What if I wanted to tip in a post, say, between two others that are overloaded? Well, I can do that, and lo, and behold, a new feature is discovered and utilized!
July 8 we took Betsy in for a valve job, oil change, and had the steering and brakes checked out. On July 10 we left Berkeley at 10:30 AM in the 1957 Volkswagen van. Thursday we caravan with Stevie’s sibs and nieces and nephews to Hurricane Harbor, and then on Friday to camp at Carpenteria and El Capitan Beach with all the nieces and nephews, Brian and Nancy and their boys. That weekend a fire broke out in the mountains to the east, Piru Canyon and Sespe, the Condor refuge.
Piru Canyon fire July 1996
Sunday Stevie and I headed north through Sespe to check out the damage–into the Los Padres, and see two baby bears! at Matalija Creek. Tuesday we camped at Caballero horse campground, 
and the memory of the amazing spectacle of a family of four human-acclimated foxes dancing on the picnic tables around us reminds me of Fantastic Mr. Fox. Up Hiway 1, we drove inland to Alder Creek camp, a favorite camping memory we were never able to replicate– Ventana Wilderness in the old VW. What a classic trip. Heading home Wednesday, July 17 to play a benefit for Margaret Breland for Berkeley City Council with Grif and Chris.
Travels With Stevie 