California coastline

After spending about a week in the wine country, it is time to move on down the coast to San Diego where we will visit Mary's brother Tom.  We intentionally stayed near the coast to enjoy the views.  Weather is dry this time of year with cool nights and hot afternoons.

Will spend 3 or 4 days in San Diego exploring the city and having the motorhome serviced.  Time to change fluids and filters.  Will probably leave here on Friday, 8/30, starting the trek back east.  Plan is to travel thru southern Arizona, New Mexico and into Texas.  Will head northeast to Dallas to visit Mary's cousin.  From Dallas, due east to Maryland.  Best guess - should be home by 3rd week of September.

Moving on to San Diego

Hearst Castle in San Simeon

 

view from the patio

Morro Bay

One of several beaches at Morro Bay

El Capitan state park near Santa Barbara

view from our campsite

More wine country

Paso Robles is another wine area about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco.  The growing valley is about 40 miles inland from the coast hosting about 300 wineries. We spent 3 nights here soaking up the culture.

 

Wines must have been good. Everyone seems happy with additional samples in hand.

Production inside the Robert Hall winery

Providing quality control

Olive ranch

 

Napa

After the California coastline and the redwoods, we entered civilization once again by heading southeast into the Napa Valley region.  Found this campground in Napa, which is one of the nicer places we've stayed.  From there, went on to tour the countryside. 

Black Stallion winery - courtyard sipping area

Wine tasting was a must.  Tasted great but expensive.  Bottle prices ranged from about $18 to $85.

They displayed each of the grapes they grow and use for production.  Not only can you see and touch,  but sampling is allowed.

As with most of the wineries in the area, grounds are well manicured.

After touring the countryside,  had to stop at the local wine bar - a tasting place with ood on the side.

Next day took a ride on the wine train which runs from Napa up the valley to St. Helena.  Midday is a luncheon with wine tastings.  Train was about 10 cars long

Our friends Berkley & Karen enjoyed the fun.

wine tasting car at mid train

dining car where we embelished on a fine meal with great service.

Redwood trees

Campground in Crescent City, CA.  Note the width of the redwood next
 to the motorhome.  Coach is 8' + wide and tree is more than half that amount.


Road into Jedediah Smith Redood State Park.  Is a gravel road with
more twists and turns than you can imagine.  Trees are small at the entrance
in this picture.  Once in the park,  sunlight is limited.


large trees everywhere in this ancient forest.
Park road was about 15 miles long .



Stout Grove area of the park.  Well developed and pedestrian friendly

Medford, Oregon

Mary discovered the Harry & David headquarters on the way to the coast in southern Oregon.  This became a must see - not only for the shopping opportunity but to see how all of this is put together.  They are the largest employer in southern Oregon - about 2,200 people year round increasing to 5,000 during the holiday season.

Inside the plant.  A production line for their Moose Munch.  Pop about 100 pounds of popcorn per hour.

Production line for gift baskets.  A lot of the assembly is done by hand.

Tying bows on the baskets and then packing in boxes for shipment.

Obviously, this is slow time of year.  They just completed packaging of peaches.

Movin on to the California coast

On Friday, we moved through southwest Oregon and into Crescent City, CA,  This is at the northwest corner of the state and the location of Redwood NP.  Will spend a few days moving down the coast and enjoying the big trees.  Pics to follow.

Crater Lake

Crater Lake is truly one of those gems that need to be seen.  While the pictures are good, they don't come close to the raw beauty that exists.  Some interesting facts:  Depth is 1,943 feet, width is 4.5 to 6 miles,  annual snowfall is 43.5 feet.

This is a picture of the path down to the lake which runs a little over a mile descending about 800 feet.  Mary and I accomplished this feat which took about 20 minutes to get down and an hour to get back.

 

 

View from the deck of Rim lodge.

The lake rests inside a caldera that was formed about 7,700 years ago when a 12,000 foot tall volcano collapsed following a major eruption.  Lake water is from rain and snow only.  No streams or rivers.  Is considered to be he cleanest rage body of water in the world.

Heading south

On Wednesday, 8/14, will begin the west coast trek to San Diego.  Planned stops are Crater Lake, Oregon;  Redwood NP on the northern California coast and Napa Valley.  From that point will go inside, hopefully to avoid the LA traffic, and make run for San Diego.

Time to rest

Arrived in Bellingham on Monday afternoon after a beautiful drive through the Frazier valley.  Crossed the border at Sumas, which took about 45 minutes because of the heavy traffic returning to the US.

So nice to be back in the states - cell phone and internet service plentiful and cheaper fuel.  Diesel was $3.93 compared $5 and $6 in Canada.  We will stay here for a week, camped out in front of Art & Cari's house.  This way I can clean the vehicles,  Mary will catch up on the wash, and more importantly, spend some time with her grandchild - Meadow.

Our fellow campers and friends, continued southwest, spend some downtime at the coast near the Washington Oregon border.  We should be able to catch up with them in about 2 weeks, before entering California.

Bellingham

Meet Miss Meadow Williams, now 2 and one half years old.  What a cutie.

First order of business was to wash the coach.  No help around except the little one.

Everything was spotless when we were done.  Was washed 4 times - once by me and 3 times by Meadow.  Soooo much energy.

Was a real trooper - hung in there until the end.

First ride in the coach - she calls it a bus.

Afternoon spent at the neighborhood park.
Pop takes a rest - energizer bunny insistes on pushing.

Gives Namma a turn.

Meadows house - stays there with her dad & mom - Art & Cari