Camping til the summer ends.

The late summer in Davis has been glorious. Returning back to the sunny and warm weather from already cool and rainy Europe in August was awesome, and I've had great opportunities to go camping with my lovely friends.

Canoeing and wine tasting in Russian River

As a jet-lag cure, we spent a weekend camping at Schoolhouse Canyon in Sonoma Valley. It was my first experience of camping in America, and I was stunned how nice the campgrounds were and how much camping gear people had. Huge tents, travel kitchens, the works. I had great time regardless of my jet lag (got to see the sunrise on a foggy river... probably the first in a long long time).

We had bought a Groupon for a day canoeing trip, and as the weather was around scorchy 40C, a day on the river was so pleasant and fun. I had no idea how to steer the canoe, but luckily my friends were more apt at it! Also, the same friend who kept me going straight, had prepared an amazing Greek-themed packed lunch for us to picnic on by the river.... (mmm I'm getting hungry thinking it even two months later!). 

The day on the river was followed by an evening in Healdsburg: some wine tasting, art gallery window shopping and some of the best tapas I've ever had at Bravas (I don't think I can even start thinking about those... I'm too hungry to write about them!)

Unsurprisingly, on the Sunday during the drive back to Davis, we stopped at as many wineries as we could. While I disagreed with the others on matters of taste for most of the day, we all absolutely loved Harvest Moon. Their wine tasting was somehow more personal and friendlier than any of the others, and the owner stopped by too to share his tales about winemaking. I really want to go back there next time I'm in Sonoma!

Backpacking in Ventana wilderness

Now that I had some camping experience under my belt, another couple of my friends managed to persuade me to go backpacking with them on the Labour Day weekend. We drove down past Big Sur on Highway 1 just before the Labour Day traffic. The first night we camped at Limekiln camp grounds, where we watched the sunset by the Pacific and used the appendix of my Game of Thrones book to light a campfire. The new camping mattress I had invested in was amazing, and felt rested starting the hike the next morning.

My friend had led me to believe that the hike would be really easy, and I had warned her that I swear like a sailor when I have to walk uphill for more than 10 minutes. I think both of us lied. In the end, it was an amazing hike (except for the flies) on a lovely cloudy day, and the views were stunning:

After 5 miles uphill when we reached our camping spot at Vincent Flat, I set my tent up under a huge redwood and promptly proceeded to take a lengthy nap. We had the best dinner ever (like the meals out in the wild tend to be), and the night was so dark and the forest was so full of sounds that I slept ridiculously well. I think that the large redwood in the middle of this picture is that I slept underneath:

Obviously the hike down was easy breezy beautiful, and I felt like I could go on for ages (but my leg muscles next day proved this to be a lie). We had a quick dip in the ocean before heading to Pigeon Point lighthouse hostel. This time we had some vacation traffic with us on the Highway 1, but we got to Pigeon Point well before dark - on time to book the last time slot for the hot tub under the stars. To prepare for the hot tub, we ate well at  Highway 1 brewery, and well, I was so amazingly relaxed.

(For people considering to stay at the hostel: There is some debate if I got bedbug bites there or not - both my legs were bitten and they still itch a month later. This was regardless of the annoying plastic sheets they used. Also, do take earplugs for dorm sleeping although I doubt the woman snoring like a war elephant will be there again.)

Symbiosis Gathering at Woodward Reservoir

After having tagged along my friends and practiced camping with their awesome gear, it was time for me and Boyfriend (who arrived here not too long ago!) to gear up for camping trips of our own. Tiny gas cooker, cooler, camping cups and plates, camping chairs... and we were all set to go to a festival!

So we headed out to Symbiosis Gathering - a mini-Burning Man of sorts: 10,000 people, amazing amounts of art and music, and all around good time. It was located on a peninsula into a reservoir, which made an interesting venue to explore and washing off the dust easy. I had amazing time meeting new friends, dancing out under the stars, enjoying the shows from circus to burlesque to psychedelic bingo, and hearing some of my favouritest artists out there to play sets. When can I go again? 

As we didn't bring a camera there, here's some good photos from Symbiosis.