Bus Stop #19, Clear Lake, California

On Sunday morning we left Raymond the bird, and our beautiful camp at Tahoe. We drove along the west shore, north to Tahoe City and saw great new perspectives on the lake. We speculated about a new plan to buy a light, trailerable sailboat, and about returning to enjoy the lake from the perspective of its water. I mean, look at this place! Very hard to leave.

We drove over the famous Donner Pass on a nerve racking I-80 where everyone, trucks and all, whizzed around us on curves that seemed too sharp for an interstate and certainly for our top-heavy bus. The pavement was rough, and we bounced and flailed and dodged faster traffic til we were on our last nerve! We finally turned off on Hwy 20 which we would take all the rest of the way across California to Clear Lake. Very rough day - twisty, steep mountain roads at first, then across the super windy Sacramento Valley. The noise in our bus was too loud for Deb to read, and I fought all day to keep us on the road in the cross winds.

Finally, we found Clear Lake, but even then, we drove forever, in and around the lake to get to the state park which had not one direction sign to it.

Fruit orchards and vineyards everywhere now. Many of the steep slopes were laid in vineyards.

You may have seen cute little dogs that, preparing to lay themselves down, circle and circle with wild eyes, trapped by their own potential remorse, should they land in anything less than a perfect bed form for the night. That is us at every camp, this one included, as we circle and circle, Deb hopping out occasionally, to try the spot on like a new blouse at Macy’s. We had to pass right in front of these two guys over and over until I was sure they understood the crazy little dog in us. I could just imagine what they were saying.
Boy, was I wrong! These guys were wrestling their own personal neurosis. Scott and Jamie - swell guys from the Albany area of New York State - Jamie had moved to silicon valley and Scott had come back to visit.

Turns out Scott is a certifiable VW nut case. Sez his buddy Jamie, “Scott smelled your bus as you approached from Nevada!! Are you kidding? You’re worried your passing by us too much? Scott’s over here preparing himself for intensive grief counseling if you should fail to return for another loop, let along choose a too distant camp site! He impuned your little VW motor sound on every engine noise he heard that afternoon, head cocked, ears twice their size, big eyes with “VW” pupils, peeled for any sign of your return. When you finally chose a site within our view, he nearly lost it. Then our agony, his real - mine inherited, as he stewed about whether and when to go over, introduce ourselves, and really be close to the magic!”
I embellish, but that was the essence of Jamie’s account. As these two approached our camp I readied myself for ridicule about our landing, when surprise…we’re rock stars! Just goes to show you, you never really know what people are thinking.

We got them to hang around with us that evening and we hooped it up big around the campfire, Scott graciously playing the loveable nutcase, letting us all make fun, like we’re not crazy like him. Secretly though, who could not be jealous of his passion - truth was, it rubbed off and we loved it.
[Final Pic of Clear Lake, 5090]
We exchanged email’s the next morning and said goodbye. Clear Lake is a cool spot - but this bus stop was all about Scott and Jamie. Have an air-cooled holiday fellows!!!