Benbow, California: Before I write my journal about our drive south, DT and I wish you a very Happy Halloween. Leo's school had a "Trunk or Treat" in the parking lot - where the parents decorate their car trunks and the kids go from parking space to parking space "trick or treating". Safe and fun and, may I just say - fast.
Lisa and Lenny carved a few pumpkins into witches and then draped her SUV with bats and spider webs (and black garbage bags). Leo went as an elephant.
Now for something a little spookier... above find Dave's college team/room mate, Terry, and his usually-very-lively wife, Rosie. Rosie met Phyllis Fowler, a fabulous face-painter at the Salmon Creek Farmer's Market in Vancouver, Washington. At the market, Fowler paints the faces of children, but she used to do makeup for Hollywood films. Rosie hired Phyllis Fowler to "do them up" for a Halloween party last weekend - they went in Mexican "Day of the Dead" costumes. Creeped me out.Our day was not spooky at all. We enjoyed another gorgeous day and another gorgeous drive down the California coast.
This is the same vista as the pretty sunset photo I posted last night. The clouds off-shore early this morning were the only clouds we saw all day! DT and I jogged a little loop around the marina. We watched two men swap-out a truck camper from one pickup to another. The purchaser said hello to me as I passed him (again and again) on my route. As he left with his new RV, I noticed he had neglected to close the back door to his new camper! I made a complete fool of myself as I waved him down, and he actually stopped. Maybe he thought I really needed a ride? Needed to pee? Was having a massive coronary? He rolled the passenger-side window down and I told him the door to his camper was open. Guy was so happy he stopped for the crazy-waving-woman. Thanked me over and over.Mitzvah for the Day.
We stopped for lunch at Elk Prairie - where once again there were NO elk. We used to see elk every time we stopped, but apparently the elk have found greener pastures. Maybe because the Forest Service had recently burned the prairie?Just a few miles down the road we saw so many elk!
They were everywhere. Every. Where. A lady from a campground across the road was actually chasing them across the road with a super-scary white plastic bag.Later, we stopped at a vista point over the Eel River:
China berries?We are camped for the night at next-door sites at the Benbow Resort.
We are camped near Stanford fans on their way to the Oregon v Stanford game! (Did you know WE are also on our way to Palo Alto?) Margot and Linda are super-friendly and we hope to meet them in Palo Alto next week. How fun to meet new friends on the road.We had a wonderful dinner at the Benbow Inn. Never disappointed at this restaurant and we are always impressed with the ambitious menu at this "middle of nowhere" dining room. Best thing? You can walk to the hotel via a path from the RV park.
Duck Confit. Perfect.Until my next update, I remain, your camping correspondent.
RV PARK: Benbow RV Resort - We have a large paved premium pull-through site with 50-amp service. This park has wifi, a pool, laundry, a golf course and is connected to a lovely fine-dining restaurant at the next-door Benbow Inn. We are paying $50 per night.