Outdoors with Don Q: Pack some rain gear if camping this Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend is nearly here and for many it is the first outdoor adventure of 2015. Pack your rain gear for the long holiday, just in case as there is a chance of showers. So, where to go on the long weekend?

Well, be advised that no matter where you go, unless it is to some God forsaken location in the middle of nowhere, you can expect to encounter the possibility of families also wanting to enjoy an outdoor outing for the holiday. So, be prepared for lots of company wherever you go or whatever you do.

Also, be prepared for rain. Don't say you weren't warned. Ponchos may come in handy. As I recommended last year, here are five Don Q suggestions on where to go, ranging from staying home to traveling to nearby Northern California. Pick one and then enjoy the 2015 Memorial Day holiday.

Stay home, safe and sound:
If it's rainy, stay home and indoors, and have a nice, quiet gathering with family members, relatives, neighbors or close friends, where you can enjoy visiting with one another, conversations, story telling, laughter, etc.
If you do stay home, consider this Memorial Day menu:
Appetizers: Choose from snack crackers, dips, olives, baby carrots, celery, radishes, ham wrapped cheese and fruits.
Drinks: Enjoy each other's company and sip on your favorite soda pop, wine, beer or cocktail. My favorite cocktail is a glass filled with ice, whiskey, a splash of water, an orange slice and a brandied cherry.
Main meal: Fill up on barbecued baby back ribs with a choice of potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw and ear corn smeared with butter.
Dessert: Finish with shortcake topped with sliced fresh strawberries and raspberries, and a big gob of whipped cream.

Davis Creek Park:
If you don't mind rain and if you don’t want to travel very far, you can drive to Washoe County’s Davis Creek Regional Park, just north of Bowers Mansion in Washoe Valley.
At that park, you have a choice of day picnicking, hiking or horseback trails, overnight camping, group camping, horseshoe pits, etc.
If you camp, the campground offers 62 camping spots, including 19 pull-through trailer sites (with no hook-ups) on a first-come, first served basis.
Best of all, this campground is one of a very few in our general area that offers hot showers. Hot showers! Not too shabby for “roughing it."
And, if there is any reason to terminate your trip away from home (like heavy rain), you can quickly return to Carson because of the short distance. For information, call the Park Ranger at 849-0684.

Topaz Lake:
Along U.S. 395, Topaz Lake about 35 miles south of Carson City, offers a number of choices for having fun on a rainy weekend.
At the lake, you will find a Douglas County campground and boat launch, the Topaz Lake Marina with another boat launch, Topaz Lodge and Casino, an RV park, a general store and a gas station.
As a bonus, there is some pretty decent fishing for brown and rainbow trout, and even bass, from shore, float tubes, canoes or boats.
However, be advised that if you plan to fish from a float tube, canoe or a boat, you will have lots and lots of company from other boat fishermen, water skiers, jet skiers, speed boats, pontoon boats, rafts, paddle boards, etc.
I guarantee you won’t be alone camping, fishing or out on the water.
As a bonus for traveling to Topaz Lake, be sure to stop at the Topaz Lodge restaurant for their (in-my-less-than-humble-opinion) "Best-In-The-World" steak and eggs for breakfast.
For information, call the Topaz Lodge at 775-266-3338.

Alpine County, California:
Take a combination of U.S. 395, Nevada S.R. 88 and California S.R. 88, south from Carson City.
That combination of highways will take you to Alpine County to all kinds of neat places like: Woodfords, Markleeville, Grover Hot Springs, Carson River Resort, Sorensen’s Resort, Caples Lake Resort, Kirkwood Resort, etc.
Both the West Carson River (near Woodfords) and the East Carson River (near Markleeville) will have been planted with lots of nice rainbow trout.
Those waters (and others in that area) will be stocked by the California Department of Fish and Game with planter-sized rainbow trout and by the Alpine County Fish and Game Commission with large rainbow trout (6-7-8 pounds!) from a private fish hatchery at Susanville.
You should have no trouble catching fish, unless you are an inept angler.
If you like to camp, there are all kinds of campgrounds and resorts, pick one and enjoy the holiday weekend in the beauty of Alpine County.
Here's a special Tip, if you plan to camp in that general area: The BLM Campground at Indian Creek Reservoir has hot showers.

Davis Lake, California:
From Carson City, take the combination of U.S. 395 & I-580 to Reno, and then U.S.395 north to the Hallelujah Junction with California S.R. 70.
At that junction, take S.R. 70 west through Vinton and Beckwourth and finally to a junction with Grizzly Road.
Turn onto Grizzly Road and travel about five miles to Davis Lake.
The trip to Davis Lake is a 1.5 hour drive (one-way) from Carson City.
The Davis Lake area offers camp sites at the J & J Grizzly Store and at a number of U.S.F.S. campgrounds.
If you like to fish for trout, you can do so from shore, float tubes or boats.
As a bonus, if you forget to bring something or would like to eat out, visit the J & J Grizzly Store and Frosty on the south end of the lake.
Special Tip: My favorite lunch there is a cheeseburger with French fries and a soda pop, followed by chocolate ice cream. For information, call the J & J Grizzly Store at (530) 832-0270.

Finally:
No matter what you do, who you do it with or where you go, have a fun-filled Memorial Day weekend to start your summer.
If you stay home, try not to be too noisy for the neighbors.
If you travel, drive safely, drive courteous and be a defensive driver.
If you camp in a campground, try not to be too noisy for the other campers.
If you drink, don’t drive, don’t drive, don’t drive. Save the drinking for when you arrive at your destination. Don’t be a DUI.
Have a happy Memorial Day Weekend on May 22-23-24-25. Don't forget your rain gear.

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon he can’t tell you where we will be for the holiday.
If he grins and says, “Following one of the suggestions listed above, Don and Elaine are going to stay home and barbecue ribs in the backyard to avoid the forecasted rainy weather and all the "Crazies" on the highways," he could be one of the people invited to their barbecue.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. Don's wife, Elaine, is the Outdoor photographer. They live in Carson City and can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com