Redding, CA

A fairly uneventful day.  I stayed in Los Banos, CA last night… and drove up I-5 to Redding, CA today.  I stopped before dark at the Win-River Casino because I was beginning to have shoulder and neck spasms.  Guess I’m pushing my shoulder surgery recovery a little too much.

These California hills remind me of the sand dunes in Southern California.  I like having the trailer in the rear mirror.  Yesterday I stopped at the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area.  Looks like this would be good paddling.  The exhibit was a little boring except for this one…  an old-timey van-dweller?

I-5 is rather boring to me.. but am happy to finally be heading north again.  And when you begin approaching Redding, suddenly snow-capped mountains appear on the horizon… and I was thrilled with that.

I pulled off the highway and crossed a river and went down to a picnic/boating area.  Thought I’d walk along the river, and stretch my legs but it seemed to be a local redneck hangout, blaring loud music and even making passes at me, probably old enough to be their mother.  So, not a relaxing place for me and I drove on.  

Tomorrow I’m going to check local Redding CA stores, a framing store in particular, to see if I can find the Plexiglas for my US map and stickers.

I and a bit sore from the driving… the shoulder/arm, that is.  Guess I’m working the muscles a bit too much to fast, but I got to go kiss a baby.

It was 90 degrees in Redding today and suppose to be 95 tomorrow… so I’m heading up the mountains as soon as I can.  Plan to stop and see Shasta Caverns… which I always just drive past.  It is located on the McCloud Arm, northeast from Holiday Harbor marina on the east side of the arm. Houseboats stake up to the shore line, small boats and other watercraft may park on the provided courtesy dock. Tickets may be purchased from the small gift store located along the shoreline. Tickets may also be purchased over the phone by using your credit card.  Cost is $22.00 which includes a boat, bus and guided tour of the caverns.

On-The-Road-Again

June 20, 2010

I left Monterey CA yesterday after having breakfast with my friend, Betsy, at Sweet Elena’s.  Anyone visiting Monterey, CA should try and find this place.  Really great food, especially the pastries.

Then I drove to Camping World between Gilroy and San Martin, CA.  There I found the map I’ve been looking for… that I will mount on plexiglass and then put on the inside of one side door.  There are little state stickers that I will put on the map for each state I kayak.  I was tired from not sleeping well my last night in Monterey, so I spend the rest of the day in the Camping World lot… and even slept through most of the night.

I am writing this from San Luis Recreation Area/Reservoir where I stopped to replace the fuse for my trailer lights (again) but am unable to find my wiring/fuse kit I so carefully put together.  It is not in the space I allotted for it… so I’m going to drive on in to Los Banos Ca and try to find fuses.  There I also hope to catch up with Betsy’s granddaughter, Deanna, who is in the area training horses.  She is a budding young horse whisperer just starting up her own business, Natural Horsemanship.  I’ve known her since she was a baby, and in fact knew her mother Elle when she was only 6 years old.  Hope to take Deanna to dinner when she is done with the horses.  Then find a quiet place for another night’s sleep…. quietly.

Last thing I did in Monterey was to track down my favorite motley geese.  A Canadian Goose crossed with a white domestic goose and they had five gosslings.  I’ve been watching them grow and they are now as large as their parents.  Below is a picture of the five, the domestic goose parent is in the upper right corner.  Four of the babies are off white in color and the fifth looks like a washed out faded Canadian Goose.  They are much tamer then Canadian geese… their domestic parent’s genes are coming through.  Wonder if they will fly off when the Canadian geese do???

O.K. I’m on the road again in search of a grandson.

 

Darling Zoey seeing her baby brother, Will, for the first time.  O.K. it’s my turn.