ROAD TRIP 2010 - lastest post: "END OF THE TRAIL"

This road trip is a LONG one...and has some twists and turns. It adds up to a few miles.

First Co-pilot & I drive a pickup pulling a boat from Coyote Bay to LAX. She flys to Rome.. I drive the midwest from Los Angeles to North Dakato. Then a month later I fly back from North Dakota to pick her up on her return flight from Rome to LAX.

We are then driving a motorhome from San Diego - LAX to Chicago..but never in a straight line.

Hey, we have amigos with cold beer in out-of-the-way places.






Besides, I just HATE driving through Topeka, so...


.

.
.



Why Chicago? I don't have a clue as to why we're going to Chicago. I know she plays Simply Sinatra a lot on the XM radio. I did some homework, though..and I plotted plenty of fishing lakes & rivers for the entire trip.


.
There have been quite a few..uh.. 'happenings'.. already from Coyote Bay to here...and as soon as the authorities give me some more computer time I will report back with some detail and photos. America is sooo full of surprises and great scenery.

Hasta la vista..



















[Edited on 11-1-2010 by Pompano]

Hola Packoderm,

I tend to avoid state campgrounds, as they are usually booked during summers, although if you really want to stay at one, oftentimes there are cancellations or no-shows. We found that to be the case at Half Moon Bay state campground on the beach. A very pretty camp where we stayed for 2 nights. But..the state parks are not much cheaper at $30-35 per night. We have had no trouble (so far) finding RV space at private parks. The poor economy has resulted in a heavy loss of business for RV parks.

The bad thing about state camps in California, Oregon Coast, and Wash state is that they are way too crowded, do not offfer much room, if any, for a 36ft motorhome, do not usually have wi-fi, and most often are in a forest where I cannot connect with sat-tv.

We do stay at many private RV parks..and yes, the accumulative cost can be high. We've stayed at RV parks ranging from $10 to $60 on this trip (so far). We have also stayed a few nights parked at friend's houses..and a couple of Walmart parking lots, too. One evening I was too pooped to drive anymore..was forced to ignore the No Overnight Camping signs on Hwy 1 near San Simeon (Hearst Castle area) and pulled over onto a wide spot overlooking the ocean. Nobody bothered us and we had a good night's rest. Also did this on Oregon Coast road.

I like to boondock whenever possible and have quite a list of places that I built up over the last 35 years of making the coast trip from the Olympic Peninsula to San Diego annually. Also the route from ND-Butte-West Yellowstone-Idaho Falls-
Salt Lake City-Las Vegas-San Diego. It is actually very easy to find free or almost free camping if you look hard enough.

Casinos are a good bet, as they usually charge little if anything at all. You just need to sign in..and of course they hope you will leave some money at thier tables.

I have stayed in so many wierd and wild places in so many RV's over the years that I forget most of them, but one I am recalling here in Washinton state was a goodie. It was around 1989-1990 and I was in my 25ft Minnie Winnie in Seattle. I drove along the canal linking Puget Sound to Lake Union and was marveling at the boat traffic going through the locks that connected the lake to the sea. Around 8 pm I pulled off onto a Coast Gaurd loading platform right alongside the lock channel and parked for a breather. A young coastie came over to yak and to tell me that I was parked in a no-no zone. He then saw my license plate..ND..and told me to park overnight if I wanted to, but I would not be able to drive out until he showed up for duty the next morning. It was a terrific night of boat-watching traffic. The boats came within a couple yards of my windows and we had a ball visiting with all the boaters as they went up and down the locks. Neat treat, indeed.


Then there was the time on the Anchor River in Alaska when the king salmon were running upstream and spawning under my Minnie's dinette table...we were camped quite close to the water then, too.

[Edited on 7-29-2010 by Pompano]

The Start: Days 1, 2 and 3

The Road Trip Begins
June 3rd, 2010. We cross the border at Tecate and drive Hwy 94 to San Diego.



I head immediately to my favorite place in San Diego...Shelter Island in Pt. Loma.



.
.
I was winding my way down Shelter Island Drive..thru the 4-wheelers (cars). ( Mostly they have no clue how much braking is required for sudden stops to compensate for thier maneuvers in front of me. I am a 35ft heavy motorhome...a few goofballs zoom in front, then slam on thier brakes at the stops. Well, duh...don't blame me if I crush you, dude.)

But....Guess what happens next?

A nice sloop comes rolling out of a boatyard onto the street. ??

I brake in time as a worker comes running out to warn traffic of the runaway sailboat. Not something you see every day..but kind of sets the cadence for a good Road Trip.





Figuring the next one to get loose might be a mega-yacht,I pull into Fisherman's Landing to go rod/reel shopping.


.
.
After working up a good appetite with the rods, reels and assorted lures....

...Pt. Loma Seafoods for lunch is a must.


Good food, great boat marina, plus you get a free sea lion act.





I wish I got those prices for my Cortez catches..would help that fuel cost a bit.


Other great eating choices in Shelter Island..Point Break and Fiddler's On The Green. Just plain good food and great hosts. A word of warning, though.. the margaritas will blind you.




No trip to San Diego would be complete (for a woman) without a couple day's shopping at Mission Valley Mall..or is it Fashion Valley Mall??..I never remember.







Salons..Sh-malons. I look goofy in anything fashionable. Give me a nice saloon, a stool and a mug. I'll create my own fashion. That's my idea of heaven. Like my purse?


If there is a record of how many boutiques one can shop in 1 day, I think she broke it.


Just call me Bag Boy.
.
.

Okay, enough shopping....Let's go dancing at Humphrey's On The Bay. Time to..Get it on!





Hey..look at the time! The charterboat leaves the dock in 3 hours. We gotta go get SOME sleep...okay, okay..one more dance and that's it.

.
.
.
And that's the end of the first 3 days..whew.


.
.
To be continued sometime in the very near future.

Road Trip from San Diego to North Dakota-Return by air

Days 4-32

The photos pretty much speak for themselves on this leg of the trip. Lots of fishing, scenery, and yardwork Up North.








Most of these shots are from Idaho/Wyoming/Montana. Henry's Fork, Gallatin River, Yellowstone. Prime western fishing waters...with lots of wildlife throughout.





















I picked up a couple prints I liked for my cottage Up North.









==========================================================


July 5-7, 2010

June 5...I got underway on this second leg of our summer trip by first flying from Fargo, ND to San Diego, where I store my motorhome. (El Cajon)

Note:
As a kind of preface to this Non-Baja Trip Report, please see this thread for info on the kindness of a fellow Nomad.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=46533#pid5272...




In reference to the thread above..Mucho thanks to David, nomad ELINVESTIG8R, who so graciously came a long ways to pick me up at Lindburgh Airport in San Diego. David drove me way out to El Cajon, helped me get the motorhome fired up, and then offered a nice park spot for two nights at his home before I had to pick up Co-pilot at LAX ..she was arriving from Rome via Alitalia on June 7th. He then offered my the use of his pickup to run some errands the next day. Whatta guy.



Thanks again, David, it was great to meet you and your charming wife. Hope you enjoyed the steaks and refreshments by now. Remember....Mi casa es su casa. Up North or Down Baja.
.
.

Now ..Let's get the ball rolling on this trip report.

First, I was Johnny-on-the-spot in the motorhome to pick up Co-pilot at Terminal 2, Alitalia airlines, LAX. Now..driving a 34ft motorhome thru LAX in not something you want to do a lot. (grin) The airport security tends to look you over pretty good. But..we knew all this and we had made arrangements earlier. We had the curbside-pickup arranged down to finest detail.

The Plan.

I would wait in the motorhome just outside LAX in the handy cellphone parking lot. I would enter the busy terminal grounds only after Co-pilot had claimed her luggage, made her way to the curb outside Alitalia arrivals, and had phoned me. I would wind my way thru the terminal to the Alitalia arrival gate, look for Co-pilot at curbside, pull over and stop. We load the baggage and hit the road.

Simple and easy..would go like clockwork. Right?
Yes..Except for a small blunder. Murphy's Law took over, just like in Baja.

The Blunder

I got the call from Co-pilot. The plane was on time. She had cleared US Customs and was now curbside with her luggage, ready to be jump aboard. Everything was going to The Plan. I drove into the terminal, past the gaurds, who looked at me oddly..I was the only huge motorhome cruising into LAX...duh. I saw the signs for Alitalia coming up...okay, so far so good, but where was she? I saw nobody. Went all the way around the terminal again and re-entered into Arrivals...past the gaurds again, who now looked very alert! Ringgg..ring! Co-pilot is on the phone. "You drove past me..did you not see me?" I said, "No..I did not. Wait there, I will come again." I drove in, up to the Alitalia arrival..and nothing..nobody at all..no people, no passengers at all.....nada, nothing ..period. Hmmm..seems damn strange, I thought as I look around amidst all the traffic..and glance over the right side..WHERE ALL THE PASSENGERS WERE!! Opps..I had made a little boo-boo, I believe.

I get a fleeting glimpse of a black haired beauty with lots of luggage next to her waving both arms...but it is impossible to cross thru the traffic...SO AROUND I GO ONCE AGAIN...past the gaurds...almost. This time they stop me, ask for ID's, look inside, and then demand to know what I am up to..this is the third time and they are not about to take any chances that I might be carrying a few tons of C-4 explosives. After some time checking me, the motorhome, and confirming Co-pilot's listing on Alitalia's passenger manifest, they escorted me to the proper 'right side' of the passenger arrival area. Actually..escorted may not be the right word...more like sheparded.

Ringg..ring. I answer Co-pilot's call with, "Yes, I know, I know..I saw you over there...you're on the wrong side, but don't worry..I will be there in a second or so. Be ready this time, okay?"

I swing in behind the gaurd escort..attracting a little bit of attention...opened the coach door for Co-pilot..tossed all the luggage inside, hugged, and got the heck outta LAX as fast as I could.

I waved goodbye to the escort as we drove out to the freeway..they did not wave back. I highly doubt I will ever drive that motorhome into LAX again. (grin)

Now we can get this show underway. Naturally, Los Angeles is a place you want to get out of as soon as possible, so we hurried down the highway as best I could ..to Ventura Freeway and out towards Pismo Beach. We made it without mishap and decided on eating out rather than cooking inside the motorhome on the first night. Besides, this place was recommended by a friend..JR Spurs Steakhouse.




We had a delicious and well-presented dinner of fine steaks and treats. Very good wine. Superb meal..we will go back for sure.






TO BE CONTINUED..








[Edited on 8-2-2010 by Pompano]

aj spurs saloon and diner...

Pompano, Thanks for sharing you and Co-pilot's travels. Looks like you all are having a lot of fun.

California Coast Hwy 1 and 101

Pismo Beach - San Simeon


After a great dinner at AJ Spurs western style steak house near the coastal town of Pismo Beach, we were ready to 'make camp'...which in California means 'find a RV Park' as there is little if any opportunities to legally boondock along the Pacific Coast Highway.

I had visited with a state parks ranger and he mentioned the beach camping at Pismo Beach. Said it was very popular and only a $10 fee, no services. Sounded okay to us, we are completely self-contained.. so we head off to check it out.

Well...it turns out that the ranger had failed to mention it was strictly a 4X4 adventure...not exactly suited to our gutless 2WD 35' motorhome.



The beach camping at Pismo Beach is just that...BEACH CAMPING...you drive across the sand, trying to stay on the firm stuff next to the waterline. You go at your own risk. Great if you're on horseback...muy loco if you're motorhoming. Go further away from the hard pack and you will sink out of sight...like these guys on bottom right, and they were 4X4.

Well, I was committed...already on the sand, the firm part next to the water's edge, and forced to keep it pretty much floored all the way to where I could get up off the beach..a distance of about a mile. Some tense times when the coach would bog down and I had find firmer sand...sometimes in an inch or two of water..hoo boy. I am now racing down the beach in a too long, too heavy, too underpowered motorhome doing almost 50mph. We are the top attraction now. People camped here and there must have been making bets as to how far we would get before sinking into the surf. I can only imagine they are still laughing about the motorhome that roared past thier encampments on a rising tide...throwing roostertails of sand and spray.

Let's just say it will be nice to get back on the pavement without a coach full of flounder.

Aha..I see a way off the beach coming up....NOT SLOWING DOWN...I bounced up past another state park booth..to the surprise of the guy inside! We are now on terra firma again.

We had come upon a nice cutesy shorefront area of shops & boutiques.

Next to the beach access, I ended up parking (boondocking) for the night in the street behind a couple of other motorhomes...in front of a saltwater taffy store next to the state park beach entrance. A welcome haven after the mad dash down the beach. Woke up the next morning to a note on my windshield from the taffy store owner saying "Would you mind moving? You're killing my business."

Hmm.. it was 8AM..his sign said the store opened at 9? 'You're killing my business?' I looked around...there were no other vehicles moving in the entire area.


Nevertheless, I saw him inside, so went to knock on his door. He opened for me..and I bought $25 worth of taffy and sweets to offset his lose of business, although there was not exactly a crowd of customers yet. He was a happy camper then..and so were we.

( I still have that bunch of taffy..anybody want some? Definetely not on my diet plan..)




We drive on north...viewing scene after beautiful scene.



Cattle herding horsemen on the California coast was a nostalgic sight for me.



From Pismo Beach and north, it was time to stop and marvel...and get some excercise from time to time. Got to get out and breath that fresh salt air!









These kite-surfers were having a ball on this windy part of the coast. Might have to try that before I get too much older. (Sure, no way, Jose!)

Then we came upon that great sight..The Elephant Seals at San Simeon.


We enjoyed a few hours with these magnificent creatures. The relaxed mood of the herd reminded me that I had missed my siesta.

.
.

Then suddenly we spot..ZEBRAS. Either we took one helluva detour to Kenya Natl Park..or we were next to the Hearst Castle.









Yup..The Castle it was..so we had to take the tour, naturally.







Heart Castle Tour

















Unbelievable opulence and exaggeration. The only thing missing is modesty. The theme I noticed was... "Hey, It's NICE to be rich." Cost of the tour for the two of us..about 100 clams with lunch, tips, etc. The tour WAS fun and entertaining, plus lots of architectural history. But being a clueless clod at best, it was a little too unreal for me. A kaliedioscope of extravagence that leaves you a little cold.




Back to reality on the Road Trip, this rewarding view near San Simeon cost us ....nothing.

Come on..let's get down to that nice beach. I'll even draw a Venus de Milo with arms in the sand for ya.



.
.
.
TO BE CONTINUED:




[Edited on 8-3-2010 by Pompano]

Nice Travelogue Pompano...Yes, we enjoyed the steaks... Looks like you two are having a blast. Keep the Travelogue alive. You are welcome back anytime. D

Hell's Bells, Igor...that ride scared both of us! The incoming tide was just starting. I had visions of sitting on top of the motorhome, waiting for the Coast Gaurd helicopter.

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano Quote: Originally posted by Skipjack Joe That dash through sand flats must of scared Copilot big time. Hell's Bells, Igor...that ride scared both of us! The incoming tide was just starting. I had visions of sitting on top of the motorhome, waiting for the Coast Gaurd helicopter.

Thanks for the subliminal suggestion, Igor..but Co-pilot has too many years flying time to be scared so easily!

Day number..?
..who knows..or cares?? It's been a few...we started the first of June. This trip is not about speed or the destination, it's about the journey.
.
.

July 10, 2010

North of San Simeon is the Artic Tundra..but we're not going that far today...only to Monterey, Ca. We want to see places like Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row (in remembrance of John Steinbeck), and most important.. the world-class Monterey Aquarium.

We had another pleasant and scenic drive up the coast and arrive at Fisherman's Wharf parking area..then take a free shuttle to the Aquarium, about a mile or so away.

Off we go into the Monterey Aquarium. It was well worth the price..and then some.



Luckily, I no longer have to lie about my age when requesting the senior discount. Mostly the ticket vendors take one look at me and ask if I want a wheelchair.


The lure of aquariums captivates all imaginations...young and old. And ocean aquariums seem to be the most popular...maybe because of our origins in the aquatic environment.


Far, far back in my memory banks is the foggy thought of sloshing back and forth...back and forth...back and forth. This could be from some eons-old recollection of tides and waves when I was sea sludge...or... I passed out closer to the waterline than usual.



We enter the water world from whence we came. (Ahh..finally got to use that word 'whence'. Makes me feel all tweedy and super-intellectual. I may buy a pipe to celebrate.)




Loving all creatures and wanting to touch them all...Co-pilot gets to pet a ray.


Some of my favorites are the jellyfish clan. So beautiful and graceful...and some so deadly. Nature has evolved "Do Not Touch" signs on a few of them.


These are so ordinary looking when not at bloom..and then become so breathtakingly obvious. Another favorite.



This big fellow looked very omnious coming at you from the back of the huge aquarium. Better here than the open sea...but turn out to be harmless.


Nice whale display overhead..which reminds me to stay diligent on The Diet.


A great feature of the Monterey Aquarium is the scuba lessons given to novices in the shallow grottos outside.


.
We finished the wonderful aquarium tour and shuttled back to Fisherman's Wharf. A great place to stroll around and pick up some local color. Any scenes close to the sea are fine with me.

We got a huge kick out of the Coastal Cuisine chef guy on the billboard in photo lower-left. We had seen him on tv the last couple of nights when channel-surfing the tube. The guy is from India..and was giving advice on original seafood recipes from Italy. Cioppino again! Hah..oh well, it's all good fun...plus it gave Co-pilot good chuckles when thinking of her homeland reality v.s. this show. That's TV Land for ya. Similar to trying to find lutefisk in Norway...








I got a huge kick out of the large fellow in this musical twosome. He had a good-humored gimmick going.

We were sitting at this waterside table having coffee and watching the seals play below...when the large guy came walking by..stopping at every table..and asking, "Did you enjoy the keyboard music?" People would say, "Yes, great"..then realize that he was looking for a gratuity and shamefully give him a couple bucks.

'A very lucrative approach', I mused..as he approached our table.

Again comes the smile with, "Did you enjoy the keyboard music?"

I looked up quizically, held my cupped hand to my ear and said.."What? What did you say..YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEAK UP!"

He said, "Ah...Never mind" and went to the next table..whose occupants were hurriedly getting up to leave.


All kinds of wonders await you along your walk.
I once knew a doctor in Del Mar who owned over 200 various parrots, toucons, c-ckatoos, etc...what a grocery bill. The group below is much more manageable.


Co-pilot finds another buddy...a young seal sitting on the dock below. Of course they become great friends in a short time. Now, if I tried to pet a seal..I would end up minus a digit or two.




As anyone knows who has lived in a West Coast marina ..seals and sea lions tend to make use of various places to sun and rest.
]

The Monterey Aquarium and Fisherman's Wharf...great places.

Now where do we go from here, Co-pilot? Okay..you want to go deer hunting? Next stop is the Salinas Valley and Monterey foothills.

TO BE CONTINUED.



[Edited on 8-3-2010 by Pompano]

Those were certainly the days. I can relate to the sights and sounds of a working commercial fishing industry..long before any tourism appeared on the scene.

Port Clyde, Maine..lobster fishery
Bristol Bay, Dutch Harbor & the Aluetians, Alaska

I almost forgot the giant pike tails and huge walleyes sticking up from the wooden barrels outside the grocery store in my home town. They were frozen stiff, of course..it was 40 below zero.

As kids we would grab a 3-4 foot frozen pike and pretend we were Knights of the Round Table and joust each other on the sidewalks.

We should have had a time machine by now.

[Edited on 8-4-2010 by Pompano]

Jeep rides, deer camp, BarBQ, olive oil, garlic, and lettuce

PART 7







After the great tour of the docks and waterfront at Monterey, we were headed north up the coast again..when I got a phone call from an old amigo. Things happen this way a lot.

Nothing would have it, exept that we should do a 180 and head back south for a get-together, although this time inland to the other side of the Monterey Mountains. We would be in the foothills overlooking the Salinas Valley..Salad Bowl of America.


Mi compadre meets us in the driveway..after a challenging climb in the motorhome up the winding and steep road from the main highway some miles back. The Ford 460 has more power than I gave it credit for, it seems.



A nicely landscaped scene high atop a bluff overlooking the valley below...pastures heading down to the farmlands of the Salinas Valley. Very fertile land and highly productive, which my friend will soon show us.






Co-pilot quickly makes friends with all the pets and animals on the property




Well...almost all.



This rancho features it's own private cantina. I think I smell a Pacifico, amigo? Salute!


I think most nomads know I am a hunter by now..and most of my amigos have the same love of hunting and an over-abiding appreciation of nature. My amigo has about 3000 acres of wild land in these mountains where he pursues conservation issues concerning quail, blacktail deer, turkey, pheasant, and several other animal species. The area has become very prolific under his tutelage. On any given day you can take a Jeep ride and see all of the species I mentioned..and more.





THE JEEP RIDE INTO THE MOUNTAINS

Our ride awaits.


A night or two later, we saddle up and head off to my buddy's deer camp high up on his property. One of three such outposts. We meet his brother, another old Baja amigo of mine for a good old-fashioned steak barbeque.

And yes, that dog is certifiably insane..but cute.





See the blacktail doe in this photo? Lots of game in these hills..deer, hogs, lion, bobcat, quail, dove, pheasant, and even some rare snipe. Who's been on a snipe hunt?




The sun sets prettily over the Monterey Mountains.


Campfires are a must...in Baja and here in the ranch's deer camp.




We head the Jeep home at dark-thirty. We went pretty much vertical on the way home..carved some new trails on his land, I believe. What a pleasure to 4-wheel with an expert.





THE WORK IN THE SALAD BOWL

After a 'free' quick car wash by some local church members (we donated $15) our host shows us around his farming operations in the valley. This field below is some of his celery crop.


WAREHOUSEING AND SHIPPING THE PRODUCT

A packaging and shipping warehouse. Here he ships onions & garlic, plus his own olive oil from his orchards. Then there's the winery with some fine red..but that's for a different day.


A thriving product..elephant garlic.

Those big garlic bulbs are great on the grill...trimmed whole bulbs..slathered with extra virgin olive oil. Yummm....

It was a very great re-union with Baja-lovers all round. See you on the turnabout, amigo. Hasta pronto.

Now we're off to see the Elephant and to hear the Fat Lady Sing....




TO BE CONTINUED





[Edited on 8-8-2010 by Pompano]

And the journey continues!!!! Thanks Pompano and Co-pilot.

Ha!...Could be, Igor....or maybe Wrong-Way Corrigan?

"PROBABLE CAUSE" on seals and salmon

Part 8







"PROBABLE CAUSE"

Seacliff, the Ocean, and a Marina campsite.


After a fond farewell breakfast at our amigo's hilltop casa, we roll on down the trail...retracing our old path back up Hwy 101 thru Greenfield, Soledad (we note the big prison), & Salinas..before turning off 101 and running north on Coast Highway 1.

We're not exactly speeders ...(Hey! Over there!.. look at that..and those..and these!)...and only make it about 100 miles before looking for a place to camp. We didn't see much we liked for RV parks so we elect to stay at a scenic marina with a boat ramp parking lot. It was really very nice looking, tons of room ...and it had a harborside view...with some wildlife.

We choose a spot only 50 yards from a great seafood cafe on the waterfront, plus we were in sight of a couple hundred playful seals swimming in the harbor and sunning on the banks. Aha..this was a plus! Co-pilot was enthralled with the sight of so many beautiful animals..and of course.. desparately wanted to touch them all.

"Che bello..che bello! How beautiful! They are SO cute. I must go to them."



She went to the dock's edge to take many photos and laugh at the seals..young and old..who now suddenly raised thier volume and barked merrily at her. BARK!!..bark!..Urk-Urk!..urp..yowl..ARF!!..arf...Fart-fart! ... A lively mix of seal sounds.

Co-pilot was in seventh heaven..or even eighth.

.
.

In the late afternoon, a boat was retrieved at the ramp, and a couple fishermen parked it next to us while getting thier gear cleaned and stowed. Of course I had to strike up a conversation and ask how thier luck had gone.

The grinning angler then hoisted up his prize catch of the day...a nice fresh chunky king salmon. Now that makes a happy camper, indeed!

One oddity..he told me it hit at a depth of 300 ft. Not unheard of, but rare to fish that deep for kings.

Co-pilot remarks, "Tesoro, why do you not catch these salmon fish? Only the small pinto you catch, no?"

A low blow. I wince back..

"Well hey now, just a minute here, tesoro....you see, amore mio......It's a sportsman's thing! YES..that's it. I cannot translate to you all the principles and fine points that govern my fishing prowness..so don't trouble yourself wondering about it. Pintos are the very best to eat....and the very hardest to catch. Believe me."

To take her mind off such trivia, I go on,

"What could be better than this camp choice? We have a great view and some salmon to look at....plus all those happy seals...SEE?

You must go take some more photos. Hurry."

Off she goes..devote animal lover that she is.


Bark!..bark. Urf!..urf. Arf!..arf. Fart!..fart. Belch!..belch.

"Ahhh..Che bello..che bello.."
.
.

During our candlelight dinner later that evening, we enjoyed the sunset..and the cacaphony of seal sounds from the window of our motorhome parked at water's edge.

bark-bark...arf arf..bark-bark. Ha..it's like a circus event!

Seems like a nice night, indeed. We wash the dishes, pour another glass of good red, and relate the day's travels & thoughts for about an hour..while listening to the seal sounds.

"...my, those youngster seal really do yak a lot, don't they?
.
.

Well, it's getting late... time for bed. Night-night, all you seals."

Back comes thier reply, Bark! Barf! Arf! FART! Wheeze! Fart!




"Buonanotte, tesoro."

"Buonanotte, tesoro."
.
.
ZZzzzzz..Zzzzz..zz...


bark BARK!
zz....zzpt...wha?....

...Hmm...still quite vocal, aren't they...those seals.

Hey..it's pretty late now!...wonder if they ever sleep?



...zzzzzz.....Wha? BARK-BARK-BARK-BARK....Argghh...

!!!BARK!-BARK!-BARK!-BARK!-BARK!!!

"Okay-Okay! That's enough already, dammit..it's 1AM for GOD'S SAKE!

..SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU STINKING SEALS!! I HAVE A GUN IN HERE!!!

Co-pilot growls,
..... "I help you reload, tesoro. Kill them all. Then I sleep."

(Now you KNOW I am just kidding, right?)


Awaking red-eyed and weary from clubbing seals to silence, we break camp before the authorties find Probable Cause to enter our motorhome.. We quickly find Coast Highway..#1.

If this trip does indeed have any objective, other than R&R, it is probably to run as close to nature as we can. Thus, for our drive up the Pacific states we will endeavor to hug the ocean as close as we can without getting wet.

Past Santa Cruz and a few tiny coastal villages, we come upon Pelican Point Lighthouse. A nice place to stop for a snack and a looksee.


Then, a little further along the coast, we stop at Pillar Point.

(Per my out-the-window count...there are 11,573 'points' between San Diego and Seattle)


Co-pilot looks at the motorhome wall clock and says, "Capitano mio, it is that time, no?" Breathing a sigh of anticipation I reply, "Ah...great. Beer-thirty, then?"

"No, not when driving, tesoro..the time is now to find nice place for park and get all ready, then you may have beer."

I glance out the window while thinking..'Hell, this'll be easy.. lucky me...there are campgrounds every 500 yards on Hwy 101 and 1. I'll be nursing a cold brew right quick.'

Making a judgement decision, I jammed on the brakes and make a hard left into the first driveway I spotted..

...and yup, it was a RV Park!




NOTE:

I can now pay, park, plug-in, and get philosophical in 5 minutes or less. Practice, practice, practice.

.
.

TO BE CONTINUED....or until after our court appearance on the seal genocide charges..



[Edited on 8-8-2010 by Pompano]

Loving the trip report! We once stayed at a hotel across from Monterey Bay. The seals barking went from very cute in the afternoon to incredibly annoying at bedtime. Ear plugs, don't leave home without them.

Pompano, not only do you take great photos, you're a master storyteller. Next??

REALLY ENJOYING your pictures and commentary!!!

You have a way with words and a great eye for photo opps!!

I've seen much of the scenery and been to many of the places you wrote about and they are wonderful. I cherish my memories of visits and drives through these places! CA is truly a beautiful state and I always encourage people to get out and see it.


Many Thanks for sharing!

Miguelamo

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano ...and yup, it was a RV Park!

PART 9 -Half Mooned in the Bay - The Gate

PART 9





HALF MOON BAY, etc


Yawn...ah, great sleep . Smell that ocean air! Has a real earthy bite to it, no? Almost like...Erps...well, schucks and Opps..forgot to put the discharge end of the sewer hose into the park's hookup. That'll wash up real easy, I'm sure..not to worry.




Motoring up Coast Highway 1 from Pillar Point RV Park, we come across this scene: A group of people protesting... something? They were waving red flags and shouting rapid-fire in Spanish...to fast for me to follow. College tuition most likely.



I recall being in a protest line once in Mulege. Alex was pouring what I thought were short shots at the Mesquite Bar and I took up the protest march outside in the square. The police gave me a choice of deportation or buying a round.

Driving onward, my interest turns to all the different kinds of trees one encounters in a day's travel. Okay..so it's not very interesting to you..just thought I'd throw them in, since I took the photos anyway. "Look Co-pilot!! Trees!




Half Moon Bay is kinda touristy, but still fun to look around and enjoy the scenery and events. We toured a museum, did our laundry downtown, and took a walking tour around the boutiques. My companion insisted that I needed a manicure...sheesh...what's a hangnail between friends?

We stop in a shop for some good Italian coffee to wake one up..although jolt one up might be more like it! Plus Co-pilot finds another dog to molest on the streets.



One great little shop specializing in creative kitchens was owned by this fellow Italian, who took an instant shine to Co-pilot. I bought an apron, a French press coffee maker (we'll call it an Italian French press), and some other items...souveniers from this lovely lady in downtown Half Moon Bay.


We asked about a good place to have dinner. (We had cioppino in mind after some laughs watching "The Coastal Chef" on the tube the last couple nights. What a riot that guy was...we love him. He looks and sounds like he's from Bombay..instructing Americans on how to cook coastal Italian. A real hoot.)

Our Italian storekeeper recommended Meza Luna, but it turns out they were not open..so we opted for the next one she liked..The Crab Connection..I think? ...next to the marina.



Suffice to say..we were not impressed. Maybe it was a bad day in the kitchen, but $100 for a light lunch of poorly made cioppino, 2 small (thank God) glasses of bad vino, and probably the worst Oysters Rockerfeller I've ever ordered did not make for a great experience.

The view was good, though, and so was the service. Now, if they could just hire a good chef! Hey, maybe the Coastal Chef needs some extra salary? I can see it now...Curried Cioppino.



To make up for the bad lunch..and speed up digestion and elimination..we went for a long walk.

The local marina is always tops on my list of walking places.



Now a real treat arises, we must go meet some friends from Back In The Day Baja. They live in Half Moon Bay and had contacted us upon reading this thread..where we will visit old Baja amigos, Peter & Mary (Hey.. if they only had a son named Paul, eh?)

We drive our behemoth up steep streets and tight turns to reach thier lovely house nestled in a wooded area..very pristine place. They both have very green thumbs, it appears. NICE.


Mary had a superb collection of copper kitchen utensils...garnered from estate auctions and treasure hunts in out-of-the-way places. A very homey feel.


Another Italian, Mary will not take No for an answer to have lunch..so we willingly eat GREAT FOOD..con mucho gusto after the cioppino disaster. Bravo, Mary! It was so wonderful to visit and eat good things at your table. Including that great vino, Peter!


We say adios to my old friends from 70's and 80's when we met in Coyote Bay. Hasta pronto, muchachos.
.
.
THE GATE

Now we are bound for the Golden Gate.

What can I say about this great bridge?

Impressive?

Inspirational?

Swan dives?



I love fog. Dunno why. I refrained from shinnying up those tubes...



The north end overlook has a killer panoramic view of the Gate and San Francisco Bay. You have to spend some time here.






I tell Co-pilot about the time I stopped in this very same viewpoint in my old Minnie Winnie. Was 1988. I was northbound, crossed the Gate late afternoon, and thus pulled in here to rest for a bit. The more I sat there and enjoyed the peace and view..rather than fight that damn traffic..the more I wanted to stay. So I did, ignoring the signs saying no overnight camping..Hey, I'm tired and would be a menace on the freeway, right?

I was also hungry..and had an idea.

I went over to the phone booth at the overlook, looked up a pizza delivery in Sausalito (closest town to the north) and dialed them up. I placed my order for a large half&half pepperoni/pinapple ham pizza..and requested delivery to the north end overlook of the Golden Gate Bridge. The girl on the line said that was not possible, but I persisted and asked to speak to her boss. He came on..I told him my situation of being here and spending the night on the bridge viewpoint. Even gave him the phone number of the pay phone, my name, my vehicle plate, etc.

He laughed and said..Why not? About 30 minutes later, my pizza arrived nice and hot...

I had a great night staying at the viewpoint with the city and boats spread out below me. VERY SCENIC. The pizza was superb, too.



Now here's the kicker to this little pizza narrative. The following year, 1989, I did the same thing.

I pulled the Minnie into the same overlook..parked in almost the same spot..used the very same phone to call the very same pizza place. I told the girl what I wanted..she said just a minute and put the manager on the horn. I re-interated my request. He said.."By any chance, were you at the overlook last year?? This the same guy?"

Smiling, we had a good reunion..and I got my pizza again. Talk about making your own Deja Vu.
.
.

Well, on this 2010 trip, Co-pilot and I do the same thing, but NO pizza this time. I'm on a diet. We slept in the motorhome on the overlook..with no problems.

When we woke, however, this Bridge Patrol car was parked directly in front of us. I got my coffee and walked over to speak with the driver. I said good morning and asked how to get back southbound onto the bridge. He gave me directions...which I already knew, but hey, it was an ice-breaker. He was one of the good guys.


Getting turned around..and passing once again over the Gate..we drive downtown to the Embarcadero..and ADVENTURE...

TO BE CONTINUED



[Edited on 8-8-2010 by Pompano]

Pescadero

Roger,


Next time you're in the area Duarte's Tavern is a must stop. It is close to Half Moon Bay, a restaurant we used to drive to from San Bruno to dine at. Thinking of their Cream of Artichoke soup and a plate of fried smelt makes me want to go right now.

http://www.duartestavern.com/menu.html

Ken


found a photo





[Edited on 8-6-2010 by tripledigitken]

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano I recall being in a protest line once in Mulege. Alex was pouring what I thought were short shots at the Mesquite Bar and I took up the protest march outside in the square. The police gave me a choice of deportation or buying a round.

If you had stopped at the other end of the bridge you could've helped her.

Pretty soon....you will be in God's country

Quote:

Originally posted by Barbareno Pretty soon....you will be in God's country

Right you are, Barbareno...I've seen it on our route many times.




A man dies and goes to heaven.


When he get to the Pearly Gates, he takes a look around as Saint Peter is checking to make sure that everything is in order. He sees beautiful lakes, pristine landscapes, and angels laughing and enjoying the afterlife. But over to one side there is a big building, locked from the outside, and a terrific racket coming from inside.


The man says to Saint Peter, "What's that building over there?"


Saint Peter looks sadly at the building and then back at the man. "Oh," he says, "that's where we have to keep the Baja folks. If we open the doors, they'll all go home."

FUR AND FINS

PART 10

2010 7-15



GOLDEN GATE PARK, SAN FRANCISCO:

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM











Ticket line outside: Around $25 per adult.

Sensing some division, I take a poll of the museum patrons.





Entrance:

Many dead animals in the past changed to fossils while others preferred to be oil.



'In all works on Natural History, we constantly find details of the marvellous adaptation of animals to their food, their habits, and the localities in which they are found.'


Galapagos tortoise collection:

Co-pilot agrees with this, "Why do I get the feeling I am attending a funeral when entering a natural history museum? "


Sharkray in tank:


"These are bad times for the environment. No aquarium, no tank in a marine land, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea. And no dolphin who inhabits one of those aquariums or one of those marine lands can be considered normal."
Jacques Yves Cousteau


Stuffed Mammal displays:

From left to right descending: Sable antelope, cheetah, African hunting dogs, and...a parrot? (When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck. The moment a little boy is concerned with which is a jay and which is a sparrow, he no longer sees the birds or hears them sing)





Penquins:



Looking down at one of the aquarium's scuba maintenance team:




We listened to a VERY interested lecture on anthropology..and the evolution of man thru the ages.


I don't mind if my skull ends up on a shelf as long as it's got my name on it.


Reptiles in attendance:


Albino alligator:



Amphip inmates:





Aquarium scenes:

Ocean: A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man - who has no gills.









Hey, I remember this baitstealer:





We also signed up for and took the Planetarium show: Birth of the Universe.

"In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." Carl Sagan


"When people run around and around in circles we say they are crazy. When planets do it we say they are orbiting."



Of course taking photographs during a darkened display of the universe would be distracting to the audience, so I have no photos of the event, but we thoroughly enjoyed this walk thru time and space to see the beginnings of life. I believe in God, only I spell it Nature. Like Albert Einstein said, 'Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.'



END OF MUSEUM TOUR.

The Great Highway - scenes along SF coast


Discharge pipe along SF Great Coast Highway:
"It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment." Ansel Adams.




"Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans." Jacques again.

Go Cars Rental:


Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.


Trees along The Great Highway:
How true this is....'I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree.' Joyce Kilmer


I also love this quote from George Bernard Shaw, "Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, no man manages his affairs as well as a tree does."





The CLIFFHOUSE roadhouse. Never went in, but it looked nostalgic to me. Any memories of this place?..anybody?



END OF SAN FRANCISCO VISIT.

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NAPA VALLEY

"Life's too short to drink bad wine."

Saying goodbye to San Francisco, we motor up 101 a short distance, then turn east to search out the Napa Valley..and check out some wineries.

Ah...Vinyards. A wonderful thing.


When Leif Ericsson landed in North America in A.D. 1001, he was so impressed by the proliferation of grapevines that he named it Vinland.

In terms of acreage, wine grapes rank #1 among all crops planted worldwide.

There is at least one commercial winery in every state of the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska!

NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA - JULY 16-17, 2010



As of 2010 there are over 250 wineries in California. Napa County is the home of 232 of them. In the year 2000, Americans spent $20 billion on wine. 72% of that was spent on California wines. As one California winemaker said, "We release no wine before the bank tells us that its ready."


$$$$$ Top Napa Valley vineyard land sells for over $100,000/acre!



MONDAVI WINERY TOUR:


The Mondavi winery stands out, along with a select few others along this wine route. With a legacy of more than 40 years of fine winemaking, the Robert Mondavi Winery is a shining symbol of Napa Valley. Founded in 1966, the winery's beautiful architecture reflects the missions of early California history.

"Making good wine is a skill; making fine wine is an art." --- Robert Mondavi



"Wow..and to think that it all started with grape jelly." ---A mental giant





Robert Mondavi has hosted many lavish music festivals over the years. Lots of big names have entertained visitors.



We take the thoroughly FUN..tour. Our guide was intelligently witty and showed us exactly how the wine is made..step by step. He was very information and supplied us with many current facts about wine production and consumption.



There are only three legal categories of wine in the U.S.: table, dessert, and sparkling. In the early 1950s, 82% of the wine Americans drank was classified as dessert wines. These included Sherry, Port, and Madeira. I don’t have current national figures, but one of the USA's largest retailers reports sales of wine today = 90% table wine, 7% sparkling wine, and only 3% dessert wine!


Merlot was the “hot” varietal in 1999, but in 1949, the “darling of the California wine industry” was Muscatel!


Until 1970, Bordeaux produced more white wine than red. Today red wine represents about 84% of the total crop.




The Fields:

In terms of acreage, wine grapes rank #1 among all crops planted worldwide.

The world’s most planted grape varietal is Airén. It occupies over 1 million acres in central Spain where it is made into mediocre white wine, but some quite good brandy.




Before harvest, the canopy of leaves at the top of the vine is often cut away to increase exposure to the sun and speed ripening.

Rose bushes are often planted at the end of a row of grape vines to act as an early warning signal for infestation by diseases and insects like aphids. A vineyard manager who notices black spots or root rot on the roses will spray the grape vines before they are damaged.






The cask catacombs:


The average age of a French oak tree harvested for use in wine barrels is 170 years!



Utopia:



..and the wines not bad, either..




The Tasting...........and guzzling..sigh.




My favorite for this year:



I think it peees God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.



.

If you are a wine lover or collector, you'll like this: Once a year the rarest new Napa Valley wines become available under one roof at an event called Premiere Napa Valley. Wineries throughout the Napa Valley are given one task to participate; create a one-of-a-kind wine for this event to be auctioned off to one lucky bidder. This event is only open to select members of the wine trade and the successful bidder is the sole owner of this unique wine. Below you will find Robert Mondavi Winery's most recent contribution to this event and the member of the wine trade who purchased the wine.

Robert Mondavi Winery
Cases: 10
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2008
Release Date: August - 2011

To purchase this wine or check on availability contact:
Gary's Wine & Marketplace
Madison, NJ
www.garyswine.com
973-822-0200

.



Market research shows that most people buy a particular wine either because they recognize the brand name or they are attracted by the packaging.

TIPS ON CHOOSING A WINE:

Best one I heard was this: "When it comes to wine, throw away the vintage charts and invest in a corkscrew. The best way to learn about wine is the drinking." Works for me...I know what I like.

One wine maker's opinion: “Never buy the cheapest wine in any category, as its taste may discourage you from going on. The glass, corks, cartons, and labor are about the same for any wine, as are the ocean freight and taxes for imported wines. Consequently, if you spend a little more, you are likely to get a better wine, because the other costs remain fixed. Cheap wine will always be too expensive.”
.
.
"Wines are like your children; you love them all, but boy, are they different."



"My dear boy, there are some things that are just not done, such as drinking Dom Perignon ‘53 above the temperature of 38° Fahrenheit." --- Co-pilot








"I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food."

A tip on how to pour a glass of sparkling wine or champagne:



Grasping the bottle firmly, take a clean napkin and wipe the rim of the bottle removing any dirt or boat oil.. then pour a small splash into the bottom of each glass, then return to each glass, filling it three quarters full with champagne. This process will avoid the dreaded foaming over of the champagne. Foaming is for rabid dogs and Bud.





After our wine tour at Mondavi winery, we rambled thru the valley sightseeing and looking for that evening's bivouac...which we found in Calistoga.


Our nice city park campsite..Calistoga, Ca. $28, nicely shaded, all hookups plus free wi-fi & cable. Quiet neighborhood is terrific for a hangover.




Tomorrow, we head for the REDWOODS...with a few twists and turns, naturally.

TO BE CONTINUED





[Edited on 8-10-2010 by Pompano]

THE REDWOODS - CAMPFIRE TOASTS

THE REDWOODS - CAMPFIRE TOASTS




THE MAJESTIC REDWOODS



Our route from the Napa Valley Wine Tour. (wine is always welcome and good for the soul, but beer is the staff of life..and so we renew our search.)



Hwy 101 and Hwy 1 are full of bridges. I gotta say it..I LOVE BRIDGES..ever since I was a kid. Trolls! (No..not the Nomad kind of troll)..Hans Christian Anderson...fantasy stuff.



Holy Smokes! When did Audrey Hepburn get in this thread? Is that really you, Co-Pilot? You put your hair up, I see. Wow..you had me going for a minute there.

Hey, maybe I look like a little like Cary Grant? Huh?..huh? ..hmm.. Hello.....Yoo-hoo...Co-Pilot?.....sigh...



Okay, never mind her...she probably needs glasses or something. Meanwhile: The drive north of the Napa Valley is very scenic and relaxing. A pastorial pastime even.




"From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters This land was made for you and me."
-Guthrie,Woody



We find many nice RV parks along this route...seems to be a perfect choice for a motorhoming holiday. Even the touristy Redwood Tree House and other gimmicks were fun..nostalgic of an earlier, more innocent America. Uh...Anybody want to buy a redwood carving of the Leaning Tower of Pisa..cheap?


The camping rate at most of our sites was about $32 per night..full hookups usually. Splendid and spacious sites in the woods. One had a 5mph speed limit...to keep you from running over the attack dogs.


The mighty and majestic redwoods...what can one say about these trees? I have no words to describe the satisfaction and elation these giants give you. I'm just glad to be here..and to touch them.


Of course, Co-Pilot is a REAL tree-hugger! Being from Italy, she is especially appreciative of the abundance of nature in America. Thanks for reminding me of what we have, tesoro. I promise never to take it for granted.



"Son, I say SON!... never throw a punch at a redwood."

The best friend of earth of man is the tree. When we use the tree respectfully
and economically, we have one of the greatest resources on the earth.
- Frank Lloyd Wright

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree. - Joyce Kilmer

Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets.
To plant a pine, one need only own a shovel.
- Aldo Leopold


Plant trees. They give us two of the most crucial elements
for our survival: oxygen and books.
- A Whitney Brown





Wow...do they give these trees Viagra, too?"




Nothing..nothing beats a campfire. Nobody screws with my campfire..nobody. Ah, Co-Pilot, did you know there are untold mysterys in campfire flames? Would you like to hear the secrets of the universe? Who shot Kennedy? Explanation of the Global Warming/Cooling Theories? Is Obama really the anti-Christ?

No? .....NO?

Obviously you need a glass of Red Truck, Co-Pilot.

Then come sit next to the fire and get comfy... and I'll relate to you all that I learned today about these Magnificent Redwoods:

"These trees we are camped in are ancient. They are Ever Living. Redwoods have outlived the great dinosaurs, survived sweeping geologic changes that sculpted mountains and moved continents, and successfully competed to claim a place in modern forest ecosystems. Today, botanists recognize three surviving Redwood species: The Dawn Redwood is native to China, the Giant Sequoia clings to life in California's towering Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Coast Redwood reigns over the coastal forests of northern California.

Coast Redwoods as we know them today, have been present in the North Coast area for over 20 million years. Reaching heights of over 350 feet, Coast Redwoods live for 2000 years and thrive in the area's mild climate, standing as ever-living examples of the tallest trees in the world.

John Steinbeck wrote "The Redwoods once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always..from them comes silence and awe. The most irreverant of men, in the presence of redwoods, goes under a spell of wonder and respect."

Redwoods today are divided into Old-Growth and Second-Growth forests.


"Care for a little more Red Truck, tesoro? Yes? Well, when you are getting yours, would you make me another dirty martini?..talking redwoods is dry work."


To continue. Second-growth forests are heavily shaded due to uniform height and crowded conditions; little plant life grows on the forest floor. You can see that these trees around our campsite exhibit similar circumference and height. That's a telltale characteristic of a second-growth forest.

"Ah..Forest floors, yes. You know about the forest floors, Pompano, no? You were laying on the forest floor for a long time last night...did you see the mysterys of the universe again there?"

Ahem...to continue with my talk, Old-growth forests are home to a lot of fallen logs supporting hemlocks, redwoods, evergreen huckleberries, and ferns.

I can see the question in your mind, Co-Pilot. You are wondering..Would redwood forests fare better if rangers cleared away fallen trees? Absolutely NOT. New growth and wildlife depend on dead trees. Massive logs on the forest floor and trees snapped off by wind provide nurseries for new life. Damage to redwoods caused by wind, fire, or flood may also trigger buds (burls) to sprout. They grow rapidly in the moist, temperate conditions.

Redwoods drop their seeds in late summer, and they take root in moist, silty soil that's above 58 degree F. About 99 percent of seedlings die of fungi and disease. Those that survive do not produce their own seeds for another 20 years.

Redwoods are remarkably resistant to fire and depend on it to help them compete with other trees in the forest. Fires occur naturally along the Coast every 250 - 500 years. Redwoods have thick, moist bark that insulates them against fire, and they lack resin to fuel the flames. Smaller fires on the forest floor stimulate sprout growth and control fungi and diseases that kill young seedlings. Following practices of local Indian culture, park rangers have reintroduced controlled burns. Fire eliminates exotic plant species such as scotch broom and enhances the health and growth of native grasses, bushes, acorns, hazelnuts, and berries.


There now, Co-Pilot, I hope my little talk about redwoods interested you? Hmmm?



Hey..wha you doing?! Watch it..those flames are HOT! Wha' the hell?? Are you torturing a squirrel.... or cooking something?

So??...what is that you got? It sure smells good...give me some..grazie. hmm...munch, munch..



Ahh...your first campfire food, was it? Salud!! Simply a delicious campfire toasted English muffin...

...and with this great mysterious creamy stuff on it..?

..NO..don't tell me WHAT that creamy stuff is. I'd rather not know at this point..

It just amazes me that you toasted this nice little muffin and only burned 2 cords of wood!



"If you liked that, you will love what I can do with this new grille. Do you perhaps own some gasoline and a cow, tesoro?"


Luckily, I sidetracked her with a visit to a nearby barbeque expert. Ah..RIBS! I can live on them!...and DO.



The Redwoods were supercalifragilistic. Spend some time in the forest and discover them for yourself. But now....Time to break camp and be off..

"We're burning daylight, Pilgrim!"

Off.. Up the coast highway..on The Road To Adventure.

Getting awfully close to the Cal/Orgeon border by now.

TRINADAD, CA. - INDIAN LANDS - ELK MEADOWS

We resume this Non-Baja Trip Report.

FOREST PRIMEVAL


We were last deep in the Redwood Forest, enjoying another wonder of Mother Nature. The deep dark woods seem enchanted to us..and probably are, you know. !!


CO-PILOT'S LAST REDWOOD WALK

It apprears that Co-Pilot cannot bear to abruptly part with this tranquill place, and takes one last walk through the forest.








'ON THE ROAD AGAIN' is our theme song and Discovery is our mission.
You have to stop and check for shiny stuff in the riverbeds, naturally. Nothing like finding a bit of color! But Shhhhh....don't be a blabbermouth like those dunderheads at Sutter's Mill. Look what happened to California after that little faux pas.


Yup..the modern-day California...Pet a Shark, indeed. I'm gonna pass on that in favor of the two-headed python.


PAUL BUNYAN & BLUE OX? In California? Hmm...guess Minnesota has lost it's native son. Probably the surfing lured him away?

We somehow manage to stifle the desire to have our pictures taken sitting on old Blue and wander on up Hwy 101 in search of better discoveries.

Coming around the next curve, Co-Pilot yells EUREKA!

Somehow I knew it was not trout rising.


......................................................................................Okay, I'll admit the iced frappuccino was delicious.


Back on the coastal road, we come to this other jewel.

TRINADAD...a quaint north coast town in California.



Trinidad is a seaside town in Humboldt County, located on the Pacific Ocean 15 miles north of the college town of Arcata. Situated directly above its own North Coast harbor, California's smallest incorporated city (with a population of just 311) is noted for its spectacular coastline with ten public beaches and offshore rocks. These rocks are part of the California Coastal National Monument of which Trinidad is a Gateway City. This natural landmark is joined by three additional marine landmarks - the historic Trinidad Head Light, the Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse, and Humboldt State University's Fred Telonicher Marine Laboratory. Fishing operations related to Trinidad Harbor are vital to both local tourism and commercial fishery interests in the region. Trinidad lies at an elevation of 174 feet.



Yurok Indians settled the bluffs over the bay before 1700 AD. The first European sighting of Trinidad Harbor was by the Portuguese navigator Sebastian Rodriguez Cermeño, who did not make landfall. The next visit was by Bruno de Heceta and Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra of the Spanish Navy. Their two ships anchored in Trinidad Bay on June 9, 1775. On June 11, which was Trinity Sunday, a formal act of possession was conducted.The area was named "la Santisima Trinidad".


Trinidad was incorporated in 1870 as a City of the State of California, USA. The following State Historic Landmarks are in Trinidad: Trinidad Head , Town of Trinidad, and the Old Indian Village of Tsurai. The Trinidad Head Light Station is a National Registered Landmark, which is located on Trinidad Head.



The temperatures year-round range from the 40s to 60s Fahrenheit - one of the smallest ranges in the lower 48 states. The winter months are rainy. The ecosystem is ideal for the growth of coastal redwoods, with which the area was once thick. Stands of old growth can still be found 20 miles north of Trinidad, in Redwood National Park, and second growth abounds.


Parks nearby are Little River State Beach, Patrick's Point State Park, and Trinadad State Beach.

Some events you will like are:

Trinidad to Clam Beach Run (February)
Trinidad Fish Festival (June) Dang..we just missed this one.
Blessing of the Fleet (November)


Trinidad Head shelters the Trinidad harbor and pier. Trinidad's picturesque setting is complemented by an extensive trail system for public enjoyment. A trail loops around Trinadad Head with views in all directions. On clear days like ours, you can see Patrick's Point and Eureka. The Trinidad Head trail is moderately strenuous but well worth the effort. If you are not in prime shape, allow at least an hour or two for this hike. I don't walk fast! There is ample parking near Trinadad Beach below Trinidad Head.





TRINADAD SCENES




Small town excitements...





Ahem...Mike & Roz..note the nice lavender? Not as good as the Squim stuff, I know, but still pretty.


Co-Pilot finds the steps for us to reach the beach below..a nice trek down..and UP.



Fishing is always a dangerous business. Here is a memorial to those lost at sea.


..we now leave Trinadad...and head for some early Native American history and some elk meadows I had heard about. We start out with a visit to a Ranger Station.


One thing about California, the ranger stations are beautiful structures and very informative. Always worth a visit. For me, it's for the history..an avocation of mine.





I admire a Yurok Indian canoe. A one-piece carving.

I read quite a bit about the early natives living in this coastal redwood region..pre-Spanish era. There were a few different tribes back then.


With the discovery of gold in California, prospectors and settlers arrived in droves, forever changing native Indian life in California. Some survivors were forced onto reservations or to remote areas, while others assimilated as best they could into American society. Today, Yurok, Towola, Hupa, Chilula descendants their continuing cultural and community identities that have survived on the North Coast for thousands of years.

Much of the land we are visiting..the land within the parks, including the Redwood Creek watershed, lies within Yurok ancestral territory. At one time, more than 70 village sites flourished throughout Yurok lands. A village might consist of one to several families, all living in redwood plankhouses. A single community could contain as many as such homes. The Indians built their villages along river terraces, along the coast, and in prairied to utilize abundant fish or acorns.


Now we drive a short distance away from the ranger station to where they said the resident elk herd could be found. And sure enough, the elk were waiting for us.






I am sure they are real camera hams by now..as we are soon joined by lots of other onlookers. The elk were used to all this, of course, and posed for all who wanted a picture.



Co-Pilot says, "Oh no, that one has lost it's horns." (No comment, but I fear what may happen this fall when hunting season rolls around..)

Well..it's time to make some jerky..er..hit the road, I meant to say. See you down the trail, amigos.

What a jouney!

THE OREGON COAST

OREGON

As we leave northern California and enter Oregon, Co-Pilot asks, "Why do we go to Oregon, tesoro? There is something beautiful there, no?"

I said, "Yes, there are many beautiful things I like about Oregon. Here's just a few.

First, there's no damn sales tax.

But also because...Oregon is the only state in the union that facilitates suicide.

Oregon has more Ghost Towns than any other state.

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US and is formed in the remains of an ancient volcano.

Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-serve gas stations...you don't have to pump your own gas.

Eugene was the first US city to have one-way streets.

Portland is the home of the Poetry Slam.

Oregon's state flag pictures a beaver on its reverse side. It is the only state flag to carry two separate designs.

And most important, Oregon is the only state that has an official state nut."



Armed with those facts, we follow Hwy 101 north and enter: OREGON


The first thing we see and hear is the gurgling surf.

Co-Pilot says, "Wow, che bello.. beautiful."

Pompano, "That gurgling sound..damn. NOW I have to stop and go to the bathroom."


The famous Oregon Coast starts out near Brookings with breathtaking coast scenery...and it just keeps getting better.



.
.

We decide to make camp early and start looking for a RV park or a good boondock? I spot this boondocking space in a great location. It was just a rough exit off the coast highway into an unkept open spot. Which could not have been any better, and best of all..it was free.

1ST NIGHT CAMP - OCEAN VIEW - $FREE


1ST NIGHT CAMPSITE - SUNSET VIEW & GREEN FLASH - $FREE


Let's celebrate this great sunset with Martini Time! We had a great night..



Let's celebrate this great sunrise with...Vino Time! We had a great morning...

.
.
COOS BAY

The next coastal town is Coos Bay. Coos Bay is a beautiful coastal town located in southern part of the state. It is the state's largest coastal city.

Coos County was created on December 22, 1853, from parts of Umpqua and Jackson Counties. It was named after a local Indian tribe, the Coos, which has been variously translated to mean "lake" or "place of pines."
Although exploration and trapping in the area occurred as early as 1828, the first settlement was established at Empire City in 1853. The Territorial Legislature granted permission for the development of wagon roads from Coos Bay to Jacksonville in 1854 and to Roseburg in 1857. Although a mountainous county, it has considerable areas suitable for agriculture and dairy farming. Timber and fishing have been the foundation of the county's economy. The area also has produced large quantities of shellfish.
There are several port districts in the county: Port of Coos Bay founded in 1909, Port of Coquille River founded in 1912, and Port of Bandon founded in 1913. Coos Bay is considered the best natural harbor between San Francisco Bay and the Puget Sound.
Gold mining was the magnet that drew people to explore and exploit the mineral resources of the county during the nineteenth century. Today there are rich deposits of iron ore, lead, and coal that await development. Vacation and recreational possibilities, such as the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and many state parks, attract tourists to the area and provide an additional economic stimulus.
. The port transports a wide variety of items, but the vast majority of the tonnage consists of wood products. from the timber yards that once employed thousands..but no more after certain environmental laws were passed.

And thinking of wood...at 329 feet the Coast Douglas-Fir in Oregon is considered the tallest tree in the state.

The channel or jetty offers both the visitor and the residents the ability to enjoy many recreational activities - these include, but are not limited to, fishing, dungeness crabbing, and clamming. Crabbing and clamming are usually excellent given the right tide conditions, and the best crabbing is normally during the early fall and winter seasons. A license is now required for the harvesting of shellfish and may be purchased at any local bait and tackle shop.

My favorite passion is taking Oregon scenery pictures. Many people visit the area strictly for the Oregon photograph opportunities. Photographers can be found taking stunning coastal and beautiful inland mountain pictures. The sunsets over the Pacific offer some of the most spectacular to be seen anywhere in the world. During the winter the sunsets can really be spectacular, and if you look a bit to the south you can often find some awesome rainbows. There is normally a fog bank on a clear night over the horizon which is about 23 miles offshore. As the sun crests behind the fog bank the colors in the clouds make an excellent opportunity for photographers. The colors are dazzling to say the least.


THE FABLES BOUTIQUES OF COOS BAY...well, fabled to some anyway.

Of course, the lure of many novelty boutiques is not to be ignored. We have HATS now..




While staying in a very nice Coos Bay RV park, we went out to dinner at the Coos Bay Casino steakhouse. A nice waterfront place to dine. We enjoyed oyster appetizers, clam chowder, clam fritters, a rib eye, and a sea bass dinner. Moderate cost at about $100 with drinks and tip.
Note: The owner of our RV park gave us a ride in his car to the casino..and showed us how to get a free shuttle bus back. Nice.

A bit further north up the Coast Highway.

This gorge cut into the rock wall is called The Devil's Churn..magnificient display of crashing, thundering waves when a storm hits the coast.



The Sea Lion Caves


A private family-owned enterprise for many years, Sea Lion Caves is just 11 Miles North of Florence, Oregon or 38 Miles South of Newport, Oregon. Sea Lion Caves opens at 8:30 am. and ticket sales close at 6:00pm. Plenty of parking for RVs. You must cross a busy highway..so be cautious!






For $12 each (I think seniors get in for $11..wink), kids 3 to 12 are $8, under 3 free. For that you get to take the 200ft deep elevator ride to the caves below. Take a warm jacket and a nose mask. These guys eat fish and don't floss or brush.

Kind of touristy for me..you have to go thru the gift shop before taking the tour....and I see lots of sea lions for free all along the coast and from my boat, but it's cool for newcomers and kids. You might like it for the first time. Me..been there, done that.

(Weird..what happened with the sea lions at San Francisco this year, right?)




LIGHTHOUSES OF THE OREGON COAST
Along the Pacific Coast Highway you will find eight lighthouses, each with a unique history.. The Oregon Coast Lighthouses are something to behold, and something not to be missed.

The Oregon Coast is a lighthouse fan's paradise. This rugged coast certainly needed many such warning lights. Each has it's special charm and character. Imagine the life of being a lighthouse keeper back in the day...must have been lonely, but very satisfying to help save lives.



HECETA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE


Built in 1894, this operational lighthouse is located about 12 miles north of Florence, Oregon and one mile north of the Sea Lion Caves. This lighthouse is about 205 feet above sea level and stands 65 feet high. The light emitted is the most powerful on the Oregon Coast, signaling ships up to 21 miles out to sea. Named after a Portuguese explorer, Don Bruno de Heceta, who sailed the Oregon Coast in 1775. Legend has it that the lightkeeper's residence is haunted. From the 1890's to this day, lodgers and visitors claim "strange things" continue to happen within the house. The lighthouse and buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places.


WINCHESTER BAY - REEDSPORT

My current favorite coast town in Oregon...Winchester Bay. Great fishing nearby..in the ocean or in the river. In my opinion, the best fishing on Oregon's coast.


OYSTERS Umpqua Oysters at Winchester Bay...the best...try them!

We buy lots of oysters at this fishery...recommended by an expert friend. His choice was excellent! We loved them so much we went back to buy more for some friends we would be visitin up the coast.

THE BAR

I have often stayed at a local RV park where you can dock your boat. Great fun fishing salmon..but not so great running the bar when the wind is up and the waves are merciless. Which is most of the time! This is not a ride for a novice boater. Air-ride pedestal seats help...or merely stand and brace with bent knees. It's worth the trip though..I've caught some nice 30lb kings there in August/September.


Winchester Bay is a vacationer's paradise; home to miles of undisturbed beaches, abundant wildlife, lake and ocean fishing, Lake Marie, nearby hiking trails, plenty of campgrounds, 3 beach parking areas, and vast stretches of off-road riding fun for ATVers.



Another popular event is the Ocean Festival, which includes U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Demonstrations and a Seafood BBQ. We have been there twice to witness these exciting demonstrations..and also at Westport, Washington.


The community is home to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area headquarters office. A unique 50- mile stretch of sand dunes which offers hiking trails, beaches, 30 lakes, fishing, swimming, interpretive exhibits, and wildlife watching. Campgrounds extend throughout the area. We found a couple free ones..at least nobody came to kick us out!

REEDSPORT HISTORY

I had to follow up on some history...which I love. The area of the Reedsport was originally inhabited by the ancestors of the modern day Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua (Kuitsh), and Siuslaw Indians. The sixteenth century brought tales of contact between the local Native American Indians, Spaniards, and British explorers. By the 1700’s contact increased and by 1791 Lower Umpqua traded with ships that stopped at the mouth of the Umpqua River. Some of the first recorded contact between the Siuslaw and fur trappers from the Hudson’s Bay Company occurred in 1826. In 1828 conflict between the Lower Umpqua and fur trapper and explorer Jedediah Strong Smith resulted in the loss of many of Smith’s company.

Fur trapping continued to grow in the area and in 1836 the Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading fort, Fort Umpqua, upriver near the modern day town of Elkton. In addition to fur trapping, the gold rush brought more Euro-American settlers to the area. Reedsport was established in 1852 and was named after a pioneer resident Alfred W. Reed. The post office was established in 1912 and seven years later the town was incorporated. Reedsport was built on marshy ground and was subject to frequent flooding; therefore buildings were elevated above ground. Primary industries in the 1900s included timber and fishing. In 1964 a devastating flood caused major damage to the community and a dike was built to protect the lower town. With the collapse of the timber industry in the late 1990’s, Reedsport continues to be supported by such industries as tourism, agriculture, and fishing

THE DUNES, the tallest in the nation, offer some of the best riding on the coast.

THE DUNES


We camped..right out in the dunes. $Free





.
.

NEWPORT

It's history: In 1778, when the United States was declaring its independence, no visitors had recorded contact with what is now the central Oregon coast. Captain James Cook passed by the southern coast, naming Cape Perpetua, and then landed at Yaquina Bay. He continued north, naming Cape Foulweather, reflecting the rough weather he encountered.

Through the mid-1800s trappers ventured south from the Hudson Bay Company, headquartered at Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River.

The history of the central coast was changed forever in 1855 when the United States established a 1.3 million-acre Reservation. More than 4,000 people from 20 different tribes were resettled on this Reservation which the government deemed unfit for farming and inaccessible...duh...BUT....there were other resources that would soon be discovered!

In 1861, two events again changed the course of history. A sea captain was shown beds ofrare, delicate oysters in Yaquina Bay. Companies from San Francisco came to harvest the oysters, creating conflicts with payment to Reservation Indians and depleting the supply within a few years.

About the same time, regular troops on the reservation were needed for the Civil War, and they were replaced by volunteers soldiers who saw the possibilities of the resources and lobbied to open up the land. This started the program known as Screw the Injuns.
Responding to this pressure, the government opened the Yaquina Bay area to non-Indian settlement in 1866. Reservation employees, fur traders, commercial fisherman, and others seeking opportunity and free land staked their claims. The Indians were soon forgotten...and so it goes.


'Dungeness Capitol of the World'

Newport, located on the central Oregon coast, has been a favorite tourist destination since the 1860s. The small, succulent Yaquina Bay oyster made Newport world famous, and a popular destination for seafood lovers. Now commercially grown, visitors can buy the oysters and watch them being processed at the Oregon Oyster Company.





Newport's Dining Experiences. Great seafood cafes we tried.

[ pic removed on request - bn ]

Our friend, Sharksbaja (Corky) has a great cafe right in the center of things ..the waterfront district. We enjoyed a truly great dinner there with him and his charming wife. A very popular place, you will be lucky to find an open table..but keep trying..it's worth it! Corky went out of his way and treated us to some samples of his unique and healthy style of steam cooking. "We'll Be Back, Corky!"



Co-Pilot test drives a new motorhome in the safety of the Newport Marina parking lot. LOTS of open space and opportunities to practice manuevering, running into posts, scaring seagulls, etc.


More Sea Lions of Newport Waterfront Tourist District..see, I told you there are lots of them to see for free along this coast!



RV Camp at Marina..Foggy Day and Night..dry camping $20..all hookups $36. Nice atmosphere and ambiance...you got to have that ambiance!



"Triggerfish"

My friend's trawler, Triggerfish. Among other species, Mike does long line albacore...way, way out there. We're talking 1500 miles out there. Not your casual 1 day fishing trip.


Also sea urchins..these came from Puget Sound. Mike is quite the diver and fisherman.

Slinging albacore in while 1500 miles out in the Pacific. Trolling lines, you can feel the thump of the jacks...Thump! 20 bucks! Thump! 20 bucks! Thump! 20 bucks. A good way to keep up with the accounting. Also means 2-3 weeks boat time..lots of weather...all different..all dangerous. Some never return. I've seen the ends of the outriggers plunging into the ocean one at time..rockin' and rollin' in a good blow.

We need to stop and party hardy with these fine old Baja amigos. So unsaddle and rest awhile with us:

MIKE AND CECELIA'S - SILETZ RIVER



Another great feast...oysters, beef, fresh garden veggies, vino, etc, etc..


Time to take a swing. Nice backyard abutting the Siletz River..a tranquil setting.


Fine place with a garden to grow your own salads.


The 2 Chessies love the greens, too..and it's very healthy for them.


Hey...it was worth a try, right?


Taking a stroll on the Siletz River with these 2 active retrievers is a ball...iliterally a ball.


Good times with good friends..Grazie, Mike & Cecelia!


TILLAMOOK

Tillamook History
The story of Tillamook County began on August 14, 1788 when Captain Robert Gray, an American sailing the sloop “Lady Washington,” anchored in Tillamook Bay thinking he had found the “great river of the West.” This was the first recorded landing on the Oregon coast.
In its early years, the town of Tillamook, the first community to be settled in the county, bore the names Lincoln and Hoquarten, the latter believed to be an Indian name meaning "the landing." Its name was eventually changed to Tillamook, an Indian word meaning “land of many waters.”
The first settler in the vicinity was Joseph Champion, who came in 1851 and made his home in a hollow spruce tree he called his “castle.” Within months other settlers came – all bachelors.
In 1852, the first two families arrived to make their homes. Each successive year brought more families. On Dec. 15, 1853, Tillamook County was created by an act of legislature.
In 1854, the first election was held, the first census taken, the first school started and the keel laid for a community ship: the “Morning Star.”
The “Morning Star” was built out of economic necessity because shipwrecks had destroyed all transportation that had carried local dairy products, fish and potatoes to market. The vessel was built by the combined efforts of Tillamook’s settlers. Most of the materials came from the forest, but iron work from a wrecked ship was laboriously packed on horseback from the Clatsop beaches by way of Neahkahnie Mountain. Sails were 'purchased' from the Indians who had salvaged them from a ship wrecked near Netarts. Pitch was used to caulk the craft. Paint was not available. The ship was launched in the Kilchis River on Jan. 5, 1855, and for some years made possible the existence of the pioneers and development of Tillamook County.
In 1861 Thomas Stillwell, aged 70, arrived with his family from Yamhill and purchased land. The following year he laid out the town that would become Tillamook and opened the first store. In 1866 the first post office was opened and the town was permanently renamed Tillamook. An election in 1873 chose Tillamook as the county seat. The first public building was the jail built that same year. Hopefully, those who screwed the Indians were incarcerated.



Just south of Tillamook lies a very interested and complete Air Museum...plus a nice but little known campground.

AIR MUSEUM:



Built for WWII Pacific Coast blimp recon duty (think Japanese subs!)this massive hanger once house the mighty airships.




There are many classic fighters at the museum..each with it's own unique story and history.


We get into 'a kind of uniform'...bought Air Museum T-shirts and caps. Pretty stylish, eh?


The BELLANCA AIR CRUISER
Here's a personal favorite. I've flown this plane Up North...a real classic.. and one of the best flying machines ever designed.









BLIMPS



.
.

CAMPSITE..within walking distance of the Air Museum.
AIRPORT RV PARK - A SECRET? $10 NO HOOKUPS

Honor system..sign in, put $ in envelope, go camp.


A great place to unwind and catch up your reading while doing some motorhome chores. (there are capitans..and there are crew)


Okay..okay. I'm not really a couch potato. I do my share..and then some.


Of course we all know where that good cheese comes from...and no trip to Tillamook is complete without a tour of:

The TILLAMOOK CHEESE FACTORY



What can one say about cheese?

Cheese - Milk's leap toward immortality.

I've got one - Fettucini alfredo is macaroni and cheese for adults.

My favorite cheese quote:
"How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?" - Charles De Gaulle


The early bird may get the worm, but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese.


Washington, DC is to lying what Wisconsin is to cheese.
Dennis Miller

.
.






I always look forward to a Road Trip and coming across these places.

ROADSIDE GROCERY MARTS - FARMER'S MARKET DAYS



SMOKED SALMON

$20 LB is a mite spendy for me, because I smoke so much of my own salmon catch..but..IT WAS DELICIOUS with some crackers, cream cheese, and chilled champagne. Plus Co-Pilot gets to fondle an Italian Greyhound. Lovable, as all dogs are, but I never much liked the tucked-in tail thing. Reminds me too much of certain types in our foreign affairs dept. (grin)
.
.


LINCOLN

Lincoln City is nestled between seven miles of sandy beaches and a 680 acre scenic lake on the central Oregon Coast. And while it's a charming resort town, it's also a paradise of beauty, history and adventure. I know this for a fact!

The mighty Pacific Ocean greets the beach along seven gorgeous miles in Lincoln City. I like the way the beauty and activities along the seashore change with the seasons, adding spice and variety. There are excellent locations for wave, whale, sunset and storm watching, and the beach is a treasure trove for collecting driftwood, agates, shells and floats. We found some neat collectables. Large rocks emerging from the sea create perfect pockets for tide pooling during low tides (my pastime favorite), plus beach hiking, surfing, windsurfing and fishing await all you adventure seekers. Fifteen public beach accesses welcome those who wish to indulge! Not crowded either.

Devils Lake, deep only in terms of historic folklore, is 1/3 mile wide, 3 miles long, and reaches a depth of only 22 feet. Nine species of freshwater fish beckon the fisherman.

Here's an oddity. Flowing from Devils Lake is the "D" River, which holds the title of the "World's Shortest River". From its source at Devils Lake, the river reaches its destination of the Pacific in a mere 120 feet.

Early history:

The cities around Yaquina Bay and the Yaquina River were formed by soldiers and workers who staked claims on the former Coast (Siletz) Reservation...grrrr, fur traders from the north, men who had come with shipping companies to harvest a rare oyster, and families from nearby Corvallis. In 1893, Lincoln County was formed from portions of Benton and Tillamook counties.

About the same time, federal allotment policies led to the transfer of lands from Indian ownership, and towns developed in the far north and south of the county. resulting in people living in a maritime environment, the development of an economic base of tourism, fishing, and logging, and the gradual transfer of land from the Coast Reservation to non-Indian ownership and settlement.


Tidal Wave - TSUNAMI!

This was the scene of a great tidal wave..a tsunami..in the 1700's. We reflect a bit...then go crabbing and fishing. Had a great time..NO WAVES..but also no crabs and no fish worth reporting.

.
.
Continuing up the COAST ROAD - HWY 101 NORTH

Right arm says PUSH..Left arm says HOLD!. Another reason I may become a Leftie!






We come to the north end of the Oregon Coast...at ASTORIA...and Long Beach. (Just HOW many Long Beaches are in the USA? Or doesn't this question plague you?)


Columbia River...where she joins the sea. The Columbia River gorge is considered by many to be the best place in the world for windsurfing. I can hear her now..."Let's try it!"

Decision time now. Shall we go across the big bridge and into Washington?...or turn east towards Portland? "Why Portland?", you may ask. Because I like poetry and Portland is the home of ..The Poetry Slam...fun stuff and educational. The mission of Poetry Slam is to promote the performance and creation of poetry while cultivating literary activities and spoken word events in order to build audience participation, stimulate creativity, awaken minds, foster education, inspire mentoring, encourage artistic statement, engage communities worldwide in the revelry of language, and help keep me out of the cantinas.

But...the Rain Forest, Olympic Peninsula, Puget Sound, and a faint odor of lavender wins out...so...

NEXT STOP...WASHINGTON STATE..BRACE YOURSELF!







[Edited on 8-25-2010 by Pompano]

great story

HI ROGER,

re: Washington

If you and Co-pilot get as far north as the Seattle area and venture further east, be sure to visit Molbak's Nursery in Woodinville. They are famous for their selection of plants, gardening accessories and home decorations, especially their Christmas decorations (probably already out) Worth the time to visit!

AND...if you have the time, be sure to stop in my Brother Frank's restaurant in Redmond which just a few miles away. He owns a very popular Pizza and Pasta restaurant which he has owned for almost 20 yrs. His food is excellent and is great for lunch or dinner. Prices are good and he also has an award winning wine list. which is well priced too.

Frankie's Pizza and Pasta
16630 Redmond Way at 166th Ave NE (right on corner)
Redmond, WA

If you make it there, ask if Frank is in, or my nephew's Chris or Noah. Ask if Kelly is waitressing and ask for her table. Tell her I said "hello"


Woodinville has more to see too. There's a lot to see there. There is a Redhook Brewery which offers tours and a couple of wineries, Chateau St Michelle and Columbia are nearby, right on the same street, NE 145th St.
There are also many other great small wineries in the immediate area.


Thanks once again for all the great pictures and stories. I'm enjoying them very much!!

Tu Amigo, Michael (aka Miguelamo / Amo Pescar)

The Olympic Peninsula

I'm rushing this report to meet a deadline, so here we go....
.

WASHINGTON COAST - OLYMPIC PENINSULA - RAIN FOREST][/b
.

We crossed the bridge at Astoria, Oregon after deciding to continue our choice of a coastal route..so we go north through Washington.


It was getting late in the day and we kept an eye open for the first good camping spot.



That turned out to be a nice RV park with a decent rate...$26 with full hookups. Located on the Washington shore of Columbia River where it meets the ocean. Very scenic with some huge stumps left over from old logging days.



In Aberdeen, we came upon a fellow mending his gillnets. A common chore of all commercial fishermen.




Have you ever noticed how many restored old classic cars you see in the Great Northwest? Also seen frequently on the highway, lumber is still one of the main industries of the Northwest...although somewhat curtailed in the last decade, due to environmental concerns. There have been fires, naturally. Then one avenue of giants made a kind of tunnel for us.



Shipwrecks of the NW Pacific has always been a fascinating study for me.





Maps are available showing the history and location of known wrecks.




Some remains of a recently exposed early century wreck near Long Beach, Washington. An important discovery for shipwreck and history fans...or just a great photo-op for beachcombers.



The Rain Forest



Just some of the things to do along this stretch..Whales are always worth watching.


Queets, Wa. Miles of driftwood await the beachcomber..



..literally miles and miles. You are requested NOT to burn any.



Unique shapes and designs. This one kind of looks like a fossil dinosuar, no? Perhaps a triceratops?





A fossil in the making...

.
.
The coast drive is spectacular and always entertaining.


Olympic Peninsula Rain Forest




Many wonders await you in the primeval forest. Be watchful for Bigfoot sightings.


Lake Quinalt was a very nice and scenic stop. We sailed a 16ft cat on the lake.

Port Angeles and Squim





Lavender Country



A great coffee stop in Squim.




Always time to do some shopping for nautical items.


Dungeness Crabs





We make it the Hamma Hamma River..and then Hood River.



A nice hamburger joint along Hwy 101. And had a helluva collection of dollar bills that customers have left over the years.



We came across this jerky vendor on the roadside. We had to try some...was not the best and a little spendy. $10 for a couple ounce packet. He had hundreds to sell. I make it and give it away. Lots of venison, goose, and crane jerky coming up for me this fall.



Another nice view campsite along Hood Canal. Cost was around $30 I think.



That's all I can do today, folks...the clock is ticking.
We are closing in on SEATTLE...

Pompano, thank you sooooo much for the beautiful pics of my home-state old stomping grounds....the awesome Oregon coast! A very nice walk down Memory Lane!! I hope you & Co-pilot pigged out on Dungeness crab on my behalf!

Hi Michael (AmoPescar), dang..too bad I didn't get your message earlier, but we've already been through Washington and Seattle. We spent some great days with amigos and passed by Woodenville one day on our way to the Mukilteo - Whidbey Island car ferry, where we were house guests for a celebration.

I made a note of your brother Frank's place and will stop there next time. Will have dinner and give all your hellos.)

Windgirl..thanks for the camping tip. I believe we have camped at the Timberline RV park before. Gracias!





SEATTLE

First, some history:

As everyone knows, Seattle and all of Puget Sound were discovered and settled by lutefish hunters from Norway.


This is the view from our last campsite before entering Seattle. Pretty scene..cost was FREE..we boondocked it.

.
.

Our first friend's fridge to raid in Seattle was an old Baja hand...mi amigo Michael and wife, Carol. Muchas gracias, muchachos. You cook a mean breakfast, Miguel.



Like me, Mike is a conservationist & hunter. Again, like me, he collects outdoor memorabilia, including one signed goose sketch I gave him years ago.

THE HUNTING WALL & MIKE'S COLLECTIONS



We're off to on I-5 to the Whidby Island Ferry.
.


At the ferry docks..east side. Next to a branch of Ivar's Fish House.
.


A short and pleasant ferry ride..maybe 15 minutes..a great commute for many locals who live on the island and work in the city. Lotsa islands and fairys in Seattle.
.


Our party destination is right handy ..first place you come to on the island. Right at the water's edge, so lunch is at hand!
.


Among other fun things, crabbing is always one of my favorites. We got plenty of legals for dinner. Then went clamming along the beach. So easy..so delicious.

.
.


Some area visits:


We just had to visit the Boeing Store..we are pilots and senior airline attendants, you know. We collected a few things aviation-wise. There's a wealth of plane nostalgia in this building for anyone interested in flight.
.
.
NATIVE BOAT CRAFTING - DUGOUT CANOES



Hmm..I remember making my first duck boat out of 2 old Hudson car hoods welded together. Hey..don't knock it...it worked!
.
.

THE WATERFRONT

MY DAY LOOKING AT BOATS FOR SALE


Nice batch..but too spendy for me. Nothing trips my trigger yet. There must be one somewhere around here, though....




I liked a certain stinkpot...can you guess which? And that 26' Tollycraft is a honey for the Cortez, too.

.
.

SNACK ATTACK...

HOOTERS - DOWNTOWN SEATTLE WATERFRONT

(I only go there for the hot wings...)







"Balancing Beers" is becoming all the rage...

.
.
One day we decide to see a major Seattle attraction that is CITY CENTER at the waterfront.

DOWNTOWN SEATTLE (really FUN to sightsee in a 34ft motorhome! I just grip the wheel with both hands, put my cap on backwards, and grimace bug-eyed....the other drivers give me lots of room.)






PIKE'S MARKET - DOWNTOWN


When I asked our RV Park owner about parking downtown Seattle to see Pike's Market, we were told emphatically that it would be impossible to find a parking place for our behemoth motorhome.

Well... I often wonder why a lot of folks just don't try hard enough to solve a problem. I decided to go find out for myself. (Hey..I'm quirky that way) Piece of cake. I found this space under Hwy 91 rather quickly. Cost me $10 parking paid into a meter that took Visa. We walked all of 50 ft and took a free shuttle to nearby Pike's Market. Easy. Done deal.






Pike's Market...a real zoo, but FUN!

I will assume most of us like seafood..what Baja fan doesn't? So here's a few quick photos I took of the scrumptuous seafood selections available at Pike's Market.





Can you BELIEVE the price of this Alaskan salmon..less than 8 bucks a pound! Holy Helmuts. Not that long ago, I saw it in San Diego for $18 lb. Shucks, I catch it for free about 20 feet in front of the motorhome when in Alaska. (of course it costs me a small fortune to get to that spot in Alaska, too!)




Cheeks are great..no matter what species of fish. I especially love Walleye Cheeks. Yummy..



Troll-caught Kings...the only way to buy salmon. When you can, of course.


These were REALLY BIG LOBSTER TAILS!! They captivated us.

Of course, we were ravenously hungry at the time and ordered two giant lobster tails, some fresh jumbo scallops, a few Alaska King Crab legs ..for our dinner that night.

Gulp..the bill was $148.

I chewed very, very slowly that evening..savoring every morsel to the max.








Even the ceilings had seafood....
.

Fresh Produce of Pike's Market is..everywhere!





Hey..this is my buddy, Pier's, product..Elephant Garlic. Good stuff.



Pike's Market has it all..even some dishes Co-Pilot has prepared from time to time.


The day was winding down...and we took a breather to watch the performance from this fireboat in the bay. A nice way to say Goodbye.



It's time to head this ballyhoo to ..where? Well, we played a quick game of chuck-a-luck and this highway came up as the choice. Who knows where it goes...Maybe The Big Open?

...or The Road to Perdition?...we'll just have to wait and see.

Hasta pronto!

Hi Roger,

Loving the pics and story!

I really like the Pike Place Market! It is so alive with people, foods, colors, smells, etc. Wish I could shop there daily.

I know you guys appreciate good food, so sorry you missed out. But as you said, maybe next trip. Have sent a couple of other Baja Amigos there and they were very happy! As I said, there's many cool things to see and do in that area.

Take care and drive safe!

Miguelamo

Still got both feet, fishabuctor, but my chainsaw is missing.....and AWAY WE GO...

EASTERN WASHINGTON - IDAHO

(Area motto: It's Cold..but it's Flat)

We leave Seattle and peddle to the metal down the freeway ...EAST! ....east?




It got late early...or I pooped out. Anyway I spot a likely-looking RV park while weaving thru traffic and decide to heave to...drop anchor..spend the night.



"Honest, tesoro...Number 93 is their top luxury site, plus it's got a freeway view. Feel the ambiance!

Yes..that's the electric hookup. Plug it in, please...I'm pooped.


okay...then how about some vino?"


.
.
Next day our lashup is heading east towards ADVENTURE AND SCENERY!





"AH GUARDA! Where are the trees? There are no trees here, yes? I do not like this road, Pompano. I would like see some trees, tesoro."

"Trees? Okay, okay, trees..sheesh...I'll try this road then..




...opps..well, they sorta looked like trees from a distance, tesoro..really they did."



"uh..Hey, look at all those funny TREES, Co-Pilot?! Okay, so they're a little short. But look again..they're All lined up together like soldiers on parade..what a sight, eh?





"An LOOK at this. Zowie! Wonder of wonders. This has GOT to be the Mother of all pot stashes! This is better than yesterday's world's biggest ball of twine and that two-headed rattler.. right babe?"





"My God..they're actually windrowing the stuff! WEED CITY!"




"I love it here. Wild horses couldn't drag me away!"




"Pompano, there are walleye fish in that Columbia River over there, no?...do you still want stay here?"


"I thought so...then Andiamo! We go to the Columbia Gorge!"


'Yes. Co-Pilot, and then to that exciting, that tintillating, that hotspot of the wild and wooly west... SPOKANE!!"



"There's nothing quite like a fishing shack on a walleye river ....."




"Pompano, you are telling me this is where he practices parting the waters? Sure? "


Hmm...Cheney and Medical on the same sign...prophetic.



Ah..Wallace, Idaho. Famous for ....uh, well, you know... But also pretty damn good sidewalk barbeques!




"See..? I told you I'd get you some trees...





There..feel better?"



NEXT STOP....more of IDAHO and the PANHANDLE





[Edited on 8-30-2010 by Pompano]

Igor, I consider the custom of mixing water & wine a form of wine fraud!.... best left to the makers of boxed wine.

Seriously, yes...we do bevandas daily. I also have been known to add ice cubes to my wine on occasion. If that's sacrilege, I'm a heretic.

Italy

It wasn't like that over there. Regular people didn't savor wine. It was drunk with every meal in large quantities. As you would drink ice tea or lemonade in this country.

Everyone drank nothing but bevanda with lunch and dinner. From the age of 6 to 60. Every kitchen had this giant wicker bottle filled with vino rosso and you just mixed it with water and drank it in large quantities. When you ran out you just took the bottle to the merchant and he'd refill it for you.

The 'we never sell our wine before it's time' sort of wine was for restaurants when you went to town. Special occasions.

When I told my friends in junior high that I drank wine at home with every meal my friends didn't know what to make of it. They must have thought my parents were alcoholics or something.

I remember dad sending me to the corner store to buy some wine for the family when we first came here and just couldn't understand why they wouldn't sell it to me. That movie "My Great Big Fat Greek Wedding" sort of depicts what life was like those years.

Anyway, I downloaded a picture of one of those bottles. They seem to be uncommon now, mostly treasured by the artsy types. I guess if you wait long enough everything becomes more valuable.

Igor, I think bevanda originated in Croatia and is more that than an Italian thing. I asked Co-Pilot it. She was borne and raised in Milano (northern part of Italy) and said her family never drank it. But I think her folks were slightly more reserved ...and opposed to drinking that much vino.

I have some wicker bottles at my rancho that look a lot like yours.

Perhaps it's passed it's time.

No, we lived with Milanese's in Melbourne, Australia (big Italian colony over there) and they drank it every day with their meals. Most were from Trieste, though, next door to Croatia (I still call it Yugoslavia ). No, these weren't Sicilian and Calabrian paisanos. Northern Italy. Wonderful custom really. Loosens your tongue and makes every meal truly a social occasion with everyone talking at the same time.

Also traveled through tha Basque country in the 70's and saw the same sort of thing in San Sebastian.

"IDAHO'S PANHANDLE"

EASTERN WASHINGTON
.
.


.




Eastern Washington is prime agricultural land and employs many workers...

...including illegal immigrants, which brings up a strange thing that happened during our trip. A farm in Eastern Washington is employing hundreds of Jamaican workers to replace the Mexican workers (illegal immigrants) it lost when they walked out and struck for higher wages and shorter hours...a story that could only happen in America.

We visited a farm near Brewster, WA, where an old schoolmate of mine now lives and owns a pharmacy. The huge farm belongs to a friend of his, and is now hiring 300 workers from Jamaica through the H-2A visa program, which issues temporary agricultural visas. The farm is certified through the Department of Labor to hire foreign workers.

US citizens got the opportunity to apply for the jobs, but the farm still didn't find enough Americans to plant, maintain, and harvest it's crops.

The farm owner said the problem is there's no guarantee that the people looking for jobs now will have legal documents. So... you have businesses that are subject to enforcement actions by our Department of Homeland Security.

He also added that Jamaica has a long history of sending people to the U.S. for farm jobs. He said it would be up to the workes conduct and performance which would determine whether their contracts are renewed at the end of a six-month period.
.
.



Walla Walla, Washington...GREAT SWEET ONIONS! Don't ya just love 'em on your burgers?




The other entrance to Idaho..Hwy 12. Very scenic and one of the most direct highway connections from the MidWest to the Pacific Ocean. This highway has the most miles of national forest travel in the nation.









NORTHERN IDAHO - via Spokane, Wash.






Wallace, Idaho is facinating: 118 years old, bawdy in its boom times, resolute in the hard times, this town of 960 reveles in its history.

Wallace is the principal town of the Coeur d'Alene silver-mining district, which produced more silver than any other mining district in the United States.

The area periodically experienced open warfare between miners and mine owners. Hard rock miners in Shoshone County protested wage cuts with a strike in 1892. After several lost their lives in a shooting war provoked by discovery of a company spy, the U.S. Army forced an end to the strike. Hostilities erupted once again in 1899 when, in response to the company firing seventeen men for joining the union, the miners dynamited the Bunker Hill & Sullivan mill. Again, lives were lost, and the Army intervened.
One third of the town of Wallace was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1910, which burned about 3,000,000 acres (12,141 km2; 4,687 sq mi) in Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

STORIES
THE 1910 FIRE
By Jim Petersen
Evergreen Magazine, Winter Edition 1994-1995

It was the largest forest fire in American history. Maybe even the largest forest fire ever. No one knows for sure, but even now, it is hard to put into words what it did. For two terrifying days and night's - August 20 and 21, 1910 - the fire raged across three million acres of virgin timberland in northern Idaho and western Montana. Many thought the world would end, and for 86, it did. Most of what was destroyed fell to hurricane-force winds that turned the fire into a blowtorch. Re-constructing what happened leads to an almost impossible conclusion: Most of the cremation occurred in a six-hour period. A forester named Edward Stahl wrote of flames shooting hundreds of feet in the air, "fanned by a tornadic wind so violent that the flames flattened out ahead, swooping to earth in great darting curves, truly a veritable red demon from hell."
.
.


Fun Facts about Wallace:

On September 25, 2004, Mayor Ron Garitone proclaimed Wallace to be the center of the Universe.

Specifically, a sewer access cover was declared to be the precise location of the center of the Universe. A specially made manhole cover was made to mark the spot. It bears the words "Center of the Universe. Wallace, Idaho."

The 1997 film Dante's Peak was filmed in and around Wallace during the summer of 1996, with the large hill next to town digitally altered to look like a volcano. One scene shows Pierce Brosnan driving a pickup down Main Street to escape the volcanic eruption.

The fire-fighting tool called a Pulaski is widely credited to a forest ranger from Wallace, Ed Pulaski.

Actress Lana Turner was born in Wallace

Now...aren't you glad you know this facts?
.




While in Wallace, I saw one of the ..uh..'strangest' color schemes I have ever seen on a motorhome. Certainly got my attention...But what do I know? I used to have a Minnie Winnie with parrots and palms painted on it.



.
..then...



... also seen in Wallace. What Road Trip Report would be complete without an emu or two?

.
.
Idaho Panhandle




The Idaho Panhandle is the northern region of the U.S. State of Idaho . Residents of the panhandle refer to the region as ..North Idaho, but I'm still going to call it The Panhandle. The panhandle is bordered by Washington state to the west, Montana to the east and British Columbia to the north.

Coeur d'Alene is the largest city within the Idaho panhandle; however, nearby Spokane, Washington is the region's largest city and also the location of the regional airport, Spokane International Airport.
.
.



.

"Sam Owen"

The Sam Owen area is part of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Located in the east-central part of the Columbia Plateau between the Cascade and Bitteroot Mountains, the Idaho Panhandle is one of the most spectacular scenic areas in the country. Deep blue lakes, swift raging rivers, quiet streams and high rugged mountains invite hikers, river rafters, canoeists, and nature enthusiasts of all kinds.





Idaho Panhandle - History

The Idaho Panhandle was originally created when Montana Territory was organized from Idaho Territory in 1864. All territory west of the continental divide went to Idaho. However, the surveyors charged with carving out the new territory mistook the Bitteroot mountain range for the continental divide. By the time they realized their mistake they were as far north as modern day Sandpoint, so the thin panhandle was left intact.

.
.


Many changes have occurred since the time Lewis & Clark used this route in the early 1800's. The mountains a traveler sees around himself today are shared by the U.S. Forest Service and the Plum Creek Timber Company. Each owns alternate sections of land creating a 'checkerboard' pattern as shown above.
As we traveled across the area, we noticed a variety of textures and openings in the lanscape. They represent natural fire patterns and timber management practices on private timber lands and national forests. This pattern of ownership began here in 1908 when the U.S. Government granted the Northern Pacific Railroad Company alternate sections along their proposed railway route. This form of early land ownership by the railroads...every other square mile... is common knowledge to those of us who have lived near a railway system that was established in the days of Western development. (That's a LOT of land between Chicago and Seattle!)

.
.



Don't forget the fishing tackle!

.
.
Attractions we liked:
Panhandle National Forests
Priest Lake
Lake Pend Oreille
Lake Coeur d'Alene
Kootenai River
Silverwood



.
.

One of many great hiking/riding trails found throughout the Panhandle.
.
.


We came upon a scene which prompts me to post this note on riding bikes (bicycles) on our national highways: We were some of the first responders to a bike/car accident on this highway in northern Idaho. Luckily, only a broken leg was the result of a biker not riding far enough to the side on a road with poor distance-visibility. When two vehicles converge coming around a curve on these narrow roads, there is NO room for bikers. It could have been much worse..brrr!


INDIAN -(Native American) HISTORY IN THE PANHANDLE

French fur traders named the local indian tribe Coeur d'Alene--"heart of an awl"--saying they were the finest traders in the world. The tribe's trade involved year-long trips to the Pacific coast as well as to the Great Plains to exchange goods. They called themselves Schee chu'umsch, which, in their native Salish language, means "those who are found here."

The Coeur d'Alene Indians lived in large permanent villages along the Spokane and St. Joe Rivers, near Lake Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Lake and on parts of the large prairie known today as the Palouse country, an area of about 5 million acres. They enjoyed a close relationship with the inland tribes of Canada and the Northwest, sharing a common language and fishing grounds, intermarrying, and attending big trade gatherings and celebrations. Silver was discovered in the Idaho panhandle in the 1870s, setting off a frenzy of mining activity. The Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, established in 1873, originally included all of Lake Coeur d'Alene. By a series of treaty agreements, the reservation was reduced to its present size.
.
.

An Early Mission

One of the first Catholic missions in the West, the Cataldo Mission was established on the St. Joe River in the early 1840s. Because of flooding, it was moved to a bluff overlooking the Coeur d'Alene River in 1848. A new church and parish house were erected there and still stand today, both part of Old Mission State Park. Every August 15, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe sets up tepees on the mission grounds to celebrate the annual Feast of the Assumption.


.
.


.
.
Major communities we visited in the last two trips:
Bonners Ferry
Coeur d'Alene
Dalton Gardens
Grangeville
Hayden
Kellogg
Lewiston
Moscow
Orofino
Post Falls
Rathdrum
Sandpoint
St. Maries
.
.

Idaho Firsts, Facts, and Trivia

Rexburg is home to Ricks College, the largest private two-year college in the nation.

Elk River is the home of the Idaho Champion Western Red Cedar Tree, the largest tree in the state. Estimated to be over 3000 years old this giant is more than 18 feet in diameter and stands 177 feet tall.

In Idaho law forbids a citizen to give another citizen a box of candy that weighs more than 50 pounds.

Grangeville is located in north central Idaho. The community is considered the getaway to five wilderness areas and four national forests totaling 5 1/2 million acres. The total is second only to Alaska in designated wilderness area.


The Lewis & Clark Highway (United State Highway 12) is the shortest route from the midwest to the Pacific Coast and the longest highway within a national forest in the nation.


Bruneau Dunes State Park contains North America's tallest single structured sand dune. It stands 470 feet high.

The Kamiah Valley is rich in the heritage and legends of the Nez Perce. It was here, among the ancestors of the present day Nez Perce, the Appaloosa horse was first bred, primarily for use as a war animal.



Hell's Canyon is the deepest gorge in America.


Birds of Prey Wildlife Area is home to the world's most dense population of nesting eagles, hawks, and falcons.


Soda Springs boasts the largest man-made geyser in the world.

Rigby is known as the birthplace of television since it is Philo T. Farnsworth's hometown. Farnsworth pioneered television technology.

President Theodore Roosevelt established the Caribou National Forest in 1907. The area now covers more than 1 million acres in southeast Idaho.

In 1924 local McCall resident and Olympic ski champion, Cory Engen, started the celebration known as the Winter Carnival to help curb the boredom of the long McCall winters.

Sun Valley is recognized as the home of America's first destination ski resort.

Idaho ghost towns include Silver City, Yankee Fork, Gold Dredge, and the Sierra Silver Mine.

Sawtooth Mountain/Sawtooth National Recreational Area was named for its jagged profile.

Anderson Dam is known for its blue-ribbon fly-fishing.



Dense forest regions make up a large part of the northern Idaho Panhandle. Very lush.

.




Here Co-Pilot gets a nice roadside drink of fresh water. Me?..never touch the stuff.

.
.
=================

SOMETHING PERSONAL FROM A PREVIOUS TRIP IN 1992



In late August of that year, 1992, I got a case of 'cabin fever' and decided to take a long motorcycle trip.

Not having any particular destination in mind, I quickly packed a small bag and headed south and west..and was to come upon the Randy Weaver - FBI event which had just started. I watched the TV coverage of the standoff at Ruby Ridge from my motel room in Havre, Montana..and thought I'd include the action in my trip the next day.

Off I went, thru Glacier Park and on to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where I soon cycled up the barricades at Ruby Ridge. There were CNN, ABC, CBS and other camera crews set up with their satellite trucks and a news gal was interviewing the spectators and passersby about the stand-off with Randy Weaver and family.

I was wearing my black leathers and headband when I came thundering up on my black Vulcan and pulled in alongside the tv reporter. She came running over to me and asked me if I were part of the protesting anti-government group who had been showing up in numbers that day. Well, I couldn't resist and said,

"Hell, yes. And about a hundred of my brothers are right behind me. This is OUR FIGHT, TOO! "

The poor CNN gal was almost giddy with glee. Her eyes and grin showed her excitement as she sensed a real grass roots story about to unfold..and SHE would scoop all the other newspeople present.


She began to ask a lot of questions about where we came from, how many states were represented, how we disagreed with the government, what we thought about Weaver's arguement with the feds on the gun issue, etc, etc.


I couldn't keep up the charade any longer and confessed. "Miss, I'm just a wandering lost soul from Baja trying to find some excitement myself..heading for the coast and some sun and fun."


I did get another smile from her..but also a cutting motion across her throat as she signaled her cameraman to stop filming. On to the next protester..."this guy is .. no story."





(photo note: I took this matchbook joke photo after driving thru a forest fire after the Ruby Ridge standoff event....I DID NOT START THAT FIRE!)
.
.


The following is what did happen.


RUBY RIDGE - BONNERS FERRY - AUGUST 1992




RANDY WEAVER - RUBY RIDGE STANDOFF - I WAS THERE.

On a remote ridge in northern Idaho, a surveillance operation leads to a military-like siege on the home of Randy Weaver. After an 11-day standoff, three people are dead: a federal agent, Weaver's wife and 14-year-old son.



Aug 23, 1992 - Dozens of federal agents in August 1992 converged on the remote mountain cabin in the Idaho Panhandle, where Randy Weaver's family lived. The agents were there to arrest Weaver on a charge of possessing illegal weapons. Weaver's 14-year-old son, Sam, and deputy US Marshal William Degan of Quincy, Mass., were killed in a gunfight that touched off the 11-day siege. Weaver's wife, Vicki, was fatally shot by FBI sharpshooter Lon Horiuchi on the second day.





Aug 23, 1992 - Weaver reportedly moved his family from Iowa to Idaho's panhandle in 1981 He his wife Vicky and their four children have been barricaded on their ridge since February 1991 shortly after he failed to appear in court on charges of selling illegal sawedoff shotguns to a federal informant.


From Northwest a magnet for hate groups Hate groups groups flourishing in the Panhandle.

Aug 23, 1992 - In a steady rain, dozens of vehicles made their way up Ruby Creek Road, a logging tract that leads to the cabin atop Ruby Ridge, about 40 miles south of the Canadian border in the northern Idaho panhandle. At least two armored military troop carriers drove past a blockade of marshals ...



Aug 25, 1992 - Because of the seclusion and lack of minorities the hills of the northern Idaho panhandle have been fertile ground for white supremacists over the past decade. Aryan Nations is based in nearby Hayden Lake and antiZionist rhetoric like that espoused by Weaver is commonplace ...
From Fugitive's son, 13, died in shootout Youth's body found on Idaho mountain - Related web pages
pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61826771 ...

Aug 30, 1992 - Mr. Weaver moved to the remote Idaho Panhandle from Iowa nine years ago in search of an independent life style. Many of his neighbors and several people aligned with the white-supremacist movement have gathered at a roadblock three miles from the cabin to show support for him.






Epilogue

Following his release from jail, Randy Weaver flew back to Iowa with his children and filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the government for the killing of Samuel and Vicki Weaver. In an out-of-court settlement, Randy was given $100,000 and his daughters were granted $1 million apiece. "The government got caught with its pants down," Randy stated after the settlement. "They broke a whole bunch of serious laws, they were totally embarrassed, and they settled our lawsuit out of court because they didn't want a lot of questions asked. This became a personal vendetta with the government when I laughed in the face of the agent who offered to drop my charges if I became an informant. They admitted in court that crime is about as serious as a traffic violation."

Federal prosecutors eventually ended a two-year long probe into several FBI officials for their role in the Ruby Ridge standoff. Following the investigation, Danny Coulson, former head of FBI headquarters, was given a letter of censure; Michael Kahoe, who had been involved in researching the rules of engagement, was censured and suspended for 15 days; Richard Rogers, head of the hostage rescue team, was censured and suspended for 10 days; Larry Potts, the man who had approved the rules of engagement, was censured; Eugene Glenn, Ruby Ridge field commander, was censured and suspended for 15 days, and Lou Horiuchi, the HRT "Blue" sniper/observer team leader, received no punishment for his actions, which resulted in the death of Vicki Weaver.

Randy Weaver eventually relocated to Montana with his daughters and purchased a car lot. The Weaver cabin still stands on Ruby Ridge and, as of this writing, remains unoccupied.

Since the shoot out at Ruby Ridge, Randy Weaver has been deemed the patron saint of militant gun owners, a living martyr whose infamous shoot-out with federal agents helped ignite "A seething backlash in the country," as the N.R.A. puts it.

This backlash, along with the Branch Davidian's standoff in Waco, Texas, was later said to have caused the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City, by Timothy McVeigh.

.
.
.




This is the End of the Washington - Idaho Trip.


We're glad you could join us for our visit to the great state of IDAHO...next stop is MONTANA...and GLACIER PARK

[Edited on 9-3-2010 by Pompano]

Pompano, Jeez, Your travel log get's better and mo better! And you throw in the history lesson for free. Thanks.

GLACIER NATL. PARK

MONTANA


Just the drive through Montana to get to Glacier Park is breathtaking..and full of trout water.


Not to mention Huckleberry Pie..yummm. Boat rides on clear lakes and pristine RV parks everywhere.


You are never at a loss for a pretty scene.


Or huckleberry pie..followed by a boat ride! We also had no problem finding lots of nice RV parks near Glacier. The horse statue is in Kalispell.



Lots of river action for trout. Did I mention there are dozens of great fishing rivers in Montana?


Alberta hosts this nice tourist center at the West Glacier entrance. We toured thru many interesting exhibits and met very nice attendants.



We enter the park....west side.



Glacier National Park



One of the best kept secrets in America, Glacier Park is possibly the most beautiful, awe-inspiring natural wonder in the United States. Designated as a national park in 1910, Glacier is comprised of 1,600 square miles with elevations ranging from 3,150 to 10,466 feet (Mount Cleveland).

Open daily, year-round, but some visitor services such as hotels, tours and restaurants, are only open from late May through September. Every road or hiking trail offers spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife viewing.



You do have to drive carefully..and keep your eyes open for animals on the road.

And have your camera ready!







This is a borrowed bighorn shot, but was so pretty I couldn't resist including it in this photo report.

(I somehow 'lost' or deleted about 100-plus of my photos of bighorn sheep, goats, our hike, and the Going to the Sun. ....arrgghhhh. I had some real beauts of 5 bighorns herding Co-Pilot through a parking lot in the Park!)


Glacier National Park is located in the northwest corner of Montana, just north of Columbia Falls. The park encompasses more than one million acres and is home to grizzly bear, moose, elk, along with 63 varieties of wild mammals. While most of the roads in Glacier National Park are closed off during the winter, this provides miles and miles of tracks for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Visitors are seldom around in the dead of winter, so the muffled hush of the snow covered woods is especially enticing and serene.

Glacier National Park is known as a "World Heritage Site" with natural majestic beauty. It's beautiful lakes are calming, and show the picture of snow capped mountains high above.


.

Going To The Sun Road



St. Mary's Lake is located on the East side of the park. The famous "Going To The Sun Road " runs parallel to it's north shore. The lake is seven miles long and hundreds of feet deep. Being so high up and so deep,means it can freeze up to several feet thick of ice in the winter. The altitude is 4,484 feet and these lake waters are extremely cold. St. Mary's Lake sits 1,500 feet higher than Lake Mc Donald (The largest lake in the park) which is on the west side of the Continental Divide.


In July of 2007 they introduced the new shuttle service in Glacier National park. You can now enjoy all of the sites without driving the road yourself. For those of us who would rather be watching the wildlife and scenery rather than watching the road. This is a very convenient way of traveling over the Going To The Sun Road and is what we did ..twice.

.


[



.
AVALANCES ARE COMMON


See the path of this avalance?

.
History Of Glacier National Park

The Blackfeet Indians, lived in what was called "The Backbone Of The World", long before any white man started exploring the Rocky Mountains. These Native Americans, were very protective of their beloved and sacred lands. The buffalo hunting grounds fed their people, and other more southern tribes were driven out if possible. The passes through these mountains were used for their hunting expeditions, and to chase away
unwelcome neighbors.

Native American beliefs are strong in their love of all forms of creation. They are taught that all animals and birds have a voice to speak with, if we would only listen. The earth, sky, and weather give them lessons to live by. The mountains have a special meaning to Native Americans, in that, they feel they draw wisdom and knowledge from them.


Chief Mountain in the northeast corner of Glacier is a very special area with history. This beautiful mountain stands alone in a prairie away from the other mountains. It has been described as a Warrior Chief, leading his tribe toward the rising sun. Still to this day, this mountain is visited by the Plains Indians for vision quests and Prayer ceremonies.


The first white man to see this beautiful place, may have been Hugh Monroe, a fur trapper. The Indians named him Rising Wolf. He came in about 1815 and was soon married to an Indian girl from the Piegan Tribe. Father De Smet came in 1846 and named two mountain lakes St. Mary's.


For many years, the search was on to find a passage through the Continental Divide. The idea was to run a railroad over the Rockies. Native Americans knew about Marias Pass but were not willing to share this information. Marias is the lowest pass between Canada and Mexico, and would be the ideal route. History now tells us that it was finally discovered in 1889.

The Great Northern Railroad was completed in 1892. This rail way around the Park was to be used by many tourists.


In 1895 a trail was built from Belton to Lake Mc Donald. A steamboat was brought to the lake and the beautiful Lodge was built. In 1895 it was thought that there were valuable minerals in the area we now know as Glacier National Park. The federal Government bought the land from the Blackfeet Indians, and later discovered there were no minerals to be found, so the land was made a National Park by congress.



Adios to the Park and the mountains....







...now it's time to head further east..away from Glacier Park and into Eastern Montana. God knows what's is store for us there...







[Edited on 9-5-2010 by Pompano]

Montana's High-Line Highway

Coming east off the Rocky Mountain continental divide, we descend onto...


More historic and famous trails of the Old West.....this statue of John Stevens depicts his early achievements and discoveries.
.

..and then we rejoin that other almost-famous trail...



THE HIGH-LINE

U.S. Route 2 (US 2) is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning 2,579 miles (4,150 km) across the northern continental United States.




Montana's portion of the HIGH-LINE HIGHWAY (I've highlighted our route in green)

Note: There isn’t a whole heck of a lot along Montana’s portion of The High-Line.

This suits us just fine.




The photos above show the RUSH HOUR ON THE HIGH-LINE. (just joking, naturally...)

You will pass hay fields and prairie, and are more likely to see trains along the old Great Northern Railway tracks than cars on the road. Hundreds of pothole lakes host migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. The terrain is mostly flat, dissected with shallow coulees and topped with low buttes. This country sees lots of waterfowl as they make their migrations north and south along the flyway.

If you insist on doing something constructive along the High-Line, you can always give these a try:

- Black Coulee National Wildlife Refuge
- Bears Paw Battleground
- Fort Assiniboine
- Wahkpa Chu’gn Archeological Site
- Havre Beneath the Streets
- hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and camping


..but just being lazy and letting the miles drift by is not bad, either.......

A word of warning, though. It doesn't pay to get too complacent and lose your edge..the traffic can pick up at any time.



This is....THE REAL RUSH HOUR ON THE HIGH-LINE


.
.
As you travel/wander further you might venture into The Missouri Breaks. One of my favorite hunting grounds.



.
.
And photo-op places for wildlife.





Things get a little hectic Co-Pilot insists on stopping to take a photo of some buffalo.

Ahem..actually they are North American bison. Buffalo are in Africa.


.
.
Okay..can I go back to daydreaming now?...



"...on the road again, I can't wait to get on the rrrroooad again..."



[Edited on 9-5-2010 by Pompano]

You do have to drive carefully..and keep your eyes open for animals on the road.



Pompano: Are those WHITE MOOSE ??

(A little cross-breeding with the Rocky Mountain Goats.....???)

HIGH-LINE HWY -- PART II

Running east along The High-Line in Montana.

We had several great rivers to pick from...for trout and campsite ambiance.








See those ducks and geese? In about 2 more weeks, we'll have some great dinners!
Ahhhh...Remington Roast Mallard...be still, stomach!....yummmm.
.

.


At a Walmart near Havre, Mt. we were asked by this young hitchhiker to give her and her dog a ride east. We certainly would not suggest hitching across the country to any young girl, but she seemed to be doing okay with her chosen mode of travel. She told us she was actually more of a 'professional train rider - a Hobo' than a highway hitchhiker, but the 'yard bulls' had been a little tough on her in this area...so hence the lift with us.

I was about to suggest she was a little too young to be a 'professional' of anything, but then I remembered my own youth and decided to keep my opinions to myself. Hells bells, there's all manner of people on the move these days...young and old...looking for some improvement in the nation's condition. I certainly will not judge her..but we did kind of poke our nose's in a bit...for which I am glad.

She told us her 'hobo name' was Echo...




and I think the dog was named ..Broke???



We made up a bed for them both on the motorhome's sofa-bed that night. Kind of nice to have them as guests..and reminded me of other times long ago. We talked to her quite a bit about her situation and how she came to be a train rider...a hobo. And..we also got her parent's home phone number. Before we dropped her off in Glasgow, Mt. we phoned her mother and made sure Echo talked to her about her whereabouts and plans for returning home. They had a heart-warming conversation on my cellphone and then we all said our goodbyes.
A week later, the mom called me to say thanks. Echo was home with the pooch...this time to stay and go back to her studies. Not a problem for us..we always take in strays, Up North and Down Baja.

(Say...Did I ever tell you about another hitchhiker, Victor? Met him when he was 13, homeless and hitching north from La Paz, took him home, where he worked at mi casa for 7 years before relocating to a church colony in Canada after first paying a Baja bruja 400 bucks for a love potion to entice a goatherder's beautiful daughter....

..ah, but that's a different story..)

.
.
IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL....AND FOOTBALL PRACTICE!



Man-O-Man, did this small town scene bring back some memories...Hut!

All along the Montana stretch of The High-Line, one can find displays of Native American and early pioneer history. Good fodder for guys like me.


Part of the Lewis & Clark Trail parallels The High-Line and you will see tributes every so often. Like this one near Wolf Point.



Not exactly a YarCraft, but it was good enough for it's time.


This old single bottom plow helped to coin the expression, Sodbuster..and made many a pioneer farmer wish he had never left Ohio.

Imagine yourself and old Dobbin plowing up 50 -100 acres of tough prairie sod? No? I kinda believe there was a different work ethnic around back then. 'The harder you work, the more you get.' Not something our modern day 'I am entitled' citizens would relish.
.
.


Ah...'Dutch ovens' & campfire cooking....It's damn good to know certain things haven't changed...

..which reminds me....


"Hey Co-Pilot! Listen up.

Is dinner ready yet?"




BONK!....Ouch!

.....jeez..that hurt.

Anybody got a bandage?

FORT PECK, MONTANA

FT. PECK LAKE - NORTHEASTERN MONTANA

Blending history and progress, Fort Peck is a must-see stop in Big Sky Country.

MONTANA'S INLAND JEWEL







"Okay, Co-Pilot, let's get out the fishing poles and cooler..we're heading for FT. PECK LAKE. Walleye fillets for dinner tonight...plus some fun research!"







Back when we were kids and going camping/fishing with my folks, we’d crane our necks out the window, wind in our hair, eager to get to the lake and it's wonders.

Of course, my Dad always took a slow drive thru the town of Fort Peck... before taking us to the face of the dam, an impressive structure more than four miles across.
We would always go for another tour of the place...to get the feel of all that power! ..then we’d get the campsite ready for picnics/fishing, swimming with the clear blue sky, and white clouds as companions.






In later years, after all those trips through the powerhouse had sunk in, I realized Fort Peck is really a testament to exploration and hard work. Here Co-Pilot visits some testimonials to the job at hand...and a tribute to some who lost their lives during the construction.



EARLY DAYS
May 10, 1805. The Lewis and Clark Expedition was traveling up the Missouri River and stopped, resupplying with buffalo meat. May was a rough month for the corps, having narrowly escaped numerous grizzly bears (the last one taking eight rifle balls before it stopped). Their earlier dismissals of the Indian tribes’ warnings were now taken much more seriously. Signal Hill (east of the powerhouses) was a spectacular vantage point for surveying their future route and now has a set of interpretive signs for the present-day visitor.



DEM DRY BONES
For more than a century, residents have passionately dug for dinosaur bones. Dr. Barnum Brown of the American Museum of Natural History discovered the rich fossil field nearby, uncovering the first TYRANNOSAURUS REX skeleton in 1902. During dam construction, amateur diggers found fossils, buffalo skulls, and artifacts from Old Fort Peck. Dinosaur digging didn’t really hit the limelight until 1997, when one of the largest T-REX specimens was found.





A cry of outrage went out when plans were made to remove it from the area, as most great finds already are displayed in museums far from Fort Peck. Determined fundraising convinced congressional leaders that Peck’s REX would stay home. Public sentiment was personified by schoolchildren, particularly one who presented to the project a chicken bucket with his life savings inside.




Peck’s REX is now being prepared at the Paleontology Field Station of the Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center, where bones and exhibits are on display. The organization welcomes volunteers and is a must-see for dinosaur enthusiasts.





In the works since 1996, the newly completed $6.7 million, 18,000-square-foot Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center sits near the powerhouses. With a stellar view of the Missouri River from the glass lobby, the center features a warm-water fish aquarium.





FORT PECK DAM, the LARGEST hydraulically-filled earth dam in the world, measures 21,026 feet long, with a maximum height of 250 feet.

The five turbines can generate 185,250 kilowatts of power, creating over $10 million dollars annually and a source of constant power for Montana’s rural electric cooperatives.

The reservoir stretches for 134 miles, and its created shoreline runs 1,520 miles (longer than the California coast).

Reservoir water is managed for hydroelectric power, flood damage reduction, downstream navigation, fish and wildlife, recreation, irrigation, and public water supply.

Storage capacity of the reservoir is 18.7 million-acre feet. (you can water the yard to your heart's content.)

The curve of the earth is visible from the middle of the reservoir.

It is the largest body of water in Montana...and the best fresh-water fishing hole this side of Canada!




WANDER & WONDER
The expansive Fort Peck area ab-sorbs nearly 300,000 visitors a year, estimated to be the fourth most- visited place in the state. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers operates the hydropower and lake levels from the town of Fort Peck, incorporated in 1986.
Sturdy construction and graceful lines put the Administration Building and Fort Peck Theatre on the National Register of Historic Places. Wood-impressed concrete and a red tile roof bring a quiet presence to the office building, while the theatre is colorfully exuberant.




Built as a movie house to entertain dam workers, it’s now a very popular summer stock theatre—the only one in northeastern Montana. Talented local actors and profes-sionals present vibrant musicals, dramas, and comedies. Shows scheduled for 2004 include THE KING AND I, FOOTLOOSE, and HAYFEVER.

A rich warm feeling surrounds the audience.

That warm feeling might also be Floyd, the friendly ghost. He’s been rumored to hang around the back stairs, ready to help soften a fall in the dark.
.



The boomtown party gene lives on today at the Gateway Inn Supper Club (“Best dam bar by a dam site”), featuring dining and dance bands. It’s a weekend hangout of the LandShark waterski club.



The downstream Park Grove Bar is my favorite for a thick burger.


A drive around this small boomtown holdout gives glimpses of abandoned shanties tucked under cottonwood trees. And wildlife truly abounds in this area.








It's all about Mother Nature...per these photos below.

Osprey nest, grizzly bear, white pelicans, bee hives, sunflowers, oil patch.

p.s. One of these photos is not from Ft. Peck. Can you guess which one?





Once your belly is full, get outfitte and channel that energy into fishing, camping, hiking, diving, or water skiing. Or just stroll through town and chat with residents. Why do they stay? It’s just a clean, beautiful little town. It’s a real hunting and fishing kind of place. I could stay here the rest of my life...part-time, anyway! .....why?...

Because now...we are off to visit the ...

Good choice, Igor. I figured you would get it..and give me a chance to get on my soapbox about endangered species.



There are no griz left near Ft. Peck, Montana.

The following maps show thier distribution ...past and present.



Before the arrival of Europeans, grizzly bear were thriving in all western U.S. states and south into Mexico. In the lower 48 states alone it is estimated that there were some 50,000 – 100,000 grizzly bears. NativeAmericans (INDIANS ) co-existed with grizzlies for thousands of years, and honored and respected them for their intelligence, strength and mystical power.

Since the arrival of European settlers, however, grizzly bears have seen population declines and loss of much of their historic habitat.




Grizzlies once roamed over the western United States from the high plains to the Pacific coast. In the Great Plains areas like Ft. Peck, they seem to have favored areas near rivers and streams, where conflict with humans was also likely. These grassland grizzlies also probably spent considerable time searching out and consuming bison that died from drowning, birthing, or winter starvation, and so were undoubtedly affected by the elimination of bison from most of the Great Plains in the late 1800’s.



Between 1850 and 1920 grizzly bears were wiped out from 95% of their original range, with extirpation occurring earliest on the Great Plains and later in remote mountainous areas ..see map below. Unregulated killing of bears continued in most places through the 1950’s and resulted in a further 52% decline in their range between 1920 and 1970...see map. Grizzly bears survived this last period of slaughter only in remote wilderness areas.

Altogether, grizzly bears were eliminated from 98% of their original range in the contiguous United States during a 100-year period.







Because of this dramatic decline and the uncertain status of grizzly bears in areas where they had survived, their populations in the contiguous United States were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1975.

...and that's your Griz lecture for today. Hope you enjoyed it ....learned something about wildlife conservation.

Pompano, Always look forward to your road trip pictures and reports. Thanks.

Have always liked the thinking of most ''sportmen" when it comes to wildlife... they are truly aware of nature and the impact which our species has on same..

A very good balance approach, thank you ...... for the thought and of course your wonderful pictures, along with your great humor... "two dogs"