S2E2: Familiar is friendly.

Day 2: Sept 11, 2023 Tahoe National Forest, CA → Lamoille Canyon, NV Mileage: 356

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The dulcet tones of a calm lake lapping at a shoreline finally awaken me.

I didn’t sleep well. Our dog, Barbara, was a little unsettled, and I spent the early part of bedtime tending to her specific Chihuahua needs. Despite the cool overnight temperatures, she was hot under our big down quilt, which is an Aeronaut Outdoor Hoverquilt — a fantastic piece of kit that makes up our sleep system. She tends to go spelunking, looking for air, so I moved her on top of the blanket instead, where she finally settled down.

Camp Sleep™ is that kind of sleep that pales in comparison to the comfort of your own bed. You’re also okay with it because Nature is Healing®, and your normal stress levels are rapidly declining from being outdoors.

Jen and I acknowledged that we were both awake when a particularly loud bird perched very close by was wailing like a siren.

“Enough with all the tweeting already!” (Oh, the Tweeting has stopped. Thanks, Elmo.)

Being at elevation means that at first light, you must wait for the delayed sunrise to crest above the mountains. And so we did.

Coffee. Tea. Brekkie. Pack up. Exit.

We slog through those rocky four miles again before pavement reappears. The inflation hoses connected to our onboard air compressor lock onto valve stems, and we go back to somewhere in the 36 psi range.

We have six-plus hours today, 356 miles. Into Nevada we go.

We break up the journey with a few rest stops and one lunch break at a Conoco, where I sent out yesterday’s newsletter. We’re getting closer to tonight’s destination.

It’s a campsite we remember fondly after catching it in its full fall foliage glory last year. The colors have yet to turn this time, but it’s still lovely. We snag a slightly different spot, and the creek will once again lull us to sleep. At 7,060 feet, Lamoille Canyon is a favorite.

It’s after 5 p.m., and the flip side to a delayed sunrise is an early sunset because, mountains. It’s also cloudy and cooler here.

Jen takes care of Barbara while I deploy the tent and start dinner. It’s been a long day, so no outdoor living room set-up today. Just cook, eat in the front seats, take some photos, and retire to the upstairs bedroom.

Some days, it’s perfectly acceptable to go long, knowing you’re returning to a cherished spot.

The familiar is familial.