"Welcome Back"!
We took in as much
as we could of beautiful Oregon during our last week here, but I couldn't be more excited to arrive in
my home state of California. It was
raining the day we left and traveling on a two lane highway proved a little
challenging with the rain but the scenery was breathtaking! I knew I had to take in as much as I could of
the beautiful contrast of colors. Taking
a picture of the "Welcome to California" sign came out blurry as the
rain continued to pound.
I loved the irony after being away for over a
year!
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| Our drive towards California |
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| Lovin' the trees! |
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Our "welcome to California" sign
obscured by rain |
The rain was subsiding and before long, we were driving
through the Redwoods with an opening revealing the Pacific Ocean. Listening to Sirius radio of
the 70's, not long after crossing the California border did it play
"Welcome Back" from the TV show "Welcome Back Kotter"....I felt at home!
Arriving at Azalea
Glen RV park (in the Redwoods) was an easy pull through site where we were
given maps, a list of "things to do" and the name of someone to watch
the dogs! We're going to like this
place!
Trinity was the
closest town with a population of just over 300 and with not much to choose
from for our travel dinner, we opted to eat in and rest up for the next adventures of the Redwoods National Forest. The next day driving into town we spotted wild elk on one side and the spectacular
ocean on the other.
The RV park is close to the Redwood National Forest so our first stop was the Lady Bird Johnson Memorial. Unfortunately dogs weren't allowed on trails so our short tour of the Redwoods was by car
only. Not being able to take the dogs on hikes we found all the beaches to be dog friendly. From the recent storm the waves were a little rough but Gracie and Daisy
chased after balls with an occasional dip in the ocean. We drove to the town of Trinity and let them
play at Trinity Bay, enjoying a short hike after (dogs were welcome).
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| Trinity Bay |
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| Katy's Smokehouse |
In town, we stopped at Katy's Smokehouse
hoping to buy fresh seafood. We
purchased smoked salmon and scallops while getting an education from the owner
on canned tuna. " Most store bought tuna
has soy and phosphates", he said. We found this to be true back on the back of a
label from a can on hand. I'm glad we
purchased the three, $7/can pure albacore!
"Fred" was the name
given to us to watch the dogs. The older
gentleman stopped by to meet Gracie and Daisy.
Once again, our dogs could stay in the comfort of their "own home"
while Perry and I enjoyed a dog free day of exploring the Redwoods.
Our first stop was
back to the Lady Byrd Johnson Memorial, with a hike that was scenic and an easy
mile and half stroll through the amazing ancient tall trees. I have to say a time or two I worried about
bears as their weren't many people on the trail, but at the halfway point was
the beautiful memorial, a place Lady Byrd visited in the 1960's. I thought to myself "if Lady Byrd
Johnson can do this, so can I!"
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| Hiking through Lady Byrd Memorial Redwoods |
We
continued to hike the thick forest while marveling at the size of the
Redwoods. Wanting to stop for lunch,
their weren't many options but to drive north towards the town of Klamath. There was a "shack" of a restaurant
(no thanks) so we opted to eat at the Indian Casino. The food was basic but good as we
re-energized for the next hike.
Our next hike was
stopping at the "Big Tree" and according to a map this should be an
easy three miles. Not too strenuous, we
took our time looking up at the 200' (plus), ancient trees. They had burls on the trunks that would
create a new redwood with some looking like an arm erupting from the massive
trunk. This beautiful forest is
constantly regenerating itself, full of ferns and wildlife! Near the end of our three mile hike, the
trail marker pointed to the ranger station one way or the nature trail the
other way. With no information given on
distance of the nature trail, we opted to head in that direction thinking it
was a short loop. Boy were we wrong! The
hike took us uphill and down and soon my knees were feeling it! We continued with no one in sight except a
deer peeking around a tree to check us out.
By this time, it's getting late in the afternoon and in a large forest
it gets dark quickly. The trail ran out
and we found ourselves at a creek with no bridge. Great, a running creek, dark forest and sore
knees…..I was ready to get back. Perry
suggested we cross the rocky creek which I wasn't about to do, not trusting my
ability to be sure footed in the water.
We made the decision to hike back with
occasional rests along the way. I
later read of the common knee malady while hiking recommending walking sticks
and knee braces. If we continue to hike
(most likely we will), I'll be investing
in a hiking stick!
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| A panoramic picture of the 286' Redwood |
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| Someone has a very good sense of humor! |
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| Checking us out on the nature trail |
We made it back to
the truck and driving out of the Redwoods to the RV park, several cars were
stopped along the road. There were at
least 6-8 bulls (elk) grazing and we joined the others in taking pictures while
ignoring "warning" signs of wild elk.
The elk started moving towards us crossing over the fence and we knew it
was time to quickly get back to the truck and move on. It was worth the stop to see the beautiful
creatures up close.
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| Nature at its' best! |
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There were "warning" signs but we had to get our pictures.
Time to hurry and move on...... |
The warm days,
chilly sea breeze nights made me feel happy to be back in California but even
happier to work our way down to Chico to spend time with Brandon.
While driving towards Chico, Perry said he
had a confession to make. (I was curious because he never says anything like
that!) He informed me while checking
into the RV park, the woman at the desk said a bear was spotted in the park! Really? He spared me of my "bear phobia"
worries for a week. What a guy!
Chico……here we
come!!!
This marks a full circle for Perry
and I on our year long trip around the U.S.
Chico and Brandon!
We arrived at the
same RV park as one year ago and with Brandon now a senior, our next trip to Chico will be in May 2018
for his graduation.
One half hour after
unhitching, there was a knock on the door and there was our wonderful son to
greet us before work. He works at a Tap
Room one block from the RV park and a visit was in order for that evening. We enjoyed seeing him in action interacting
with customers and coworkers while enjoying appetizers and cold beer. It was Halloween weekend and Brandon told us
of a party he and his "roomies" were having at their house, though he was working that night. It was gratifying making meals for Brandon's
freezer and cookies for the roomies! We
were curious to see where Brandon lived with his three roommates and offered to
help with his laundry and cleaning his room (okay…we wanted to help our busy
college son). What were we thinking? We
should have waited to go to the house (not the day after a party), but we dug
in with mops, rags and gloves! Wow…….what a mess!! Laundry done, food made, room clean…..doing
what any visiting college parent would (or wouldn't?) do!
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| Tap service with a smile! |
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| Lunch with good friends |
Brandon's good friend Jack now attends Chico State and his parents were visiting as well. We couldn't have enjoyed our visit more with our Oak Park friends.
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| Enjoying our visit with our son...not quite long enough! |
Before leaving Chico, we took Brandon to church at a
Monastery/winery that we enjoyed a year ago!
Perry and I reminisced how one year ago we sat at the Monastery grounds
admiring the beautiful walnut trees and here we were again with our son! Life is good!! Brandon met us early the next morning for a bite
of breakfast before we parted ways. It's
never easy saying goodbye to our kids, but in three weeks we would see all of
them for Thanksgiving. Really?
Already? Where has 2017 gone?
This has been the most amazing
adventure and my next blog will be observations and thoughts to a trip of a
lifetime!
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