It was 4pm and the thermometer hovered at 105 F. It was time to get out of the valley and into the mountains. Rhondie and I stuffed are climbing & camping gear in the back of my trusty Bus, and headed into the mountains. As we entered the canyon to begin our ascent into the hills we noticed ominous storm clouds billowing on the horizon. As we came around a bend we were met by a strong head wind that slowed our forward progression to 35 mph, much to the shagrin of everyone behind us. As we gained altitude the clouds grew darker and darker and within seconds we were enveloped in a torrential down pour. Boulders were rolling down the hill and into the road in front of us and we were fording through streams flowing across the highway! As suddenly as the rain had started it stopped and we emerged into a scene straight from a fairy tale; rainbows crisscrossing, rain dripping from trees, and that oh so heavenly scent of a forest after a heavy rain. We stopped at a lake to take a walk. 
It was a beautiful day and after we had stopped to watch the ducks play we got back in our Bus and headed off to find a nice spot to camp. It was nestled in the trees not to far from the lake. We boiled our Tortilini and sipped Hot Chocolate while we played Scrabble by latern. It was nice to fall asleep listening to the sounds of the forest instead of sirens, cars, and various other noises of civilization.
We awoke and leisuraely ate breakfast & packed up before continuing up the highway. We were headed to Onyx Summit, at 8,443 feet it is the highest highway pass in Southern California. Donna (my Bus) putted up there in grand style. The forest, meadows, and vistas rolled by and as we crested the pass Mt. San Gorgonio came in to view. At 11, 499 feet it is the highest mountain in Southern California.
We spent the morning climbing. The rock was beautiful, the vistas stunning, and the company pleasant. And a lazy half day of climbing passed by while we enjoyed the cool breezes and watched clouds build up. When it was time for lunch we drove to a meadow and munched on canned tuna and gold fish and dozed off while watching little birds vying for bug spotting perches and deer bounding through the grass and wild flowers.
It was a beautiful day and after we had stopped to watch the ducks play we got back in our Bus and headed off to find a nice spot to camp. It was nestled in the trees not to far from the lake. We boiled our Tortilini and sipped Hot Chocolate while we played Scrabble by latern. It was nice to fall asleep listening to the sounds of the forest instead of sirens, cars, and various other noises of civilization.
We awoke and leisuraely ate breakfast & packed up before continuing up the highway. We were headed to Onyx Summit, at 8,443 feet it is the highest highway pass in Southern California. Donna (my Bus) putted up there in grand style. The forest, meadows, and vistas rolled by and as we crested the pass Mt. San Gorgonio came in to view. At 11, 499 feet it is the highest mountain in Southern California.
We spent the morning climbing. The rock was beautiful, the vistas stunning, and the company pleasant. And a lazy half day of climbing passed by while we enjoyed the cool breezes and watched clouds build up. When it was time for lunch we drove to a meadow and munched on canned tuna and gold fish and dozed off while watching little birds vying for bug spotting perches and deer bounding through the grass and wild flowers. 
When we awoke the clouds were getting darker, and so we decided to follow the river down back to civilization and chicken strips and fish and chips. As we cruised down the highway at 75 mph (an exciting thing in a VW Bus) the air got hotter but our spirits weren't dampened. The adventures the 3 of us had experienced together were still fresh on our minds.
Until next time....
