Tuesday, February 10, 2015
This week, we are enjoying a few days at the Valley of Fire State Park,
Nevada’s first State Park, near the town of Overton. With information,
interpretive displays, exhibits, and videos, the Visitor Center is must-do,
first-stop, for an instructive overview of the park. The 42-thousand acre park
derives its name from the ancient sandstone formations, formed from sand dunes,
created when the area was a seabed. The contrasting colors, shapes, materials,
geography, vistas, and erosion effects make this a truly unique experience.
Found in the area are plentiful examples of the plant and animal life, typical
of the Mohave Desert, with their amazing methods of desert adaptation.
Rock art, in the form of petroglyphs is abundant on the varnish-rock
surfaces, some dated 4-thousand years old. We saw our first-ever atlatl
petroglyph, depicting a 30-thousand year-old, spear-chunking tool, which was
the predecessor of the bow-and-arrow.
The campground is situated in a box-canyon which was surely a favorite
camp of the ancient people. The campground area has great trails, with
interpretive postings to point out the fascinating facts, concerning what you
see. The night sky is perfect for star-gazing and the sunrise and sunsets are
magnificent. Just east of the campground is an area of petrified logs and
stumps, washed here from an ancient forest, about 225 million years ago.
Just six miles east is the Virgin River, which drains SW Utah into Lake
Mead. We are so glad we visited this park, as it is a genuine extraordinary
find in the desert.
Well, March 23rd is
fast approaching, and that will end our winter assignment at Clark County
Shooting Complex. We appreciated the work, the people and the attractions in
the Las Vegas area. Our resident friends commented that we discovered and
learned more about Las Vegas than most natives.
We have tremendously enjoyed
the winter in Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Valley, but we are also excited about
our upcoming assignment at Tillamook County Parks, on the Oregon Pacific Coast.
We have an exciting, one-month, rambling trip planned for our travel to Oregon
and we’ll be visiting some family and friends along the way too. We plan to
visit Terry’s Aunt Bobbie, and Terry’s childhood home, at Bakersfield and Taft California,
respectively. We’ll also visit cousins in San Francisco before heading on up
the North Coast to Tillamook, Oregon.
Wed. April 8, 2015
After extending our winter
assignment one-week, at Clark County Shooting Complex, we departed on April 6,
and headed to Death Valley National Park(Nevada and California). A weather
front made Death Valley cool, and the colorful Spring flowers, along with the
mosaic of the terrain made for some beautiful sights. The Visitor Center
provides a comprehensive overview of the history, geography, geology, flora,
and fauna, along with the beautiful sights of the park. We camped at Texas
Springs and the night sky was tremendous, even on a partly-cloudy night.
Leaving Death Valley, we
traveled over (Towne Pass/a steep pull/hard push) to the Panamint Valley and
headed south, through China Lake (high winds/big dust storm) and the Searles
Valley to Ridgecrest, California. The Searles Valley produces more commercial minerals
from the earth than one can imagine. An interesting place but a very dirty
business.
Today, we continue to
Bakersfield, Nashville of the West, for several days visit with Aunt Bobbie and
cousin DeDe, in Kern County, California, Terry’s birthplace. Late this
afternoon, we got a good-news call concerning Terry’s biopsy and we can finally
breathe a sigh of relief.
On Wednesday, we all took a
drive to Fellows and Taft to see where they all began their young lives. Their
family worked in the oil patch and it was all a company-town. Oil ran through
the ditches and the kids jumped the ditches, sometimes falling in. Fellows is
where the first big California gusher came in and it produced 2,000 barrels per
day. Most of the Fellows “company housing” is gone but I was astounded as Bobbie
and Dede found the bare sites where their family and friends had resided.
Back at the 3-C Ranch, we
enjoyed a fine visit with Bobbie and Dede, while Sam and Daisy enjoyed being
free to run. The San Joaquin Valley is in full-swing with the agricultural
crops, growing food for man and animals. It was fascinating to observe the
various crops and identify them, some requiring guessing. The famous Kern River
is bone-dry, demonstrating how serious the drought situation is, continuing in
southern California. Slogans like: ”Food grows where the water flows” and “No
crops, no jobs” are pasted on the farmsteads around the valley. Farmers are in
a “cost-push” situation attempting to deal with the water shortage, many
turning away from their traditional crops. For example, cotton acreage,
traditionally strong in the San Joaquin Valley is being abandoned in favor of
less water-dependent crops. You don’t have to be an economist to see the negative
effects of this drought.
On Friday, we headed north on
CA 99 to Visalia in Tulare County, and found a camp near the Sequoia and Kings
Canyon National Parks. The campsite neighbor from upstate New York had a
brother on the faculty at LSU that I knew when I was at there. I’m always
amazed at what you can learn from talking to people. A common occurrence that
we have encountered in the San Joaquin Valley is the early-morning sounds of
crowing roosters. We learned from a local resident that many people raise
roosters for the popular cock-fighting sport. I would like to investigate that
further but he cautioned that this illegal activity can be a dangerous
commotion. Tomorrow, we’ll drive the scenic loop and explore the parks, visiting
the giant sequoia trees along the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains.
We headed east for the
mountains but didn’t get far before we turned off at Exeter and grabbed a
couple of hot lattes to sip as we drove about town and observed the splendid
murals. The “latte barista” was from Arkansas and gave us some great insight
into the town and surrounding area.
Spring has “sprung” in the
southern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains. We drove the “Generals Highway”
into the high Sierra (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks) and were
mesmerized by the sights. The Redbuds and Buckeyes were blooming, along with
numerous wildflowers. We saw a Fox, numerous California Quail, and a variety of
ground rodents. To the east of Moro Rock, we could see the Great Western Divide
however, Mount Whitney was obscured. We donned our jackets above six-thousand
feet and appreciated the “sunny spots”. Drifts from the recent snow remained in
the shady spots and I made a nice snowball. The giant Sequoia groves were
stunning as were the other mixed coniferous and hardwood forests. The “General
Sherman” tree was very popular with the Saturday crowd but my favorite was the
“Sentinel” because it has such unique limbs, burls, and crown. We had a nice
picnic including fresh strawberries that we purchased from the field at Exeter.
Completing our “loop drive” at Visalia, we made a nice dinner and relaxed at
the campsite.
Monday, April 13, 2015
This morning, we awoke to the
sound of crowing rosters at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds. Yesterday we
departed Visalia and continued CA 99 north, through the Central Valley to
Mariposa. Mariposa is adjacent to Yosemite National Park, our next National
Park visit.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Today, we had a leisurely
agenda. I washed the truck and cleaned it well, an overdue maintenance item.
The Mariposa County Fairground is a pleasant RV site and the Fairground has
some nice dog-waking surroundings.
After lunch, we explored
Mariposa and left our pets to rest in the RV. We patronized the County Visitor
Center and collected a packet of brochures. Next, we visited the Old 1856
County Courthouse, oldest Courthouse west of the Rockies, still in operation.
We looked around the famous old mining town, California’s first capital, with
its historic architecture, arts, crafts, and shopping. A walk around the Museum
and History Center gave us an insight to how the mining started and developed,
as the industry grew.
Finally, we shopped at
Mariposa’s Pioneer Market, a gourmet food and deli market, for some grocery
items that we needed. The Sushi Chef sold us on a delectable “Dragon Roll”, and
the sourdough bread was also unplanned, but we did manage to purchase our list.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
At daylight, we headed to
Yosemite National Park and it was extraordinary to be in the Valley early,
before the crowds. We parked in a very accommodating spot for our dogs to be
safe and comfortable but close to the shuttle-bus stop. The free shuttle-bus system
was convenient and punctual, so we were able to tour the valley, hopping off at
each site and re-boarding the next shuttle, returning to the truck at mid-day
for a picnic lunch, and dog walking. Much to our surprise, the Park was not
crowded and getting around on the shuttle-bus was tranquil.
Yosemite is so exceedingly overwhelming
that pictures and words could never describe it. A one-day visit gives one time
for an overview and a prelude for a possible Yosemite-vacation. The historic
and gorgeous Ahwahnee Lodge is an excellent accommodation at $400-$1200/night.
From there you’re in the heart of hiking, biking, mountaineering, rafting,
interpretive programs, tours, dining, shopping, and winter sports. Yes, this is
the “high-end” and more affordable accommodations are available at the other
Lodges.
The Yosemite Falls were
hurtling and my favorite discovery was a house-size granite boulder, an old
rock-fall from El Capitan’s face. Another treat was a Stellar Jay pair, feeding
their young at the nest. An ever-present, attraction to me was the Merced River
from its source, downstream to the Mid-Pine Divide, between the South Fork and
the North Fork.
Returning to Mariposa, we re-visited
the Mariposa Pioneer Market for more Sushi and the fixings for a steak dinner.
Tomorrow, we head north to Stockton and a visit with Dede.
.
Leaving Mariposa, we took the
CA 49 north and it proved to be a” tough pull and a hard push”. After we
crossed the Bullion Pass, we had to cross the Merced River Canyon and that was steep,
narrow, and sharp curves. The road descends the canyon, climbs up the north
side and then follows the side canyon rims down to Coulterville. Very scenic
but it took four hours, having to stop for hot brakes and transmission
cool-down.
We took CA99 north to
Stockton and had a very pleasant visit and delightful dinner with Dede and
Gary. In our entertaining evening, we took a picture with the dogs and forgot
to get a picture with Gary and Dede. Sorry, next time! Dogs are (L to R) Candy,
Princess, and Mandy. Our California cousins have been so hospitable and we
sincerely appreciate their love, hospitality, and thoughtfulness, in sharing
their homes with us.
Today, we head to San
Francisco for a visit with Cousins Jim, Maureen, and family.
Family and friends are a
great gift to be cherished.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Yesterday, at mid-day, we
arrived at the Alameda County Fairgrounds RV Campground and got our campsite
setup. This park is very large and has an assortment of fine public recreation
facilities, even a horse-race track. In late afternoon, we took BART to the
Embarcadero to get BART Senior Discount cards. We plan to take BART up to
Albany today and spend some time with Jim and Maureen.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Today was a very leisurely
Friday. Maureen gave us directions on meeting them at Albany. Taking the BART
to El Cerrito Plaza, we met Jim and Maureen for a casual lunch, then we all
drove to the USS Hornet for a tour. Jim volunteers on the Hornet and he gave us
a personal guided tour on the historic ship, now a working-museum. We had a
sociable afternoon together and then returned to Alameda County Fairgrounds RV
Park, on BART. A fine day with our cousins!
Saturday, April 18, 2015
It was a relaxed, pleasant
morning at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, our temporary Bay Area home. We
walked dogs, watched the bicycle race, and scrutinized the horse-workout at the
racetrack. After lunch, we took a BART round-trip from Pleasanton to El Cerrito
Plaza and enjoyed a superb afternoon and magnificent dinner with Jim and
Maureen, and David and Nancy, at their Albany Hill residence. We all pitched-in
around Maureen’s gorgeous kitchen, making the scrumptious Jambalaya dinner. Thanks
cousins, we love you guys.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
With our appointed time
approaching, we departed our Bay Area campsite at the Alameda County Fairground
RV Park, in Pleasanton, California and headed to Oregon. We went east to
Stockton and took I-5 to Tehama County’s, Corning, in the Shasta Cascades. The
drive from Stockton, through the enormous, bountiful Sacramento Valley was warm
and dry. Lots of agricultural fields and abundant crops cover the entire
valley, between the Coast Range and the Sierra Nevada Range. Gary’s statement
was “anything will grow here”, and it’s astounding how many different crops are
produced here. We stopped for lunch at Woodland and shopped Costco. The valley
narrows at Corning and the hills are covered with Olive trees. We learned that
man has cultivated olives longer than grapes, but it took more time to invent
the “two-olive martini”. Corning offers an exhaustive selection of olives and olive
oils for the shopper.
The Orland Buttes, the moving-waters
of the Sacramento River, and rising elevation hint that the Cascade Range and
Mt. Shasta are near. We took a campsite at the Rolling Hills Casino Resort and
RV Park, a well-ordered facility just off I-5. We watched a variety of birds at
this site, including the Western Kingbird.
Regardless of the low
snowpack, Lassen Volcanic National Park is yet closed due to winter damage.
This will be on our list for another time.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Continuing on I-5 north, we
watched the Sacramento Valley narrow, to the point that, even with hazy air, we
could see the western Coast Range and the eastern Sierra Nevada’s, both a
distance of approximately 18 miles. We had lunch at Redding and did some
shopping. It was here that we observed a large flock of migrating Geese,
heading north to summer nesting grounds. They were very chatty and I imagined
them to be saying, “Save our lakes!”, to all us people they were passing over.
As we increased our
elevation, we continued to follow the Sacramento River, a “whitewater river”
past Lake Shasta. At 14,279-ft, Mt. Shasta, we walked to a clear viewing spot, and
took a picture. At Yreka, near the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, we
enjoyed an enormous view of Mt. Shasta, which reveals its volcanic origin. From
Mt. Shasta, I-5 follows the Shasta River
down to the Klamath River, and we left it at Hilt, as we climbed over Siskiyou
Pass (4,465ft) into Jackson County, Oregon and our campsite near Ashland’s
Immigrant Lake. A wonderful day of California valleys, agricultural crops, snowy
mountains, rivers, lakes, trees, and cool air.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
This morning, we observed
Stellar Jays in the trees, and Western Scrub Jays on the ground around our
campsite, at Ashland, Oregon. At mid-morning, we continued north on I-5 through
Medford and had a peaceful picnic lunch at the Grave Creek covered bridge in
Sunny Valley. Continuing over a series of mountain passes we took a campsite at
the Umpqua Tribes, Seven Feathers Casino and Resort, RV Park, in Canyonville,
Oregon. The extraordinary Casino and RV property are beautifully landscaped
with flowers and trees. The grass is so green it glows and the trees are
displaying new leaves of spring. The red Rhododendrons are blooming, making a
spectacular outline for the entire property.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Our travel day on Wednesday
took us from Canyonville to the Pacific coast at Depoe Bay, Oregon. Leaving I-5
at Sutherlin, we followed the Umpqua River to the Pacific coast at Reedsport.
The riverside drive was very scenic, through deep woods, wildflowers, past rocky
canyon walls, and whitewater cascades, frequently encountering fishermen, angling
for the coveted Steelhead.
Our drive north, along the
narrow, hilly, curvy coast route, on Hwy, 101 offered continuous awe-inspiring
views. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation area has vast, gigantic sand dunes
to be explored. Sand boards are popular for sand-boarding down the gritty
slopes.
The Pacific Ocean produced
large breaking waves which created a salty ether along the coast. We stopped at
Sea Lion Caves, picnicked at Seal Rock, and shopped in Newport. Hwy. 101 is
more RV-friendly north of Newport and there are numerous public beach access
sites along the route. We saw lots of driftwood shops and some old lighthouses.
The Rhododendrons are in full bloom and the native as well as the hybrid shrubs
are displaying their vivid bright colors. This morning, we took a short hike
from our campsite to the spectacular Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint. The
access trail was a tunnel-like path cut through the dense vegetation and scrub
trees, opening into a clearing, on a high, secluded, tranquil bluff,
overlooking the ocean and beach. Our dogs loved the walk and were very excited
by the wild surroundings.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Traveling north on Hwy.101,
we stopped for a pair of hot lattes and a bakery treat at Lincoln City. Driving
through Siuslaw National Forest, a multi-unit forest, was very picturesque, a
more inland stretch of US 101, offering terrific observations of trees,
flowers, birds, lakes, marshes, and streams. Entering rural southern Tillamook County,
we witnessed numerous dairy farms which supply the famous Tillamook
Creamery.
We arrived at Tillamook for a
late-lunch of clam chowder and headed to the Barview Jetty County Campground.
We setup on our site, called for the training day schedule and relaxed, after
three weeks of fun travels from Las Vegas.
Tomorrow, we have a training
day at the Tillamook County Courthouse and then begin our duties.
Thanks to everyone that we
met and visited along the way. You guys are all a “blast”!
Friday, April 24, 2015
Our first night at the
Tillamook County Barview Jetty Park was cool and rainy. This is the first rain
that we have had since last summer. It was dry in Las Vegas, in California, and
the drive here, but rain is predicted for the Pacific Northwest through this
weekend. Now, I know how the Lewis and Clark Expedition felt their first
weekend on the Pacific, cold, wet, and windy. Better weather is promised next
week. California would like to have this rain!
Last evening, I took Sam for
a walk on the beach and he enjoyed the ocean walk. On this trip, he has waded
in the Gulf, Atlantic, Great Lakes, and the Pacific, so he’s a qualified beach-bum
now. The Park area was created by sand deposits as a result of the jetty
construction. Over the years, a natural landscape of grass, shrubs and trees
have grown to create a beautiful, shady park. The Park is a 160-acre area, situated
at the mouth of Tillamook Bay, accommodating RV’s, tent campers, and day use.
The bay, beach, dunes, fishing jetty, and Coast Guard Station are the main
attractions. Tillamook County has a very professional Parks and Recreation
Department, and a great team, dedicated to providing a quality outdoor
experience to their visitors.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
With
our training complete, we will begin our duties of maintaining our section,
helping guests, and promoting safety.
