California to Oregon

I’m in Medford, OR tonight.  Today was less “UN” eventful than yesterday.  Decided against visiting the Shasta Caverns.  They are just a short way out of Redding and by the time I got on the road I didn’t want to stop again so soon.  Decided that there are lots of things I’d like to see in this area and AFTER I complete my 50-state kayaking adventure, I’ll return here to see these things:

Shasta Caverns, and Shasta Lake

Mount Shasta

Castle Crags

Travel on Historic Rt. 99

Visit the Railroad Park

I think I’ll store my trailer in Redding… and then make loops around. I’d also like to see Crater Lake but didn’t want to make a 150 mile detour to do so this week and sight-seeing just isn’t a lot of fun with a trailer in tow. My son Chris and his wife Jenelle hiked through there on the Pacific Crest Trail before they were married.  Besides, I’m too eager to see granddaughter, Zoey and her baby brother, Will in Wenatchee, WA (children of Chris and Jenelle).

This afternoon, my sister phoned and left a frustrating-sounding message hollering at me to pick up the phone.  I think it was in the car and I was not.  She had chemo today and was complaining how bad she felt.  She feels so alone… and with me in CA/OR/WA… and her in FL, I’m not much help.  So, I suddenly got the urge to do something in support of her and hopefully cheer her up.  I then spent the next couple hours trying to find someone to help me carry out my plan.

 

Yreka, CA

Finally, I found someone. Her name is Cassie Amdur-Willis at Total Image in Yreka CA.  Told her I needed a sympathetic hair cut in support of my sister’s battle against cancer. 

Me (before)

My sister (before)

My sister (after)

Me (after)

WELL, I guess we look like sisters, now!

Me (after) and Cassie  (Thanks Cassie for working me into your busy schedule.)

My sister is very sad about loosing her long silvery locks… and thinks she looks awful without hair.  So, now she isn’t alone.  I love my sister… better nobody ever doubt that.

On The Road Again - Dinner

If you haven’t lost your appetite from the above photos, I’ll tell you about dinner next. I have a nice dinner planned tonight.  Roasted corn on the cob in my RoadPro stove… the stove cooks, I drive.  What a partnership!

My RoadPro Oven and corn, butter and foil…

 

Shuck the corn…

Slather it with butter…

Wrap it up, add a little water to the RoadPro Stove… and drive.

…and just ate that.  Very tasty.

Next I’ll finish a Cobb Salad I got for dinner last night… enough for two meals. 

Tomorrow, pushing on toward Portland, OR hoping to see a friend there.  May detour over to the coast and see another friend and take a horseback ride on the beach… something I’ve always wanted to do.  Will have to wear sunscreen on my head and a hat to boot. 

This weekend I’m planning on catching up with my granddaughter Tori in Westport, WA… where she is performing in a Pirate Festival.

My son, Richard, his daughter, Tori, and Rich’s wife Rhonda.  Rhonda’s photos.  Tori graduated high school this month and is heading off to college.

Are we having fun yet?

4th State Paddle - Oregon travel, continued (Sept. 1-4, 2009)

On the way north, I had an opportunity to experiment with my new RoadPro 12v stove. Here, I heated up some soup I made from ham bones, carrots, and cabbage. Boy, it's nice to have good hot food when you have been driving a lot.

September 1, 2009, I stopped in Portland, OR to have dinner with Vandweller friend, Suzanne. We had a great visit and I feel I've found another friend for life. Yahhhh! We were going to have a paddle just west of Portland, but weather didn't cooperate. After our visit, I headed north again. Stopped in Sweet Home, OR and got a new metal detector (one that will find gold). I can't wait to begin using it and hope that in my lifetime, it will pay for itself. I'd hope for more, but that might be unrealistic.

 Charlene and Suzanne

 

SwankieWheels took Spankie for a ride on the beach.

 

 

 

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR.

I ran from the Rock back to this spot in the first photo. I ran! You just don't know how incredible that is. Really incredible.

Found a little known park... Les Shirley Park, and did three hours of beachcombing/metal detecting, had a hot meal in my van from my RoadPro Stove... found safe parking... where I spent the night. One day I'll return here to ride horses on the beach... they go right past this little park. Staying in the area a little longer.

http://www.igougo.com/attractions-reviews-b103547-Cannon_Beach-Les_Shirley_Park.htmlLes_Shirley_Park.html

 

My vanmonkey, Spankie, just had to misbehave.

 

Close-up of the tidal pools around the Haystack Rock. Covered with starfish and other sea life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Driving north, I stopped over at Camp Rilea Military Reservation. There were a couple places along the way where I thought I could drive on the beach, and found them and did that. I did unhook the trailer and leave it in a parking lot. There in the lot was a couple with an RV that they wrecked the transmission on because they had gotten stuck out on that same beach. But it's something I always wanted to do, so I took the chance.

 

I met this character who was coming off the beach as I was going on and stopped to ask him if it was safe to drive out there. He followed me back out there and we chatted... I told him what I was doing - kayaking all 50-states. He also said he had always wanted to try metal detecting. Later that evening, or the next morning, I emailed him to offer him the old detector if he would met me on my way north. September 4, 2009, I met Dave Roche on the beach at the Peter Iredale shipwreck. Neato (the shipwreck). He is an amateur videographer and asked if he could interview me about my adventure for u-tube video. He did and I'll add the links later. I gave him the old metal detector and headed on to Aberdeen, WA.

 

 

Photo by Dave Roche.

 

Stayed at Camp Rilea the night of September 3, 2009. A large elk herd walked right past my van.

 

Astoria, OR, across the river from WA.

 

 

Later that day, I crossed into Washington state from OR. Headed north to kiss a baby. Can't wait.

Spankie, supervising the crossing of the Columbia River into Washington State.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This bridge about scared it out of me. Took my breath away.

 

 

 

 

I spend the rainy days in Aberdeen making new curtains for my van. I had a shiny material that showed up in the sun. It was green. I replaced it with a black/or dark blue? bedspread fabric that was white on the other side. The while would reflect more light in the back of the van, making it easier to see things at night. But the black isn't as noticeable from the outside looking in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Found Wal-Mart's in Aberdeen. Saw a woman climbing up on top of an RV... I stopped to see if she needed help. She said they had leaks... and Wal-Mart sold her this stuff to paint on the roof. I noticed inside the RV a large man who appeared to be in a wheelchair and a bunch of kids. I felt sorry for them. She declined my help. I heard others in the parking lot complaining of leaks. I was thankful to be dry and warm in my cozy van.

Four states down, 46 to go. Washington is next.

 

Related Oregon Links:

Camping

Tillamook Forest Center, Tillamook, OR

Guide to Historical Markers and Heritage Trees

Oregon Coast Lighthouses

Coos Bay Estuary Water Trails

Simpson Reef and Shell Island, Cape Arago, OR, More Info.

Pow Wow and Gem and Mineral Show, Madras OR.

All Rockhounds Pow Wow Club of America

Ecola State Park to Indian Beach OR hike.

Wallowa Lake, OR… one of the most beautiful places on earth.

A River Away:  The Owyhee – next on my list when I return to OR.

Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort, Canyonville, OR.

Oregon Coast Bike Route

Oregon’s Rocky Intertidal Areas: Tidepools are ALIVE!  More.

Oregon Caves National Monument

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Haystack Rock Awareness Program

 

Quote from Dune Buggy Mechanic – “Life is Simple” (8/29/2009)

 

What I want to do next time:

Sandland Adventures