Up
early,
and
a
walk
local
environs,
then
down
canyon
to
Big
Springs,
up
towards
Piute
Mountain
School,
continuing north on Caliente Creek to
Twin Oaks Divide,
down
into
Walker
Basin,
over to
Havilah,
and beyond towards
Bodfish
and
Isabella
Lake,
lingering at the
latter,
then onward past Wofford Heights
to
Kernville,
with
a
late
breakfast
at
Cracked Egg Cafe.
From here
(after
a
supply run),
upstream
on
Sierra
Way /
Kern
River
into
Tulare
County
(strolling on
Corral Creek Beach),
veering
northwest to
Johnsondale,
where the roads beyond are closed, closed, closed -- despite the lack of snow and wealth of warm temperatures this spring.
Backtracking,
it
is
all
amazing
once
again
(stopping at the
Forest Service
Ranger Station),
with
further
adventures
west
over
Greenwood Summit,
downslope
on
155 to Glenville,
toward
Granite
Station,
where the world undulates
in hazy meadows,
stern boulders,
sudden
streamsides,
and
distressing oilfields.
Completing a grand circle leads us to
Bakersfield's outskirts,
then
back
upslope
towards
Murray
Farms,
Bear
Mountain
Grade,
Arvin
Junction,
Bealville,
north
to
Caliente-
Bodfish /
Creek --
where we look in on one of
Carol's longtime friends,
before night encircles once more.
A 9-degree drop from yesterday: now 75 up north,
with 71 locally, on the 34th day of summer...
