Redding, California: Dave and I spent yesterday in Bend with my family. We (he) drove the Honda over for a day trip. We enjoyed another beautiful drive over the McKenzie Pass (Highway 126), but the Scenic Bypass we drove just a few weeks ago has already been closed due to snow. Things change quickly in Oregon.
We woke this morning in Eugene to cold fog. Still nursing my thigh injury, I opted to trudge up and down the RV park aisles, instead of trying to conquer the Coburg Hills. (Smart decision.) With my iPod Nano headphones in my ears, I cannot hear my huffing and puffing... nor do I feel (what I am sure my fellow campers must think are) massive earthquakes as I plod around the campsites.
I am serious when I said it was foggy.
Okay. I am cheating a bit. This photo is in black and white. Here is a color photo of the same situation:
Not much difference, eh? Did I mention it was also really cold? 34 degrees.Canada Geese have taken over the pastures adjacent to the Premier RV Resort. We could hear the giant birds honking and generally making life miserable for the poor cattle in the field.
We could hear the geese, but it was nearly impossible to see the geese through the fog.
Somewhere in the fog...The fog did help show interesting spider webs on the barbed wire fence enclosing the pasture.
Around 11a we hit the road south on I-5. Within minutes of leaving the campground, we were in sun and enjoyed cloud-free skies all day! It was a beautiful drive. Though many of the trees have already lost their leaves, enough glorious trees still covered the hillsides that we had a technicolor drive all day.We only stopped twice. Once for lunch and once for fuel. Even our lunch break at a roadside rest stop was filled with gorgeous fall color.
Our Duck bus received much attention today from fellow travelers... from RVers lunching at the rest stop, to the many (many, many) cars honking and waving to us along the Interstate today. GO DUCKS!At our fuel stop south of Ashland (105 gallons), we chatted-up a very handsome Oregon State trooper. He LOVED the "O" on the back of our motorhome! Not only is this cop an Oregon alum, he is also a Veteran (Army, two tours in Iraq) and now serves in the Army Reserve. He promised to attend our Civil War tailgate and I will cry if he fails to appear.
The only other exciting event was the appearance of a very strange bank of fog hanging over a valley in southern Oregon.
This photo was taken through the windscreen. The bank of fog completely filled a large valley... and then we left Oregon and entered California.
Does anyone (other than me) notice the "Welcome to California" sign is hinged so it can be folded-down? Are there certain points in time when the State of California closes the sign when they do not wish to welcome visitors to their state? And... just an observance... but are those beige flowers supposed to be poppies? Just asking.... and while I am ranting... the "Oregon Thanks You" sign is a bit weak... but both signs are three thousand times better than this sign we observed on our trip earlier this year:
The Georgia Tourism director should be fired.Not to mention punctuation. Or, lack of punctuation.
Just throwing that out there... before leaving you with one last travel photo. This photo was snapped as we drove over the bridge crossing Lake Shasta. It is very pretty (if I say so myownself).
We stopped for the night, south of Redding, just as it became dark. The World Series is on television, roasted red pepper-stuffed chicken breasts are baking in the oven and all is right in our world this evening.Until my next update, I remain, your California correspondent.
RV Park: JGW RV Park. Exit 673 on I-5, just south of Redding, California. Large pull-through campsite (we did not need to un-hitch the tow car). 50 amp, cable, pool, club room, boat ramp, laundry and recycling. Free wifi. On the Sacramento River. Sad we are only here overnight. We paid $35 (cash and Good Sam discount).