12. Oregon

The morning of August 4th, drove 2 hours inland from Crescent City, CA to Cave Junction, Oregon. Took a 90 minute tour of the Oregon Caves National Monument, which had lots of steps but not many features. Spent the night at an RV park just outside the town. Had some great food at Taylor's Sausages.

On the twisty road up to the Caves

One of the cave's features

Next day, drove 3 hours inland through the mountains to Crater Lake National Park. Spent 1 night at the park's campground, and used my scooter to drive around the lake. It got real smoky in the afternoon from a forest fire 150 miles away, so the lake views were not clear.

Next morning, drove two hours North to Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Did a 2 mile hike in the lava cave, and another hike into the lava fields at Lava Lands Visitor Center.  Spent the night at my first Oregon State Park, called LaPine State Park, which was really nice.

Lava field at Lava Lands Visitor Center

Next day, drove through the city of Bend, then to the town of Sisters, and then took the wonderful 36 mile scenic byway over McKenzie Pass, which had been recommended by Reuben.  At the top of the pass was another lava field and a visitor center built by the Conservation Corps in the 1930's.

Arrived in the city of Eugene in early afternoon, checked into an RV park, then spent the rest of the day riding my bike around lots of nice bike paths and bridges over the Willamette river. The city is the home of the University of Oregon Mighty Ducks.

Next morning drove 1 hour North to Salem, where I spent 1 hour seeing the state capitol building and walking around downtown.

Early afternoon, drove 30 minutes to Silver Falls State Park, where I did the famous 8.5 mile hike around 10 waterfalls, which was wonderful.  Stayed the night at the park's campground which was very nice.

Next day drove 2 hours West to the coast, then up North to Fort Stevens State Park where I stayed at their campground for 2 nights. It is part of Lewis and Clark National Historic Park. Used my scooter to drive around the fort and to Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark spent the winter before returning to the East. Also visited the town of Astoria, and the beach resorts of Seaside and Cannon Beach.

Peter Iredale wreck - Fort Stevens State Park

WW II Canon at Fort Stevens

 Astoria Column

 Canon Beach

After a nice two day stay, drove 2 hours East along the Columbia river and stayed in Portland, the biggest city, for 2 nights. Walked around and toured the Rose Gardens - it is called the City of Roses

Leaving Portland, drove East on the Columbia River Scenic Byway, a narrow, twisting road with excellent views of the  river, which is the border between Oregon and Washington. Toured the Bonneville Lock, Dam, and Fish Hatchery, Cascade Locks, Hood River, and other sights.

 Fish Ladder at Bonneville

Spent the night east of the town of The Dalles in Deschutes River State Rec Area, which was really nice.

Next morning, drove back west to the town of Hood River, then south along Hood River Valley Fruit Loop, and then the Mount Hood Scenic Byway. Drove up to historic Timberline Lodge and hiked up Mt. Hood for an hour, where they still had one narrow ski run open.

 Cross country skiier going up and snow groomer coming down

Stayed my last night in Oregon about 45 minutes south of Portland in Milo McIver State Park, near the town of Estacada. Really like the Oregon state park system, as they are in nice places and there are many electric & water hookups.

Clackamas River in the state park

Next day, August 15th, said goodbye to Oregon, one of my favorite states so far, then drove North 2 hours on I-5 into Washington.

11. Oakland, San Francisco and the rest of California

Arrived in Oakland at my cousin Reuben and Eileen's house on July 17th and spent 5 relaxing and enjoyable days with them. Their son Seth lives nearby, and so was also able to spend a lot of time with him and his two dogs.

Driving tour of San Francisco on way to dinner in San Rafael - Seth, Reuben, Me, Eileen

After dinner in San Rafael  with Micah (older son), Jen (wife) and Elizabeth (10 months)

Happy grandparents and father, and tired little girl.

Toured U of Cal - Berkeley with Reuben

Oakland Aviation Museum - Reuben volunteers there, so I got a nice personal tour

Spent a day on my own walking around hilly San Francisco- Chinatown, Alcatraz, Famous seal, Street car

Monday, July 22nd, said goodbye to Reuben and Eileen, drove Northeast across Richmond bridge to Muir Woods but there was nowhere to park so drove on to Point Reyes National Seashore which was really nice.

That afternoon, drove to Petaluma, a nice town 40 miles North of San Francisco, where Micah, Jen and Elizabeth live in the country with Jen's parents, Bonnie and Noel. Spent 2 nights there, and had a really nice time. Noel and Bonnie have a 42 foot yacht, and Noel took us out on the bay (Bonnie was working). Reuben joined us, and we had a great day, watching the America's Cup trials, seeing Alcatraz up close and San Francisco from the water.

Micah plays ice hockey, Reuben joined us to watch.

Said goodbye to the Petaluma crowd, then drove a short distance to Sonoma where I took a quick tour of the very nice Sebastiani Winery, recommended by Reuben. Bought a bottle of white wine, then drove North 1 hour to Calistoga, where I stayed in their town RV park. Toured Castello di Amorosa winery, recommended by Noel, which was a real nice castle. Bought a bottle of red.

Next day, drove East to North Highlands, a suburb of Sacramento, where I visited a boring aviation museum. Got the RV oil changed, spent the night, then next day drove 1 hour East to Coloma, to Marshall Gold Discov ery State Historic Park, where gold was first discovered in 1848.  Took a short hike and toured the sights.

That afternoon, drove West to South Lake Tahoe, where I stayed for 2 nights at Campground by the Lake, run by the town. Used my scooter to drive all around the beautiful, blue Lake Tahoe - about 80 miles. Also visited the Nevada casinos, a 5 minute drive from South Lake Tahoe.

Drove Northeast 2 hours into Nevada, and spent the night in Reno. The casinos were old but cheap; found a $1 craps machine, so spent a lot of time there.

Next morning, bought my 3rd bicycle of the trip at a Goodwill store, then drove 1 hour East back into CA, to Donner Pass State Park. Saw the monument, watched the film and rode my new bike for an hour.

That afternoon, drove North on a great road into the California mountains and spent the night in Quincy, where I got the scooter oil changed. Next morning, drove 2 hours North to beautiful Lassen Volcanic National Park. Toured the park, did a few hikes, then spent the night in their nice Manzanita Lake Campground.

Bubbling hot mud

 Lassen Peak which blew in 1918

Manzanita Lake

Next day, drove another 2 hours North to Mount Shasta.  Used my scooter to drive the 16 mile road up to the base, did a little hike in Panther Meadow which had some really nice flowers (pics weren't good).

Overnighted there, next morning drove South to Shasta Dam, one of the largest in the US.

Drove on to Redding, which had a really nice bike trail on both sides of the Sacramento River, and a sundial bridge.

Spent the night 30 miles West in Old Lewiston, which had nothing to see. Next morning, the sewer overflowed as I was doing an RV dump. Drove to Weaverville which had some nice old buildings and a Buddhist temple from the Chinese gold miners.

In the afternoon, drove West almost to the Coast. Stayed at Blue Lake Casino which allowed RVs to stay for free. Spent much of the evening at a $1 blackjack table where I broke even.

Next morning drove up the West coast to Redwoods National Park. Did a few of the hikes which were really amazing.

Continued driving up the Coast and spent the last night in California in Crescent City.

Next morning, August 4th, drove 2 hours into Oregon.