BIW spends the Holidays in Las Vegas

With the below freezing temperatures and the snow coming our way, we headed due south leaving our beloved Yosemite behind.  Missing out on camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains along route 395, we realized we might as well get back home to Avalon a week sooner.

Made an overnight stop in Bakersfield, CA -- then onto a planned overnight at Calico Ghost Town. 
Unfortunately after setting up camp at Calico, we discovered that they had lost electricity and the winds were picking up.....so after a brief walk around the town, we headed to Las Vegas.

Pulled into Sams Town Casino KOA campground.  An inexpensive option, which worked perfect for our last couple of days.  Camp sites close together but good facilities including a hot tub to soak out our muscles from our Yosemite hiking.  We even saw a movie at the local theater, took the shuttle to the "Strip", and then winterized BIW.

Last stop, U.S. Storage, to park our motor home until we come back in mid January.  Then Uber to the airport, United to Newark, and then Budget Car Rental to our Shore home.  All good at home!

Yosemite !!!

Yosemite says it all.  We last came here in early Spring of 2006 -- we left liking the National Park, but not truly experiencing this wonderful place on Earth!  This time, with BIW, we camped first for a couple of days at Hodgedon Meadow.  Pretty rustic, but since we arrived two days ahead of our schedule; we wanted to spend a couple of extra days in this National Park.  We were also greeted by a great campground host who helped all of us RVers find a relatively level and large enough site.


For the first full day at Yosemite, we drove part of the Tioga Road.  Too late for wildflowers at Toulumne Meadows, but had some great views at Olmsted Point, and a nice walk around part of Lake Tanaya.  Just in case, the road got closed due to early snows, we figured to take the ride.  We had plans to drive this entire road to Mono Lake following our week in the Valley.  As you'll read later in this post; a good move!

Next to the Valley.  WOW !!! Pulled into Upper Pines Campground and set up in time to meet our hiking partner, Old Sherpa (aka Ron, a hiker of the complete Appalachian trail) , who arrived hours after we did.  As we all got settled for a fine dinner, the rains started; and lightning & thunder.  We got over 2 inches of rain.  The park needed this; and our hikes over the next few days were enhanced due to the waterfalls being reinvigorated.

Now for three days of fabulous hikes, all in bright blue sky days.  First was our hike to Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, and the connecting John Muir and Mist trails.  With a climb of 1,900 feet and 9 miles of trails, we spent the day marveling at nature.  Just Awesome!!  We finished this hike with over 900 steps to get back to the trailhead.  Glad we had our "sticks"; our knees did ok.

Next day we took the loop trail around Mirror Lake.  This was a more level walk; good to take a milder hike for the day.  Great views as we walked the woods.  For the evening we took the shuttle bus to the auditorium at the Visitor Center and met Ron Kauk, a climber and his video.  Watching him rock climb up El Capitan;  amazing.

For the third day, we drove the RV up to Glacier point, first stopping to do the loop trail to and around Sentinel Dome.  What a feeling to be at 8,122 feet at the top of the Dome, and then hiking along a ridge with views of Yosemite Valley below.  What could be better than having our hikers lunch with this view!!  Following this hike, drove to the Point.  What views and more views.

With three more days scheduled in Yosemite, our plans changed.  A major snow storm was coming Sunday night and all day Monday.  Mono Lake, our destination would be snow covered and expected night time temps of 23 degrees.  yikes....  So sad to do, but changed our plans.  We got to spend a little more time with Ron, as we dropped him off at Fresno airport, on our way to Bakersfield for the night.  No snow, no rain, and temps not going below 50 degrees.  Guess we need to come back....

And we don't need this excuse.  Yosemite left us with very deep feelings for the beauty that John Muir described and pushed to save for us and future generations.  The last few days at Yosemite may be our most wonderful experience of our lives.  Hard to show in pictures or put into words.

Amazing....All CruiseAmerica Rentals

ALL CruiseAmerica rentals come with a dog.  Nice to have a companion on board!

Wine, Wine, and more Wine

Pulled into Sonoma’s Liberty Glen campground, up in the hills surrounding Lake Sonoma, and set up camp.  This is an Army Corp of Engineer project where they must have forgotten their levels – took us 8 boards to get level; no simple button pushing this time.  And then we realized that the site with the better view across the road was not reserved and we moved – only 4 boards.

Finally, level, ready and waiting, our friends, Ray & Ann, arrive from the central coast of California   and the great times began!  Loaded 4 bikes and 4 seniors into their car for a ride down the hill to a parking lot where we could start our travels. 

 
 

Great biking on the quiet roads, riding along vineyards after vineyard.  Stopped both days at a winery where we enjoyed a bottle of their local wine  paired with our brought lunch;  all in a great outdoor setting.  For most of our biking we traveled the vineyards of Dry Creek Valley with a short trek into the adjoining Russian River Valley. 

The Redwoods, REALLY BIG TREES

           

 

 

Back in tree land; this time at Redwoods National Park in northern California.  We were here 5 years ago in a driving rain storm.  Not this time with the draught!  Sunny blue skies, except when you’re in the forest. 

The Redwoods are magnificent! 

Had to stop at The Trees of Mystery to see Paul Bunyon and his ox, Blue.  As noted in our earlier blog from 2010, PB belongs to Michigan and Minnesota.  He never made it to California…..really.  California needs to return him to his rightful home.

Camped one night at Humboldt campground under huge redwoods.  We wondered why it got dark so early.  Then walked over to the visitor center where Morey remembered from 5 years ago, the Travel Log, an RV made from a large hollowed log and it was still there.  No slideouts nor levelers though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And............There's More...Oregon Coast

We continued to drive down the Oregon coast stopping at some wonderful campgrounds and great viewpoints.  Next on our camping agenda was Bullard Beach State Park campground,  another gem of an Oregon park.  Nice campsites, a 3/4 mile walk over the dunes to the Pacific, and a nice bike ride down to the Coquilla Point lighthouse.  Oh, and almost forgot to mention that Morey took the opportunity of plentiful water and bright sunshine to give the motor home a bath -- now squeaky clean for at least a day. But as they say on those info commercial....There's even more......

A short 3 mile bike ride to Bandon  via the Route 101 bridge, and a quick turnoff to local roads brought us into this harbor side town.  Besides the usual beachy souvenir stores there was the BEST fish and chips place on the entire Pacific coast!!  At least we think it is the best...so it is!

Following our few days at Bullard Beach, we drove further south.  A two day stop at Humbug Mountain SP.  It rained for pretty much our entire time here...was it because Morey washed the RV?

Then back to sunshine and what we have decided is the nicest of the nice Oregon coastal state parks.  Harris Beach offers great views of the rocky Pacific coast; and from OUR campsite.  Note the photo on the top of this blog....it's from here.  This place besides the great views, the nice sites, even has cable TV...not that we watched any shows. 

Leaving the state tomorrow morning.....kind of sad.................

Thar she blows...............

Spotted at Rocky Creek lookout.

Camping along the Oregon Coast

There is a lot of "special" when it comes to the Oregon Coast.  Coming from a couple of East Coasters, the first is the sunsets dropping into the ocean (we have to get moving early to catch the sunrises on the east) -- of course this assumes that you can see the sun, and fortunately for us after a day and a half of rain, the sun came out and stayed with us for the next five.  How nice!

The rugged coastline with the haystacks & blowholes; the forest coming right up to the ocean; the viewpoints with the waves of waves; and all of the shore life from the tidal pools to the seals.  Then moving further south, the vast dunes and sea grasses.  Can't forget all of the lighthouses located on a scenic outcrops.  And all of the fabulous seafood from fish & chips made from salmon, cod, & halibut; to Dungenous crabs, oysters, mussels, and more.  The Oregon coast is a very special place.

We camped with our sister Kathy, her husband Mel, and their dog Layla.  Greatly enjoyed getting back together, the good camping, and the good eating.  Just felt bad that when we pulled into one of the Oregon State Park campgrounds, we setup in a few minutes and it took them much longer with their tried and true popup camper.  Once set, we then enjoyed the ocean and the forest.

Having been here with our motorhome on its initial trip five years ago, we planned camping stops at different campgrounds, with the exception of our favorite, Tillicum National Forest Campground which we went back to, since we were able to again get a site right on the ocean!! This Fall's campgrounds also included (from North to South):  Nehalem Bay SP, Beverly Beach SP, Bullard Beach SP, and not there yet but looking forward to camping at Humbug Mountain SP.  Oregon State Park campgrounds are some of the best in the country. 

City Life

We pulled into Jantzen Beach RV Park on Hayden Island so that we could take a few days to explore Portland, Oregon.  First, we were surprised to be across the street from a large shopping mecca with Target, Best Buy, TJ Max, and most important, The Home Depot!  Guess no sales tax in Oregon draws the crowds from the state of Washington on the other side of the Columbia River.

Easy and efficient mass transit helped us into the city center every day that we were here.  A frequent bus from our island home to the MAX light rail station, and then whisked to Portland.  First day we went to the Saturday Market, on Sunday...also the river front.  Then a must visit to Voodoo Donut; GOOD! 

Second day, we biked to Kelley Point where the Willamette and the Columbia rivers meet.....Lewis & Clark missed this junction...but we didn't.  On the third day we took a walking tour of the city and then a wander through the arts & craftsy Pearl district.  And on our final day, a tour of the Lan Su Chinese Garden, lunch at a Chinese restaurant (of course).... and a stop at Blue Star Donut.  Portlandiers do like their donuts.  Speaking of food, almost forgot to mention all of the food trucks here.  Some pretty good choices.


We've enjoyed our stay in a city....been a long time.  But Morey does want to know the PR agency the city of Portland uses.  Guess we're country folk.

Waterfalls, Huge Trees, Great Hiking Trails, & Wonderful Campgrounds

Our best hiking days of this trip...From Roseburg, Oregon to just west of Bend;  an incredible week!

First stop was a couple of overnights camping at Susan Creek Campground.  A BLM campground, with a great view of the rushing Umpqua River (right from our campsite!).  Even had showers...but the best was the trails.

Next a long and rather monotonous 70 mile drive on a paved logging road to Mckenzie Bridge; then stopped at the really nice and very informative National Forest Ranger station, and made our plans for the "Hiking Triangle"  (coined by us), Routes 242 to 20 to 126.  After spending the night at Paradise campground, (won't mention how we almost got our RV hung up on a 4 foot diameter tree stump), we drove Route 242 to Sisters.  This 37 mile drive took us to views of Belknap Crater and all of the lava and basalt rocks that spewed from this former volcano.  A walk through the lava fields to Proxy Falls was our highlight hike for the day.  Also stopped at the CCC built viewing tower at the summit of the road.  Fall colors are popping and the contrast with the lava rock was stellar.

Next came our couple of days camped at Coldwater Cove Campground on Clear Lake...Yep, named for the incredible 35 degree pure water.  The lake has some dead trees standing below the surface from when the lake was formed from a lava flow 3,000 years ago....and they're still there!  The cold pure water has preserved these trees.  The blue color of this lake makes the Caribbean drab....

 
From Coldwater Cove we headed out on a 7 mile section of the McKenzie River Trail hiking thru a forest of huge pines.  Stopped and oogled at Koosah and Sahalie Falls.  WOW, WOW, WOW.  Then back to the campsite to welcome David Nogueras, an old special friend to join us for lunch and some catching up.  (David lives in Bend).  After David's departure, we decided to take a  hike around part of Clear Lake....well it was so incredibly beautiful, we decided to complete the entire walk; another 5 miles.  A little bushed when we got back.  BUT WHAT A DAY !!!