Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-08-2012, 12:13 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Zeta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Preston, ID
Posts: 1,213
Send a message via Yahoo to Zeta
Above it all.

Spent the last two weeks on the Big Sur coast and in central California. The first day I drove down the Salinas river road and stopped at the Mission Soledad:





The mission was beautifully restored in the 1950's from basically a pile of mud. It has lovely olive groves in the back with orange and lemon trees in the front garden. The smell of the citrus in blossom was remarkable. I wanted to steal some of the fruit, but decided against it. I did, however, donate a bottle of wine to their annual wine auction to raise maintenance funds. Spent that night at an old favorite: Arroyo Seco campground:


Stayed a few days in Carmel, ate too much, then headed to Big Sur for what turned out to be a frustrating day of locked gates blocking public roads through the national forest. I guess it's easier to close the roads than take care of them. A friend from Santa Cruz sent me further south to Los Burros road about a mile north of Gorda, CA. Eight miles off the road, and 2900 feet above the Pacific, I found the most spectacular camp site I've ever had:



Had it all to myself too.

In the morning the fog had rolled up the canyons below me:



After tearing myself from the view I poked around the area and drove up the central coast ridge road. Spectacular views the whole way:


Followed the ridge road north to Nacimiento road hoping to go up to Cone Peak campground. Instead I found another locked gate, so I headed inland to the Hunter-Liggett army base. I've been visiting the Mission San Antonio there for years so it was fun to see it again. What I hadn't done before, was explore the Los Padres forest north of the base. Beautiful California savanna. Rolling hills, oak trees and some surprising rock formations. The map showed several campgrounds, but again, a locked gate blocked the public road.

Found a great place to camp anyway:



On Thursday I headed to Syncro de Mayo held for the past dozen years at the Hollister SVRA off road park: http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1179

For those not terribly cool, Syncro de Mayo is a gathering of VW Vanagon 4wd vans: http://www.syncrodemayo.com/ . I've been going for years, but this year was invited even though my "Syncro" might stick out. I tried to disguise the SMB with a VW badge on the grill, but controversy ensued. Not really, they liked the rig especially after I drove it to the top with some of the hard core off roaders. Great fun to see what the SMB can do on the tight, steep, twisty trails. Spent three days there eating too much and visiting with old friends.

California can be maddening, but it's a beautiful, fun place. Back to Idaho.

Z

__________________
'06 RB50 SMB Diesel

https://www.tomsinclair.net
Zeta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2012, 08:12 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
twogone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Taylor, Mississippi
Posts: 1,648
Re: Above it all.

ENVY!
__________________
'95 SMB E350 Quigley 7.3
https://www.taylorarts.com
... If you have to ask, you'll never understand...
"... torpedo'd, because we don't generally cotton to bullshit around here." -jage
"... do they ooch apart in the night?" -Dia
twogone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2012, 08:32 AM   #3
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Re: Above it all.

Sounds absolutely great, well, except for the locked gates that is. Way, way back when, I've been to some places that require you to check-in and/or get permits, at which point they will give you a combination to the locks on the gate. I think this for for keeping track of who is where, and probably to limit access.


Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2012, 10:03 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
BajaSportsmobile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rancho Nuevo (Cabo/Todos Santos) B.C.S. and San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,952
Re: Above it all.

A number of years ago the US Forrest Service started putting in "Foul Weather Gates" in California and locking them during winter and spring months, when snow and rain make them susceptible to damage and erosion from vehicles - at least that is the stated reason. Public Lands, LOL!

Cool trip, even with limited access.
__________________
Four time Baja 1000 winner, four time Baja 500 winner. Solo'ed the Baja 1000 to LaPaz/Cabo twice.
4-Wheeling since 1972, Desert Racing since 1989.

AgileOffRoad.com
BajaSportsmobile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2012, 10:32 AM   #5
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Above it all.

I got to get back to that area one of these days. Looks like you had a great time. Last month the rangers in that area told me that they had closed several trails around there due to slides. They also closed several CG's because of the "slick mud" but I figured most would be open by now...guess not. BTW, what a killer camp.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2012, 11:31 AM   #6
Site Team
 
macmcintire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 1,537
Re: Above it all.

Thanks Tom. Great report and pictures. Wish I hadn't missed my California Coast trip last year. Maybe someday in the future.
__________________
Mac McIntire
2003 Ford E250, 5.4L V8,
macmcintire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2012, 02:53 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,715
Re: Above it all.

bringing this back from the dead, sorta.

headed up from So Cal to Salinas then back this weekend.

that campsite above the clouds, PM me if you want, but:
1) how did you get there?
2) did you have to reserve and pay to camp there?

I ask because I looked up Reserveamerica.com under Big Sur and its all sold out.

If we don't find a camp near Big Sur, my back up plan was Arroyo Seco.

TIA
Ocsmb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:30 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.