SMOKE AND ALMOST FIRE

I’ll get to the smoke later, but first the “almost” fire part of my story.  Last night we were all sitting around the campfire (propane of course) and I decided to walk over and stick my nose in the fire ring! Not too bright. My Kathe jumped up to save me from becoming a canine torch and promptly fell on her buttocks. Luckily, Warren jumped over and pulled me to safety.  It was very scary for all of us. Note to self: don’t do that again!

Okay now for now the smoke part. Today the humans set out for a hike the Ross Dam trail. As they started driving east the sky started getting darker, and darker. By the time they reached the North Cascades National Park they smelled the smoke. The Ranger told us that the closest fire is about 25 miles away. We are only getting the smoke today because the wind shifted but she advised us not to continue to Ross Dam. 

The Ranger gave two suggestions for hikes where they would not be impacted (inhaling) smoke.  The first hike was the River Loop Trail which was right in the National Park.  It was a very peaceful gravel trail with forest of old grove redwoods and a great view of the Skagit River. 

After returning to our campsite, they took another hike right here in Rockport. The Ranger also recommended this hike in the Rockport State Park. By this time the winds had changed making hiking in this park really enjoyable.  The Sauk Spring Trail had many very tall Redwood including one called the grandmother which was over 400-year-old. The last hike of the day was another view of the Skagit River walking through a forest of beautiful redwoods and ferns. Everyone is tired and happy tonight. 

UP AND OVER THE MOUNTAIN

The drive today was gnarly. We drove highway 20 from Twist to Rockport, Washington. It was a hard drive for Warren and Jim but everyone else enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The Mountains were so high that we thought we were in Canada again. We drove up and over Washington pass at 5,477, then down and across Rainy pass at 4,855 ft. All around us were even higher mountains! Mt. Logan at 9,087 ft, Gardner Mountain at 8,897 ft, and many other mountains over 8,000 ft in the distance. 

And the trees! Forests of western red-cedar, big leaf maple, ponderosa pine, red alder, and lodgepole pine for miles and miles around us. There were a few waterfalls, and we even saw snow on some mountain tops. As we approached the end of our drive we could see Diablo Lake, a huge glaciated green lake with lots of people on paddle boards. My Kathe tried to take pictures through the windshield, so pardon the bugs!

Our home for the next three days is Glacier Peak Winery and RV Park. It’s a beautiful setting with lots of trees and blackberries bushes. Of course, Jim doesn’t like our site, but I reminded him that it’s Labor Day weekend and we’re lucky to have any spot! There are several hiking trails. I like it here as we have a big grass area between our two sites for Lady Bella and me to sniff and relax. We might be the only doggies here in the park, so we have the whole place to explore. 

There is a possibility that we might go fishing while we are here. There’s a river across the highway from our campground which is a beautiful clear green, but too shallow for fishing without a boat. 

FISH ON

The sun is shining today, and our RV park is filling up in anticipation of the Labor Day weekend. There’s been a lot of talk all week about finding the best place to go fishing here in Twisp. Jim and Warren ask the people in every sporting goods store and picked up some maps of lakes in the area. After much deliberation they decided to buy fishing licenses and travel to Blackpine Lake today where the fish were supposed to be ready for the taking.

After packing the car with fishing gear, camp chairs, and lunch and set off for the lake. Even with GPS they couldn’t find the right road. After several false starts, they finally drove on Twisp River Road for 11 miles before they found a faded sign on the side of road with an arrow pointing left. “Blackpine 8 miles ahead.”  They drove the first 4 miles on pavement, the next 4 miles on gravel, and finally found the lake.

It was a beautiful lake, but the fish weren’t exactly easy to catch. After trying all hooks, lures, and bait, Kathy T caught the first fish. It was a really large trout, big enough to take home. They continued to fish for hours trying different equipment and didn’t get another bite. 

A couple of kids joined them on the dock and started pulling fish out one after another. After watching them catch 4 in a row, Jim asked what method and type of bait they were using. He then followed their directions and right away he caught a large trout. 

It was a great day even if they only went home with 2 fish. The fish are in the freezer for now. Our fish dinner will have to wait. It was sausages and cabbage with apples tonight.

PEARRYGIN LAKE PARK

We were happy this morning to see that the rain had finally stopped. It wasn’t a bad storm, just light rain all night long. The sun never came out today, but it didn’t stop the humans from their plans for a bike ride in the State Park.  Well, at least 3 out of 4 planned to ride, but my Kathe decided to just hike in the park. She wanted to avoid another crash after her last encounter with the pavement. At least she can still stay upright while walking!

The bike trail started out on gravel and then turned into a single narrow track. It was difficult for Warren as his electric bike wasn’t working at all, and Kathy’s controller stopped working several times causing her to fall into the bushes. Seems like Jim was the only one who enjoyed the ride. His bike has lots of gears in addition to an electric motor. They were all disappointed except my Kathe who walked for about an hour and then sat on a bench reading her Kindle while waiting for the riders to return.

 

While she was hiking, she stopped to take some pictures of the lake. The terrain was very dry and there was recently a fire in one area of the park. There were still lots of green pine trees and grass around the lake. A good lake for the paddle boarders.

If you’re wondering what I’ve been doing I’ve been taking very slow walks around the campground and along the river. So far, I haven’t seen any wildlife. No chipmunks, no squirrels, nada. I did find a feather this afternoon, but no bird. I’ll keep looking!

AT LAST A RAINY DAY

It’s been so hot everywhere we’ve gone that a little rain was welcome this morning.  In my opinion it wasn’t rain, just a few sprinkles here and there, I didn’t even need to shake it off when I came inside. But you know humans, a little rain and the raincoats and windbreakers come out. They have such short fur it really does seem necessary to me. All this worry about rain cancelled out the plans for fishing and bike riding today. It took all four of them sitting around this morning to decide what to do in the “rain.”

First, they visited the number one thing to do in Twisp, the Cinnamon Twisp Bakery. Eight pastries and four coffees later, it was time to explore the town of Winthrop.

Driving to Winthrop with everyone telling Jim different directions, they almost missed the town. My Kathe remembered being here before and finally convinced him to drive over the bridge into the historic area of town.  They spent the whole afternoon shopping in the various shops. Jim finally bought a new pair of hiking boots after years of shopping for the perfect pair. We shall see!

The town has a western theme and wooden sidewalks and many of the store fronts look like they are the original stores from 1924 when the town was established. The Kathies looked at all the kitchen gadgets and clothing, but the guys did a lot of bench warming. 

Later, they finally found the ACE hardware store and purchased fishing licenses. Looks like the Taylor’s and Jim plan to catch our Friday dinner. My Kathe is taking no chances, going to the grocery store just in case. Looks like it’s bike riding tomorrow if the weather clears. 

TWISP

A short and scenic drive today to the town of Twisp, our home for the next four nights, the Riverbend Resort. The highway was steep in many parts and a lot of sharp turns. Our drive was interesting, we left behind all the orchards and vineyards along the river, and we started to see more fields of hay and horses. Once we got set up at the campground, we had sites facing the Methow River. They are long sites with some grass and lots of trees for shade. It is very warm here but not as hot as previous spots at Summerhill Farm. 

This afternoon we just watched the river go by. It’s shallow and there are lots of rocks. There is some talk of fishing, as there are several lakes nearby. Will it ever be more than talk, I wonder? Jim wants to find a hike, but it’s still very warm for that, at least if we went fishing, I could dip my paws in the water and cool off.

The “She Shed” was finally set up this evening. Dinner was served inside the screened in shed. While they were eating dinner, they thought they saw a black bear across the river behind a tree! Then all of a sudden there were 10 or 15 of them coming down to the river to drink! Only they were black cows! 

ONE LAZY DAY

It was so hot today that everyone slept in until after nine o’clock. It was a lazy day for all of us. After my second breakfast, I went back to sleep. I got tired of watching Jim on his phone and Kathe with her nose in her Kindle, so I curled up and got some shut eye. 

Then around eleven o’clock Kathe pulled out her needlepoint and Jim went over to the Taylor’s to help chop up some oak wood for the barbecue.

Kathy T spent the morning organizing kitchen cabinets. The biggest excitement all day for the humans was their trip to Walmart. Told you it was a lazy day.

We are just about the only campers here today as most everyone left on Sunday. It’s really, really quiet here with just us and the coyotes at night.

Kathe and Jim went out to the u-pick raspberries this afternoon only to find that the vines had all been cut down. Never fear, they picked some giant blackberries and bought a watermelon at the farm store.  

If you ask me, it was really a nice restful day. Tonight we watched the farmers kids on their motor bikes chasing the deer away from the apple trees. Perhaps something more exciting will happen tomorrow when we get to Twisp, Washington.

Here are some pictures of the farm, it was really a great four days here.

LAKE CHELAN

It’s very hot today. Over 100 degrees and there are no trees to shade us in this big metal box we live in. Luckily, we have 3 air conditioners going at full blast so staying inside is the ticket for me.

The humans decided to explore the area of Lake Chelan this afternoon. First, they started to drive around the lake. They drove for miles and never reached the end of this giant lake. It’s over 50 miles long and at its widest point it’s two miles across. There were lots of boats on the lake and hundreds of homes built on the shore. They were thinking about renting a boat tomorrow but decided to do that at a smaller less populated lake.  There were many boats, paddle boards, and kayaks in the lake today.

They drove into the historical town center and watched a dozen or more teenagers jumping off the bridge going into town. There is a sign that says “no jumping off the bridge” but that didn’t seem to stop anyone. There were several interesting shops in the town. A few clothing stores, a kitchen store, a health food market, and several real estate brokers in one city block. The Kathies purchased some fudge, and my Kathe bought some kitchen gadgets. Then it was time for lunch. They stopped at a bar and grill and ate huge salads before heading back home to nap before dinner.

This evening, they had dinner at the Siren Song winery. A beautiful setting high above the lake. They enjoyed the wine and the dinner and took this photograph before the sun set tonight.

JUST CHILLING

Another day on the farm! While I was taking my after-breakfast nap, Jim and Kathe walked to the edge of the farm to check out the Farm Store. Goodness knows we don’t need any more fruits or vegetables, but they couldn’t resist. There is a raspberry patch in front of our coach and this morning they were harvesting the berries. Jim and Kathe got the last box for $6 at the farm store, they look delicious. Apparently, they have a u-pick option and for $4 you can pick a pint for yourself. Maybe they will do that before we leave the farm on Monday.

Today's activity was mostly chores for the humans. Jim paying bills and Kathe doing laundry. I have been enjoying this place on my many short walks during the day and longer walks when it cools off in the evening. Kathy T said she heard coyotes last night, so we better be careful.

This afternoon Warrens daughter and grandson arrived for the day. They went kayaking this morning and arrived after lunch. Tawny, Warren’s daughter knows a lot about the wineries in this area. She suggested they make a trip to one of her favorites, Tildio Winery. It was a beautiful setting overlooking the lake. Warren stayed home with his grandson and started cooking the ribs he plans to serve for dinner tonight.  

Right now, it’s time for Margaritas, chips and guacamole, over at the Taylor’s. I’m going too, you never know when the chips may fall. 

DOWN ON THE FARM

Interesting drive today. We passed miles and miles of pear orchards just ripe for the picking. Of course, at 60 miles per hour my pictures are a blur. We know that all those pears are ready to be picked because there were large wooden boxes set out by the orchards waiting to be filled. Once we passed the city of Wenatchee we drove north all along Lake Entiat, a 17-mile-long reservoir. Lots of water skiers on that smooth water.

Finding our destination, Summerhill Farm RV Park was really difficult.  We drove past the city of Chelan, past the Lake, and up, up, up to the top of steep hill before we finally found the place. We were thinking that we would be camped by a Lake, but instead we are camped on a farm.  

It’s not what we expected but it’s really pretty special. It’s a working farm and we have full hookups facing a field of raspberries and the apple orchards. There are several tent sites in between the rows of apple trees where families have set up camp, but our sites are more traditional. There’s a farm store where we can purchase all kinds of fruits and vegetables on the honor system. 

It was super warm today when I went to visit the goats, but now it’s cool and so quiet. Since we are so far away from the city tonight the stars amazing!

LAST DAY AT ICICLE RIVER

It was a slow morning for me and my Kathe. The Taylors and Jim left us home and went on a long bike ride. So, with nothing else to do, I got dunked into the kitchen sink for a bath. I was pretty shabby after two weeks in the dirt and now I’m beautiful again. The bike ride was sort of a bust as Kathy T got a flat tire and the electric motor on Warren’s bike pooped out. Jim had to ride his bike back to the campsite and drove Warrens car back to the rescue. My Kathe was glad to stay home.

This is our last night here on the river. There is some wildlife here, mostly dogs chasing sticks in the river. We did see a deer one night crossing the river very slowly. And last night someone left trash out and a black bear helped himself to a meal. 

After a trip to the fruit stand and the Safeway today, I think we’re ready to move on. Tomorrow it’s a short 61 miles to Chelan as we continue the Cascade Loop. I’m looking forward to new territory!

WENATCHEE AND CASHMERE

First tonight, my Kathe wants to say thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes to her today. I know she was trying to forget about getting older, but look at all the fun we are having, Jim and I made her favorite blueberry pancakes this morning and the day just kept getting better.

While I was sleeping, they slipped out to explore a couple of nearby towns. In Wenatchee they visited the Pybar Public Market. A really interesting market with lots of food and crafts for sale. The market was in a quiet area along the river and the city park.

The town of Cashmere is the home of the Aplets and Cotlets factory. They visited this place several years ago and wanted to go back for more of the delicious candies. They didn’t take a factory tour this time. They just ate samples and bought boxes of candy. The last time they were here the town was deserted and now there are new buildings and businesses down every street. Sadly, the “Cowboys Barbecue" was replaced by another not so great restaurant where they had lunch.

They discovered a giant antique shop on the other end of town and spent over an hour looking in all the displays. For a while my Kathe got lost because were so many tiny rooms to explore.

Tonight, the cocktail was a Key Lime martini with a graham cracker twist. And for the birthday girl a crab fettuccine dinner.

LEAVENWORTH

Retail therapy today. While I was sleeping my humans sneaked out to go shopping in Leavenworth. This town is a German Disneyland. All the buildings are styled to make the town look like a little Bavaria. There are lots of interesting shops, restaurants, and bakeries all with a German theme.  They spent the whole morning shopping and decided to have pizza for lunch after the heavy German food they ate last night.

Years ago, the town of Leavenworth was on the verge of becoming a ghost town. After the loss of the logging industry and the railroad, the townspeople proposed a Bavarian theme village to boost tourism. It sure worked. There were hundreds of families out last night and again this afternoon enjoying the town.

We are going to cook hamburgers tonight and just maybe something for us doggies

STEVENS PASS

Most scenic drive yet! We drove from Sultan to Leavenworth on Route 2 and climbed over Steven’s Pass. The elevation is over 4000 feet, and the views are spectacular. These pictures were taken through the windshield this morning as we followed the Taylors down the mountain. We were glad we were here in the summer as they have 62 snowfall days, and the snow can be as high as 337 feet in the pass.

We arrived at the Icicle River Resort in the early afternoon. There was a lot of confusion about our sites with the Taylor’s being on one side of the park with a view of the river and we were not next to them. They tried to put us in a spot that was for a 25/foot rig and we almost fit. We were way across the park from the Taylor’s and that site was so tippy that we couldn’t get level. Kathe wasn’t very happy about the mix up at all. No river view either! 

About 30 minutes later they moved us to another site, and we were moved closer to the Taylor’s and had our river view, seem they gave our site to someone else, and we were given a site for a couple named Rebus not Riha. Everything sort of worked out but what a mess!

All the humans went to a German Restaurant this evening. They all ate too much and drank beer. They were singing along to the accordion player and really enjoyed themselves. 

Bella and I walked together after dinner with the Kathies. We explored the park and had a great time meeting and greeting others of our kind. Fun!

IRON GOAT TRAIN TRAIL

It was a perfect day for a hike. About 40 minutes away from where we are staying, they found the Iron Goat Train Trail. This trail follows the abandoned route of the Great Northern Railway’s original line over the Cascades. It was a beautiful, easy four-mile hike, we walked through railroad history. There were several small waterfalls along the way, and the trail went up to the opening of several tunnels cut through the mountain. They explored the tunnels and walked the path that the train followed. There were collapsed timers along the route that once protected the tracks from the snow.

The railroad was built in 1893 by 800 worker, many of them Japanese immigrants who laid the tracks across the Cascades through Steven’s Pass. In 1910 the tracks were abandoned due a catastrophic avalanche which killed 96 people. In 1929 a new tunnel bypassed the area and provided a safer route over Steven’s Pass. 

This is our last night here at Cascades RV Resort, tomorrow we move on to Leavenworth for some schnitzel and pretzels.

SULTAN WASHINGTON

It rained all night here in Sultan. I don’t mind the rain too much, but I don’t think Kathe likes getting out of bed 2 or 3 times a night so that I can go outside and do my thing. There’s no doggie door, so if I go outside, she’s got to go with me. At 5:00 AM the rain had stopped and just as we walked to the grassy area, the sprinklers came on full blast. Kathe’s PJs are still drying out!

Sultan is a very small town with a population of under 5,000 people. There’s not much to do here but the surrounding scenery is beautiful. The town lies at the confluence of the Skykomish River and the Sultan River and was founded in 1889.  Today the sky is still threatening more rain. The humans went into town this morning to the small farmers market in park.  I guess they bought enough fruit yesterday that they came home empty handed. Warren is still wondering about picking some more blackberries, there are lots here right in front of our coach.

This afternoon Warren and Jim are worked together to fix our passenger chair. The part arrived here in the park and was waiting for us yesterday. Both coaches suffered last night in the heavy rain and wind. Our passenger window has been leaking for a long time and last night the Taylor’s developed the same issue. Both men spent the night stuffing paper towels in the windowsill to keep water out of the electronic panels. Maybe they will fix that issue too. Right now, they are trying to fix a window shade spring. That shade that just won’t stay down. It takes 4 hands to fix it! 

Tonight, the cocktail is a Lunar Lagoon Martini.

WORST DRIVE EVER

Today we had a short drive made much longer with TRAFFIC almost the entire way. I know it’s Friday, but where’s everybody going? In addition to 103 miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic, it was raining all day. We turned a two-hour drive into a four-hour drive. 

First thing this morning, we got up early so the humans could go to the great farmers market in Olympia where they stocked up on vegetables, fruit and pastries. Then they drove back to hook up the cars and start on the way to Sultan, Washington. Only Kathe and Jim were locked out of our coach.  Something not so funny with the locking mechanism. Jim finally figured it out and we off like a herd of turtles.

Stopping in Tacoma for fuel was the next in our series of mishaps today. Wrong turns are no fun with a 40-foot coach towing a Jeep. It took a while to get in the right spot, get the fuel and find our way back to the Interstate. GPS was not friendly today! 

We finally arrived at the RV Resort at about 4:00 and we were able to get set up before it started raining cats and dogs. About the only thing good I can say about today is that with this rain, I won’t be getting a bath any time soon.

BACK IN THE WOODS

Easy drive today. Only123 miles straight up the Interstate to Olympia, Washington. This place is beautiful. It’s called American Heritage Campground with over 20 acres of open land away from any busy streets. Big sites in the tall pine trees, full hookups with the feeling of being in the forest. We love it. Each site backs into the trees and it feels like we are the only people here. Oh, and it’s cool.  We were surprised to see the leaves were starting to turn the farther north we drove, it’s an early fall here.

When we arrived, we found that there was a food truck waiting for us here in the campground. My humans all had homemade pulled pork sandwiches for lunch. Too bad we’re not staying till the weekend when they have biscuits and gravy and waffles.

This afternoon I went for a walk in the woods with Kathe and managed to get pine sap in my fur. With all the pinecones and pine needles here it’s easy to do. Not so easy to undo. It takes a lot of pulling and some bad words before Kathe can get the gook out of my fur. Scissors were necessary. 

While I was getting into trouble this afternoon, Bella was sitting in a camp chair watching Kathy T coloring outside in the shade. It was a lazy afternoon for all of us. Planning on a campfire tonight if it doesn’t rain.

OREGON CITY

Early this morning Kathe and Jim drove to Portland to have coffee and pastries with our former next-door neighbors, the Grants. Their beautiful home feels like they are living in the middle of a forest. They spent several hours catching up and reminiscing about the time when they lived in Los Angeles. Soon it was time for them to come back home and feed me my second (or third) breakfast.

Then, this afternoon our four humans took a drive to Oregon City. They took the scenic route, through the country, to avoid the freeway.  Oregon City was the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains and the end of Oregon Trail.

Willamette Falls was the destination today. Kathe took pictures from both sides of the falls. The east side was easy to get to, right in the middle of town, but the west side involved getting onto the freeway and pulling into the viewpoint. Both sides were spectacular. Many years ago, there was a power plant, a paper mill, sawmill, and a woolen mill all operating in the huge concrete buildings on the riverside. Those buildings were abandoned. Plans have been begun to turn the whole area into a housing and commercial development. 

Tomorrow, we head to Washington!

NOT QUITE PORTLAND

Another 187 miles of driving today and here we are in Wilsonville, Oregon. It was supposed to be cooler here and it’s not. The only good thing I can say about this place is that there is a lot of shade from the pine trees. But there are about one million pinecones to walk on when you think you’re going to be walking grass. Those things do not tickle and with my poor eyesight I’m tripping over them and stumbling. Eventually, Kathe took me to a nice smooth spot around the corner. 

We are here for two nights, and I hope things will be better for me tomorrow.  It’s supposed to rain which will cool us off a little bit.

I’m a little tired of all this driving and I wish we would get to the vacation part of the trip. In a few more days we will be in Washington, and the drives will be shorter and the staying in one place will be longer than one or two days.

Tonight, all the humans are going out for dinner and Bella, and I are once again hopeful that a doggie bag is in our future. 

STILL HERE, STILL HOT

Another day here at Seven Feathers Casino Resort. It’s so hot that doggies like me are becoming vampires. It’s too hot to go outside in the daylight, so the only time I see my kind is after sunset. Weird! Even my humans are spending more time inside keeping cool. 

Last night at the casino was a bust for my humans. They managed to turn $70 dollars into $1.69 in a matter of minutes. The Taylor’s had better luck and came home with our $70 dollars. At least the dinner was delicious at the STIX restaurant. I think the gambling may be over for this place.

Today the big plan was a trip to Roseburg which is about 25 minutes north of Canyonville.  They have a Costco and a Walmart in that town.  We really don’t have room to add anything else in the coach. They just bought more wine and vegetables, so I know that means that Warren will be cooking dinner tonight.

Some of my friends are wondering why my humans aren’t drinking cocktails on this trip. They are but I keep forgetting to keep a record of who’s drinking what. The female humans seem to be cutting back and have only made three cocktails in seven days. I think it has something to do with weight loss. I have seen Mojitos, Lemon Drop Martinis, and the Black Swan served this week. Tonight, it’s Margaritas. It’s just plain water for me and Lady Bella and tequila for Jim.

ITS SO HOT

We’re here in Canyonville, Oregon for the next two nights. It was 105 degrees when we arrived this afternoon and it’s supposed to be even hotter tomorrow.  

The drive was uneventful, lots of cattle ranches and dry grass with oak trees along the 158 miles we traveled. This part of our vacation is not as much fun as we are traveling quickly to the places where we really want to spend more time in Washington and Oregon. 

Seven Feathers Casino has a beautiful RV Resort that’s known as one of the top-rated places to stay in all the camping magazines. There almost 200 sites that are beautifully landscaped with native trees and plants. These petunias are planted at every corner for a splash of color.

Tonight, the humans are off to the casino for drinks and dinner, and maybe a little gambling. Wish them luck!

HEDGE CREEK FALLS

It’s a beautiful day here at the Mount Shasta KOA. That’s how they answer the phone and it’s true today. It’s 95 degrees, warm enough to need the air conditioning, but the giant pine trees all around keep us in the shade. 

I’ve been walking around sniffing the pinecones and checking for squirrels at least three times a day. I may not walk as far or as fast as I used to but show me that red leash and I’m out the door.

While I was home enjoying the cool tile on the kitchen floor the humans went out exploring.  Not too far from our camp there is a trail to Hedge Creek Falls. There were lots of families out today hiking through the woods to enjoy the pine forest and the waterfall. My humans hiked down to the falls where the temperature of the air was at least

10 degrees cooler. Of course, the water was extremely cold coming from the mountain snowpack and only the young kids were brave enough to get wet.

After the hike they drove to Lake Shasta for a picnic at a lake side table under the pine trees. 

This last picture is the view from the top of the hill above the Hedge Creek Trail. 

MT SHASTA

I did try out the new lounge chair last night, but I have to share it with my humans.

I don’t have much to say tonight. Our drive today was longer than yesterday. We drove 217 miles mostly on I-5 and without much traffic it was actually a much better drive. Except for the heat. Most of the day it was 105 degrees, but now that we are camped under the giant pine trees it’s starting to cool down. We drove past a lot of agricultural areas, nuts of course, but some vineyards, sunflowers and even rice. 

Sorry, but there is not much to report when you drive all day, but we did pass Lake Shasta on the way. Our campsite is very close to Mount Shasta. I took a short walk around the campground with Kathe and we’re going to explore more tomorrow!

NUT TREE TOWN

It’s so hot very today. There is not even a hint of a breeze. I could stay outside and roast, or I could just stay inside in the air conditioning. So that’s what I did all day today.

The humans used the morning to catch up on errands. First, a trip to Camping World for some essentials and a beautiful new lounge chair. And after that, a shopping trip to Safeway.  When you are on a long voyage like we are, you never know when you will see a good grocery store again.  We wouldn’t want to starve to death!

They decided to investigate Vacaville after lunch this afternoon. There are two interesting areas to explore. Everything is either on Nut Tree Road or Nut Tree Expressway. Guess there are some nuts somewhere, but we haven’t seen any yet. The historic downtown Vacaville is very quiet with beautiful trees, narrow streets, and a beautiful park. Not too many shops, mostly all restaurants and bars there. They were setting up for a concert in the square tonight, live blues music.

The other area they explored was NutTree Plaza. That’s where all the shops like Ultra Beauty, BevMo, and Nordstrom’s Rack are located with about fifty other stores. There were a lot of shoppers out this afternoon. The Kathies did some damage at Home Goods before coming back to camp.

We would all like to sit outside in the shade tonight when it cools down. I claim the new lounge chair!

WHERE’S THE VINEYARD RV PARK

Another long drive today, made even longer by a 25-minute delay in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the 680. The first part of the drive today along highway 101 was really great with fields of onion, cauliflower, and broccoli for miles and miles.  

I wasn’t very happy about the drive this afternoon at all.  I drove Jim and Kathe crazy screeching for the last hour of the drive. They finally stopped on the side of a freeway ramp for me to do some business and I rode the rest of the way happily under the table. Kathe took some aspirin and turned on all three air conditioners at 3:00 when we finally reached the RV park. I’m still staying under the table.

This place is called the Vineyard RV park, but there’s not a grapevine in sight.  Just a lot of dirt, gravel and a little grass at our spot. There are some nice shade trees, but it’s still way too hot here. Especially when you have to wear a fur coat. 

WINDY DAY

Most of today was spent driving from Buellton to our next stop in Greenfield, CA.  An uneventful drive except for the fact that we needed to stop for fuel at the only Truck Stop between the two areas. Jim was a little worried that we’d run out of fuel before we could find real diesel fuel. Lots of biodiesel around but that’s not what we need. When we approached our fuel stop there was so much construction that we couldn’t cross the 101 at Wellsona Road and had to travel north to the next U- turn. Unfortunately, the Taylor’s missed the turn and had to travel north for a while before they could turn around and make it back to us.

Once together, we drove to our lunch stop near Camp Robert’s and listened to the machine gun practice across the street from the rest stop. We arrived at our destination, Yanks RV Resort at about 3:00. It’s especially windy here all the time and today was no exception. 

It’s so windy that I almost got blown over when I went for a little walk across the street. So windy, in fact, that one of our compartment doors came unglued and was bowed out when we arrived. We just got the passenger seat sorted out this morning, and the new part is on its way from Tiffin. Now, Jim and Warren have another project to work on. Get out the wrenches and take the door off, and with a little epoxy to glue it back together it will be fixed. We hope!