Tuesday

After a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast of potatoes and eggs (scrambled with bacon) we went to check out Angels Creek and Buck Brush trails.  The gate into Angels Creek area was locked and after driving to the trail head for Buck Brush loop we decided to go to the Tuttle Creek recreation area across the bridge and out on another arm into the lake.

We decided to take the Heron Point trail loop as it would have views of the lake for most of it.  The lake was in view most of the way but a long way down from the trail.  Last time we took this trail the lake was much higher and not too far below the trail.  

Linda wanted a selfie before we started the trail.

Heron Point Loop Trail 

From this point you can see just how far the ramp is out of the water and how much further down you have to go to reach the old ramps.  The usual ramp is at the top of the hill on the right.

Parts of the trail were well shaded but on both sides of it was Poison Oak.  It was cut back enough so unless you were careless you wouldn't come in contact with it.

Vetch

There weren't as many wildflowers as we had hoped. This was mainly due to the tall grass cover everywhere and from the ample rain we have received this winter.  In some of the open areas on the exposed banks of the lake shore there were large patches of Lupine but too far away to get good pictures.  

Not sure what these flowers are.

There were a number of Manzanita bushes which were closer to being trees than bushes.  There were a few that had trunks over 12" in diameter.

Next we crossed the Highway 49 bridge over the lake to go to Jackass Hill.

On the top of Jackass Hill is the Mark Twain cabin that he is said to have lived in.  It is more likely that he stayed here for a short time.

Jackass Hill is less than ten miles south of Angels Camp, home of the frog jumping contest that Mark Twain wrote about and is an annual event held each spring.  It brings thousands to the town both for the frog jump and County Fair. 

New Melones Lake is a great place to visit in the spring and fall when the temperatures are moderate but best in the spring with the new foliage.  If you have a boat and plan to spend a lot of time on the water then the summer is best.  The heat is fine when you are on the water and at the end of the day you can return to the shade in the campground when the temperatures start to come down.

After a nice day with a high of 76 degrees we needed nourishment.  It wasn't much but grilled bacon wrapped filets, baked potatoes, and roasted asparagus from our garden for dinner hit the spot.