J. Timothy Viall, writer, photographer

09/07/2022

Interesting column; as a country we’re not as divided as some would make you believe. Suggests Kathleen Parker of the Washington Post, “just how crazy are we? Not that crazy, it turns out. Sure, we’re polarized, but only 29 percent and 28 percent of Americans identify as Democratic or Republican, respectively, according to Gallup. Most of the rest, 41 percent, identify as independent. Yes, 67 percent of Americans think democracy is on the verge of collapse, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. But 66 percent of Americans also say Joe Biden is the legitimate president.” Read on for more insight…

We're divided. But we aren't as crazy as we think we are.

07/06/2022

Hiking and scenic highlights from a week in South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, Nevada: We discovered six gorgeous hikes from our “base camp condominium”, one rising high in the Sierra adjacent to Heavenly Ski Area, and others just on the outskirts of these two cities. Beautiful country and a wealth of hiking and biking trails that we never knew existed. Also discovered several of the best Bloody Marys we’ve seen in a long time, and four delightful new restaurants. Huff, puff and yum!

06/21/2022

The Eastern Sierra and Mammoth Lakes, CA: over-the-top scenery, hiking, biking, fishing and a lovely town just miles from your campground. My travel article in today’s Stockton Record newspaper. Let me know what you think and please share with fellow travelers! Here is link: https://www.recordnet.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2022/06/20/mammoth-lakes-eastern-sierras-have-outdoor-fun-striking-scenery/7667006001/

04/13/2022

Mesa Verdi National Park and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument; simply stunning places in Colorado. My travel article in today’s Stockton Record newspaper. Let me know what you think and please share with fellow travelers. Here is link: https://www.recordnet.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2022/04/11/road-trip-masa-verde-great-sand-dunes-national-parks-colorado/7280569001/

02/16/2022

Mammoths, mastodons, dire wolves, oh, my! If you haven’t visited the Los Angeles Tar Pits Museum, you’ve missed an exciting outing for kids and adults. You’ll be amazed by the skeletons and life-size recreations of these 14 foot tall mammals, the 1600 dire wolves and thousands of other Ice Age animals that lost their lives in the tar pits that dot this part of the Los Angeles area. My article in this Tuesday’s Stockton Record newspaper offers details: https://www.recordnet.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2022/02/14/california-travel-mammoths-mastodons-and-eerie-la-brea-tar-pits-anchor-los-angeles-museum-district/6778936001/?a=a&utm_source=recordnet-Daily%20Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=list_article_headline&utm_content=CALIFORNIA-STOCKTON-NLETTER65

01/10/2022

The Darrington Trail; Susan and I hiked almost 8 miles on this lovely multi-use trail, out to the old Salmon Falls Bridge location, now underwater from Folsom Lake. A spectacular hike, with about four brooks entering the south fork, American River. We passed about a dozen hikers and two dozen mountain bikers all enjoying the spectacular winter afternoon. Get hiking!

01/08/2022

Touring the country with a teardrop trailer: A few photos from our three trips across the US and Canada in recent years, with our 58 Scotty teardrop trailer. Lots of positive campground comments, great gas mileage and quite comfortable sleeping accommodations. We still have the trailer, mothballed at present, while utilizing our “much larger“ 64 Scotty trailer in the last couple years.

12/29/2021

Dream, plan and prepare for New Year’s travels. With the latest twist in the battle against COVID-19, look for lovely destinations closer to home where you can control the safety of your travels. My article in today’s Stockton Record newspaper; let me know what you think and please share with fellow travelers. Here is the link:
https://www.recordnet.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/12/27/travel-bucket-list-2022-dream-plan-safe-expedia-costco-traveling-camping-rv-parks-deals-vrbo-airbnb/9027835002/

12/18/2021

Christmas fun with old and new friends: A chilly night still allowed for some time around the fire pit for friends, old and new, in Rancho Cordova, east edge of Sacramento. Merry Christmas to all!

12/14/2021

Big storm hammers the California Sierra; skiing and riding cranks up at two favorite resorts. Dodge Ridge, Bear Valley are places for skiing adventures as snowstorms open resorts; my article in Tuesday’s Stockton Record newspaper. Please share with fellow travelers. Here is the link:
https://www.recordnet.com/story/lifestyle/2021/12/13/dodge-ridge-bear-valley-places-skiing-riding-adventures-sierra-snowstorms/6499984001/

11/30/2021

Holiday activities for kids and families. Here’s a list of festive holiday outings perfect for families in Stockton and San Joaquin County; my article in today’s Stockton Record newspaper. Enjoy the festivities and please share with fellow travelers! Here is the link: https://www.recordnet.com/story/entertainment/2021/11/30/san-joaquin-county-stockton-christmas-activities-lights-festival-trees/8801854002/

10/19/2021

Winter is coming to the Sierra in Northern California. My travel article this week focuses on skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and winter travel in northern California, as it appeared in today’s Stockton Record newspaper. Let me know what you think and please share with fellow travelers! https://www.recordnet.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/10/18/touring-skiing-snowshoeing-winter-camping-california-state-national-parks/8460250002/

10/18/2021

Mt. Shasta, ever regal, with a bit of new snow. Early evening with a near full-moon to set it off.

10/18/2021

64 Serro Scotty: Our Scotty made a nice fashion and comfort statement at the recent, huge Sea Otter Classic bicycle event, at Laguna Seca Raceway and Fort Ord National Monument the last few days. It was joined by an almost-as-cool classic Little Dipper. Go, Scotty!

09/07/2021

What to do when travel plans are canceled by wildfires or COVID-19 restrictions? Here are suggestions for coping strategies; ideas for looking local, or, traveling to the coast. My travel feature in this week’s Stockton Record newspaper; please share with fellow travelers. Here is the link: https://www.recordnet.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/09/06/weve-been-down-road-before-what-do-when-travel-put-hold/5717686001/

08/29/2021

Teardrop travel trailers: Reflecting back on our ownership of two teardrop travel trailers. Our first was a replica Kit Kamper; our second, (currently) a 58 Scotty Junior, totally rebuilt and virtually brand new. We crossed the USA and Canada three times with these little trailers, sleeping comfortably and getting marvelous gas mileage behind tow vehicles like a Nissan 300ZX, a Ford Focus and a Ford Escape. If you’re seeking comfort, traveling/“ready to go on short notice”, hard-sided so virtually bear-proof and economical, consider a “talk of the campgrounds” teardrop!

08/07/2021

Tiny trailer project: Two years, about $4500, 450-500 hours, our 64 Scotty is born again! Quite a learning experience! Our Scotty rebuild is profiled in detail on the nationalserroscotty.org web site (it’s the 64 on the Rebuilds sub-page). Follow our page for more Scotty and tiny trailering insight! Go Scotty!

07/15/2021

Entering the way back machine: Our first teardrop, purchased about 15 years ago, made by a hobbyist from a kit in 2003, styled after the original Kit Camper. These original teardrops were popular right after World War II, and were built on a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood, making them 4 feet wide, 4 feet tall and 8 feet long. We toured all over the western United States with this little trailer, towed behind either our Nissan 300ZX, or a Dodge Durango. Comfortable for sleeping and allows one to pack a lot of camping gear for camping in the west. We sold it about five years after we bought it, for more than we paid for it, as we moved up to a 64 Scotty Sportsman, and later acquired a 58 Scotty reproduction teardrop.

06/11/2021

A few more photos from Trinity Lake in Northern CA with our 64 Scotty. Just a lovely place, and only five other campers in a 60 space National Forest CG. Toured some of the sites in Redding, including the iconic Sundial Bridge and nearby historic ghost town of Shasta, as well as the cute outback town of Trinity Center and their historic IOOF Hall. Take in some of California‘s wonders; only in CA!

06/06/2021

Scotty trailers and tow vehicles: We have done extensive US and Canada travel with three trailers over the last 15 years, two of them Scotties. Pictured, our 1964 Scotty, rebuilt three years ago from the frame-up, towed with our 2017 Ford Escape. The Escape is a lovely, smaller SUV, with four-cylinder turbo-charged engine, 245 hp and 3500 pound rated towing capacity. Our Scotty, fully loaded, weighs only about 1400 pounds, so it tows like it’s not there. The Escape gets 29 miles per gallon on the highway (not towing), and towing the trailer, about 18 to 19 miles per gallon at 60 mph. Can’t say enough about this nicely finished, quality Ford, a marvelous tow vehicle for smaller trailers like Scotties!

05/02/2021

Our Scotty trailer: Photos from recent trip to the Big Sur coast, then north and down to Pinnacles National Park. Spectacular scenery, lovely weather – just about the right time for both coastal camping and inland coastal mountain camping. Only in California! @ Bixby Creek Bridge

03/13/2021

Tiny trailer build: fortunate five years ago to find this trailer on craigslist, built a few years earlier by a West Virginia high school shop teacher. Builder Tom started with a Scotty axle and hub caps, photos, and built the balance of the trailer from scratch, including the frame, the trailer box, all new aluminum skins. One of the nicest teardrop builds I’ve seen; and, a price half of what it would’ve sold for in California. Picked it up on a cycling trip of the Gettysburg battlefield in the C&O Canal, so had a bike rack receiver added by one of Tom’s former students, owner of a welding shop. The trailer is ideal for long trips, and towed behind a four-cylinder car, we get 27 miles per gallon and sleep in comfort. Trailer always a conversation piece in campgrounds. @ California

03/04/2021

We have lights, but… Finally, several years after rebuilding our 64 Scotty from the frame up, I got an assist in straightening out some wiring missteps and we’ve got our 64 Scotty running five circuits of 12 V LED lights, and, when shore power, running two circuits of 110 V lights. Yay (electrical is not quite my thing). For you classic trailer rebuilders, how do you handle the two small LED lights over the dinette table, built into a curved ceiling panel and not enough space between the panel and the aluminum skins to accommodate the depth of the 1.3 inch deep light body itself (the sixth and seventh photos)? The power center is a progressive dynamic 4100, installed into a small case next to the sealed deep cell battery, and the 4100 brochure, in the last photo. Thanks for any suggestions some of you may have on how to mount those two LED lights in a curved ceiling over the dinette. @ American River Bike Trail ... Somewhere off Sunrise Blvd

02/10/2021

64 Serro Scotty: revisiting the purchase, more than five years ago, of our ‘64 Scotty and the ensuing tear down/rebuild that started three years ago. When purchased, I knew it had dry rot in the back end and some in the right rear quarter panel - but it was about 10 to 15 worse. The greater creature comforts of our 64 Scotty make for fun traveling in the Western states.

To see the rebuild of our Scotty on the national Serro Scotty.org website, go to:
https://www.nationalserroscotty.org/rebuilds/viall/index.html

@ American River Bike Trail ... Somewhere off Sunrise Blvd