GARY & KAY SHAFER ON THE ROAD AGAIN:
October lst, 2011 (late afternoon) (mileage on the coach was about 48,000 miles.
Left Mitchell for Rapid City, met Angie, Mark, & Tyler in the Cabala’s Parking lot so they could pick up the 32” Long WALLEYE that was mounted at our home in the Dining Room since it was mounted. Mark now has it mounted in his new home for safe keeping and enjoyment as we begin our Full Time Retirement in our Gulf Stream 40 ft Crescendo Motorhome. Rapid City was our first time to Boon Dock, and it was fine…noise didn’t disturb our sleep after many weeks of long hours working to clear our books and pack away all the belongings we placed in storage bldg or in the coach. The Moving/Garage Sale was over…our girls took most of our personal furniture belongs…that way we get to see them on and off as we come and go thru their homes during the summer months.
The plan now was to drive thru Montana & get to IDAHO/WASHINGTON a.s.a.p.; next stop was White Sulpher Springs, MT. Then it was Ponderosa Falls, RV Resort in Cheney, WA where we stayed Oct 3rd thru the 9th; it was a Coast to Coast Park so the cost was at the $10 per night. Then we could tour with the Jeep in the Wallace & Coeur d Alene, IDAHO area, & not have to worry about a large area to park both the Coach and Jeep, plus it also allowed us to drive in certain areas that would not be advisable for the Coach.
On Oct 10th thru the 13th we were in the Mt Rainier area, and stayed at the Cascade Park Rv Resort. Mt Rainer had an elevation of over 14,000 ft and it was good we only took the Jeep. Winding Roads and so many massive trees and greenery growing up and around the trees, it reminded us of The “Road to Hana” in Maui, especially when we came upon all the waterfalls. As we drove thru the mountain area we experienced rain and snow and sunshine, and read that up to about 126 inches of rain can fall in this area in a year. It is understandable as we view all the green vegetation and the really Tall Trees…lots of Red Cedar Trees.
Oct 14th & 15th we were in the Mt St Helens area, where we stayed at Castle Rock, WA while we toured the mountain. This mountain wasn’t as tall as Mt Rainier, but had its own beauty and did they ever preserve this area magnificently since the 1980 eruption. They saved the area where the mudslides and lava knocked over the trees as it made its way down the mountain thru the Toutle Valley area. The Johnson Observatory was the best in depicting the event itself and then to also show us how Mother Nature had survived it all, and once again you could see the beauty and return of the lush trees and vegetations. They also told us that the animal life had also returned as well.
Oct 16th thru 18th we were at Corbett, Oregon to stay at the Crown Point RV Park, where we toured Mt Hood, which was rather blah after viewing Mt Rainier, which was so tall and massive, and Mt St Helen that was so well preserved. Mt Hood was a bit plain and was mostly a Skiing Resort Area, until we saw the history of the Timberline Lodge. It was a WPA program under Pres. Teddy Roosevelt. The furniture pieces, and the Blacksmith designs, all designed by Government Employees at the lodge. Even the cloth was weaved at the lodge area and sewn and designed by those in the WPA program. The best part was the massive pieces of furniture, the wrought iron pieces, and the curtains were so well made and so well preserved yet today or some replicated too.
It was admirable to enjoy the beauty created during such traumatic times, and to realize how many people were involved way back in 1925 designing the Lodge, but mostly how well preserved it was & to keep it all in such good working condition. The Restaurant we ate at had window seating so we could enjoy a glass of wine and have a nice lunch, & look right at Mt Hood outside the window too. We were lucky that day to have had a sunny warm day to make it a perfect visit.
The next day we toured the Colombia River Gorge area and the Oregon Scenic Hyway with all of its many many Waterfalls. The most massive one was called Multinomah Falls, which measured at a 632 ft. drop. We have some really nice photos of the Falls and with Gary & I in them too.
In Boneville, Oregon we toured a Salmon Fish Hatchery, & saw a 70 year old Sturgeon that was 10 ft long. I found that more exhilarating than the ponds with the tiny fish & their fish food. Now that I have seen a Hatchery, don’t need to do that again. Also along Highway 101 we stopped at Fruit Stands for Fresh Fruit Selections: Pears, Apples, Nectarines, & some Wild Berry Preserves.
Oct 19th thru the 27th of Oct was the drive to the famous Highway 101 along the Oregon Coastal Beach area. Our First RV Park was at Neskowin Creek, OREGON, which was full of more greenery, but just around the corner was the OCEAN BEACH. In this area we could hear & see the loud crashing ocean waves, see the tall granite/volcano rocks sticking out of the ocean area everywhere (they called them haystacks). We found a lot of Sea Lions in the wild, we didn’t have to pay to go thru a cavern to hear and see them either...we were lucky to hear them first…then see them. I couldn’t get enough of viewing all the Crashing Ocean Waves, hitting the rock walls…mesmerizing to me over and over again. Our only disappointment was lots of Fog, Rain, and a chill in the air most of our touring. Needless to say we didn’t walk on the sandy beaches, just enjoyed the view most of the time.
At Newport, Oregon we toured Our First Lighthouse (might be our last) it was Yaquina Head, which is to be the tallest at 93 ft in the Oregon area. We got pins to wear that said, “I Survived the Climb!”.
We drove up to Tillamook, Oregon to tour a Cheese Factory & saw how the cheese was prepared, ate the samples and purchased almost every one we tasted, then ate the best Ice Cream Ever…we think it was the fresh crisp homemade cones that made it ever so tastefully. We saw lots of the prettiest Fall Colored Trees and many Cows in the pastures along the Oregon Scenic Drive. They store the Feed for the cows in White Plastic Bags, instead of stacking up the hay or grain.
Our 2nd RV Park on Hwy 101 was at Coos Bay, OR called the Midway RV Park. We again saw basically the same things in the Neskowin area it was just more Open or we were a bit closer to the Shore here. We saw the most Sea Lions here along the Simpson Reef, went to Bandon to walk the Boardwalk & bought our first soveneirs. We really like the town of Bandon a lot, very historically preserved and reminded us of Hill City and Keystone, wide streets, good parking, clean Boardwalk area with Sculptures. We thought Coos Bay was too crowded in the downtown area, streets were narrow, not well kept either.
The 3rd RV Park on Hwy 101 was Klamath, California. This was deep into the woods this time, but we toured more of a historical area and were able to see Whale Fins…from shore. We were told to drive down a very rural road that followed the ocean to a WWII FARM, where our government kept a Cabin/House & Farm well hidden along the coast during WWII to watch for ships that might come to shore. Of course, after Radar became more available and useful, didn’t need the farm crew, but now it is kept up as a Historical Site.
At Klamath we also toured the REDWOOD trees here in Klamath there was a Tree of Mystery, which was a self guided tour that depicted Names of Trees in their special contours: One Tree we drove thru, there was a Cathedral Tree area which looked like a Cathedral & they played symphony music here & weddings can be held there too, or there was a tree that had over 12 tree trunks growing out of it, and _____________________________________
All in All the Oregon Scenic Byway on Highway 101 & the California Hwy 101 referred to as the Pacific Ocean Scenic Byway were awesome. Gary & I didn’t travel too many miles in a day as the winding roads and trying to view the ocean as you drive along could be exhausting…so took it slow and lazy. The best part is to be driving along the road, then all of a sudden it opens up to the Ocean with all it’s beauty. In some ways it reminded me a lot of “The Road to Hana” (in Maui), accept we were in our own car, instead of a bus and could stop and view whatever we wanted for as long as we wanted. The trees had greenery mostly Ivy growing up the bark of the tree to their tops too. Then of course every restaurant we ate at we tried to stay near the Ocean and eat Fresh Fish at each of them. Even though the weather wasn’t the most enjoyable the scenery and food sure was.
Now farther west into California we stop at Redding, to stay at this Mountain Gate RV Park & stayed some extra days as it was the first time we have been out of the Fog/Rain/chilly air. It was 72 to 75 degrees, washed all of our clothes, and only left the campground to tour a SUNDIAL BRIDGE over the Sacramento River. It is a one of a kind Pedestrian Bridge, it was designed by a world renowned Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava. It is the first bridge of its kind in the U.S. and is the largest working sundial in the world! The massive 210” pylon leans due north & functions as the gnomon of a sundial, casting its giant shadow on a garden-bordered dial plate at the bridge’s north end. The bridge is made of glass, granite, & steel only. The tall pylon & cable stays allow the bridge to encourage the public to appreciate the Sacramento River & the salmon fishing too. Any Engineer would have been more amazed than we were.
We were safely tucked into the Redding RV Park for Halloween, and 2 really cute kids knocked on our door for trick or treat.
In Redding we drove around Lake Shasta, but didn’t take the time to actually tour it, we had an agenda to meet cousin, Pam (Campbell) Loomis in Reno, NV. One of the RV camping neighborns at Redding told us stay at the Grand Sierra Casino RV Park. So we did and Pam with her husband John, & 2 daughters, Katlin & Laureen, with 2 of the cutest grandkids came to visit us. What a Nice Family they are, we could have visited for a couple more days I am quite sure.
Now it is time to consider a visit with cousin, Tom & Sue, & Aunt Dorothy; however due to the weather & a trial date, we hit the road in time to get out of the mountains to avoid the Snow and Ice that was to soon pounce on us. We were lucky enough to miss the Turkee Pass that was closed, had mostly gusts of wind to drive thru off and on, until we drove into Lone Pine, CA for the Boulder Creek RV Resort. We had more warm weather, along with very dry sandy white soil.
At Lone Pine we discovered that Old Western Movies had been made in this area referred to as Alabama Hills which are below the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and in a valley of the Inyo Mountains. My dad would have loved this tour, and see where those old westerns were filmed…with Randolph Scott in “The Tall T’, the Lone Ranger, Robert Taylor, Tyrone Power in “Rawhide”, John Ford in “How the West Was Won”, Audie Murphy in “Hell Bent for Leather” & “Showdown” , or Cary Grand in the famous classic movie about India “Gunga Din” , which was inspired by the Rudyard Kipling Poem. Some of the more recent movies filmed there was “Tremors”.
The best part here was we could drive the many miles in the same area with a self guided book that showed the exact spots in some of those same movies and more. They were even filming either another movie or a commercial the next day after we left (Nov. 9th); the crew was all around us and stayed in the same RV Park with about 7-9 Rental Camping Truck units. That crew even cooked outside and did campfires too.
On the Road again this time a short quick jaunt to Dessert Willow RV Resort in Hespario, CA, then onto Hemet, CA for my cousin, Shirley (Hemmer) Danish RV Resort called Mt Shadows. Shirley had us a lot to rent for the month of November, 2011, it had been purchased by her special friend, Bill Becker, who will be putting a Park Model on the lot in Jan 2012.. We spend quality time meeting many acquaintances of Shirley’s in the Park, and eating and drinking with a few of them too and Bill when he can get away from work in LA to join us retired ones.
Shirley has more plans than eating and drinking with as many people as we can with friends in the RVPark & family too. I ate my first Fried Zuchini at Farmer Boys and was it ever wonderful…good and bad for you both I guess. What will they fry next??
There are many fully retired people in this Park, all are nice and quite active. They each have their own routines, walk, ride bikes, or exercise in the water swimming pool. Some eat as early as 4:30 or as late as 8:00, then some get up as early as 5:30 and some mid morning. Here with Shirley we eat early…as it gets dark here around 5:00, plus Shirley likes to wind down around 3:00 with the wine.
So far we have been to San Diego to tour the Midway Aircraft Carrier (much like the U.S.S. Lexington in Corpus Christi, so now we have seen two of these ships, and won’t need to do that again either. Quite amazing they are. At the Boardwalk we also saw a Museum of Ships…a Russian & U.S. Submarine, wooden ships, large sailing ships, and a lot of history of ships. I like seeing the historical ships for some reason, as wouldn’t want to get on one and leave shore however, just walking in them was enough for me. I would attend another Museum of Ships anytime.
In Hemet they have dug a Reservoir that would serve most of the southern part of California for at least 6 months, along the Diamond Lake area. When they went to dig the Dam they discovered bones and artifacts, they had a 10,000 year old Mastedon and a Teen Queen Mammoth (teen age when it died still a big one), plus a couple of mean looking Sloth’s skeleton’s. An excellent museum it is for sure.
We also walked the Historical Old Town of Temecula, what a fine job they have done of preserving those buildings and area. The town was established around 1869 had many fine antique shops, to bad we didn’t need anything. About the only Historical town of this quality we have viewed is Fredricksberg, Texas or Stillwater, Minnesota. We shall continue to walk more Historical towns.
So now we only have maybe Palm Springs, Idyllwild, and a place called Julian, and a winery. I wanted my first winery to be with cousin, Shirley, as we are Hemmer’s who enjoy our wine. It was Shirley’s respite when her parents were killed years ago (1979) along that Foggy Interstate Entrance. It was then I discovered she was a wine lover.
Her daughter, Vickie is planning to have us for Thanksgiving meal, and Shirley’s friend, Bill Becker, makes Pecan and Pumpkin Pies. He will prepare some for his daughter’s meal, and some for our Meal and be at both. It sounds like he will have a very eventful day eating pies for a good part of his day.
Vickie has a son, Phillip who is totally disabled, a daughter, RaeAnne, and a son, Gabriel, who has spinal bifada. Shirley says if it weren’t for Vickie Phillip would never have lived to be 24 years old. He just got out of the hospital again for double pneumonia. We shall meet her husband too.
Our next trip will be to Chandler, AZ to attend Nathan Bies’s graduation from the Virginia Golf Academy on Dec 16th, after we figure out the rest will post more newsy updates.
No comments:
Post a Comment