Trip by the Numbers:
Total miles driven: 334
Hours spent on the water: 13
Number of bald eagles seen: 5
An Overdue Lake Trip
Last year a sequence of events cancelled two trips to go boating with friends, first at Rollins Reservoir and then at Lake Don Pedro. We finally were able to make the trip this year over the last four days. The trip was with Jason and Sarah Ann and their kids, who are frequent travel partners with us on our RV adventures. They have a boat, and we rented some jet skis to have delivered to the lake (more on that later). The drive up on Thursday was about 168 miles where Google Maps had us take numerous country roads across the Central Valley; lots of turns and stop signs but a scenic drive. After a fuel stop in Snelling, we arrived in camp in the early afternoon and made quick work of getting things set up.
We made it onto the water shortly after 4:30 for a late afternoon cruise. Rhone, our friends’ puppy, got to work on getting some sea legs and did quite well. Lake Don Pedro is fed mostly by the Tuolumne River and covers a large area in the Sierra Foothills with many fingers filling the valleys between the hills. After about two hours on the lake, we returned to camp and enjoyed a camp favorite dinner of taco salad. With the air temp running over 90°F during the day, there was no need, or desire, for a campfire.
Friday started with Jen making a round of a new morning cocktail, a Bourbon Espresso Flip. It is made with a shot of espresso and a whole egg so a perfect breakfast drink! This is when GP saw an email from the person we rented the jet skis from, stating that he had shut down his business in April and closed the reservations website in May. Strange thing was that we rented the jet skis in June, and he sent an email confirming the arrangement we wanted to make. 🤷 More follow up will be necessary after we get back home!
We were back on the water by late morning and spent about seven hours enjoying being on the boat, going for swims, and letting the kids take turns tubing. A stop at the Moccasin Point Marina for ice cream provided a little tasty respite from the heat. After a long day, a steak dinner was very welcome end to the day.
Saturday was much slower in getting started as we all were still tired from the long day and lots of sun we got the day before. The kids chose to spend time in camp playing games and hanging out in camp (mostly in the air-conditioned RV) so the adults went out on the boat to explore more of the lake. After refueling at Moccasin Point, we continued up the Tuolumne River canyon. The ride was beautiful. A highlight was spying two eagle nests and a total of five Bald Eagles in the trees on shore! When the water depth got too shallow, it was time to turn around. But not before enjoying a cooling dip in the water.
Upon returning to camp, we enjoyed snacks in the air-conditioned RV and a little down time. A late dinner of spaghetti and garlic bread was followed up with an evening cruise on the lake right after sunset; a great way to wind up the on-the-water part of the trip.
Sunday was spent breaking down camp, getting the boat out of the water, and then parting ways to head home. The consensus was that Lake Don Pedro should be a future destination for another great time in the outdoors, on the water, with great friends.
