The Trip South, Medford, Redding, and Corning

Day 1:  Friday, January 18, 2019    Valley of the Rogue State Park, Gold Hill, OR

We shuttled back and forth between our houses the week before our trip began, transferring all the clothes, food, and toys we seem to require!  Jim is bringing the keyboard again, carrying it under the bed.  I am not bringing the ukulele I did not play at all last year, but did bring the recorder I did not play at all last year.  The weekend before we left, a big dead tree fell over my driveway.  Luckily Jim was there with his chain saw to cut a path out!

View of my house from the road.

We headed south 11 am Friday morning, driving through rain.  It stopped about the time we got to this nice park by the Rogue River, and I went on a couple hour walk on the trail up to the north end and back.  Saw Mergansers on the river.  We had a nice shrimp salad dinner, and began watching the Bosch mystery series.  Author Michael Connelly is the executive producer, so we have to think he had a lot of control over the presentation of his books.

Labyrinth on the Valley of the Rogue Riverside Trail

Shrimp Salad Dinner, First Night on the Road.

Day 2,3:  Saturday, Sunday, January 19, 20, 2019     Marina RV Resort, Redding, CA

We had rain through the Siskiyou’s, not a lot of snow by the road.   We stayed at Park Marina, always a favorite.  Lots of ducks here, including Common Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser.  While Jim worked on his Internet of Things programming, I walked along the river, over the Cypress Bridge, north through neighborhoods, and back over the 44 bridge, about 5 miles.  Some pretty fancy houses on North Bechelli!  It poured rain Saturday night!!

Traveling through the Siskiyous

Sunday morning I had lunch with my friend Charlene, then we went up to see Buzzy at Old Shasta, had lunch at Shorty’s Eatery, yum!  Since it was raining, Jim and I just drove up through the Carr fire area and back down through Keswick, where a lot of houses had burned to the ground.  Buzzy’s house caught fire on the porch roof, but was put out, although he had been evacuated.  Many buildings on the hill behind him were destroyed, including a big storage barn where had stored lots of antiques. Monday morning, I took breakfast up to Buzz and visited a little more.  Then we headed south.  This last storm that came through California brought the snow pack up to 114% of average.

Buzzy's House, corrugated metal on the front where the fire started.

Carr Fire, up by the Carr Powerhouse near where it started

Another labyrinth, along the Sacramento River Trail. 

Bridge burned on the trail, no through access.

Day 4, 5: Monday, Tuesday,  January  21, 22, 2019      Black Butte Campground, Orland, CA

A short drive down I-5 to our next spot.  There were a few more RV’s sharing our space than in previous years, but we found a great view spot.  Lots of acorn woodpeckers here this year!  I walked on the Bobcat Trail down to the entrance gate to put our money envelope in, then walked along the lake back to the campsite, saw Goldfinches and Killdeer, as well as deer.  Jim flew his drone to get some great shots of the lake and Black Butte.  There was a beautiful big full moon in the sky at night, light as day!

Bobcat Trail at Black Butte Lake, with a family of deer.

Black Butte from the campground, Jim flying his drone.

View of lake from campground.

A group of Acorn woodpeckers, lots of them around here!

Black Butte Lake Sunset, hard to beat for beauty!

Tuesday we had hoped to repeat our bike ride of last year, but decided it was too windy.  We drove to the dam, walked across the dam, then up a trail to the top of the Butte, rough in spots, lots of spiky lava.  We had the trail entirely to ourselves, about 5 miles up and back.  We saw lots of vultures, a Prairie Falcon, a Redtail Hawk, and a group of terns at the outlet of the lake.  Jim got a great sunrise picture from our campsite, and I got a sunset pic.

We walked across the dam, then up the Black Butte ridge

Lava on the way up, Mt. Shasta in the distance.

On top of the Butte, watching the rocky path carefully.

View of campground from top of the Butte.

View of Black Butte from the dam on the hike back.

Black Butte Lake sunrise.  Sarah gets up early sometimes!

Taking a nap until the next meal.

Happy Hour with a view of the Lake, wearing jacket!

Hard to resist Black Butte Lake sunset pictures!

The Trip Home

Day 63-65, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, March 18, 19, 20, The Trip Home

We headed north for home, Jim deciding to go along the ridge of mountains through Nevada into California, rather than go down to the valley, then back up again over the pass.  Sunday night we found Whiskey Flats RV Park near Hawthorne, Nevada, with a view of Mount Grant.  We found out there is a road to the top of this 11,000 foot peak, would like to try it some time when there is no snow!  We got the next- to-the-last spot in the park – snowbirds are heading north!

Whiskey Flats RV Park, Mt. Grant in the background.

We headed to Susanville, where Linda has long wanted to go, because that is one end of the Biz Johnson Rail Trail.  We stayed at Susanville RV Park, another nice park, with lots of quail.  We rode our bikes from the campground, on a paved trail along the Susanville River, and after a little stumbling around, found the Susanville Train Depot and the head of the Biz Johnson Trail.  We were able to ride for a mile or so, the trail a little muddy from melting snow, until we came to a very snowy spot in the trail.  It was cold and windy, so we headed back.  Got to see the trail!  Normally there would be lots more snow here in March – will have to come here another time of the year.  This 24 mile trail is reported to be beautiful in the fall.

Heading north in Nevada and California

A river named after my daughter, Susan!

Biz Johnson Trail.  There was snow up around the corner! 

Old railroad station is a museum now, was closed when we were there.

Tuesday morning we got up, got organized, and headed north, going through the beginning of a snowstorm as we headed up Highway 194 in California, through wild country along the ridge of the mountains, then 34 in Oregon.  We stopped at the Hungry Bear Diner in Klamath Falls for lunch, arriving in Gladstone about 7 pm.  Eggs and toast were all we needed for dinner at Linda’s house, while she unloaded her stuff out of the motorhome.  Jim hooked up my car battery, turned on the water and circuit breakers for the hot water heater.  Jim headed north to Camas on Wednesday morning.  I went up on Friday, and we spent Saturday cleaning cupboards, woodwork, and doing the laundry that had not been done in Gladstone.  Ready for our next trip!

Heading north from Susanville.  Very few cars!

Yes, there was a sign that said Carry Traction Tires.  We did not.

The view from Jim's deck Saturday morning!  Guess we came back
too soon!

Bounder tucked away in its shed!

Laughlin's Riverfront RV Resort, Laughlin, NV

Day 60 - 62, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, March 15 - 17, Laughlin’s Riverfront RV Resort, Laughlin, NV

We traveled from Parker Strip through the Mojave Desert to Bullhead City, then over the Colorado River to the Casino RV Park – hundreds of sites here on a terraced hill, many very high-end RV’s, and some small, old RV’s that are clearly full-time homes for their inhabitants.  All you have to do is call to get a free shuttle to the casino!  Hee hee!  (Kind of like the time we stayed for free at the casino south of Tucson and each ended up donating $20 to the casino!) We had a nice dinner, chicken and stuffing and gravy and fresh broccoli.  We took Sarah for a walk around the park – nice grassy areas for her here, not all sand and gravel.

Friday, we rode our bikes out of the park, crossed a street, and rode up to Davis Dam, going on the paved Riverside Trail, along the Colorado.  We rode across the dam, and I rode up a hill to Highway 95, then we rode back over the dam and rode up Davis Dam Road to Highway 163, then found our way back to the park, coming in on side roads and a back entrance.  Guess what!  Riding back down from the dam, the headwind caused us to have to pedal.  We had a headwind most of the way up Davis Dam Road, too!  Turning a gentle rise into a steeper one!

Jim on Davis Dam.  

Mojave Lake, an impoundment of the Colorado River.

In the afternoon we went for a drive, stopped for lunch at In and Out, checked out Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area (great campground on the river, 24 spots and no reservations), Jim got a haircut, picked up a few things at Safeway, and checked out Davis Camp County Park – it had no spots when I tried to get in!  After taco salad for Dinner, we walked down to the casino and went to the two Classic Car showrooms at the Riverfront Casino.  Several Model T’s, Thunderbirds, Mustangs, Chevy Bel-Air 1955 – 1957,  some unique and unusual cars.   Many people who own these cars are displaying them here.

Saturday we decided not to battle the wind on our bikes or in our kayaks, hung around the wonderful RV, listened to music, did some tidying up, and I worked on the blog!  In the afternoon we drove up toward Mohave Lake and went on some back roads into the desert.  Compare the population density here with the casinos about 10 miles away!

It is not the trackless desert, but it is uninhabited!

On our drive into the desert, we walked up a steep, rocky, road to an old
mine site.  3Z remained below, vainly looking for kayaking water.

In the desert you take pictures of rocks, because not much else is there.

A creosote bush adds exciting color.

Some people are not good about electronic recycling.

We thought this rock formation looked like a hand.

Emerald Cove RV Resort, Earp, CA

Days 57 – 59, Monday – Wednesday, March 12 – 14, Emerald Cove RV Resort, Earp, California

On Monday we headed to Wickenberg, stopping for lunch and walked around Old Town a bit, so Jan and Dwayne got to see the Jail Tree.  We got a spot at Emerald Cove not far from the Dog Beach, so Sarah got to chase stick, her favorite pastime, first time on this trip since Black Butte Lake!  Lots of Grackles and wild donkeys in this park.

Jan and her new boyfriend.  She will bake bolt cutters in a cake for him.

Dwayne warning the guy to leave Jan alone.

Linda getting down close and personal.  This guy has not bathed!

Will burros!  Apparently these people had been putting out raw veggies
for the burros, which is expressly forbidden.  One morning we counted 11
of them in the campground!

Sarah in a frenzy over stick fetching at Dog Beach.

 Tuesday morning Jan and I did laundry at the park.  Dwayne and Jim took 3Z up Bowman Wash and explored the area.  Jim sent the copter up to get videos of Angel Monument, a private memorial someone has created up in the wilderness.  They drove up Horse Head canyon, all rough trails and barely passable even with 4-wheel drive.  It felt too hot to kayak in the afternoon.

Be nice to have a geologist with us!  Guessing this is sedimentary.

This looks like lava!

Reminding us of Arches or Natural Bridges in Utah.

Layers of eroded rocks?

This is a memorial out in the desert, to a kid who died in an ATV accident.

This rock formation is up Horse Head Canyon!

Wednesday, we took the kayaks up to Quail Hollow Recreation Area and kayaked back down the Colorado to the RV park, an easy downriver float, right?  Wrong!  We battled a headwind all the way down this scenic river, sometimes barely moving forward!  Dwayne got out to walk for a way, dragging his kayak, but dropped the paddle and had to go back to fetch it!  We all straggled in eventually, getting back in time to go to the Tiki Bar at the park and get patty melts for lunch.  Then for dinner we went to Roadrunner Floating Dock Bar, although the wind was blowing too much to sit on the rocking and rolling dock!  We more than took care of any calories we burned kayaking against the wind.

Jan and I waited while the guys took a vehicle back to the campground.

A big Colorado River, sparkling clean water.

Sarah always assists in meal preparation.

Thursday morning, we got cinnamon rolls at the Clubhouse, hooked up, and departed.  Jan and Dwayne are heading home, stopping first at Orange Grove RV Park outside Bakersfield.  We are heading to Laughlin, Nevada.