Day 18; Thursday, August 1st: flying solo again-Buckeye, Bodie and Lundy Lake
As usual, I awoke early, and after getting most of my stuff packed, which included retrieving my tools from Chris' 40, the family woke up and we had breakfast together before I took off. I spent a few minutes with one of Chris' map books because, believe it or not, even though I had brought maps with me for Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho and Nevada, I had not brought one for California! I had plans to try and find/visit Buckeye Hot Springs, a place a few of my hippie friends had told me about that was near Mono. I had gotten Roger in Reno to make me a photocopy of the particular page in his macbook where the springs were, but the copy was not good. So I used Chris' map as a reference and marked up my photocopy and mentally crossed my fingers that it would be good enough.
Sure enough, as I was coming down the grade towards Bridgeport, I remembered Roger said the turnoff was at the bottom of the grade, and there it was. 10 minutes later I was parked at the top of the overlook, and made my way down a very steep hillside to the hot pools on the side of the river. There were a half dozen people there, hanging out, just enjoying being out of doors.
I got in a good soak and was back in the truck by 11am, with the aim of making it to the ghost town of Bodie for lunch. Now I have been to Bodie before, and as someone who has spent a considerable amount of time in the last decade working on historic cabins, the fascination just isn't the same for me. I went to Bodie because I'd heard a rumor that a fellow land use enthusiast who was also on the BLM's Desert Advisory Council when I was a member was now working at the park. SO I made the long bouncy drive up the grade, disc brake axle parts bouncing around on the roof rack, and inquired about my colleague when I reached the gate. Nope, not there. So I ate my sandwich at the gate and bounced back down the hill.
Back down the highway for another jaunt, down the grade to Mono, I kept my eyes peeled and made the turnoff for Lundy, another recommended stopping point. I was not disappointed. The panoramas were Sierra epic, and I ended up taking a spot in the campground directly below the lake. More than a few people stopped to ask about the Karma Cruiser, and were surprised at the adventure I was on with a 50 year old truck.
I spent the afternoon and evening quietly, until I decided to walk my garbage down to the main dumpster. On the way there, I heard the faint plinking of an acoustic guitar. So like a moth attracted to the light, I just walked myself into a stranger's camp on the way back and introduced myself. The husband kind of brushed me of, said he was just a plinker, while the wife seemed a little intrigued. So I walked back to my camp and took out my guitar to play for no one in particular. Fifteen minutes later, the husband walked into my camp, apologized, and invited me back to their camp for the evening.
Funny story. They've been married 20 years, and while they were dating, they discovered they had not only gone to the same high school at the same time, but that they had actually had a class together! He said he remembered her as one of the preppy girls he would never go for. And she remembered him as one of the stoners she'd never go for! Same kind of funny as
@Poser and ShaNaNa.
I don't remember their names, and I didn't take any pictures, but I will remember the evening. One of the things we spent some time talking about is the part of each of us that is a loner, and the space between, even when we are involved in relationships and marriages.
and snacks and headed out. Less than a mile later I stopped the truck and had Chris tighten up the left rear motor mount. A mile or so more and it was time for the right one. 
Then we two-wheeled up a badly rutted, muddy two track towards Pinenut Mtn.
..
and I will will be stopping at the warm springs for a few days on our way to Baja .
