US 395

Independence, California

December 21, 2022

A string sun 49degrees at 12:30 PM It feels awesome.

Gotta be one of my favorite drives. North of Mammoth Lakes you are high in the mountains and the scenery is breathtaking. South of Mammoth Lakes you are coming down the mountains with the Sierras on your right peaking at 14,000 feet and on your left are, I believe the White Mountains. The Sierras are rocky and snow capped whereas the Whites are lower and actually don't look rocky but also not tree covered. No snow -- "the shadow."

As you leave Bishop going south you are in the Owens Valley and the four-lane road is flat and straight. The Owns Valley is famous -- or infamous- -/ as where LA "stole" its water and transports it 200 miles via a gravity driven aqueduct. This happened in the early 1900s -- the valley had been an agricultural oasis but not now with its water going to LA.

US 395 is busy today (December 21st). A notable number of Mercedes Sprinter vans custimized for camping. Big new SUVs of every type -- Navigators, Expeditions, Tahoes, Suburbans, Escalades with rooftop carriers -- some for luggage and some for skis. There are fifth wheels and pickups with a cabin in the bed ("Travels with Charlie" vehicle. I guess the whole valley down here is a national forest in spite of there being few trees. Lots of campgrounds. I could see spending months exploring down here -- although it's clear I would not be alone.