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The Owens Valley in general and Bishop (click here for map) in particular has to be the most awesome place on the planet. I feel very lucky to have been able to grow up there. Many young people complain that there is nothing to do in Bishop, but the truth is there are many things to do that can't be done in a larger city. Miles (and miles and miles) of dirt roads to explore... the Owens River... great hunting and fishing... street racing without the hassle of "big city" law enforcement... mountain climbing... tire fires... backpacking... in short, it is just about heaven on earth. As I go back each year to visit, I find that Bishop has changed a lot over the years (maybe too much), but it is still my favorite place and I would move back in a heartbeat if I could. Well, if it wasn't located in California... I moved to Bishop in 1968 when my parents decided to move the family from the "Big City" (Sacremento area). Since I was so young at the time, I don't know if they expected it to be a permanent move, or just something temporary. My dad worked for Caltrans, and it might have been a career move; doing time in a small district would increase his chances of getting a promotion. If that was the case, they later changed their minds; when I was older I remember my dad turning down a promotion because it would have meant leaving Bishop. Bishop in the 1970's and early 1980's was magic. It was (and maybe still is) the best place in the world to raise a family. When we moved to Bishop, my parents had to start from scratch - there was no lawn (or any landscaping), no fence, no nothing. I remember my dad ordered a load of fill dirt for landscaping the yard, and when it was delivered it was full of rocks - making it useless for growing anything. My parents kept stiff upper lips and spent all summer sifting the rocks out of the dirt a shovel full at a time. They worked very hard to provide not just a good home for me and my sister, but also good opportunities. They got us involved in 4-H, and encouraged our interests in other things, even if it was something they themselves were uncomfortable with (ask my dad about the time I accidentally caused a small explosion in the kitchen while doing an electronic experiment). This site is dedicated to my parents, the magic of Bishop, and all the things they helped me discover along the way. Updated March 10, 2004 |