Photo is hiking the hills above Ojai Valley California...Plans for the month of March are to travel west to Los Angeles and visit with friends in that area then head up the coast road to Monterery then to Shasta area and southern Oregon, arriving in Washington in April to commence housesitting on Bainbridge Island WA mid April for six weeks then travelling via Vancouver Island back to Juneau.
Wednesday 31 March (Newport to Manzanita OR 147 miles)
Still raining today with a few breaks in the clouds.....driving north along the coast....overnited at Nehalem State Park near Manzanita.
Tuesday 30 March (Ashland to Newport OR 257 miles)
Woke up to snow this morning and tried to decide whether to drive or not...so did. Long drive to the coast crossing four passes in the snow on I-5 and then beautiful drive along Umpqua River through the small towns of Elkton and Wells Creek. Stopped to view the elk at Reedsport. Met up with Gail in Newport at South Beach State Park. She and I had great walk to the beach.
Monday 29 March (Redding CA to Ashland OR 143 miles)
Snow is now predicted in the higher elevations with overnight temps in the 20's so a dilemna as to which way to drive? Charle and I had no time to visit Shasta Dam so drove the six miles from her home to visit the dam and view the great 25 minute film on its construction. Then back on I-5 north with diversion on the business routes through Dunsmuir and Mt Shasta and Weed. The local folks talked about the snow falling at lower elevations so decided to just keep going north to get over the passes and made it to Ashland Oregon for the eve. The sun was shining when I arrived here but now it is pouring down rain.
Sunday 28 March (Redding CA)
Charle asked if I would stay another day so that we could go hiking at Whiskeytown Lake before the rains start tonite!
Her newest website design is http://www.easywayoutdoors.com/
The rains started earlier today but we thoroughly enjoyed walking her 40 acre property west of Redding in the Trinity area....then a visit to Whiskeytown Lake and then a walk on the Sundial Bridge which is a freestanding footbridge that crosses the Sacramento River in downtown Redding and was designed by the world renowned Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava.
Saturday 27 March (Chico to Redding CA 88 miles)
Drove north along route 99 with stops at the Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area on the Sacramento River, a yard sale with nothing but junk, and Dairyvale to buy fresh walnuts. Had to get on I-5 for a short bit before getting off in Anderson to drive route 273 to Redding. I did stop at the brand new Trader Joe's in Redding before heading north of town to visit my friend Charle and her husband Mike. They have a beautiful place full of fruit trees and a view of the Shasta Bally mountains. Charle and I knew each other in San Francisco in the 1970's. Both she and her husband are artists http://www.hazlehurst.com/
Friday 26 March (Oroville to Chico CA 65 miles)
I could not decide which route to take today because one option was to drive the very long route via Lake Almanor/Lassen Park but this would have been almost 200 miles from Oroville to Chico (normally about 30!) and the elevations would have been over 4000' and I did not want to encounter any more cold (or snow)....so instead I drove the back route from Oroville via Table Mountain and stopped at the fish hatchery and the remnants of the gold town of Oregon City (California) and the covered bridge and the towns of Cherokee and Paradise before stopping for the eve in Chico.
Thursday 25 March (Oroville CA)
Exploring the trails of Lake Oroville. Visited the Oroville Dam which at 770 feet is the nation's tallest earthen dam and Lake Oroville is the largest state water facility in northern California. The visitor center had a great film on the building of the dam in the 1960's and museum and nature walk through the chaparral-oak-pine belt. The lives of the native Maidu people were uprooted in the mid 1800's when gold was discovered on the Feather River and then most died due to no resistance to the host of diseases introduced by the newcomers.
Wednesday 24 March (Ripon to Oroville CA)
Drive up route 99 via Sacramento a very busy one and then route 70 to Lake Oroville area.
Tuesday 23 March (Los Banos to Ripon CA 71 miles)
Drove north from Los Banos on route 165 through the San Luis Natonal Wildlife Refuge and the Great Valley Grasslands (heaps of water and beautiful birds) to Caswell State Park on the Stanilaus River near Ripon south of Stockton. Hiked about six miles on the many trails in the park along the Staninlaus River. My plans are to be in Shasta/Redding area by the weekend to visit a friend there.
Monday 22 March (San Luis Reservoir National Recreation Area CA 10 miles)
I moved camp this morning from the State Park to a private RV park so that I could have a shower and use internet plus the private campground is 11 dollars cheaper with more amenities! The CA State Parks are pricing themselves out of the business with some campsites as high as $65 with no amenities....you can get a hotel room cheaper than that. Cooked a great veggie stirfry and then read my book in the sunshine. Also met another couple here with a 2006 Roadtrek from Victoria BC; they have only had theirs a few months and thoroughly enjoy it (like me!).
Sunday 21 March (Pacific Grove CA to San Luis Reservoir CA 86 miles)
Happy Spring!
Woke up this morning in Pacific Grove and heaps of fog out the window and no power.....so drove to Del Monte Shopping Mall to use internet at Starbucks and stock up on soy yogurt at Whole Foods. I did suss out the campground on the hill above Laguna Seca race track and then continued east to the San Luis Reservoir. The San Luis Creek campground is a state park and heaps of folks were just leaving (weekend visitors) as I arrived about noon...then I had most of the place to myself except for all the ducks and birds on the lake and enjoyed a walk on the nature walk.
Saturday 20 March (Plaskett Creek to Monterey CA)
A bit of morning fog out on the ocean with several photo stops along the way going north including the state parks at Limekiln (closed due to fire) and Pfeiffer (big park and full of people) and the Inns at Nepenthe and Ventana, and now in Pacific Grove visiting friends. Lydia was a friend of my mother's when I was very young living in Pierre South Dakota and my parents were the godparents of Lydia's son. Lydia and her daughters Elda and Renate and I had a great visit plus I was able to wash clothes and take a shower (no bath in four days for me!).
Friday 19 March (Morro Bay to Plastkett Creek)
Early morning stop at Starbucks in Los Osos to catch up on the internet then heading north along the coast to Big Sur. Beautiful drive along route 1 north although heaps of road works due to rock slides. Overnight in Los Padres National Forest campground Plastkett Creek (I had wanted to stay at Kirk Creek but it was full by noon).
Thursday 18 March (Montana de Oro, Morro Bay CA)
Great morning six mile hike with about a dozen local folks along the bluffs above the ocean at Point Buchon at Montana de Oro. Decided to spend another night at the campsite in Montana de Oro. When I returned from the hike, someone was parked in my favorite site but when I returned from town (to do internet at the library and purchase salad makings at Vons (the name for Safeway here)), they were gone (probably just day hiker cos there are heaps of trail here)! Only about half dozen tent campers in the 52 sites so very dark and quiet except for the roar of the ocean and the trickle of Islay Creek.
Wednesday 17 March (Montana de Oro, Morro Bay CA)
Early arrival at the campground of Montana de Oro with wonderful hike on the Reservoir Flats trail...quiet and dark eve at the campsite.
Tuesday 16 March (Lompoc to Morro Bay CA)
Met Gail at the Morro Bay State Park campground....plan to camp tomorrow at Montana de Oro and join the Thursday morning hike group. Heaps of walking around Morro Bay to visit the Nature Center and the downtown with views of Morro Rock.
Monday 15 March (Oxnard to Lompoc CA 98 miles)
Beautiful drive north along the coast on route 1 stopping at state parks along the way....Carpenteria, El Capitan, Galiota. Now visiting with Judy in Lompoc who also owns a Roadtrek. We did a wonderful walk at the La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, former home of the Chumash people here on the central coast of California.
Sunday 14 March 2010 (Oxnard CA)
Gorgeous sunny day so time at the pool and also finished my taxes!
Saturday 13 March 2010 (Oxnard CA)
Overcast morning here so maybe no pool time for me today.
Friday 12 March 2010 (Oxnard CA)
Cold and sunny day! Marlu went off to work and then headed back home to Santa Monica for the weekend while I enjoyed the sunshine and the pool/hot tub at the hotel. Maybe it will rain tomorrow and I will get my taxes done!
Thursday 11 March 2010 (Ojai to Oxnard CA 56 miles)
Drove the backroads from Ojai to Oxnard (routes 150 and 126 with stops at a Dennison and Steckel Parks and city of Santa Paula) to visit with Marlu who I knew in San Francisco in the 1970's. She has a work contract so she is staying in a hotel instead of commuting from Santa Monica for the next month or so. We have probably not seen each other in almost ten years so had heaps to catch up on.
Wednesday 10 March 2010 (Ojai CA)
Beautiful sunny day in Ojai...spending the day with Christine and we hiked in the Ojai Valley along Shelf Road and Gridley Trail with another Roadtrek owner Joyce who lives down the road in Oak View.
Tuesday 9 March 2010 (Banning to Ojai CA 161 miles)
A day of LA freeway driving....yuck....with too much traffic.... off to visit another Roadtrekker in Ojai CA.....and the wind is still blowing! Christine and I spent the afternoon exploring the Ojai area including views of the valley from up the hill at Dennison ridge and also from the Meditation Mountain. Ojai is only 12 miles up the road from Ventura but a world away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. The village of Ojai has long been known as a haven for artists, musicians and health enthusiasts (heaps of spas!). Christine tells me of the many Hollywood folks that have purchased homes up here over the years. She has seen JR of Dallas at the local petrol station with his license plates that read new liver!
Monday 8 March 2010 (Joshua Tree to Banning CA 95 miles)
Wonderful drive in the sunshine through Joshua Tree National Park today (vs yesterday's drive in the pouring rain and snow). Visited Keys View with breathtaking views of the Palm Springs valley (and snow on the ground there at 5200 feet). Also enjoyed the birds and the new blossoms on the the joshua trees. It was afternoon when I finally departed the park so drove west a bit with overnight at Banning CA. The wind was really blowing so was difficult to stay on the road with all the big trucks surrounding me.....no wonder they have so many wind machines in Palm Springs.
Sunday 7 March 2010 (Joshua Tree National Park CA 78 miles)
Up early to try and beat the predicted rains. We drove the almost fifty miles to the north end of the park stopping quite often for photo ops of joshua trees (in the yucca family) and heaps of wonderful rock formations. After the first hour, we were in the middle of the rains (and sometimes snow at elevations over 4000 feet). Gail returned to Desert Hot Springs to visit friends and watch the Oscars and I camped up here at 29 Palms.
Saturday 6 March 2010 (Palm Springs to Joshua Tree National Park CA 77 miles)
Meeting Gail at 24 Hour Fitness then camping at the Cottonwood Campground at Joshua Tree National Park....much colder up here at over 3000 feet. We were able to squeeze both of our vans into one camping space (half price for each of us) and use Gail's Senior discount card to pay half price....so only $3.75 for the night!
Friday 5 March 2010 (Desert Hot Springs CA)
Stayed here at Caliente Springs another day to enjoy the sun and the hot pools....rain is predicted for the weekend. Gail stopped by for a brief visit; we plan to meet on Saturday and maybe head up to Joshua Tree National Park.
Thursday 4 March 2010 (Palo Verde to Desert Hot Springs CA 142 miles)
Early morning stop here in Blythe to use the internet at the Hampton Inn! Heading west today to Desert Hot Springs....maybe for a soak in the pool and a shower! Spent most of afternoon at the hot pools here at Caliente Springs although very windy weather here today.
Wednesday 3 March 2010 (Squaw Lake to Palo Verde CA via Yuma AZ 101 miles)
Early departure from Squaw Lake to explore the Imperial Dam area on the Colorado River and Mittry Lake and site of former Betty's Kitchen and Laguna Dam. Met folks from Ontario Canada who have had their 1995 Roadtrek since it was new and it now has 180000 miles on it! Camped the eve right on the Colorado River in the Cibola Reserve...just me and the birds and the fish!
Tuesday 2 March 2010 (Casa Grande AZ to Squaw Lake CA 170 miles)
Drove west toward LA along I-8 with stop north of Yuma at Squaw Lake. I-8 is so much better an interstate than I-10....fewer cars!
Monday 1 March 2010 (Casa Grande AZ 46 miles)
Morning drive to visit the ruins at Casa Grande National Monument then on to visit the Juneau Golf crew at the Francisco Grande Golf Resort. This used to be the training area for the SF Giants and is now the training area for soccer in addition to a big golf course. These guys from Alaska have been having a tournament here every spring for the past 25 years. Wonderful dinner in the restaurant before retiring to my van in the parking lot.
A bit of morning fog out on the ocean with several photo stops along the way going north including the state parks at Limekiln (closed due to fire) and Pfeiffer (big park and full of people) and the Inns at Nepenthe and Ventana, and now in Pacific Grove visiting friends. Lydia was a friend of my mother's when I was very young living in Pierre South Dakota and my parents were the godparents of Lydia's son. Lydia and her daughters Elda and Renate and I had a great visit plus I was able to wash clothes and take a shower (no bath in four days for me!).
Friday 19 March (Morro Bay to Plastkett Creek)
Early morning stop at Starbucks in Los Osos to catch up on the internet then heading north along the coast to Big Sur. Beautiful drive along route 1 north although heaps of road works due to rock slides. Overnight in Los Padres National Forest campground Plastkett Creek (I had wanted to stay at Kirk Creek but it was full by noon).
Thursday 18 March (Montana de Oro, Morro Bay CA)
Great morning six mile hike with about a dozen local folks along the bluffs above the ocean at Point Buchon at Montana de Oro. Decided to spend another night at the campsite in Montana de Oro. When I returned from the hike, someone was parked in my favorite site but when I returned from town (to do internet at the library and purchase salad makings at Vons (the name for Safeway here)), they were gone (probably just day hiker cos there are heaps of trail here)! Only about half dozen tent campers in the 52 sites so very dark and quiet except for the roar of the ocean and the trickle of Islay Creek.
Wednesday 17 March (Montana de Oro, Morro Bay CA)
Early arrival at the campground of Montana de Oro with wonderful hike on the Reservoir Flats trail...quiet and dark eve at the campsite.
Tuesday 16 March (Lompoc to Morro Bay CA)
Met Gail at the Morro Bay State Park campground....plan to camp tomorrow at Montana de Oro and join the Thursday morning hike group. Heaps of walking around Morro Bay to visit the Nature Center and the downtown with views of Morro Rock.
Monday 15 March (Oxnard to Lompoc CA 98 miles)
Beautiful drive north along the coast on route 1 stopping at state parks along the way....Carpenteria, El Capitan, Galiota. Now visiting with Judy in Lompoc who also owns a Roadtrek. We did a wonderful walk at the La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, former home of the Chumash people here on the central coast of California.
Sunday 14 March 2010 (Oxnard CA)
Gorgeous sunny day so time at the pool and also finished my taxes!
Saturday 13 March 2010 (Oxnard CA)
Overcast morning here so maybe no pool time for me today.
Friday 12 March 2010 (Oxnard CA)
Cold and sunny day! Marlu went off to work and then headed back home to Santa Monica for the weekend while I enjoyed the sunshine and the pool/hot tub at the hotel. Maybe it will rain tomorrow and I will get my taxes done!
Thursday 11 March 2010 (Ojai to Oxnard CA 56 miles)
Drove the backroads from Ojai to Oxnard (routes 150 and 126 with stops at a Dennison and Steckel Parks and city of Santa Paula) to visit with Marlu who I knew in San Francisco in the 1970's. She has a work contract so she is staying in a hotel instead of commuting from Santa Monica for the next month or so. We have probably not seen each other in almost ten years so had heaps to catch up on.
Wednesday 10 March 2010 (Ojai CA)
Beautiful sunny day in Ojai...spending the day with Christine and we hiked in the Ojai Valley along Shelf Road and Gridley Trail with another Roadtrek owner Joyce who lives down the road in Oak View.
Tuesday 9 March 2010 (Banning to Ojai CA 161 miles)
A day of LA freeway driving....yuck....with too much traffic.... off to visit another Roadtrekker in Ojai CA.....and the wind is still blowing! Christine and I spent the afternoon exploring the Ojai area including views of the valley from up the hill at Dennison ridge and also from the Meditation Mountain. Ojai is only 12 miles up the road from Ventura but a world away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. The village of Ojai has long been known as a haven for artists, musicians and health enthusiasts (heaps of spas!). Christine tells me of the many Hollywood folks that have purchased homes up here over the years. She has seen JR of Dallas at the local petrol station with his license plates that read new liver!
Monday 8 March 2010 (Joshua Tree to Banning CA 95 miles)
Wonderful drive in the sunshine through Joshua Tree National Park today (vs yesterday's drive in the pouring rain and snow). Visited Keys View with breathtaking views of the Palm Springs valley (and snow on the ground there at 5200 feet). Also enjoyed the birds and the new blossoms on the the joshua trees. It was afternoon when I finally departed the park so drove west a bit with overnight at Banning CA. The wind was really blowing so was difficult to stay on the road with all the big trucks surrounding me.....no wonder they have so many wind machines in Palm Springs.
Sunday 7 March 2010 (Joshua Tree National Park CA 78 miles)
Up early to try and beat the predicted rains. We drove the almost fifty miles to the north end of the park stopping quite often for photo ops of joshua trees (in the yucca family) and heaps of wonderful rock formations. After the first hour, we were in the middle of the rains (and sometimes snow at elevations over 4000 feet). Gail returned to Desert Hot Springs to visit friends and watch the Oscars and I camped up here at 29 Palms.
Saturday 6 March 2010 (Palm Springs to Joshua Tree National Park CA 77 miles)
Meeting Gail at 24 Hour Fitness then camping at the Cottonwood Campground at Joshua Tree National Park....much colder up here at over 3000 feet. We were able to squeeze both of our vans into one camping space (half price for each of us) and use Gail's Senior discount card to pay half price....so only $3.75 for the night!
Friday 5 March 2010 (Desert Hot Springs CA)
Stayed here at Caliente Springs another day to enjoy the sun and the hot pools....rain is predicted for the weekend. Gail stopped by for a brief visit; we plan to meet on Saturday and maybe head up to Joshua Tree National Park.
Thursday 4 March 2010 (Palo Verde to Desert Hot Springs CA 142 miles)
Early morning stop here in Blythe to use the internet at the Hampton Inn! Heading west today to Desert Hot Springs....maybe for a soak in the pool and a shower! Spent most of afternoon at the hot pools here at Caliente Springs although very windy weather here today.
Wednesday 3 March 2010 (Squaw Lake to Palo Verde CA via Yuma AZ 101 miles)
Early departure from Squaw Lake to explore the Imperial Dam area on the Colorado River and Mittry Lake and site of former Betty's Kitchen and Laguna Dam. Met folks from Ontario Canada who have had their 1995 Roadtrek since it was new and it now has 180000 miles on it! Camped the eve right on the Colorado River in the Cibola Reserve...just me and the birds and the fish!
Tuesday 2 March 2010 (Casa Grande AZ to Squaw Lake CA 170 miles)
Drove west toward LA along I-8 with stop north of Yuma at Squaw Lake. I-8 is so much better an interstate than I-10....fewer cars!
Monday 1 March 2010 (Casa Grande AZ 46 miles)
Morning drive to visit the ruins at Casa Grande National Monument then on to visit the Juneau Golf crew at the Francisco Grande Golf Resort. This used to be the training area for the SF Giants and is now the training area for soccer in addition to a big golf course. These guys from Alaska have been having a tournament here every spring for the past 25 years. Wonderful dinner in the restaurant before retiring to my van in the parking lot.
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