The cows of Big Meadow!

Stunning contrast of colors…

We met the funniest, fastest, most curious cow trio… they came RUNNING up to the car… and galloped off just as quickly!

Taylor Creek! Pretty much all of socal is in extreme fire warning… so no fires allowed! Gas stoves only.

First things first - to the creek! This pretty much sealed the deal when we were deciding where to pop up camp.

Park/Level the car… pop the tent!

Mmmmmmm creek.

Exploring!

Sunset…

(p.s. SMASHcone! Smashball paddles meet endless pinecones from the pines surrounding our camp = tons of fun for humans and dog. Bucky runs around to snatch and crunch on every missed shot!)

America! The last group left their festive 4th of july decor. And our LED tent light test was fantastic! Life changing even! I was amazed how well lit (without being TOO bright) we could make it inside the tent, and the ARB tent kept the light from lighting us up like a lantern from the outside. You could only see the light through open windows.

Heading back past Big Meadow in the distance.

The Kern River! While it definitely wasn’t at full white water rafting strength, many were out floating in tubes and fly fishing.

… wandering down to the river.

Moments before Bucky realized sliding in for a swim was inevitable…

…climbing back out after his refreshing swim!

So quiet out on the river!

Stopped off for the “world famous” McNally’s Burgers - delicious! And bucky curled up under the bench drying off.

On the way back, we were too curious not to wander down to the shores of Lake Isabella.

So surreal to see egrets, pelicans, sand pipers flitting about the drying out lake beds…

The colors!

… as for where we wandered… The Xs mark camp, McNally’s, and Lake Isabella! Click to view larger.