July 23 - August 7, 2024
It looks like I have some catching up to do.
On Thursday, July 25 we left Crescent Lake Junction. It was just too smoky and they said as long as no structures were threatened they were going to let the Red Fire burn. We figured we had wheels and didn't need to stay, so we left and went to Crater Lake RV Park in Prospect, OR for one night. It was full hookups for $46.40 per night. It was a pretty park with trails through the woods to the river.
The next day we went to Sunny Valley, north of Grants Pass and stayed at the Sunny Valley Campground for 8 nights. Originally we were going to stay 4 nights but since we left Crescent Lake Junction early we just added nights on the front of our stay. It looks like an old KOA with the A-frame office and the camping cabins. It was $42.50 per night for 50 amp water and electric. They have a dump station but it's really narrow. It was nice with the big trees and shade, as the temps were in the high 90s and low 100s.
The reason we were there was to visit my cousin and her husband, Rebecca and Ralph. They live about a mile away so the campground was really convenient. We had a great time getting together in the evening for dinner and playing games. She is an excellent cook!! We taught them some new games and they taught us some. Rebecca asked if I wanted to go with her to a garden tour on Friday and of course I said yes! We went to one of the garden club member's home and toured her gardens. She had so many hydrangeas, sunflowers, and other beautiful plants.
After the tour the two of us had lunch and did a little shopping. It was a really special time!
I hadn't realized I was so much taller!
On Saturday we drove southwest to California. As we went down in elevation the temperature also went down. It's been in the 50s and 60s the whole time we've been here.
We're at Chere'ere Campground in Klamath for 5 nights. It's full hookups for $45.60 per night, and on tribal land. It's quiet and much nicer than the other parks along 101, which are right on the highway and packed in. It's about a 20-25 minute drive south of Crescent City, but between Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
We met the very nice couple next door, Dan and Pam, and plan on keeping in touch. She made a chocolate sourdough cake and they didn't want to eat all of it so shared with us. It was yummy!
On Monday we drove south to the Newton B. Drury Parkway in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and hiked a few of the shorter and easier trails through the redwoods. To say it was beautiful is an understatement. God's creation is truly awesome. No picture can capture these magnificent trees, but here are a few anyway.
This is not the largest tree in the surrounding area but it's pretty impressive. I posted a video on Facebook.
John has lost around 30 pounds. Doesn't he look great?
We also did the Coastal Drive just south of where the Klamath River meets the Pacific Ocean. These are from the High Bluff Overlook.
Unfortunately it was a cloudy day, but still beautiful!
Also along the loop there was the remains of a World War II radar station. Because of attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Aleutian Islands, California, British Columbia, and Washington, a decision was made to create a network of 72 radar stations along the coast. Although only 65 were built, they stretched from the US/Canada border into Mexico. You can read about how they disguised the station to look like a farmhouse and barn: https://www.nps.gov/places/redwoodradarstation.htm. Here are a couple of pictures I took from the road.
Barn
Farmhouse
When we were in Alaska I loved seeing the fireweed. I didn't know it grew this far south.
The last stop for the day was part of the old Klamath River Bridge. I love the architecture they used to use on buildings and bridges. This one got swept away in 1964. The whole town was flooded and moved to it's current site.
Top: Notice the bears (you have to look hard to see the one on the left). Bottom: Klamath River.
On Tuesday the sun came out and we went north to the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. We took Howland Hill Road scenic drive. Their literature says that motor homes and trailers are not advised and I can see why. There are a couple of tight squeezes and corners so I wouldn't take anything bigger than the truck on it. I posted a video on Facebook. Again, the redwoods are so awesome.
We went on the Stout Grove loop trail. More pictures...
Love all the burls.
Above picture you can't even see how long the tree is. Bottom picture is the roots of the tree.
After a picnic lunch we did the Simpson-Reed Grove Trail.
An even bigger tree!
I thought this root was interesting.
After our hikes (walks/strolls) we drive to Point St. George, north of Crescent City. What a view! I posted a video on Facebook.
We drove to another viewpoint. That's Crescent City way off in the distance. It's awesome the way you can go from redwood forests to beaches within a few miles.
One more beach photo, this one south of Crescent City. I posted another video on Facebook.
On the way back to the campground we drove over the new Klamath River Bridge. It also has the California Golden Bears.
While we were in the area we stopped for fuel at the Tribal Gas Station just south of Crescent City. Diesel was $1 a gallon less there than any other stations.
Tomorrow we will be roving on...
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth".
Genesis 1:1
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