Up
early
in
Frazier
Park,
out,
re-
supplied,
and
north
on
5,
through Castac Valley,
past
Tejon
Ridge,
down
the
Grapevine,
towards
the
San
Joaquin
Valley,
forking
over
to
99,
east
on
178,
towards
Kern
River
Canyon,
from
its
precipitous
gates,
up
a
narrow
bright /
shadowy
course,
to
open
amphitheatres
and
boulder
fields,
eventually
arriving
at
Lake
Isabella (the town),
left
on
155
(past Isabella Lake,
the
reservoir),
becoming
Burlando
into
Kernville,
brief visits to the
Ranger
Station
and
elsewhere
for
supplies,
charging
ahead
up
the
North Fork Canyon
into
Tulare
County...
on,
on
past
Gold Ledge /
Fairview /
Brin,
up
to
the pines
and
Bridge,
backtracking
on
the
old
road
for
a
short
stroll
across
the
former
span
and
back,
then
ascending
South
Creek
to
Johnsondale,
and --
at last,
after
a
several-month
hiatus,
beyond Parker Pass to
The
Trail
of
100
Giants,
for
the
main
walk
of
the
day.
Contouring
around
the
basin,
stopping
for
an
interval
to
gather
photographic
resources,
the
clouds
gather
overhead
as
the
Sierra
afternoon progresses.
By return to the car,
and the way thereafter on the Great Western Divide,
the weather is definitely turning --
though all remains beautiful.
Beelining
west
on
190,
down
Middle
Fork
Tule
River
Canyon,
the
sun
returns
beyond
heroic
cliffs,
somehow
redolent
of
Mexico's
Sierra
Madre
in
this
rather-
uncharacteristic-
of-
Inland-
California-
in-
June
weather,
the
present
world
starting
to
valley
out
around
Springville,
still
alluring
for
miles
and
miles.
Onward, back to 99,
Madera,
Merced,
Stanislaus,
San Joaquin,
Sacramento: double-vision, a pre-curser of blindness?
Or simply fatigue,
on the final stretch of Yolo
and
Solano.
But,
wait,
there's
more:
the
typical
southwest
on
80,
south
on
680,
sunsettingly,
to
Contra
Costa,
for a Goat Hall Productions Board Meeting,
preparing for the upcoming Fresh Voices XV (July10-11, including Portraits of ___ [Some Multiple of Three Women]) . All on the 100th day of summer, temperature again dropping 12 degrees, now to 81 (36 80+), with highs elsewhere as Frazier Park - 75 (likewise the previous day), Kernville - 85, Fort Nelson - 91...
