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WHAT a beautiful and magical campground the Fisherman discovered for us this time! In the Peninsula Campground we parked our gypsy trailer and started to set up house…

Douglas fir, grand fir, lodgepole pine and western larch molded the diverse topography of the park, which ranged from arid sagebrush flats to forested lakeside trails; from even ground to steep cliffs; and from dense forest to spongy marsh. From the lofty canopies of the 150-foot-tall ponderosa pines parapenting our house on wheels to us came the high pitch and ruckus of some of the largest and boisterous crows I had ever seen… as if welcoming us to their habitat, or perhaps letting us know that to them and only them belonged this magical place?

Enchanted, I looked up and was again enthralled by the sight of the masses of wispy butterflies floating around the tall Ponderosa pines… strange and magical—mottled white and light tan wings hovering in lush canopies. Did they too live in the giant pines? Did they share beds with the crow?

After dinner we got in our bikes and went to explore around our camp.  The park has some amazing hiking and biking trails, guided walks with park naturalists and evening campfire programs.  We stopped at a scenic overlook with a spectacular view of the lake and went down to it; to walk around and check for fishing possibilities.  So beautiful was the place that we got carried away and kept riding our bikes for almost three miles before realizing that we were lost and couldn’t tell how far or how close we were to our campground… 

 

And how wonderful it was finding our campsite again!  Evening was gently descending upon us already and how beautiful and magical it was the sight, the view and the discovery of dozens of deer roaming freely around the campground.  I could hardly believe what I was seeing!

The next day dawned on us with a beautiful morning—carried upon its wings were the songs of birds and the character of the park molded by its diverse topography.  After breakfast, we mounted our bikes again and went to visit the visitor center, with its North Beach Unit and beautiful beach and picnic area, fire rings, picnic tables, and cabins… 

The trails were rich in wildflowers, especially along the interpretive trail that winds around the Meadow Marsh. Nature trails and gravel roads have been developed so visitors can enjoy opportunities to view wildlife in these areas.  Canada geese, osprey, bald eagles, wood ducks, mallards, songbirds, deer, moose, beaver, muskrats and even bear abound in the area.  When we got back to our magical campground, a fox was peacefully resting right next to our site… as if waiting for us I suppose!

I took pictures, I stood very close to her and still she would not lose her serene demeaner… until it was time to leave.  We saw her got up, stretched and disappear in the brush as magical as she had appeared.

After that we droved to town... for a caramel latte and a lemon pound cake, for a walk by the lake shores and for a talk with strangers and store owners, to browse through clothing and all kinds of goodies in quaint little stores embellished with beautiful pots with all kind of flowers...

That afternoon we went to a neighboring camp and went to find the famous pond where fishes supposedly abounded but couldn’t find not one, we made pizza for dinner and rode our bikes some more, we read books and listened to music, and then late in the evening we went to the family showers and took a shower together.  Tired, refreshed, contented and thankful for all the good things in life and for our gypsy camper… for coziness inside and startdust outside...