm and comfortable and paid them no heed.

Until a huge roll of thunder, together with visions of lightening appreciating the trees under which we were camped, made me sit bolt upright, stating the obvious: "Lightening?"

Val and Mike were awake, and the latter indicated that possibly the more immediate problem was that we had water creeping into the tent.

GAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

If you want to get someone out of bed, tell them their house is flooding. I was SERIOUSLY awake.

Purses, cameras and backpacks were hastily bailed into the middle of the tent, bedding was rolled away from the edges, and towels were quickly applied:

Val and I laughed cynically to think that we had so carefully packed a change of clothes for Sunday. Yesterday's garments were thrown on with gay abandon, the need to get packed up and out of there completely overriding any notion of fresh attire. 

I stuck my head out of the tent, to note that a good inch of hail was piled up right outside our front door:

All stuff to the middle and everybody out!!

So, this looks kind of bad, but on the positive side of the ledger:

1) The camera still worked (some goof head had decided that, although all spare clothing was carefully packed in plastic, the camera would be just fine in a fabric bag).

2) We were up and out by 8:30am, giving us a good early start to our day

3) We could arguably claim that we experienced "Real Camping". None of this soft good-weather-stuff for us! Argh! Grrr!!! *chest thumping*  

4) Mike and Val were awesome sports, and never once complained. We all pitched in whole-heartedly and got the job done with positivity. It's times like these when you learn who you can really travel with.

5) Thanks to Mike, we all had plenty of dry socks.

The campsite cleared, the tent dismantled and washed to the best of our ability, and the bear locker emptied, we headed to Big Fern Springs for Plan B Breakfast. Mike's Plan A, i.e. home made grit loaf and Canadian cured bacon in front of the campfire, was by necessity replaced by apples, pretzels and leftover sandwiches, eaten in the car. The springs were very pretty, however:

Breakfast accomplished, Mike drove further up and further in to see if the road to the General Sherman Tree was open. The signs were not promising:

Uh-oh. Game over:

We had tried to rent chains before we left, but in the end it had all been too difficult, so at this point we adiosed the Sherman Tree Visitation Plan and turned around.

It was still amazing seeing all the beautiful scenery against the fog:

As we descended from on high, the sun broke through the clouds, and the skies turned a brilliant blue:

This did not negate the fact that my socks were still a tad soggy. Improvisation was required:

 That's Val in the front passenger seat, all rugged up. And in the back we have pillows, blankets and maps. Very comfortable travelling:

We drove back past our campsite. Bye bye, Buckeye Flat!

And the blue skies just kept coming:

  

We descended back to where the beautiful yukka plants were flowering.

Aren't they huge?

The lovely Mike and Val.

Mike embraces nature and the rock, assisted ably by Val:

Awwwwww.

Best. Camping. Buddies. Ever.

And here, folks, is the Baby Truck, somewhat splattered after its adventures. Good that it got a decent run, I say. (Plus I learned how to use Cruise Control, AND we discovered that the front seats had built-in heaters. Mmmmm! Back heating!)

Dramatic-angle-splatter-shot. You climb that car, Val!!!

Mike decided it was time for a little facial-hair-grooming.

Something about his actions looked strangely familiar:

My turn to drive, so the socks got re-located within my makeshift within-car laundromat. Attractive. Fortunately not smelly.

Incongruous Swiss-style establishment in Three Rivers. We stopped to use their portaloo. 

We returned to civilisation in Fresno, with a unanimous vote to revisit Irene's. We were hungry to the point of gnawing the furniture. I took the opportunity to introduce Mike and Val to more Australian vernacular:

"I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse and chase the rider!"

Homemade soup, chilli, and bagels with turkey and salad went down without even hitting the sides.

YUMMMM!!!!

We made it back to Santa Cruz at a very respectable 4:00pm. Mike had to chain-feed me pretzels and endure me talking on autowitter to keep myself awake for the last bit of the driving, but we made it safe and sound.

It seriously was the BEST CAMPING TRIP EVER.

Hugest thanks and hugs to Val and Mike, Camp Organisers and Equipment Providers Extraordinnaire. I had the BEST time with you both and your company was what made the trip super special. I'm grateful to have made such wonderful friends and I SO appreciate all the time and effort you put into making this such an amazing time. You were awesome sports and fabulous travel companions.

*applause*

WE DID IT!!!!!