Big Bear camping 6/16/2010

[Seanz0rz]

So alexus and i decided we wanted to go camping before she has a much needed, but not emergency, surgery. we both needed this vacation very much!

after much debate, i decided on trying out Hanna Flat campground. it just reopened after being closed since the fires of 07, and i was unsure if that was a good or bad thing. turned out to be a great thing. as far as i could tell, every out building except the flush toilets was new or greatly refurbished. the campground was extremely clean, and this being mid week, extremely empty and quite. i decided on space 81, close but not too close to both flush and pit toilets, and "full shade" (which it wasnt, but that was fine). what the internet failed to mention is that the camp host for this half of the campground is space 80. i dont mind being close to the host, but the flush toilets are practically in their campsite, and when the whole campground is empty, its kind of weird.

here are pictures of the campground:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/143.jpg
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/247.jpg
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/199.jpg

cleanest pit toilet i have ever seen or smelled. makes pismo look like the toilet from trainspotting!
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/160.jpg

from our campsite, looking at the flush toilets behind the trailer. since the pit was so nice and clean, we used it instead:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/148.jpg

[Seanz0rz]

saturday we got up and had french toast:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/279.jpg

afterward, we set out to kill a couple birds with one trip. alexus had never seen santas village, and the wet orange firewood i brought was terrible, and they sell firewood at the old santas village. here is what we saw:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/310.jpg
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/311.jpg
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/314.jpg
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/320.jpg

that is a tremendous logging operation. every dead tree in the forest must come out and they chop it up here and charge a few bucks a bundle for it. i have never seen so much wood in one place in southern California. (Oregon and Washington logging operations are a different story all together)

i have very fond memories of santas village from when i was a kid. shame i wont be able to take my kids there. with any luck, they will someday reopen it. i guess if i ever win the lotto big, id buy the place and hire people to make it whole again!

[Seanz0rz]

after returning to camp and eating lunch, we set out to explore the forest a little. this is the first time parts of 3n14 have been opened up, and i knew the area was heavilly burned, i wanted to see just how bad.

here are some shots of the burned forest:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/300.jpg
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/329.jpg

Holcomb creek trail where it crosses 3n14:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/330.jpg
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/331.jpg

we eventually made our way over to the usual campsite on 3n16, and the site of a very special place for alexus and i:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/335.jpg

[Seanz0rz]

Nearly a year ago, i took alexus to one of my favorite places in big bear. we got our lunch at mountain munchines, and drove to this spot to have lunch. it is something i will never forget.

we met under unusual circumstances, but found a great love in one another. i knew quite a few months ago that i wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, but i was looking for the right time to ask her. this trip was the perfect opportunity, and this spot the perfect spot.

so, after many months of waiting, i finally asked her. no, i did not get on one knee, as it was bare dirt and there are rattle snakes around. i showed her the ring and asked her if she would marry me, alexus burst into tears, and after a few minutes i asked her if that was a yes or a no. of course we all know the answer to that.

taken moments after the question was popped:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/336.jpg

the ring (yes my hand is dirty, we were camping!):
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/337.jpg

wedding is likely april 1, 2011. a fitting date for a couple of goofballs!

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/219.jpg
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/260.jpg



please feel free to post questions/comments below! here are the rest of the pictures from this trip:
http://s955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/

thank you for reading. may your adventures be happy and fruitful!

[Marc P]

Awsome Sean!! Congrats to you guys

[4x4mike]

Congratulations you two. Looks like you had a great trip.

[ttora4runner]

Congrats. :thumbup:

[YotaFun]

Congrats you two!!!

[cplvc]

Congratulations Alexus & Sean!

[troyboy162]

:thumbup:now that alexus is in charge...maybe you will come wheelimg with us:p :thumbup:

[Seanz0rz]

thanks guys!

troy, i hope so!!! been killin me that we dont get out a whole lot anymore. she was a driving force behind my rear bumper, so im sure we will be on the trails, probably starting this winter!

[Bob98SR5]

congrats, sean!

[Seanz0rz]

thanks everyone.

just wanted to update y'all, alexus had her surgery yesterday. she did extremely well and is up and walking around today like nothing happened! i expected her to be mostly vegetative for the first 2 weeks but this is great! we are both so happy and excited that it all went well and that shes well on her road to recovery! we will see you all at pismo! thanks again for the well wishes!

[DHC6twinotter]

Well awesome! Congrats! Glad to hear the surgery went well! :thumbup:

BTW, I know I replied to this thread earlier, but I dunno what happened to my post. :headscratch:

[Crinale]

congrats sean

[X-Tool Pimp]

:yikes:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Big%20Bear%20June%202010/337.jpg

What did you go and do :headscratch:









J/K Congrats to both of you :thumbup: :clap: :good;

[corax]

Hot damn, how'd I miss this - congrats Sean. So are you guys planning a big-to-do with a seating chart or a midnight run to Vegas to meet polyester Elvis?

[slosurfer]

Congrats Sean! :thumbup:

[Seanz0rz]

keith, somewhere in between. she actually wants to just go get married somewhere, like vegas, and i dont. (are the roles reversed here or what?) id like something unique, not a trip to vegas or the usual chapel somewhere.

[corax]

keith, somewhere in between. she actually wants to just go get married somewhere, like vegas, and i dont. (are the roles reversed here or what?) id like something unique, not a trip to vegas or the usual chapel somewhere.


how about something outdoorsy like the Sequoias . . . . or even better, combine your next overland trip with the wedding (Northern Cali / Oregon state line near the coast has some awe inspiring areas, especially the coast and along Rt 199)

[YotaFun]

how about something outdoorsy like the Sequoias . . . . or even better, combine your next overland trip with the wedding (Northern Cali / Oregon state line near the coast has some awe inspiring areas, especially the coast and along Rt 199)


ROAD TRIP!!
Do that Sean! Then it gives me a Keith a reason to drive out there lol!

[4x4mike]

I know you guys wanted April 1 but what about Pismo?