Even since my dad was in high school, he has been coming up to the same campground in Eastern Sierra's each year for a little fishing vacation. Annette's Mono Village at Twin Lakes just 13 miles outside of Bridgeport, California is the spot and there are even photos of me on my dad's lap taken when I was just 9 months old. The place holds some of my favorite childhood memories as we came here on family vacations many times.

Just about every Memorial Day weekend for the last 37 years or so, most of the men in my family, along with neighbors, coworkers and friends, have come up to fish, hike, relax, fart, burp, tell dirty jokes, drink heavily, etc... One year, about 45 guys made the trip.

When I was little, I remember my dad coming home with a cooler full of fresh trout (which I never cared for), but I was also so impressed with how many fish he caught and I always wanted to go, but I was just too young.

Finally, about 20 years ago when I was 13 and in high school, my dad took me out of school early one Friday, to
get a head start on the weekend traffic and I was invited for the first time. I thought I was a "big boy" and could pack for myself, but unfortunately I forgot to pack long pants, and my shorts just weren't cutting it in the snow. We spend the entire day Saturday looking for pants that fit and lost an entire day of fishing, and they never let me forgot it each of the following years

Fast forward to last Tuesday. I drove up about 400 miles to meet the guys up there for the first time since 2003. I've had destination weddings over Memorial Day weekend the last couple of years and unable to attend. (By the way, the gas price post from yesterday was from a remote gas station in the middle of nowhere on the way to the lakes). I arrived around sundown, and hopped out of my car with shorts and flip flops and was immediately asked if I remembered pants. Smartasses!

The place is absolutely gorgeous:

I found the tree where I carved the [ b ] logo four years ago:

Of course I got my hammock time in:

I guess I've gotten a little soft in my older years, because I don't enjoy camping as much as I used to. I froze my ass off the first night and didn't sleep very well. The second night was a little better, but not the way I like to spend my vacation. I much prefer warm, tropical places with comfy beds, hot showers and room service... not to mention WiFi and ya know... electricity!

I do love just sitting around the campfire and chatting with everyone.

And check out my dad! It was awesome watching him cruise around the lake in his tricked out pontoon boat catching fish left and right! (Ok, so I personally only saw him catch one, but still... he was having a blast).

My dad and I also had some great bonding time as we walked around shooting an old ghost town... check back tomorrow for those photos.

Oh... and just to clear one thing up so my mom and aunt don't freak out... there isn't a lof of heavy drinking going on these days... everything else is the same.