It had been a long twelve months hiding from the coronavirus, six months since our last adventure, and we were ready to hit the road. We selected Angels Camp RV Resort in Angels Camp, California, for our one week trial run. The morning of April 11, 2021, our excitement increased as we traveled over the Altamont Pass and through Tracy, with visions of a picnic lunch outside our rig. We transitioned onto Interstate 5.

Blam! “What was that?” I said. “Blown tire,” Jon said, more calmly than I would have expected.

He put on the emergency flashers, changed lanes, and pulled off on the narrow shoulder. Cars and semis zipped past so fast, one after the other, he couldn’t get out of the cab. I confirmed the tires on the passenger side were okay and walked around the back. I waited for a break in traffic before sticking my head around the corner to see a shredded mess clinging to the left rear trailer wheel instead of a stout tire.

Fortunately, the next exit was within a quarter mile, so we limped to the off ramp and found a spot where Jon could jack up the trailer and exchange the tire. There’s never a good time or place to have a blown tire, but we felt fortunate it blew when it did. A tire problem in the middle of nowhere with no place to pull over would not have been an ideal situation. And the gas station and Subway store across the street were a comfort in case we needed something.

The tire had taken out most of the insulation above it and dug a hole out of the OSB material of the floor as well. Jon had to pull and cut away the remaining shreds so they wouldn’t tangle up in something else once we got back on the road.

Instead of our planned picnic at our RV site, a Subway sandwich had to suffice. With the tire changed, mess picked up, and tools and caution triangles stowed, we continued our drive to Angels Camp.

After hooking up to the water, electricity, and sewer, we stood outside with the remote and crossed our fingers as we extended the room slider. Thankfully, it opened fine. Then I went inside to find the floor not so fine. A hole next to the dinette exposed the ground under the trailer. Did that tire know Jon needed another project to keep him occupied?

Fortunately, we only had to close the slider about six or seven inches to keep any wandering critters out of the coach.

Settled in for the week and damaged accessed, Jon enjoyed his leftover Chinese dinner and a glass of beer.

And a walk around the park helped him decompress.

A short trail wraps around a marshy area with a pond and skirts along the adjacent farm fencing.

A herd of cows and this longhorn steer populate the farm.

Across the street from the RV park, stands (or should I say crumbles) the Romaggi Adobe. A restoration project started in the 1940’s never materialized. Another began in early 2000, and today it appears at a standstill. The website referred to on the posters is no longer in service.

The latest news I could find was an article dated April 22, 2014, in the Calaveras Enterprise. It included a photo of a newly paved access from State Route 49, a brief description of the planned renovation, and a plea for donations. It’s sad to think the donations did not come in as planned. The building and surrounding property have historical significance related to the Gold Rush and mining enterprises.

The premium tent sites looked like cozy places to camp. Most of them included a driveway or generous parking area, a covered patio area with fire pit, and an equally sized area for a large family sized tent. They also come with water and electricity. With the pool nearby, it could be a pleasant place to stay even during the summer.

We ended our walk around the park with a stop at this seating area that overlooked the RV sites.

Mother Nature must have known we needed a pick-me-up after our day, so she treated us to one of her beautiful sunsets.

Next up: A drive to Jackson to drop off the bad tire that suffered a tread separation, obtain a replacement, and explore the town.