Round Lake Golf & RV Resort, Klamath Falls, OR

Sunday, June 03 - We left Mountain Gate RV Park in Redding, CA on I-5 and Hwy. 97 and arrived at Round Lake Golf & RV Resort in Klamath Falls, OR around 11:30. Klamath Falls is located at the intersections of Hwy. 140 & 97. Scenary was beautiful on I-5. We drove over a bridge crossing Shasta Lake, considered the houseboat capital of the world. The lake has 370 miles of shoreline and is considered California’s largest lake. We saw so many variations of evergreen trees on mountains and Mount Shasta in the distance. We were constantly going from one mountain or high hill to another. Lots of trucks. On Hwy. 97 there was not a whole lot of traffic. We passed through Whiskeytown and Tulelake.
Tulelake is the horseradish capital of the World, producing 1/3 of America’s harvest.
We traveled mostly in the valley with mountains surrounding us. Volcanic activity was well pronounced in the cuts made in the rocks for the roadways.
On our drive we saw our first white pelicans in the nearby waterway. Lot of cattle and horses and our elevation was a constant 4,000 ft.
We had great weather upon our arrival. The park is wide open and surrounded by trees and high mountains. The lake on adjoining golf course is beautiful and took some pictures of the birds that were flying around. There are barn sparrows everywhere, robins, red wing blackbirds, and white skimmers darting here and there. Was not surprised to read that this is a World Class Birding area with over 350 species that call this major Pacific Flyway layover home. Something I’d like to see during the summer (they say it is May – August) Here we are in June and 45 degrees is a high? Something wrong with this picture! But we want to see Crater Lake National Park.


Monday, June 4 - We got a late start to see Crater Lake. On the way we stopped at the tourist center and also saw the famous Goeller house across the street. Built in 1905 by Fred Goeller who owned a planing mill down on the river. It is a private residence today.
Ray also took a picture of the stuffed Pelican in the tourist information center.
Crater Lake NP in Southern Oregon is the deepest lake in the US at 1,932 ft. and one of the bluest lakes in the world. Eruption of Mt. Mazama more than 7,000 years ago caused the lake as it sits in a huge crater, which is bordered by walking paths, interpretive panels, and thousands of photo ops. Along our drive we saw mountains all around and on our left was Mt. McLaughlin at 9,000 + ft. with tons of snow on top. The valley has cattle everywhere and there is a levy on our left with a railroad track on top of it. There are wild flowers everywhere. We also saw deer grazing –

Bald Eagle was sitting on a log out in the field far away, but took a few pictures anyway.

Once we started the climb through the park, our first stop was to see a giant canyon and Annie Falls at 6,800 ft. It was so rugged and the sides of the canyon were stark and the falls were down so far you could barely see it. As we drove further the roads started to show that the snow plows had been very busy clearing our path ahead of us.

Popping ears attest to the elevation change as we drive the route to the Rim.

We stopped at Rim Village for the best view of the Crater Lake and its enormity. The Rim Drive is a 33-mile road that circles the caldera rim that stands at 7,025 ft. We have never seen such a beautiful pure blue water ever. With many pullouts along the way, we were always amazed at the different views of this volcanic spectacle. The north entrance road was closed due to the snow but we were ready to turn around anyway. We saw two men getting ready to ski down the slopes.

Crater Lake has a long history, from the Klamath Indians to the early explorers to today's scientific studies of the lake. The knowledge from studying and understanding the cultural history and origins of Crater Lake is crucial to keeping the tradition of Crater Lake's unique past alive for appreciation.
William Gladstone Steel is credited with the founding of Crater Lake National Park. He was fascinated with the enchanted beauty of Crater Lake when he first learned of it from a newspaper that was wrapped around his lunch when he was a school boy. His first glimpse of this exquisite beauty in 1885 inspired him to devote his life and fortune to set aside this scenery for all of us to enjoy. After 17 years of dedication and hard work, his dream came true when President Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill on May 22, 1902, to establish Crater Lake as the nation's sixth national park.

The clean, clear, cold lake water contained no fish until they were introduced by humans from 1888 to 1941. Today, rainbow trout and kokanee salmon still survive in Crater Lake. Wildflowers bloom late and disappear early here, thriving in wet, open areas. Birds and other animals often seen are ravens, jays, nutcrackers, deer, ground squirrels and chipmunks. Present but seldom seen are elk, black bear, foxes, porcupines, pine martens, chickaree squirrels and pikas.
The lake was formed after the collapse of an ancient volcano, posthumously named Mount Mazama. This volcano violently erupted approximately 7,700 years ago. That eruption was 42 times as powerful as the 1980 eruption

of Mt. St. Helens. The basin or caldera was formed after the top 5,000 feet of the volcano collapsed. Subsequent lava flows sealed the bottom, allowing the caldera to fill with approximately 4.6 trillion gallons of water from rainfall and snow melt, to create the seventh deepest lake in the world at 1,932 feet.
· Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States
· The second deepest lake in the Western Hemisphere
Tuesday, June 5 - Today we decided to stay in due to the weather. We did go into town for groceries. As soon as we arrived back home the hail about the size of a pea started but didn’t last long. At 4,000 ft. but in a flat valley, we get a constant 20 to 30 mph wind off the lake. We can see the robins outside looking for worms and we see the Mountain Bluebirds flying by every now and then.
Forecast off the internet says “chilly" air mass invading the area...frost possible at midweek... temperatures will dip into the 30s tonight and again Wednesday night. winds and cloud cover should keep frost from forming tonight...but as skies clear and winds diminish Wednesday night into early Thursday morning...the threat of frost will increase...especially in some of the protected valley areas.
Wednesday, June 06 - The rain has stopped, but it is only a high of 45 degrees today. Took Mitzy out for a brief walk and the wind cuts right through my layers. A major cold front hit northern California, all of Oregon and Washington. We didn’t go as planned originally to see the Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Lower Klamath National Wildlife. We also wanted to see the Lava Beds National Monument south of here. The Modoc War, which occurred largely inside what is no Lava Beds is the only Indian War in which a general was killed in US history. The Lava Beds National Monument was a training ground for the astronauts heading to the moon. Just too cold to enjoy outdoors so we will prepare for our very early departure tomorrow to Eugene.

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Mountain Gate RV Park Redding, CA

Sunday, May 27 - We left Arcata at 8:30 am and arrived at Mountain Gate RV Park in Redding, CA around 1:00 pm – Four and one-half hours to travel 129 miles over two mountain ranges (Shasta-Trinity) in the RV. The forests were so thick and green. The road Hwy. 299 is full of twists and turns, even some switchbacks. Motorcycles were buzzing the highway and it was certainly the road made for them. Each side of the road has wild flowers and there were very few barriers up to prevent someone from driving over the steep cliffs. Mountain Gate RV Park in Redding is beautiful and we have a site on the corner so we only have neighbors on one side.
Redding, California, is located at the north end of the central valley, just a short two hour drive north of Sacramento and three hours east of Eureka. Once in Redding, a one hour drive in any direction will land you in some of the most spectacular recreational playgrounds in California! We loved Redding and hope to return someday.
Memorial Day, Monday, May 28 - We enjoyed our trip to see Lassen Volcanic National Park 50 miles east of Red Bluff and Redding. Although a long drive, the scenery was spectacular. The road was passable in all areas and signs of recent snow removal were at the higher elevations. The Lassen Peak stands 10,457 ft. and can be seen from the road’s high point of 8,512 ft. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the forests, meadows, lakes and streams, the snow-capped peaks and the amazing wilderness. Active volcanism at the park includes hot springs, steaming fumaroles, mud pots, and sulfurous vents. Thin wisps of steam were visible today. At the end of the road there is a gift shop area and a huge parking lot at the foot of the snow-covered mountain. At 53 degrees it was quite comfortable with the sun shining. We saw several skiers and snowboarders actually climbing the steep incline so they could navigate back down the slopes on skis. No lift is available in this area. Usual snow falls and the driving wind leaves twenty-foot snow packs.

"Hot Rocks" Following the May 1915 Lassen Peak eruptions, they discovered several massive "Hot Rocks" resting in the valley. The rocks careened down the mountainside and the hot lava rocks touched off a snow avalanche and it carried this 300-ton rock five miles where it settled, sizzled, and cooled.

Lassen Peak erupted intermittently from 1914 to 1921 and, before the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens in Washington, was the most recent volcanic outburst in the contiguous 48 states. Beneath Lassen Volcanic's peaceful forests and gem-like lakes lies evidence of a turbulent and fiery past. 600,000 years ago, the collision and warping of continental plates led to violent eruptions and the formation of lofty Mt. Tehama (also called Brokeoff Volcano.) After 200,000 years of volcanic activity, vents and smaller volcanoes on Tehama's flanks-including Lassen Peak-drew magma away from the main cone. Hydrothermal areas ate away at the great mountain's bulk. Beneath the onslaught of Ice Age glaciers, Mt. Tehama crumbled and finally ceased to exist. But the volcanic landscape lived on: in 1914, Lassen Peak awoke. The Peak had its most significant activity in 1915 and minor activity through 1921. All four types of volcanoes in the world are found in the park.
Tuesday, May 30 - We drove a 200-mile scenic round trip to see Mount Shasta and Shasta Lake and it took us five hours. The roadwork was the reason for the length of time. We also were told the Rt. 89 was scenic and that we should go that route instead of taking the interstate back to Redding. Big mistake. In our opinion, the scenic part was nothing compared to what we have seen elsewhere. Also the delays for roadwork were tiresome. Mount Shasta was beautiful, but you can only view it at 6,900 feet (Picture of Ray & Mitzy) and it stands beautifully at 14,000 feet.

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Mad River Rapids RV Park, Arcata, CA

Sunday, May 21 - We left Sonoma County Fairgrounds at 8:00 AM to travel 230 miles to Arcata, CA. Took us about 5 hours. Along the way on Hwy. 101, from Cloverdale, we passed numerous vineyards; Asti was one I recognized. Lush green hills at an elevation of 333 ft. The road was very rough in some places. We reached the redwood country after Leggett. At 730 ft. elevation, you would think we were in the high Sierras. Thick forest of many conifers including the ponderosas, Sitka spruce, Douglas Fir, and Grand fir are all there, but mostly redwoods so large and they are right on the edge of the road. We passed areas where the sign was” rock slide area” and we saw the massive granite cliffs covered with wire mesh to keep rooks from sliding down to the highway.
Ray had to use pull-offs many times to let faster traffic pass us. We started seeing Eel River, it is a beautiful emerald green in places and deep gorges and thick forests. We love the new park, Mad River Rapids RV Park, Arcata, CA. The Mad River empties into the Pacific Ocean along a mile-long picturesque beach just north of Arcata. The park has a lot of full timers and there are a lot of very small trailers, but neatly kept up outside without a lot of clutter. Located six miles north of Eureka on Highway 101, Arcata has long enjoyed a reputation as an eclectic combination of traditional and alternative lifestyles. The city center — known to everyone as the Plaza — hosts innumerable festivals, fund raisers, races and artistic events year round. The Plaza is home to one of California’s longest running Farmer’s Markets, which is held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from April through October.


Humboldt Bay was finally "discovered" in 1806. Today, the Port of Humboldt Bay (Arcata) has positioned itself to greatly expand its worldwide shipping connections. The completion of a recent harbor deepening project gives the port the potential for becoming an oasis of international commerce, linking Northern California with the rest of the world. Humboldt County's first residents hailed from the Yurok, Karuk, Wiyot, Chilula, Whilkut and Hupa tribes, among others. They settled on the coast and along the banks of the Trinity and Klamath rivers.
Driving down Main Street Ferndale is like taking a step back in time when life and times were simpler. Colorful Victorians coupled with an old-fashioned sense of charm makes this small dairy town an enchanting getaway. Used as the main set for several Hollywood movies and a past winner of the Prettiest Painted Places in America contest, the city has had its fair share of national coverage. Whether you hike Ferndale’s Russ Park, venture 5 miles west to the coast, tour historic Fern Cottage or stroll down Main Street, you will most likely agree that there is plenty to do in the Victorian Village.
The town’s authenticity and its determination to protect its unique character and sense of place are at the heart of its appeal. That’s why the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2002 designated it one of its Dozen Distinctive Destinations.
The sister communities of Garberville and Redway are the population center of a breathtaking region encompassing hundreds of square miles of steep terrain, deep river valleys, large Redwood State Parks, coastal mountain ranges and a coastal fishing community. The climate of the area compares favorably with that in the Mediterranean. Rainfall averages 65 inches a year, and with elevations ranging from sea level to the 4,087-foot King Peak, snow is recorded in the winter at 400 feet and higher.
Tuesday, May 22 - The weather was perfect. We drove over an hour to reach our destination of Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Weott CA. The Avenue of the Giants Scenic Byway was awesome. Park headquarters and the Visitor Center are located on the Avenue of the Giants, State Route 254, between the towns of Weott and Myers Flat. This is 45 miles south of Eureka and 20 miles north of Garberville off of Highway 101. Weott is 228 miles north of San Francisco. We exit at the sign for the Avenue of the Giants and immediately leave the well-worn path area and enter this deep and very dark forested environment. It's really hard to describe what the bottom of a three-hundred-foot canopy is like without being there.
There were many other trees such as 60-foot Douglas firs that were dwarfed by the Giant Redwood. The average height is 300 feet but many are much taller than a skyscraper. Due to a recent mudslide, we were not able to see the world's tallest tree, a 360-foot redwood. All of the straight-edge straight trees are redwood, with huge ferns filling the space between the trunks.
A short drive south of downtown lays the 154-acre Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. You'd never guess, strolling past tidal areas filled with shorebirds, that this was once an abandoned landfill site. In the 1980s, using locally developed technologies, a coalition of scientists and community leaders brought these wetlands back to life. Arcata's treated wastewater now flows through these restored marshes into the bay. It's a bird-watcher's paradise, with more than 200 resident and seasonal species, including ospreys, red-tailed hawks, American coots, and black-crowned night herons.

We drove past or through small towns. Small town of Scotia created by the Pacific Lumber Company (PALCO) founded in 1863. It is the last company town in America. In 1992 the earthquake damaged the shopping center along the Eel River and resulted in fossils founded that are 5-15 million years old.
Rays Reflections: May 23 - Marsha had read about a route SR 36 between Fortuna and Red Bluff. It was said to have a lot of roller coaster elevations and an equal amount of twists and turns. Known as the best motorcycle ride in the country. We would be leaving the coast in the RV on our next move heading East on Rt. 299 toward Redding, Ca. Therefore I decided to ride a loop east on Hwy. 299 and back west on Hwy. 36. Wanting to check out Hwy. 299 for the RV drive ahead of us, this covered the next move and a great bike ride in one day. At 8AM, fog had lifted and headed east on Hwy. 299. The road was newly paved with a lot of four lane and passing lanes spaced every 3-5 miles on the two-lane areas.
This highway crossed over two different mountain ranges, one at 4,600 foot elevation and the other 6,400 feet. This road would definitely pass for a suitable RV road with several 6-7% grades several miles long. I’ll just drop to low gear in the RV and play like a loaded truck. Aquamarine color of the Trinity River was full of running rapids almost the full length of Hwy. 299, swapping from the north to the south side with many vista points. I almost always ride with my trusty camera over my neck and tucked into my jacket to eliminate time and effort at photo stops. I took advantage of many overlooks. This entire region is covered with a carpet of large pine and fir trees. Just beautiful to behold. I understand why this country is referred to as Big Foot country. About 2.5 hours into my ride a small community offered a Saquaska museum. (see photo) and there are many sightings in this area. Umm? There is so much wooded area, one could literally step off the road and disappear in the thick forest and never be seen or heard of again. Due to the many stops I took, it was three hours and still not to my half-way point. I decided not to continue the loop, but returned on Hwy. 299. I know there are steeper and longer grades than this road offers, especially in Colorado and West Virginia. But, some of these proved to be a challenge for loaded trucks and RVs. While riding the cycle, you enjoy every smell the outdoors has to offer, especially, but not limited to, cow pastures, horse ranches, flowers, freshly mowed grass, wood smoke, coffee brewing, and the forrests. Today, I picked up on something hard to describe. A skunk with a sweet odor - yuck! I have NO idea. There are also smells of 18-wheelers doing 70 mph down grades 200 ft. in front of me. They are smoking and dust and debree, wow, closer would not be good. This was a GREAT RIDE!








We made a brief stop at The Trees of Mystery, in Klamath, and saw Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox, (Paul is 49 ft. tall, has a 24 ft. long ax, and 10 ft. high boots). The original Bunyan, constructed in 1946, lasted only one year. Paul's head, made of paper mache, melted in the winter rains and caved in. It is purely a tourist attraction and we didn’t take the time to walk back into the woods to see the the unusual trees located up into a giant, hollow, redwood log, and then back to the actual mystery trees, the ones shaped like pretzels and DNA strandoids.




















Through the town of Orick we saw many Burl carving shops and stopped at one to see what they had. There were plenty but all way too heavy to add to our weight in the motorhome.


We took a side road to see the secluded, sandy beaches at Trinidad Bay, a fishing village 20 miles north of Eureka along a shoreline graced with a natural arch and weirdly shaped rocks. Trinidad Bay is located in Trinity County and was created in 1850. History is sordid with a big business of mining in full swing at that time. We understand why the locals call Trinity County “God’s” country, as it is so beautiful words fail me.




























Friday, May 25 - Went over to Eureka to do a little shopping and was able to see the Historic downtown district. We saw one of the most written about and photographed Victorian houses in California, and perhaps in the United States. William Carson, a timber wholesaler and one of the richest citizens of Eureka, had this Victorian house built, mainly of redwood. The William Carson Mansion epitomizes the range of possibilities for eclectic design expression that created a peculiarly American style of architecture. Derived from many sources, but unique enough to represent none predominately, this much discussed and debated property stands today in virtually the same condition as when first constructed. The designers, Samuel and Joseph Newsom, were well respected San Francisco architects who heartily embraced the concept of the "picturesque", a quality that continues to fascinate all who see the Carson Mansion's intricately composed interiors and exteriors. The Carson Mansion was owned by the descendents of William Carson until 1950, when it was sold to the Ingomar Club. We stopped at a shoe store along the Boardwalk in the old town section, very pricy. Since the sun wasn’t shining and the fog was thick, we made it a short walk.
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Sonoma County Fairgrounds Santa Rosa, CA

Monday, May 7 - Arrived at Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa around 3:30 pm. The park is huge with RV section separated from other areas of the fairgrounds. The sites are close, but not too bad, all gravel roads. The price is right and with Passport America 3 day- discount of ½ price is even better at $10 a night. .

Wednesday, May 9 - Knee has disrupted our usual tourist trips, but decided to try the truck to see the 19th century town of Bodega, infamous as the setting for Alfred Hitchcock’s film “The Birds.” Potter School (1863) and St. Theresa’s Church (1860) were historic landmarks featured in the film.
Until the Fall of 1775, the Miwok and Pomo Indians lived peacefully in the coastal mountains and valleys of what we now call Sonoma County. Their lifestyle revolved around the seasons, hunting and gathering from the land and harvesting the sea and rivers. Little changed over hundreds of years until the first white sails were spotted off the coast. The Spanish sloop, Sonora, carried Don Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra Mollineda and a group of explorers to anchorage at the mouth of Tomales Bay at the southern end of Bodega Bay according to a journal kept by a member of the company. Slowly moving north from Mexico since the mid-1500s, the Spanish claimed vast areas of land for Spain and sent back tales of the glory of California. This attracted explorers from other countries throughout the world. But it wasn't until the early 1800s that white settlements began to spring up along the coast. By 1812, Russian fur traders were looking for new sources of otters and seals and came south in search of better food supplies for their northern settlements. With the help of local Indians, they built Fort Ross 24 miles north of Bodega Bay.
By the mid-1800s, Mexico had gained independence from Spain and in the process, granted the land to Mexican citizens and soldiers. General Vallejo and his family were among those who established hundreds of thousands of acres of ranchos along the coast and inland valleys in what is now much of Sonoma County.
One of the settlers was Captain Stephen Smith who married a Peruvian, Manuela Torres, and became a Mexican citizen in order to receive a land grant. Together they established Rancho Bodega bordered by the Russian River to the north and Estero Americano to the south, a large portion of the Bodega Bay Area. Firman Camelot founded the town of "Bay" in the late 1800s, which later changed its name to Bodega Bay.
Bodega Bay in Sonoma County is a popular visitor’s destination and located on the Pacific Coast just 68 miles North of San Francisco. With a population of 950 and 45 ft. elevation. Hiking trails abound in this area. It was a beautiful drive even though the closer we got to the coastline, the fog got much worse. The road was full of twists and turns with the usual hairpin turns that leave my stomach very uneasy. Flowers were everywhere you looked. In addition to vineyards and wineries you also see herds of cattle and sheep, orchards, gardens and many different varieties of farms. We gazed upon beautiful lush hills with cattle of all types grazing. We have seen more cattle in California than we ever did in Texas. Upon reaching Bodega Bay around 4pm, we took some photos, but the fog was getting thick. We had to fill the truck with diesel at $3.30 a gallon at Spud Point Marina.

The most prominent geological feature of Bodega Bay is Bodega Head, a peninsula that forms the protective arm between the ocean and the bay. The San Andreas Fault runs right through it, separating steep rocky bluffs from sandy dunes. Atop the bluffs, grasslands rise more gently to the coastal ridges. The Head provides a dramatic vista and the ideal place to watch whales migrate south twice yearly in January/February and April/May.

Leaving Bodega Bay we traveled along Highway 1 that runs along the colorful crests and bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and offers a number of turnouts where motorists can stop and explore secluded beaches and caves. Ray got out to take a picture and it was a shocking 52 degrees and we had traveled under an hour where the temp was at 72 degrees.
We saw Goat Rock Beach from a distance and turned at the junction of Hwy. 1 and Hwy 116 to go back home. It is at this junction with the town of Jenner that the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean. We saw the train depot at Duncans Mills that used to bring tourists in traveling to the coast. That all changed when people starting to use the automobile for travel and by 1935 the last train rolled out of the town of Duncans Mills. Fortuneatelhy for modern-day visitors, this was not the end of the town. Duncans Mills has been restored to closely match its earlier appearance and it’s easy to imagine a train chugging into town with a load of city slickers from San Francisco. The depot has been turned into a museum.
Doran Park is a strip of beach formed by the currents of Bodega Bay. The ocean side is ideal for water sports such as surfing and body boarding while the harbor side offers a salt marsh which is a habitat for a variety of birds. At the end of Doran Beach is the protected entrance to the harbor where the fog horn keeps a constant watch.

Sonoma County Wineries – Most people don’t realize that Sonoma County is the place California wine making started in 1825. Sonoma Valley is a federally-designated wine appellation region, meaning that the climate, soils, and topography of the valley produce grapes of a distinctive and extraordinary character. Ranked as one of the top wine producing regions in the world, Sonoma Valley boasts more than thirty award-winning wineries and, with some of the oldest vineyards and wineries in the state, is recognized as the birthplace of California wine-making.
Saturday, May 12 - Around 9am we took short ride over to the main fairgrounds where they were having an English hunter/jumper show through the Pick Wick Equestrian organization. The horses were so beautiful and spirited. Some riders we saw taking their horse through the course and taking the jumps looked inexperienced, while two others looked very experienced and jumped the hurdles without hesitation. Ray rode the bike to the coast today as the sun is out and winds are insignificant to take a lot of pictures.
Monday, May 13 - We drove over to the coast with perfect weather, stopping along the way to see the town of Sebastopol and buy some bread from Wild Flour Bread store. Bought several scones and a loaf of their white bread. It has a hard crust but the inside toasted is wonderful. http://www.wildflourbread.com/. Wild Flour Bread features organic sourdough breads, scones, biscotti and coffee drinks. Working with a wood fired brick oven they produce beautiful hard crust breads that our customers come from miles around to taste. They also have sticky buns, cheese fougasse and either the Bohemian (apricot, orange and pecan) or the Egyptian (pear, fig and candied ginger) and an endless variety of scones.
After navigating the extremely rough road on the coast heading north to Jenner, we stopped at noon to eat lunch at River’s End restaurant perched on a bluff overlooking the mystical Russian River entering the great Pacific Ocean @ www.ilovesunsets.com. The vistas are breathtaking and beaches are endless. Restaurant is located one hour and 45 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge and has been around since 1927. Originally built as a restaurant and inn for the loggers and fisherman; today the River’s End serves visitors looking for the ideal romantic dinner or just searching for renewal. It was elegant, with every table having a great view. I ordered Wild mushroom soup and a Northern Coast Chef Salad that had dungeness crab, bay shrimp, jack cheese, avocado, hard-boiled egg, wasabi tobiko, and seasonal greens with a lemon, ginger vinaigrette. It was memorable. Ray played it safe and ordered a cheese burger.
We kept heading north on US 1, but with travel at 35 mph and crazy hairpin curves, we finally turned around without reaching our destination at Rhododendron State Reserve. We were gone five hours and Mitzy was patiently waiting at home.
Saturday, May 20 - Today we drove to see the Petrified Forest outside Santa Rosa about 30 minutes. Due to my knee we couldn’t visit all the sites as it was all uphill and very rough terrain.

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Turtle Beach Preserve (Thousand Trails Park) Manteca, CA

Sunday, April 22, 2007 - Left Sonora Mother Lode Fairgrounds and traveled 65 miles with rain most of the way to Turtle Beach Preserve (TT Park) in Manteca, CA. Love the park and the layout. We are very near where (my friend known since highschool) Penny lives in Stockton so we will try to hook-up with them. Monday, April 23 - Went to the Escapees Rally and took in two seminars. We felt we didn’t need to attend other seminars as we have a lot to do. At least we know what to expect whenever we have time to spend at other Rallies.
Tuesday, April 24 – RV lost power to our refrigerator and we switched it to LP gas. The air conditioning system is not working, nor the central vacuum, nor the washer/dryer. Ray called National, then the service department for RV repairs. We scheduled the service for Monday, May 7. We are moving from Turtle Beach on Sunday, May 6. Thursday the winds were up to 20 mph gusts. Friday, April 27 - Woke up to a beautiful day and checked on the birds out in a tree outside our home. They look like small blackbirds and their nest is in a very large gaping hole at the joint of the tree. California Blue birds are all over and one keeps continuously pecking at the car and RV next to us as well as our own. Drives Mitzy nuts and she is barking thinking it is an intruder.
Stockton is situated at the head of a navigable channel, several miles east of the San Joaquin River and approximately 90 miles inland from San Francisco Bay. The city’s strategic location along several waterways is what defined Stockton and its surrounding communities.
The discovery of gold turned Stockton Channel a river boat landing that served the mining areas of the foothills. It became the gateway, supply and transportation center to California’s southern mines. Although the gold rush ended by 1855, Stockton businesses prospered from their ability to process and transport agricultural products to the markets of the world. The combination of rich peat soil and a temperate climate made the area around Stockton one of the richest agricultural regions and dairy regions in California.
The Port of Stockton opened in 1933 as the first inland seaport in California. The legendary Delta, created by the confluence of several rivers and many man-made channels-popularly known as 1,000 miles of waterways-is what in many ways defines Stockton and surrounding communities. Stockton and environs have long been known in the entertainment industry as location-rich, both as fore and background such as COOL HAND LUKE, BLOOD ALLEY, ALL THE KINGS MEN, TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN and many others
Monday, April 30 - The weather is in the 80’s during the day and we are semi-comfortable with fans running since the air conditioner does not work. Expect the rest of the week to be cooler. We purchased the tile needed to remove the carpet in our living area and replace with tile. Picture of the living room shows our new tile installation. We really enjoy the new look.

Saturday, May 05 - The wind is constant 24 mph with gusts over 30 mph. High will be around 77.

Ray's Reflections: The motocross track I accidentally came across in the hills while riding west of Manteca (south of Stockton) was a real treat to watch. This area was a long route for several 100 yards specifically designed for dirt bikes and ATVs. The expression on the guard’s face at the gate was priceless when I rode up on my Gold Wing. After a brief conversation, I realized he thought I was going to ride the track, I assured him I just wanted to watch and take pictures. At that point I could feel a sense of relief from him. There were all ages and all sizes of direct bikers practicing to be the great one. This turned out to be a nice ride for me, and also passed 12 antique, model-T cars coming my way enjoying the drive, they all waved. Again the huge wind mills (electric power) covered the hills and valley. Very few small trees in this area and brown grass and shrubs.

Since we were so close to Stockton, we went to visit with Penny and Larry Shoppel. We enjoyed the visit and dinner was at Mallard’s Restaurant. Five star quality/service is expected. The food was excellent and I enjoyed the macadamia-nut-crusted Mahi Mahi over a bed of rice and veggies.
Monday, May 7 - Got to the service center in Manteca at 8AM. After they worked two hours, the tech explained to Ray that the park was probably the reason we were without electric for our four major appliances. Not enough amperage to our coach. He also found our generator breaker switch had been triggered. A good lesson learned. The good news is that everything is working and we didn’t have to pay for service. While waiting on service, I took Mitzy for a walk outside the service center’s waiting room. I took a step off the sidewalk unexpectedly, my right knee buckled and I twisted it badly, fell onto the ground and skinned the knee and left hand on asphalt. The knee has swollen up as expected. I’m going to try to see a doctor tomorrow. How clumsy can I be?

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