Day 5: Paradise in Pismo

The final 220 miles to Pismo Beach were the longest.  Like a squirmy, eager child, I want to keep asking: Are we there yet?  

We left Patterson under weepy skies.  Seems it never rains in Southern California came to mind. After the years of drought and water restrictions, any rain is quite welcome here.
It didn't last very long at all, probably for a mile or two, and it was over. 

We continued driving under peek-a-boo clouds and sunshine for the rest of the way. 

























Close to Santa Nella, we pulled into the TA to fill up. This 100-gallon tank can go several days before replenishing. 


Every available piece of land in this valley is used to produce food in some form: vineyards, fruit orchards, citrus groves, nut trees, cows and sheep. It makes me think about where a lot of the produce I buy at home is grown.
The aqueducts, farmers' water troughs, looked full and flowing, a blue ribbon beside the highway.

Water continues to be a contentious issue, and there were several new billboards asking: Is growing food wasting water?










We turned west on to Route 41 to Paso Robles, then route 46 and finally route 101, El Camino Real with its mission bells. We left the flat straight highway through the valley and drove among soft velvety hills of the coastal range. 






A Rialta passed us and I recalled fondly that not too long ago that was us driving in one just like that. And then mused just how small it looked! 

About 19 miles from our turn-off, we descended for 3 miles along a 7% grade, Alpine's PAC brake doing its magic. We always joke when Michael engages the exhaust brake and I think of Brett (whom I dubbed the Professor). At the Pomona rally, he advised Michael on the importance of regularly lubricating the PAC brake.   And he explained the system to me, saying it was like jamming a potato up the end of the exhaust pipe - it blocks the exhaust and creates back-pressure in the engine that slows it down.  So when I hear the familiar whine of the PAC exhaust brake, I always ask if we have potatoes cooking for dinner.  

By 3PM, we were at our destination, Pismo Coast Village. We found our site, #95, and for the first time since leaving home, unhooked Jeep then parked Alpine, set up, plugged in and boiled the kettle.
Tea finished, emails checked, and off we went to see the sun setting on one of our favorite beaches. But first, we ducked into the 711 store to pick up our second lucky Power Ball ticket.

Here we will stay for the next four days  - bliss! It feels like we have arrived home.

Day 4: the next 196 miles

California is a long state. Today's drive down I-5 took us to Kit Fox RV Park, an RV-er's Motel Six meant for an overnight and not a tarry. After hours of driving, it is a welcome break, and as soon as Michael had the power hooked up, the kettle was on the boil. We had our tea and checked emails. 
The Powerball Jackpot is over a billion, so we went for a walk, in search of a convenience store to purchase our one lucky ticket.

The route traversed 196 miles of valley floor, the Sierra's looming to our east. We passed mile after mile of fields, vineyards, ranches, and orchards. The fruit and nut trees, in their state of hibernation, looked like skeletons on this January trip, and the fields lay fallow and very brown. It was a scene of flatness to the horizon punctuated by tall silos. The only rise in the road was each overpass across the local roads.

hundreds of birds gathered in these fields 

mountains to the east, clouds overhead, a perfect day for driving

I wonder if we know these folks...

We passed Sacramento, another busy city with traffic whizzing along busily, and arrived in Patterson in the early afternoon. 


Alpine hummed steadily, Jeep followed along, and our audio book kept us entertained. At one point, another Alpine with Oregon plates passed us and we honked and waved.  I wondered if they too were making their way to Quartzsite. 

Day 3: Cruising into California

It was a 269-mile drive across the Siskiyous and into California today. This time of year can be unpredictable in the passes but we were fortunate to travel on bare pavement, under a mostly blue sky, with the only snow along the side of the road. Perhaps the bright rainbow I spied as we left Canyonville, was a lucky omen. 

From Canyonville, I-5 weaves its way through the craggy mountains, climbs in elevation to any one of numerous pass summits, and drops to the other side, only to climb back up again to the next pass: Canyon Creek Pass (2,020 ft) followed by a 5% downgrade for 3 miles; Stage Road Pass ( 1,830 ft); Smith Hill Summit (1,730 ft) with a 6% downgrade for 2 miles and another slow climb for 2 miles to Sexton Mountain Pass (1,960ft). 

breathtaking vistas of the surrounding peaks enveloped in puffy clouds

Just before Medford, we looked for Mt McLoughlin towering at 9,495 ft, but today only the lower portion of the cone showed, the rest of the volcano draped by thick clouds. 

snow around us at the highest elevation

After Ashland, we started the long slow climb to the Siskiyous Summit, Alpine steadily moving forward, passing trucks, and pulling our Jeep with no problem. From 2,000 ft, the road rose up to 4,000 ft and crested at 4,300 ft. Then a 7-mile, 7% downgrade, and we entered California. 








As if someone flipped a switch, the terrain changed dramatically to a khaki landscape, dry and barren. 

We breezed through the border Inspection Station, giving the officer a list of fruits and vegetables we had on board with us. I make it a habit to check the website for the contraband produce and either make sure we eat it before we enter California or don't bring it with us.

A quick stop at the Klamath River rest stop, and we were on our way again, climbing up to Anderson Grade Summit (3,097 ft) and continuing on from Yreka in breezy, wet and foggy conditions until we passed Dunsmuir.

The scenery along this stretch of the Shasta Trinity National Forest wilderness area is always imposing and spectacular. Mt Shasta towered in its shiny frosty white mantle. 

From Redding, we dropped down to the valley floor, where the rain disappeared and we continued under a high grey umbrella, I-5 a straight black ribbon all the way to the flat horizon. We drove past familiar ranches, orchards and fields that mark this stretch and just beyond Corning, we pulled into Rolling Hills Casino for the night and treated ourselves to a buffet dinner.

Day 2: In Canyonville, Oregon tonight

Yesterday we stayed overnight in Centralia, Washington.  This morning, the water hose was frozen and Michael applied the hair dryer trick to thaw it enough for water to resume flowing from the city water supply tap. It was quite thick with fog all around us, and despite the predicted low 30'sF overnight temperatures, I guess we didn't consider the temperature inversion that occurs in the valley area where it can be a lot colder. As we pulled in the slides, thin layers of ice broke off the toppers. 

Today was a long day of driving, 294 miles south along the I-5 corridor, a route that we have traveled many times.  Alpine drove smoothly all the way. 

We left Centralia under heavy fog that gradually lifted as the day progressed. 
By the time we crossed into Oregon and reached Portland, the sky was clear, blue, and sunny. The scenery was gorgeous, with peek-a-boo glimpses of Mt St Helen's broken top and Mt Hood looking spectacular in its fresh white mantle. 

Mt Hood above the Columbia River

It remained a sunglasses-driving section until we approached Junction City where the fog returned again briefly for several more miles. 

A little after 4PM, we arrived at Seven Feathers Casino RV Resort on Cowcreek Indian land in Canyonville, Oregon, one of the more popular stops for us snow birds heading south.   
We are parked, hooked up to electricity, hooked up to the internet, sipping a welcome cuppa', and warm and cozy in our Alpine. Our four-wheeled travel companion is hooked up and ready for departure in the morning. I still tend to glance quite frequently at the monitor to make sure I see the Jeep as we travel.

Tomorrow we will be heading over the Siskiyous, crossing fingers and relying on the good weather to hold just a little longer so we can cross the pass before the snow returns. 
Here in Canyonville it is clear, the daylight lingering well after the sun set behind the hills.  And now it's time for dinner and then the next episode of Downton Abby tonight. 
Life on the road with its creature comforts is rather pleasant.

Aiming for Arizona

We're back on the road, aiming our sights for Arizona.
First order of business before setting off was to hook up our '01 Jeep Cherokee Sport. This will be our first time towing a vehicle.

The Alpine came with a Roadmaster tow hitch. This past November, after keeping his eye out for a Jeep, Michael found this one that already had a base plate as well as a Blue Ox supplemental braking system. 
The joke is that we essentially found ourselves a tow hitch with a Jeep attached.

Last month, Brazels in Centralia checked everything out and made sure that all the connections between the coach and the Jeep work properly.

This morning, after shutting down the house, and hauling the last of the things on board that I am absolutely sure we need to have with us, we hooked the Jeep up to the Alpine and were on our way.
For the first several miles, I think I kept my eyes glued to the monitor to make sure Jeep was tagging along. 

It will be a new experience having a vehicle with us on our travels. This will be the perfect trip to try out our Jeep, particularly because one of the destinations on this trip is Quartzsite, where we understand that Jeeps are the perfect vehicle for buzzing about in the desert.

Time in Lake Chelan

I feel sad when I know that our trip is coming to a close. For over a month, we have had one adventure after another, seen new places, learned new information, met new people. Every so often, as we are having breakfast outside at the picnic table in the glorious sunshine, I ask Michael the same question: So... what would we be doing in Bellevue today, do you think? And his standard response with a smile is always: Definitely not this!
I can understand why folks decide to become full-timers and never worry about having a home to have to return to. And I can certainly see the appeal of going on down the road to see what is around that next corner. 
Many of our Alpine friends are already on their way to winter in Arizona or California. Others are preparing to follow soon. Perhaps in time we will be able to do the same.
But not quite yet...
Meanwhile, we have enjoyed the last of our few days left, here in Lake Chelan. We've been here several times before and always enjoy returning. The Lakeshore RV Park and Marina is a pretty and spacious public park, with a beach, large picnic grounds, tennis courts, mini-golf and of course the RV park with amenities. It's within walking distance of the quaint downtown, a pretty river trail and a river gorge trail to the dam. There are other hiking trails in the area too but we would need a car to get to them. A tow car is in the works so we will have one eventually. 

Here is what we have been up to around town and at home in Alpine - 

beach at Dan Morse Park, which is part of the RV complex, looking south 
to the hills that were burned in the summer fires

along the Chelan River trail, where you can see the burned hills and the houses
that were awfully close to the flames

view north and towards the town from one of the bridges

the Chelan Dam, part of a hydro electric system

view into the gorge where we went hiking

the summer fires came right down into the gorge from the hills above

it must have been very scary for these folks who live on the fringe of the trail - 
they were the lucky ones

look closely and you will see some of the wildlife along the trail

Yuck! these creatures are however part of the landscape and there is a warning
about poisonous snakes along the trail even though this one seemed harmless
enough and didn't bother with us

along the trail with more burned sections

view down the gorge towards the dam

the tenacity of nature... new growth after the fires

greenery rising out of the ashes

what a surprise to be walking the trail alone when who should come right
behind us but my neighbor and walking buddy Heather from Bellevue! 

the fence along the trail down into the gorge was burned in places

Back at home in Alpine, I had time to do some quilting, working hard at sewing up the scrappy strips of flannel from my never-ending stashes which seem to generate more scraps for more scrappy quilts.

Michael did some "quilting" of his own too.  I am the photographer and he the videographer. With our new desk set-up, he has been able to do some digitizing (which I refer to as his "quilting") and has uploaded the movie from the Ellensburg Rodeo to You-Tube: https://youtu.be/ivrSdQ5myow 
We each work at our hobbies side by side in perfect harmony;)

And so we have arrived at the last day of our trip.  Tomorrow we head home to Bellevue, the last 175 miles of our 1,360-mile adventure.

Alpine will be back in storage for a couple of months before we head out again. 
As for our next adventure... at the moment we have made reservations for the SoCal rally in Lake Havasu in early February. To get there, we may well have to make a stop at our favorite beach in California first. Or if it works out with schedules and other obligations, we may be able to make it to the Desert Rat and Indio rallies in January. The choices are many. I will keep you posted.
And before I sign out for a while, next week will be our Alpine's first birthday. We bought our Alpine on October 16th and she has taken us on almost 10,000 miles of adventures since then. It's been a fun year of Alpine adventures and we look forward to more of them.
Love our Alpine!

Lake Chelan, our final stop

From Beebe Bridge Park the drive to Lake Chelan was literally across the river and over the hill. It was the shortest and fastest trip we have yet made to the next destination.
We are now at Lakeshore RV Park and Marina in Lake Chelan for the next few days and will most likely head back home to Bellevue on Sunday.
It sprinkled through much of the night and into late morning as we set up at the RV park. Later in the day the sprinkles ended but the skies remained gray. We went for a walk before dinner. It is quite warm even though it is overcast. The mist that hung over the lake lifted and we were able to see the blackened hills to the south where the fires burned this summer. It's sad to see the charred hills and hopefully in time new growth will cover up the devastation. Several home owners lost everything when their homes burned to the ground.
The park is quiet at this time of year with a few RV-ers scattered throughout, the last of the travelers, the lingerers like us. We look forward to long walks and there is a certain quilt shop in town that I am quite sure that I will be peeking into.