Meeting Tioga George!

They were calling for a warm day, so we got a fairly early start on our hike up Whistler's Canyon. Plus, we had made plans to meet a special visitor after lunch, so we didn't want to be too late returning from our hike.

I had sort of figured that it was about a 6 mile (10 km) hike, but as we got into it I realized that it would be a little longer than that!

It didn't take long to get a bit of a view...

You can see Sherman in his overnight spot. 

We've now done three nights here beside the orchards!

Ruth, enjoying the view.

Me!

Another view.

The path followed an overgrown old road.

It went through the forest until we got to a viewpoint overlooking Oroville.

We sat and had a snack here.

Obviously it was uphill most of the way, (as you can tell from the sweat on Ruth's back!) but it was a steady climb rather than a steep climb. After that part, the path took us around Black Diamond Lake.

At Black Diamond Lake.

On the way back, Ruth spotted this interesting sign.

So, the old road was actually a logging road way back when. Amazing that they could actually get the trucks up here. And, amazing how much a road can get overgrown to just a hiking path in only 70 years.

Back at Sherman, my GPS route tracking software showed that we had done 10.6 miles (17 kms) and we had been gone for four hours and twenty minutes. It also showed that we didn't rest very much, because we had been moving for three hours and forty seven minutes!

We fired Sherman up, and drove over to the mechanic place. Sure enough, they had received all the parts they needed, and we scheduled Sherman's operation for today at 9:00am.

Then, we drove over to the park to meet our special visitor... the original RV vagabond... Tioga George and his team!

Ruth, Kevin, and Tioga George!

Many of you will remember when George used to drive his motorhome (Ms. Tioga) down to Mexico searching for adventure. He has been writing about his adventures since 2003! But, George is getting older and has changed his style of travel a little bit... yet he is still out seeking adventure! Now, he travels with a Ford Transit van, pulling a little Scamp trailer. I forgot to get a photo of the other members of the team... Sr. Transito and Scampy!

We've met George a few times in our travels. Once in Mexico, and again in San Diego!

George also travels with a companion... his parakeet, named Boid. 

Boid has been traveling with George for almost two years.

Until now.

We were inside George's trailer, and talking about Boid, who was sitting in his cage above the table. George had opened the door on Boid's cage, and was just showing us how much Boid enjoys his cage. Boid would not come out though.

We continued talking for a while, then decided to go outside and sit at a picnic table by the water. George brought Boid's cage with us. As we were carrying the cage to the table, Boid escaped through the still open door! All three of us forgot that the door was still open!

Boid flew to a nearby tree, and I took a photo of him...

Boid, out in nature.

Unfortunately, Boid flew to another tree and didn't show any interest in coming back down to his cage. George has gone back to that same tree this morning, in the hope that Boid will return.

We feel so bad for both George and Boid!

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