WELCOME TO RIVER DAVES PLACE

Browns Owens River Campground. $33 to Dry Camp

TPC

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We’re up in the Mammoth Lakes area with some of our dune group for trail riding.

Glass Creek and Deadman campgrounds slammed with fisherfolk and groups of people here for the Blues and Brews festival.

So we all went to Browns Campground along the Owens River.
Well liked with off roaders, snowmobilers and stump fishermen we hear.

Grass sites, no dump, no hookups but evidently popular so they clip ya for $33 a nite.

So far everyone loves it.

LADWP property that at one time defaulted to a Rave party spot littered with trash and abandon junk.
“It’s why the farmers won’t let people fish or travel on their property” the tale continues.

The DWP asked the Brown family that operates other RV venues in the eastern Sierra area to convert and operate the property as a concession the tale continues further.

We’ll hit the trail system tomorrow. Be back with pix.
 

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TPC

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Petunia keeps the drainage ditch clear.
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Really nice folks run the place. Fantastic people.
I don’t mind the $33 maybe not for everyone.

You’re glad to get a spot and will gladly part with $33 a night for dry camping.

Several fishing families in tents as the Owens River runs next to the Campground.
49f last night.

Generator hours 8AM to 10PM. That $99 Walmart Hammers of Hell brand ok.

We went into Mammoth town last night for the beer fest and Blues bands.
2 pitchers of Golden Trout $57. Parking $5.
 
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5oclocksomewhere

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Funny I grew up in the Owens valley and my folks still live there. I know of brown town by the golf course on the south end of Bishop but I never knew about this place out on the Owens River. Very cool.
 
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TPC

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Funny I grew up in the Owens valley and my folks still live there. I know of brown town by the golf course on the south end of Bishop but I never knew about this place out on the Owens River. Very cool.

I love this place. Nice campground.
The trail riding is fantastic.
We’ll worth the $33 IMHO.
 

TPC

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In route to 10000 ft Laurel Lakes
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The Hot Pools
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Got hairy on the trail to Laurel Lakes. A few of the girls went ape shit crazy. My wife loves these runs especially the drops and rock crawls
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Meaney77

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So awesome up there with some great off roading!

Laurel lakes is a fun trail and the lake is amazing once you get there.

There is also the fire lookout which is a fun trail to check out with a great view.

There are a few trails that will take you North and drop you off at the Tioga Pass Mobil station - has a great view of Mono lake and also has great food and Margaritas.

We really enjoy it up there, your makine jealous!
 

TPC

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View attachment 783223

View attachment 783210 View attachment 783211 View attachment 783212 View attachment 783213 View attachment 783214 View attachment 783215 View attachment 783216 View attachment 783217 View attachment 783218 View attachment 783219 View attachment 783220 So awesome up there with some great off roading!

Laurel lakes is a fun trail and the lake is amazing once you get there.

There is also the fire lookout which is a fun trail to check out with a great view.

There are a few trails that will take you North and drop you off at the Tioga Pass Mobil station - has a great view of Mono lake and also has great food and Margaritas.

We really enjoy it up there, your makine jealous!
We booked an extra few days we’ll try this. Looks excellent.
 

TeamGreene

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Spent many summer vacations in that cow pasture fishing for trout. Wasn't a campground then pops just found a nice spot to park the motor home and that was it. Also camped at Shady Rest campground in Mammoth and would drive down to Owens river. Great times.
 

Meaney77

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FWIW there is a group campsite called Pine Glen- you go in the same way as you enter New Shady rest. Primitive camping but they are larger spots and accommodate larger 5th wheels and motor homes. Also easy access into the trail system.
 
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TPC

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Bald Mountain lookout:
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Stocked cabin with guestbook and cushioned benches to sleep on:
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We came across a girl wearing a NPS OHV trail crew T shirt.
She was out maintaining signs and the trails.
Good to see they are actively out there at it.

At the Bald mountain lookout we encountered a family visiting their memorial. Cool people to talk to. We found several memorials along the trails.

Towing up the 395 rarely an accommodating place to refuel a big rig RV. First legit stop since the Kramer Jct Pilot station is the Fort Independence Reservation Casino Fuel stop.

I managed to maneuver through the Shell station in Lee Vining. Tricky mfsob.

A few miles away from Browns Owens Campground we went bar hopping in Mammoth. The Cellar still my favorite after all these decades from back in my snow skiing days.

Every night the restaurants are all packed.
Slocums was turning people away. Seems like the ones we visited were understaffed.
Tigers was everyone’s favorite especially the Vegans in the group.
 

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Meaney77

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Bald Mountain lookout:
Nice, was this your 1st time up to the outlook? It’s a pretty fun
/ fast paced trail.

I love mammoth.....

Look really close- a trip we had a few years ago. We are all sitting around a camp fire drinking beer listening to music. I heard some noise by my trailer and was a little surprised when I saw this guy right by my trailer door trying to get into my cooler.
 

TPC

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Yeah first off roading trip to Mammoth.
1s05 is a good main trail that has dog legs to interesting sites. Laurel lakes trail too.
Lots of deer almost hit a few at 80 mph.

Only one person in the group suffered a dead battery and one a couple tire punctures.
The multi size tire plug kits are essential to save a trip. Sticky plugs coated with cement saved this trip.
I’m the only guy that carries a spare. I think everyone will now.
 

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Every time I see one of @TPC’s threads like this...I think to myself, I need to figure out how to quit working and hit the road with his group.

Good stuff...thanks for sharing.
 

rivermobster

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Yeah first off roading trip to Mammoth.
1s05 is a good main trail that has dog legs to interesting sites. Laurel lakes trail too.
Lots of deer almost hit a few at 80 mph.

Only one person in the group suffered a dead battery and one a couple tire punctures.
The multi size tire plug kits are essential to save a trip. Sticky plugs coated with cement saved this trip.
I’m the only guy that carries a spare. I think everyone will now.

Get some C02 inflaters too.
 
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TPC

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I googled looking for the assorted size and type tire plug kits an am just finding the standard off the shelf Stuff like you get at Walmart.
 

TPC

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FWIW there is a group campsite called Pine Glen- you go in the same way as you enter New Shady rest. Primitive camping but they are larger spots and accommodate larger 5th wheels and motor homes. Also easy access into the trail system.
Well check that out.
Wife booked Browns Owens river again Sept 11.
 

TPC

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Everyone’s headed home or onto to Kernville.
I stopped off at the Ridgecrest Elks RV park for a few days. $20 a night full hookups.
Made my way to my favorite, the Joint Bar in Randsberg.

Hollie is blending Pina Coladas and in the swamp cooled 103f heat they work.
Hamms and Oly available too.

Cigarettes and Cigars sold here, smoke it up.
 
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TPC

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The new Momentum Toy Hauler has been flawless.
Everything heavier duty or first cabin. Fit and finish excellent.
Running the 3 ACs with the quiet stealth system is our favorite feature. Powerful, quiet and cool.

200 gallons of fresh water and the powerful yet quiet water pump allows more and longer dry camping showers.

Tows superb but the extra weight over our last TH is very noticeable.
The 2020 GMC 3500 with more power and the 10 speed should help that.

Guys running the Honda eu 3000’s can run the 13.000 ACs but it struggles, snorts and farts and quits with the 15000 ACs.
The guys with the Predator 3500s have no problem running a 15000 AC.

But, everyone with the Predator 3500 experiences a fussy issue sooner or later.
So I’ve taken note and will pick up a Predator when they go on sale the 16th and will pre fix the issues before they hit.
Pre-lube the off/choke/run switch, pop in the 1” Uni air filter plugs, NGK spark plug, several early oil changes.
But most of all get the HF extended warranty.

If Honda made a 99lb 3500 I’d buy it instead but they don’t.

One couples new Toy Haulers Onan 5500 grenaded in the first hour of run time.
They were referred to the big Cummins Onan repair facility in Las Vegas.

Their experience was superb.
Cummins first plugged in their trailer to keep the batteries juiced.
Then Cummins gave them the option of rebuilding their generator, replacing with a rebuilt or a new generator all under warranty.
Of course they picked new and 3 days later their toyhauler was ready.
And 3 days only because the new generator had to be shipped in from Michigan.
That is slap happy service.
 
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spectra bash

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We’re up in the Mammoth Lakes area with some of our dune group for trail riding.

Glass Creek and Deadman campgrounds slammed with fisherfolk and groups of people here for the Blues and Brews festival.

So we all went to Browns Campground along the Owens River.
Well liked with off roaders, snowmobilers and stump fishermen we hear.

Grass sites, no dump, no hookups but evidently popular so they clip ya for $33 a nite.

So far everyone loves it.

LADWP property that at one time defaulted to a Rave party spot littered with trash and abandon junk.
“It’s why the farmers won’t let people fish or travel on their property” the tale continues.

The DWP asked the Brown family that operates other RV venues in the eastern Sierra area to convert and operate the property as a concession the tale continues further.

We’ll hit the trail system tomorrow. Be back with pix.
I love browns town campground . The people running the place are awesome. Had some good thunderstorms at night last July. Did some shooting in the valley right behind the store in the valley across the highway. Good times
 

DWC

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Spent nearly every vacation growing up camping at Convict in a old school canvas tent. Alternated between fishing OWENS river or Crowley. Throw in SXS’s and that sounds like a blast.
 
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thmterry

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TPC next time you want to stay a night or two in the Ridgecrest/ Inyokern area let me know. I have plenty of room and you can ride your SxS straight out of my yard.
 
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TPC

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TPC next time you want to stay a night or two in the Ridgecrest/ Inyokern area let me know. I have plenty of room and you can ride your SxS straight out of my yard.
Thanks.
 

TPC

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26f this morning.

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We miss the Schat’s bakery German cheese bread and their unique white bread.
Just sandwich’s and cookies and donuts with an occasional shelf-weary loaf of Squaw Bread is all you find there now

Gone too is Perry Boys Smorgy. At one time pretty good.

Mammoth town now has 3 Starbucks though with nice fireplaces.
 
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