Camp Carl 2005

Well here it is July again and time for our annual Camp Carl camping trip. The only sad thing about this trip, is both of my girls could make it, so I be the only representative from the Pierce clan.I posted a whole bunch of pics below but due to unfortunat circumstances I don't have any of Steve's bus. Still has that heating problem and did'nt quite make it to Sonora, so he turned back to rent a car. You would think that would be the only bad luck Steve would have, but no such luck, he got sick first day in and stayed that way just about the whole trip. Sorry Steve, hope next year you eliminate both of these issues. Anyway Carl Jr. or what is now known as the Claw put up a good showing so Steve, you wimp, your off the hook : ).
The Camp Carl group was out in force, all the kids showed, wow us Pierce's are sure looking bad.
Great time had by all even the sickly one. Fishing was good, the water was high and cold and the food was cooked to perfection. Nick once again took the Frisbee golf tournament, Camp Carl made a strong showing in the horse shoes, kicked me all week. Alyssa and The Claw tied in the Cribbage match. Angela had the most determination of all in the horse shoe competition, plus she did go on one of the covert operations, we call antenna ball swapping. Nick did one on his own as well. As you can see by the pics below the bug had a great adventure as well, climbed the Sonora Pass, yep all the way to the top. Great views going up and down. I think 2005 Camp Carl will go down in history as one of the best times we had, even though we were missing a few. Great weather too! Oh now comes the other adventure for the bug. You see I figured since it had made the top, why not venture a little farther. So I decided instead of shoooting straight home I would cross over the pass and head into Nevada, for a trip up 395 until I hit highway 88, just to cross back over into California and head home. Yes the long way around but the views.....
So Tuesday morning everyone packed up and we all left at the same time, Camp Carl heading down and me, heading up and over. Well I have been nursing my ball joints for quite a while, greasing them by hand since the seals were broken. I guess I was not diligent enough for about 6 miles up the pass at 9000 feet I hit a pot hole and my right frony lower ball joint broke. Luckily I was only traveling about 15mph so I had some kind of control. Was able to get it off the road in a pretty level spot, onlt to be swarmed on by a Marmot looking for something to chew. I tired to scare him off but no success, so I abandoned my bug not know how much chewable items the Marmot would enjoy. Luck for me the Marmot must not have been hungry as I have found no damage as of yet. Anyway after sticking out my thumb and getting picked up by this nice couple from Hayward, I was taken back to camp to use the phone. After many calls I was able to get a tow truck to take my bug back down into Jamestown or Jaimesville, to a bug shop that would replace all my ball joints. Had to spend the night in a seedy motel since the tow truck didn't get me to the shop unil after 4:00pm. Picked it up at 10:30am on Wednesday and drove straight home. Maybe next year I will make the planned crossing to take in more adventures, until then I can remember all the good times we had this year with the great views, laughs and fun. Oh yeah one more thing, The Claw is a south paw who was forced to play Frisbee Golf right handed, I think one he gets his strength back up in the left, he will put the pressure on the current reining champion. I had my secret weapon with the Spidey Senses, but was unable to challenge the champ. I had him scared but he always finds a way, so if the old can't do it I look to the up and coming young. Practice Nick, The Claw is coming : )

Setting up camp
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Check the waterfall
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Yeow that's a long way down.
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Nice view
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View from the top
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See I told you I can really toss it.
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A snowball fight, hey wait watch how high I can throw the snowball.
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On the way to the top
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Skiing in July????
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A close up view
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Waterfall in the back ground
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Didn't think the bug could make it did you, well me and the Claw made the successful trip. Can you say 9624 ft.
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Headed back down after reaching the top, nice view going down too! Hey is that the Claw in the bug?
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Father and Son or should I say Camp Carl and Brains. Nice beard Nick : )
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Frisbee Golf King 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002.............
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Watching the Horse Shoe match, hey Steve looks better here. Nice Bus, oh yeah that's right it didn't make it. : (
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Camp Carl
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Clean Camp Carl : )
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The Horse Shoe Queen, look at that concentration
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The famous Kennedy Meadows Store, hey nice bug.
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Heck with the campers look at that view
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Kennedy Meadows Party
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This is where I broke down, right front ball joint gave out, yep it's at 9000 feet above sea level.
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So you break down then this critter comes along and won't leave your car alone, thank god he didn't chew through some wiring.
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Tow Truck getting in place, right front wheel ready to fall off.
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Hooked up and ready to travel down 9000 feet.
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R&E oop's did I say R&B.
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Our R&B repair team, a little VW place in Jaimesville.
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My Room for the night as the Bug was repaired, not worth the money, not worth an inside view.
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