momentary locals

May 28-31, 2021

As I write this, we lay on a blanket in the shade an open field near our rig. The pop pop of distant gunfire has finally subsided and we can hear a singular cicada singing its song. The butterflies chase each other, birds chirp, and the intermittent gentle gusts make the pine needles shimmer in the wind. It’s the perfect way to pass an afternoon…minus the constant swatting of flies and bugs that land on us.

We have been here for two nights already and decided to stay here for our last night as well. The original plan was to explore and check out other spots in the forest but have enjoyed this little spot all to ourselves so much that we decided this morning to enjoy our entire holiday here.

We left on Friday, getting an early start and trying to beat out the crowds on this Memorial Day weekend. We only made two pit stops; one for some mediocre sandwiches and salads near Lockeford, CA and another to buy some deliciously sweet and fresh cherries at a farm stand off the road. We made it to the Amador Ranger District Station by 2 pm, grabbing some local maps and then heading into the forest roads to explore and find our spot to camp. We were disappointed several times with downed trees blocking access, spots taken by big parties, or the most disappointing one was because it was completely trashed (we contemplated trying to clean it up but it was sadly far too much for just the two of us). So little PSA here, please respect and protect our public lands by always packing out what you pack in.

We have spent our time here most relaxing and enjoying some time disconnected from “real life.” We are catching up on some reading, doing crossword puzzles, going on exploratory hikes around camp, enjoying a good campfire, and eating good food. There is nothing better than eating a gourmet meal in the wilderness. Our first night we had pasta with pesto and grilled chicken. Yesterday we had crackers with cheese and jamón serrano while sipping a bottle of Malbec. And tonight we are having a steak dinner with some zucchinis from our garden at home.

While the first day is always stressful as it involves a lot of driving to get to the general destination, and then driving down the various roads scoped out on google maps and Gaia hoping they pan out like you hoped. By the third day, we are settled in and feeling right at home. Maybe someday, this will be our everyday reality and these little slices of heaven will be our momentary homes.

As we were driving towards home on the scenic route (i.e., a bumpy 4WD road), we saw one thing I had feared the most while camping—and also one thing I was glad to see on our way out instead of in: a brown bear. It ran across the road in front of us, making my heart race just by looking at it. While it was terrifying, it was also exhilarating to witness such a magnificent creature in its natural habitat. This is why we love overlanding!

See you on our next adventure!