We arrived at Seaside, OR September 16 and stayed ten days. There are several awesome places to visit here since this was the end of the Lewis & Clark expedition. We visited Lewis & Clark National Park where they built a fort and spent the winter. They also crossed the Columbia River which separates Washington and Oregon now of course there were no such states then. Across the river is Cape Disappointment, so named because they were stranded there several days because of the storms in that area. They named it that because it was a disappointment. There is also some historic light houses in that area. Here is a few pictures of that area.
Moved to South Beach, OR the 16th and stayed until the 24th. This is a very historic area with lots of things to see. We really enjoyed the beach here, we walked almost every day no the beach for almost five miles. In this area is the Yaquina Head National Area Light House & Bridge. The Historic Light House and an area where the waves of the ocean crash on the shore. An awesome sight to see in person. Hope the pictures show just a little of what we saw.
Left South Beach the 24th and headed to Grants Pass, OR where we were going to Crater Lake National Park & The Red Wood National Park in Northern CA. We didn't make it that day. We had truck trouble out on Interstate 5 and had to be towed. It was on Saturday so we couldn't get the truck repaired until Monday. Had to have the truck towed to Seven Feathers RV Resort where we stayed for two days. I had a young man named David Wood come to the RV Park to check out the truck and he decided it was too big of a job for him. He called the Dodge dealer and made sure they had the part so we had to have the truck towed Monday to Lithia Dodge in Roseburg, OR. They did a great job on the truck and took less than four hours and almost $1200. Our total extra cost because of the break-down was $1500. Praise the Lord it happened where it did instead of later going up the hill to Yosemite National Park or on a narrow, hilly road between South Beach and Interstate 5. And praise the Lord that we had the available money to get the truck repaired. We were back on the road by 6:00 PM Monday the and arrived at Grants Pass, OR about 7:00 PM ready to go see those National Parks the next day. Here are some pictures taken at Red wood National Park and Crater Lake National Park.
The Redwood National Park wasn't as impressive as we had expected. I suppose its so long up and down the coast we didn't see any of the big trees. This is one picture but there are lots of trees.
WHAT??????????????????
There were two ladies by the overlook and they would put these brass bowls on their head and lightly bang it with a rubber mallet. The vibrations were supposed to go through your body. I did feel something although I wouldn't call them vibrations. Maybe you could say I felt stupid but Helen and I had a good laugh and it was worth it to see Helen laugh.
Crater Lake National Park is one of the most awesome sights you could ever see. These pictures only show a small part of what you see with your eye and spirit. This water is 500 feet deep. The reflections you see of the mountains on the lake show up way better in person.
We had an overnight stop at Jack's Landing RV Park in Red Bluff, CA. When we left the next morning I laid my water hose in the sun to dry and that's where I left it. When we got to Yosemite Lakes Thousand Trails Park I discovered that my hose was missing. Then I remembered where it was.
WILL I EVER LEARN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????
We moved the next morning, September 30, 2011, to Yosemite Lakes Thousand Trails just five miles out side of the National Park. The hill just before you get to Groveland, CA is about seven miles long and very curvy and very steep, about a 7% grade. We made it fine going up but freted about going back down for the whole time we were there. Even considered going out the north side then down CA395 but it's steep also.
We had a wonderful thirteen day at Yosemite Lakes although we had no TV signal or cell phone signal. We could go up to the club house and get on their WIFI but it was slower than old dial-up. We were at Yosemite National Park in 1986 on a whirlwind two week vacation from Armstrong Ceiling where I worked. We didn't remember as much as we thought we did about the Park. Here are a few pictures.
Scenes from Glacier Point
Scenes from Tiago Pass
Scenes from Tiago Pass
Michael at Vernal Falls
Vernal Falls
Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls
Bridal Vail Falls
Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove
Wopama Falls in Hetch Hetchy Valley Yosemite National Park
Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park
General Sherman at Sequoia National Park
General Grant at Kings Canyon National Park
Helen in front of General Grant
October 14, 2011
We left Yosemite Lakes Thousand Trails on October 14 dreading the seven mile descent on CA120. We had some very serious prayer for safety for us and the truck. We left the truck in 1st gear and made sure that we never got over 25 mph going down. The Lord kept us safe and we moved on to Soledad Canyon Thousand Trails near Palmdale, CA. We spent eleven day there then moved here to Wilderness Lakes Thousand Trails in Menifee, CA. The last night we were at Soledad Canyon Sylvester was in a fight with a stray campground cat and he is very sick and has some infection. I took him to a veterinarian for some antibiotics. He is doing better.
We will be here until the 14th of November then move on south. Will post more later.
