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Travel with pets....up a creek
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And now for something completely different. If you recall a few articles ago, I told you about Green Creek near Bridgeport north of the Yosemite turnoff. There they had dry camping and spotty camp sites next to the creek. The most one might fit in there was a tent.
Today we are going to the best of ALL worlds, in my opinion. Dry camping WITH toilet amenities, FREE sites, a rushing creek, and plenty of room for either a tent OR a large rig,...or anything in between... depending on which site you choose.
Just a few miles south of Bridgeport--or in our case today, about 20 minutes north of the Tioga pass turnoff to Yosemite along highway 395, you will see a sign pointing you to the Virginia Lakes.
If you follow this road it will lead you to several lakes and a resort, with a reservation campground and all the amenities. BUT, if you look for a small sign saying simply "139" shortly after you turn on to that road, you will see a road leading off to the left. This is county road 139. It becomes dirt--and rutted and potholed..(what trip with me doesn't?), but it is accessible. Stay to the left and you will soon come to a maintained campsite area with spartan toilet facilities and widely varying site descriptions.
The campsites are on both sides of the road, but the creek runs along the back of the ones to the right as you head in. In some places the water is very close, in others you might have to drive in a bit and walk back.
My friends and I, and all of our dogs, arrived ready to spend the day, complete with lunch, books, chairs, and walking shoes.
We were in trucks, so we didn't need a "pull through", but there are actually sites that you can pull a trailer or a towing rig into. Most of the sites are very large, so it usually isn't a problem.
We chose a spot near the creak but out of sight 
of the road. We needn't have worried, because there were only about two other campers there. This was where my friends had planned to spend the last two weeks of their trip after they left Yosemite. A sick dog changed their plans, but I DO hope to go back there and camp with them. There is a 30 day stay limit, so no pressure!
This is an area where the dogs can play in the water and get cool, but not really swim for any distance. Drea immediately found a stick and brought it to me to throw for her.
It was a sunny hot day, so we found shade and settled in for a really relaxing afternoon.
Although we didn't know it, this was our last day of excellent weather. In this area of the mountains, nothing is promised..especially at this time of the year. So a word of reminder, don't get caught without supplies and clothing for all seasons!
For more pictures of the area, and for the Virginia Lakes resort area, click here.
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