JANTZEN BEACH (NO BEACH) RV PARK

 

After a long drive today, we finally reached our destination in Portland, Jentzen Beach. Kathe remembered staying here several year ago, but things have changed. This time the place is mostly mobile homes and not many spaces for traveling folks like us.  And there isn’t a beach, there never was one, but we used to be able to walk to the Columbia River last time we stayed here. 

Now, the access to the river is fenced off almost everywhere. Kathe and Jim walked for a long time and were never able to get near the water for a picture. At least they got some steps in tonight.

They decide to take the car, and they kept driving around and around and down toward the river. Blocked at every place they tried. Best thing you can say is that there are no homeless camps on the river here in Portland. They finally trespassed on someone’s lawn to take this picture almost at sunset.

UP AND DOWN THE MOUNTAINS

 Beautiful drive today. Beautiful scenery, we passed Lake Shasta and Mt. Shasta, but the traveling up and down and round and round made my head spin.  Did you ever wonder if dog’s ears pop like human ears? Well, they do! Lots of steep grades today and lots of ear popping but at least the roads in Northern California were smooth today.

This is a picture of Lake Shasta. The water level is so much higher than the last time we saw it. Made me wish we were going on a houseboat trip, such beautiful smooth water. I tried to get a good picture of Mt. Shasta but there were always too many trees in the way.  Take my word for it that mountain is huge and still covered in snow. And beautiful.

We kept driving out of California into Oregon where we are spending tonight. We tried to make reservations months ago at Seven Feathers in Canyonville but there were no sites available.  We ended up at Stanton County Park practically across the street from Seven Feathers.  A little hard to find our sites, they were way back along the river.  As you can see it was worth the effort.

EXPLORING REDDING

Last night was a rough one. It was so hot that we had all three air conditioners running and my humans were discussing the problem for a while before anyone could get to sleep. The coolest place in the coach was the floor tile under the bed. Unfortunately, no one would join me down there. Part of the problem was electrical. Jim was concerned about the power coming into the coach and the amount of power necessary to run all three airs. Eventually, after midnight they turned on two air conditioners and went to sleep.

Today the four humans went into Redding to check out the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. There is an indoor Museum, and a huge outdoor park built along the Sacramento River. There’s a beautiful bridge over the river that’s known as the Sundial Bridge. It was built in 2004 and is the highlight of the Sacramento River Trail. The bridge is a working sundial as the shadow traces an arc on the river from 11am to 3pm.

After a delicious lunch at the Bridge Bistro, it was time to check out the Museum.  There were exhibitions about building the Shasta Dam and the design and construction of the Sundial Bridge.  There was a mini–Shasta Cavern to walk through complete with some bats on the ceiling.

The Kathie’s went to the parrot exhibit and let the birds eat nectar while the birds landed all over them. Kathy T enjoyed feeding them, but my Kathe not so much.  After the parrots they went into a butterfly exhibit where there were so many butterflies it was hard to walk around without stepping on one.

HOTTER THAN HOT

A long drive up the extremely rough I-5 today. So rough in fact that both Jim and Warren are working to repair their bathroom walls. The bumps and potholes were so bad these last two days that the walls have shifted in both coaches. Jim tried to bolt the wall to the floor last night, but it moved again today. Both guys are getting out the toolboxes and working on the problem this afternoon.

It’s super-hot here today, at least 104 in the shade. There’s a nice patch of soft green grass at each of our sites.  We didn’t see anything but dried grass and weeds at the last two places and that’s quite a problem for me. Foxtails and dried grass stick to my coat and boy, does Kathe get after me with the brush. She’s not too gentle, but I understand that foxtails can really hurt if they get into my skin.

Too hot for the humans to cook dinner tonight. Even too hot for martinis! Now that’s a first. Guess I’ll just relax after my meal and chill out on the cool tile floor.

FLAG CITY

We’re here in Lodi, California for one night.  It’s a nice park, but not a blade of grass anywhere, just lots of rocks.  I’m glad it’s only one night, because it’s a flaming hot 100 degrees and windy. It’s like opening the oven door when Kathe and I go walking. Luckily there are some tall shade trees between the campsites. I’m just going from one tree to the next and then right back into the air conditioning. It’s even too hot for any interesting critters outside, so there’s really no reason to stay outside anyway.

It was a short drive today, all the way on the interstate, and it was so bumpy it was shaking my crate so much I couldn’t sleep. We were all very happy to stop for a rest and some lunch, just for a rest from the crazy potholes.

Tomorrow we are looking forward to stopping in Redding where it’s supposed to be a little cooler.  

COALINGA THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE

It’s our first night, after a reasonably short drive, we stopped here at the Almond Tree “Resort”. We’ve been here many times before as it’s the only game in town along I-5 headed North. Not much to talk about here, except to say there are no almond trees anywhere near the place.  They replaced them years ago with pistachios, but I guess they forgot to change their name. We heard a rumor that there is going to be a new RV Park at Harris Ranch which is about 10 mile north on I-5.  That would be swell, 50 amps and a steak dinner, I can’t wait!

Anyway, after a couple of long walks around the place, and some snooping around the oleanders I'm ready for a long nap. 

The drive was uneventful, and we were happy to meet up with Kathy and Warren.  Bella and Gianni are already napping so we haven’t even seen them yet. Guess the real fun will start tomorrow.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...

Here we go again. They tell me we are going to Alaska for the whole summer. Sounds like I heard that one before, but this time they assure me that we are going to make it all the way. Keep your paws crossed!

We are starting up the coastal route this time and will cross into Canada from Washington, so that's a change from last year.  I have my doggie passport so I shouldn't have a problem at the crossing, but I'm keeping my Mountie with me just in case I have trouble. 

We are going with the same cast of characters as last year, Kathy, Warren, Bella and Gianni Taylor and of course my humans, Kathe and Jim. I'm another year older and have a few more problems, but I still know how to have fun on a road trip. Just thinking of all the adventures makes my gray whiskers twitch. Squirrels, Elk, and Moose, up close and a bear or two from my window. Things are looking up; just hope I can stay awake, long enough to enjoy the ride.  I do really enjoy my naps!