National Park Service Brochures

Above, the Devil's Postpile National Monument ranger station. The
 brochure rack is below the "open" sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While going through some materials that have accumulated from my RV trips, I noticed that I am starting to get a little collection of National Park Service brochures from different parks and attractions they administrate.

Generally, when entering a national park, visitors are handed these and other literature at the gate by the rangers. They can also be obtained at park visitor centers and in racks located at park attractions for free.

Above, the South Entrance gate to Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Most are for general park information, while others specialize in special and seasonal events, parking restrictions and maps.

These are what I have in the house (I have some more in the motorhome):

Above, some of the National Park Service brochures I have accumulated. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While these brochures make nice souvenirs, they also come in handy for future reference for return trips (I visited Yosemite National Park twice last year) and use them for blog articles. 

Mammoth Mountain RV Park

Above, looking toward the main entrance to the campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last summer, during my trip up the Owens Valley, I stayed a couple of nights at Mammoth Mountin RV Park.

The approach to Mammoth Mountain RV Park is the main road from U.S. 395 (about 2 miles) into Mammoth Lakes.

The park is in a forested area with plenty of shade from the pine trees. Some campsites are gravel with sewer hook-ups and some are asphalt without sewer hook-ups. I ended up in an asphalt site since I didn't make reservations. But they do have dump station facilities available. I had a table and fire ring. I had to use my leveling blocks to level the RV.

Above, The Beast at Mammoth Mountain RV Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is a nice park with a pool, jacuzzi, store, laundry, playground and shower facilites. There's also tent areas.

The staff was friendly and helpful. The park is within walking distance (about 5-10 min.) from stores and restaurants. The price per night was $45.

Above, Sierra checking out the birds and squirrels. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The roads are wide enough to maneuver through the park.

I took a day trip up to Mammoth Lakes to catch the mandatory shuttle ($7.00) to see Devil's Postpile National Monument.

Above, yours truly at Devil's Postpile National Monument.

I would recommend making reservations in order to get a gravel site with full hook-ups. At least I didn't track in dirt and gravel into The Beast thanks to the asphalt. The site was more than adequate for Sierra and I.

When I left the Mammoth Lakes area, I headed north on U.S. 395 to Yosemite National Park's Tioga Pass road to drive through to get to U.S. 99 as gasoline was about $1.25 cheaper there than the stations on U.S. 395.

I gave Mammoth Mountain RV Park four out of five stars at RV Park Reviews.

My grade: A.

July Better Than June

Above, The Beast at the Manzanar visitor center parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Where the heck is this year going? It seems almost recently that we were in January. Now we're in August.

While the first half of the year was rather crappy (with some exceptions), at least the second half started out better. At least July was a better month than June was.

July began with my cousin's annual 4th of July (held on July 2) bash down in Wildomar, California. It was great to see family members in a festive mood.

Above, a meadow in Devil's Postpile National Monument. Photo by Armnd Vaquer.

Following that, Jes and I went to the Ventura Beach RV Resort for a few days of relaxation. She had never camped in an RV before and she enjoyed it.

After this, I headed up the Owens Valley in the Eastern Sierra with my cat Sierra and visited places that I hadn't been to before such as Manzanar Relocation Camp, Devil's Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes and Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park. I am happy that I'm getting plenty of use out of The Beast.

Above, at Japantown in West Los Angeles. Photo by Anastasia Lipovetskaya.

I commissioned a portrait in July and it was only completed a few days ago. I am working on holding an "unveiling party" to be held in the not-too-distant-future.

I bought DVD sets of Dallas and finished watching Seasons One through Three. Yesterday, I picked up Season Four (the "Who shot J.R.?" storyline) and now in the middle of side one of disc one. It is fun watching my onetime favorite television show after all these years, especially the insults J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) threw at people ("Sue Ellen, you're a drunk, a tramp, and an unfit mother.") Classic!

That reminds me. There's still some legal matters to attend to this month, but I feel confident that I will prevail in them. Most, if not all, were forced by the actions of a couple of female jackasses. There's not much to do except to deal with them and move on.

July ended with an enjoyable dinner at Maria's Italian Kitchen in Encino with Dawn. We'll see how August shapes up.

Relax Day

Above, The Beast at Brown's Town Campground in Bishop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is a relaxing day at the Mammoth Mountain RV Park in Mammoth Lakes, California. I'll be heading back home tomorrow.

This has been a fun excursion into the Owens Valley area to stop at places that I haven't been to before such as Mammoth Lakes, Devil's Postpile National Monument and Manzanar Relocation Camp.

Above, The Beast at Manzanar Relocation Camp. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Beast has performed well on this trip. Sierra is getting more used to traveling. Soon, it will be "old hat" with her.

Above, The Beast at Mammoth Lakes Village. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On this trip, I stayed at two different campgrounds. The aforementioned Mammoth Mountain RV Park in Mammoth Lakes and Brown's Town Campground in Bishop. Of the two, I liked my site at Brown's Town Campground much better, but as far as facilities go, Mammoth Mountain RV Park has a lot more. Brown's Town Campground cries out for a swimming pool, especially since it is hotter there at this time of year. Mammoth Mountain has a spa and pool.

Above, The Beast at Mammoth Mountain RV Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The site I had at Brown's Town Campground was gravel and grass. Whereas, the site I have at Mammoth Mountain RV Park is asphalt. They do have some gravel sites. At least both had plenty of trees for shade.

Above, yours truly relaxing at Mammoth Mountain RV Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I will post reviews on both campgrounds after I get home at RV Park Reviews.

Above, Sierra stretched out and snoozing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For tomorrow's trek home, I am trying to decide whether to go back the way I came on U.S. 395 or head west to U.S. 99. Gasoline would be more plentiful (and cheaper) on U.S. 99. It is over $3.00/gallon here.

Devil's Postpile National Monument

Above, yours truly at Devil's Postpile National Monument.

Today, I decided to head up to Mammoth Lakes to visit Devil's Postpile National Monument. I am visiting the Owens Valley area this week in The Beast.

In order to see the volcanic formations, one must take a shuttle from Mammoth Lakes Village ($7.00 for the day). To the Devil's Postpile Ranger Station. From there, a 1/2 mile trail will take visitors to the columnar basalt formations and the 101-foot Rainbow Falls (it is a one-mile walk round-trip). If this 62-year-old can do it, anybody can!

Devil's Postpile National Monument is operated by the National Park Service.

It was a fairly easy trail to the formation, with benches available for resting, or to just sit and enjoy the scenery.

After my visit, I headed back to Mammoth Lakes Village to do some grocery shopping and to check in at the campground. I will be camping in Mammoth Lakes for the next two nights.

Here are some photos of my visit:

Above, shuttle tickets are available at this building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a creek view from the trail. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a high sierra meadow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Devil's Postpile. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Devil's Postpile. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, some of the basalt formations that fell. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a view of a creek from the trail. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Devil's Postpile ranger station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the shuttle bus in Mammoth Lakes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.