We're Home

Got home yesterday.  Left our RV stored in California until our mid-January reunion and our continued trip across the southern border of the U.S.

All is as we left it back at home; except for the dust that has accumulated over the past two months.  Went food shopping and restocked the refrigerator and pantry. Went through the mail -- amazing how many catalogs we've received and the constant barage of solicitations from the NY Times.

Now we're ready for family!

Big Sur to Avila Beach

We spent our last night "camping" in our RV along the California Coast Highway, Route 1.  Driving this road through the many hairpin curves was challenging, but quite spectacular.

Ending this leg of our journey at our friends, Ray & Ann at their new home in Avila Beach.  Back to sleeping "indoors" and enjoying the company as we tour this great area of the California coast.

Soon we'll be home for the holidays before coming back in mid-January to complete our journeys across the southern part of the U.S. and then Floriday and then back up to New Jersey by April.

From the Wine Trail to the Bay

We continued our tour of wine country, moving down to Sonoma, and then Napa Valleys.  On an absolutely beautiful blue sky Saturday, we biked past St.Helena and returned to Yountville.  Made our mandatory stop at the Oakville Grocery, and noted how much more crowded was the Napa Valley. 

Almost forgot to mention that we stopped back at Mondavi Vineyards, where we remembered that the last time we were there, as part of the wine tasting, they served smoked salmon on crackers between sips.  Sad to say, no more - - but, Morey was able to help direct the throngs of winees coming for a taste of their own.

Our special treat was dinner at the Ad Hoc restuarant where our chosen menu included tender and succulent short ribs, the freshest garden salad (from their own garden nearby), a cheese course, and a perfectly crafted apple crisp.  Words cannot describe how good it was!

After indulging in such a great dinner, we needed to work off some of the calories, so today we parked in Sausalito with our RV (challenging) and rode our bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco.  Another beautiful blue sky day!!

Wine...Wine...Wine...Wine....

We are amazed at the amount of acres of vineyards...They go on and on and on.  And then of course, what does growing grapes lead to?  Wine!!

After leaving the Pacific coast after a nice stop in Mendocino and Eureka, we drove inland stopping first in the Russian River Valley.  Camped at one of Ruthie's favorite places, Lake Sonoma, built and managed by the Army Corp of Engineers {won't get political on the need for another division of our government to run campgrounds}, with incredibly great campgrounds at a bargain $10 fee.  We climbed on such steep roads that we lost half of our fresh water out the overflow on the RV, and then discovered that the campground had no water, "failed well". We managed aok.

We set out on our bikes on Dry Creek Road through the Russian River Valley.  A great ride through the mild hills through the vineyards.  After three stops with the tastings of the wine, we decided to call it a day.

Of course even more important than the wine tastings, is the great lunches and soon, dinners. 

We're now spending the next few nights in Napa where we will continue to bike from wine tasting to wine tasting, and lunch to lunch...

We did stop at the Jack London State Park in the Sonoma Valley, where we toured his home and writing workshop.  Remember "Call of the Wild" and "White Fang"?  Morey remembered how much he enjoyed reading his novels and short stories when he was in his early teens;

so yep, he will download on his Kindle some of the books he never read.                                                                                                                                   



Can't end this blog without a picture of Morey standing in front of a bagel shop in Eureka.  A pretty incredible place where you can get Rosemary-Parmesan bagels-- Maybe Morey should write his book, "Bagels of the USA".  Yes, I know Morey is NOT the food editor of this blog!

Another Pacific sunset...then to the Redwoods

Two days camped at Harris Beach State Park along the coast in southern Oregon.  After a day of rain, couldn't resist walking over to the beach as the sky cleared and the sun set over the ocean.

We drove through Redwood country in Northern California (the trees have gotten even bigger than when we were last here).  Took some great walks and couldnt believe how big and tall these trees are!

Guess we were spoiled with Oregon campgrounds, $22 with electric and water.  Camped tonight in Norhern California at Mackerricher State Park where we had a difficult time fitting our RV, no hookups, and thanks to the serious budgetary issues here, now $35.  We realized why we are the only RV camped here.  Better and cheaper at private RV "resorts."  Where is the merchant in this decision?

Oh, and one more thing....As former Michiganders, we are getting rather upset with the use of Paul Bunyon and his Blue Ox in ALL lumberman areas.  We know from learning in elementary school that PB lived in Michigan!  We have seen bogus PBs in Maine, Minnesota, Washington, and now California.  Enough!!  Let's leave Paul Bunyon and his Blue Ox where they belong....Michigan. 

Camping 100ft from the Pacific

Over the past couple of days...................
Camped at Tillicum National Forest Campground within 100ft of the ocean.  Got out our Weber and while grilling steak, watched the sunset.  Can it get any better than this?

Eventhough the temps went down below 50 degrees, we had to leave our windows open so we could hear the surf.  Our Rv furnace worked flawlessly through the night.

In the morning we drove to Cape Perpetua, noted for great tidal pools.  Got there by 9am so we would have low tide [and not get swept out to sea with the sea creatures].  The beach looked much like Hawaii with the volcanic basalt.  We saw sea stars, strawberry & large green anemonies, purple sea urchins, and even a couple of crabs. 

Following the tide pools we stopped at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area where we climbed to the top.

                                                                              

 Last night we camped at Cape Blanco, the most western point of land in the continental United States. Walked down to the beach in the morning and found the famous giant Kelp which can grow to 100 feet. Ruthie gathered some for dinner as we want to stay healthy on the tour!

Tonight will probably be our last night in Oregon, what a beautiful state!

                                      

Stormy Seas, Heavy Rains,.....but then Sun Breaks !

In 1778, Captain Cook, came to this part of the Oregon coast, named it Cape Foulweather, and moved on.  The Captain and his crew were tired of the rough seas and constant downpours.

Well.....We arrived at Cape Foulweather, where this lighthouse now resides, and stopped to watch the wild ocean.  The rains stopped, the sun came out, and we enjoyed what the Captain erred in not checking out!

We've been driving down the Oregon coast watching the coast change from rocky shores to long stretches of sand. 
Our day ended early today after a stop at the Newport Aquarium, pulling into Tillicum Campgound where we are less than 100 ft from the ocean.  Ruthie's doing her "Jack" needlepoint and I'm blogging.  How relaxing.

We're sleeping tonight with the windows open so we can hear the ocean that's only steps away. Who cares the temp is 46 tonight! t                                                                                           

Here in Tillamook County, Oregon........

LAND OF CHEESE, TREES,
& OCEAN BREEZE 

We've spent time along the Oregon Coast, camping at Cape Lookout where we could hear the Pacific Ocean at night.  Great hikes along the cliffs and dunes.  

 From an original forecast of rain all week, the sun just wouldn't let the rains begin, so we were able to explore this Oregon coast.  

                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                        Professor Handel (who flew in for a week's visit with his wife, Joan) helped explain the plant life of this coastal area. Note photo of a Sea Palm, which grows only in very turbulent areas along the rocky shore.  [The slug is the picture on the right.]

 

While in Tillamook County, to keep our energy levels high, we toured the famous Tillamook Dairy and tested out their 38 flavors of ice cream.  We also tasted their many varieties of cheddar cheese!

 

 

          

To finish our time here, we checked out the local Laudromat, where you meet the most                 INTERESTING people.  Yes, our trip is not all touring........

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood and the Timberline Lodge

We spent 3 days hiking to numerous waterfalls throughout the Columbia Gorge with our friends from NJ, the Handels.  All were great hikes.....And we learned all of the waterfall classifications and have earned our PHDs in waterfall configurations.

Weather has been glorious with blue skies and sunshine everyday. 

Next we drove down to get a closeup of Mt. Hood with a grand dinner at Timberline Lodge at the 6,000 ft level.  The lodge was built in 1937 by the WPA using local craftsman.  A very incredible     structure using much of the local timber.   

Thanks to all of our blog followers and their request for a photo....So  here's one of our many pictures of Mt. Hood.  A quite stunning mountain!

  

                                                                                   



Lewis & Clark reached the Pacific and spent the winter; we're going onto California!

We arrived at Cape Disappointment, but unlike our predessors, Lewis & Clark, we would have named it Cape Wonderful.  We biked 8 miles up the coast through the rolling sand dunes.  Stopped for Ruthie to discuss the 10ft Sturgeon with William Clark, and biked back as the sun was setting into the Pacific -- got back just in-time as we hadn't taken our headlights for the bikes.

The next morning we hiked up the cliff to the L&C museum and looked out over the Columbia River as it meets the Pacific Ocean.

Next a stop in Astoria, Oregon (yep a new state), for lunch at the Cannery Cafe which was the former Bumblebee Tuna canning facility.  Ruthie had her much desired Dungeness Crab in a greens salad and Morey had Salmon Cakes.

We said goodbye to Lewis & Clark as we visited Fort Clatsop where they spent the Winter of 1805.  Must say our RV has better beds!

Ended our day and the next one in the Williamette Valley where we biked 43 miles, watched Hazlenuts being harvested, and best, checked out the Wineries.  Great Pinot Noir's.

From sea to shining sea !!



Ruby Beach



We drove to the Pacific, stopping first at Ruby Beach.  Enjoyed our lunch while we looked out our RV's window at the stormy ocean, and the rain coming down in sheets.  We both said we must come back when the sun shines (eventhough the forecast was for rain for next 2 days).

Set up camp at Kalaloch in the rain.  After getting all set, we "discovered" that the camping site was already taken, so off to another site.  It continued to rain through the night, but in the morning the sun came out and stayed with us all day!  Glad the forecast was wrong.

We got on our bikes and headed back up the road, checking out the tidal pools (2 hours past low tide and too late) and back to Ruby Beach for a spectacular view - note picture in the sunshine!

We were determined to get back to the tidal pools, so the next morning at 8am, we were walking on the shore rocks and seeing sea anemones, starfish, mussels, and much more.



Deep in the Forest

We set up camp, deep in the Sol Duc forest in Olympic National Park, where the trees are huge.  I must mention that one of our followers did comment on our term of "setting up camp" - actually it's pushing a button to level, then two buttons to move out the slides.

We hiked to Sol Duc Falls, a 6 mile loop trail ending at the hot springs, where we couldn't resist jumping in the 103 degree sulphur pools.

Eventhough we're in a rain forest, and the forecast was for rain, there was only a mist.