WEST YELLOWSTONE

THE TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE WAS A LONG ONE SO WE STOPPED AT FORT BENTON M

ONTANA FOR ONE NIGHT. FORT BENTON WAS A DEPRESSED AREA THAT AT ONE TIME HAD A LOT OF HISTORY AND WAS THRIVING.
WE LEFT EARLY THE NEXT MORNING FOR WEST YELLOWSTONE. ON THE WAY WE PASSED LOTS OF SMALL TOWNS. MOST OF THE TOWNS HAD CASINOS IN THEM. "LUCKY LIL'S " WAS THE MOST POPULAR.
WE ARRIVED AT THE WEST YELLOWSTONE CAMPGROUND AND FOUND THAT IT WAS SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET ANY CELL SERVICE,WIFI OR TV SERVICE. IT WAS NEXT TO A VERY SWOLLEN RIVER THAT WAS A FAVORITE FOR FISHERMEN. THE NAME OF THE PLACE WAS CAMPFIRE LODGE. IT HAD A RESTAURANT, BUT THE LAUNDRY WAS "OUT OF ORDER" AND SO WAS THE LADIES ROOM AND SHOWER. WE SPENT AN HOUR TRYING TO HOOK UP THE ELECTRICTY.  WHEN WE FINISHED WE TOOK THE 15 MILE TRECK TO YELLOWSTONE PARK.
THE PARK WAS BEAUTIFUL,WINDING ROADS WERE PRESENTS OF THERMALS, DEER,BEAR,ELK,BISON,COYOTE AND LOTS OF OTHER WILD ANIMALS.  YOU COULD SEE FOR MILES. IN EACH DIRECTION THERE WAS A STUNNING LAKE OR A SNOW COVERED MOUNTAIN, A BRETH TAKING WATERFALL OR A HISTORIC LANDMARK . WE TRAVELED ON EACH ROAD AT LEAST 4 TIMES.  WHILE THERE WE SAW THE ARTIST'S PAINTPOTS,WHICH WERE THERMALS OF DIFFERENT COLORS STEAMING UP FROM THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.  THE ARTIST POINT,WHICH WAS A POINT AT THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER WHERE WATERFALLS FELL SOME 200 FEET TO CONTINUE THE RIVER. GIBSON FALLS, MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, SHEEPEATERS CLIFF AND OF COURSE OLD FAITHFUL. WE SPENT A FULL WEEK AT THE PARK, LEAVING EARLY IN THE MORNING AND NOT COMING BACK TO THE CAMP UNTIL LATER AT NIGHT.  I LOVED THAT THE BISON WERE ON THE ROADS AND WOULD WALK UP TO THE CAR AND JUST LOOK AT YOU. THEY ARE KING. THEY ARE HUGH. BIGGER THAN MY CAR.
WE LEFT YELLOWSTONE AND HEADED SOUTH IN MONTANA. WE SPENT 3 NIGHTS IN A SMALL TOWN OF WHITE HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS. IT IS A SMALL TOWN WITH LITTLE TO KEEP IT ALIVE. THE CAMP WAS NICE BUT RIGHT NEXT TO A COW PASTURE. OREANA ENJOYED THE COWS. WE WENT TO HELENA ONE DAY AND TREATED OURSELVES TO A DINNER. I HAVE FOUND THAT MILES MEAN NOTHING. HELENA WAS 120 MILES AWAY. WHEN ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS "JUST DOWN THE ROAD".

TRAVELS ALONG THE LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL.

WE DROVE FROM EUREKA TO WHIDBEY ISLAND ON THE WASHINGTON COAST.  THE COAST WAS JUTTED AND VERY IMPRESSIVE. WENT TO SEATTLE FOR THE DAY.  SPENT MORE TIME ON PUGET'S SOUND.  DID NOT SEE ANY SEALS BUT DID SEE BALD EAGLES AND LOTS OF DEER.
FROM THERE WE DROVE TO LINCOLN ROCK STATE PARK IN WASHINGTON FOR ONE NIGHT. I WANTED TO SEE LEVENWORTH. IT WAS CALLED THE BAVARIA OF THE STATES. WE WENT TO LEVENWORTH AND ENJOYED OURSELVES VERY MUCH.  IT IS A SMALL TOWN SURROUNDED BY SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS, THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A BAVARIAN THEME. THE BUILDING ,EVERY BUILDING, IS LIKE WALKING INTO A SMALL BAVARIAN TOWN.  BANKS, MARKETS AND CHURCHES ARE PAINTED AND HAVE THE ALPS THEME.  WE SHOPPED AND STAYED FOR SOME MUSIC WITH AN OOMPA BAND.
THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO IDAHO. COEUR D'ALENE WAS A SMALL CITY SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS ON ONE SIDE AND A LAKE ON THE OTHER.  THE RV PARK WAS VERY CROWDED AND WE HAD NO CELL, AND POOR WIFI.  WHEN WE TOURED THE AREA WE LIKED IT.  LOTS OF WILDLIFE. WE WALKED AROUND BIG BULL LAKE FOR 6 MILES.  TOOK THE LAKE COEUR D'ALENE BYWAY AND THE WHITE PINE BYWAY.  THERE ARE LOTS OF TRAILS TO WALK OR BIKE.  OREGON AND WASHINGTON WERE VERY CLEAN AND HAD A SUPER RECYCLE PROGRAM, IDAHO HAD TRASH ALL OVER THE STREETS, FEW BARRELS AND FEWER RESTROOMS.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE ECO FRIENDLY ATTITUDE OF BOTH OREGON AND WASHINGTON. TO SEE A PIECE OF TRASH OFF THE HIGHWAY OR ROAD WAS RARE. EVERY PULL OVER OR REST AREA HAD BARRELS AND RECYCLE CONTAINERS.  MANY VISTA PULLOVERS HAD PORTA-POTTYS.  NEVER DID I TAKE A WALK AND SEE TISSUE DOTTING THE VISTA.  IT SEEMED THAT EVERYWHERE YOU LOOKED THERE WAS A RECYCLE BIN. PEOPLE TOOK PRIDE IN THERE STATE, THEY WERE WARM,FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL TO TRAVELERS.
AFTER IDAHO WE WENT EAST TO MONTANA.  WE STAYED AT COLUMBIA FALLS FOR ONE WEEK.  THE GLACER NATIONAL PARK WAS STUNNING. IT WAS COOL AND RAINED MOST OF THE TIME, BUT THE SITES WERE VERY MOVING.  THE "ROAD TO THE SUN" WAS MOSTLY CLOSED BUT WE DID DRIVE AS FAR AS WE COULD.  WE WENT TO GOAT LICK, BROWNING AND INTO THE BLACKFOOT NATION.  THE RIVERS WERE "BUSTIN' " FROM SPRING SNOW MELT.  RAFTING COMPANIES WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WHITE WATER. MOUNTAIN GOATS WERE DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS FOR THEIR YEARLY SALT LICK. BEARS WERE AWAKE AND REPLENISHING AFTER A LONG WINTERS NAP AND THE DOES WERE SHOWING THEIR FAWNS THE WORLD.  

REDWOOD FOREST AND THE OREGON COAST.

WE SADLY LEFT MORRO BAY AND HEADED NORTH TO THE REDWOOD FOREST. STOPPED FOR ONE NIGHT IN A SMALL CAMPGROUND,SURROUNDED BY TREES AND PONDS FULL OF FROGS LOOKING FOR MATES.IT WAS OFF THE ROAD, BUT THE NOISE OF THE CROAKING FROGS WAS DEAFENING.
WE THEN DROVE TO JOHNNY'S RV PARK. LOTS OF FULL TIMERS, BUT IT WAS KEPT UP AND CLEAN. ACROSS THE STREET WAS THE HUMBOLT BAY. OREANA LOVED IT BECAUSE SHE COULD ONCE AGAIN RUN AND CHASE THE BALL IN THE SAND.  WE LOVED IT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE NATIONAL REDWOOD FOREST.
THE ROADS WERE NARROW AND DARK,BUT STILL VERY PRETTY. YOU COULD ONLY SEE THE SUN WHEN YOU LOOKED UP. THE TREES WERE SO TALL AND LARGE IT WAS BEYOND BELIEF.  WHEN YOU READ ABOUT THE TREES IT IS MIND BLOWING THAT THEY START FROM A PINE CONE THAT IS AS BIG AS YOUR FINGERNAIL. THE SEEDS ARE THE SIZE OF TOMATO SEEDS. THERE WAS ONE TREE THAT WE STOPPED AT, IT WAS CALLED THE "PERPETUAL TREE" IT HAD BEEN THROUGH A FOREST FIRE IN 1906, LUMBERJACKS IN 1915 AND A FLOOD IN 1964. IT WAS 325 FEET TALL 58 FEET IN CIRCUMFERENCE.  IT SMELLED OF DAMP PINE AND WET LEAVES. IT WAS BOTH COMFORTING AND FRIGHTENING TO SEE. IN MANY WAYS IT WAS LIKE A CHRISTMAS, WITH ALL THE RED TREES AND THE GREEN LEAVES AND MOSS.  MANY OF THE OTHER TREES WERE COVERED WITH A GREEN SOFT LOOKING MOSS. THIS ADDED TO THE FRIGHTFUL FEELING .THERE WERE FREQUENT "GROVES" THAT YOU COULD WALK THROUGH. SOME HAD FAMOUS NAMES, LIKE THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON GROVE AND OTHERS WERE IN MEMORY OF A PERSON. THEY HAD GROVES OF TREES THAT WERE ENHANCED WITH FLOWERS AND OTHER TREES.  AFTER DRIVING THROUGH THE FOREST WE HEADED BACK TO CAMP.  THE RIDE HOME WAS ALSO EVENTFUL ,WE SAW LOTS OF DEER AND ELK. THE MALE ELK HAVE ONLY FURRY STUBS FOR HORNS,AS THEY SHED THERE HORNS EVERY FALL.
AFTER 2 DAYS AT THE RV PARK IN EUREKA WE HEADED NORTH TO MYRTLE CREEK OREGON. WHILE IN OREGON WE HIKED THE TOLEEGA FALLS AND THE WATSON FALLS, WENT TO COOS BAY AND WALKED ALONG THE CLIFFS. THE CLIFFS WERE RAGGED AND DOTTED WITH SMALL ISLANDS.  SEALS INHABITED MANY OF THE ISLANDS AS WELL AS CANADIAN GEESE AND CORMORANTS
OREGON IS VERY BEAUTIFUL, IT HAS HIGH ROLLING HILLS THAT ARE DOTTED WITH SHEEP, COWS AND HORSES. THE WILDLIFE IS PLENTIFUL AND A VERY IMPRESSIVE SITE.

MORE PICTURES

HERE IS A CONTINUATION OF PICTURES OF THE COAST AND MORRO BAY AREA.

THE CALIFORNIA COAST

WE SPENT A WEEK IN BAKERSFIELD FOR THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CAR AND RV ONLY. THERE WAS NOTHING TO SEE OR DO IN BAKERSFIELD.
WE MOVED ON THE MORRO BAY ON THE 19TH.  THIS PLACE IS WONDERFUL. IT IS A VERY ARTSY TOWN THAT REMINDS ME A GREAT DEAL OF ROCKPORT.  LOTS OF SMALL ART SHOPS,BAKERIES AND CANDY SHOPS AND GIFT SHOPS.  THE GREATEST ATTRACTION IS MORRO ROCK. IT HAS A LONG HISTORY FROM 1540.  MANY A SHIP WAS GUIDED BY MORRO ROCK, TO FIND A SAFE HARBOR.  IN THE 1950'S THEY CREATED SEVERAL JETTIES AND A ROAD TO CONNECT THE ROCK WITH THE MAINLAND.  IT HAS BEEN A TOURIST ATTRACTION SINCE.  IN THE SMALL BAY IS EASY ACCESS TO A LEASH FREE DOG BEACH, A SMALL SEA OTTER FAMILY AND A SURFER'S PARADISE.  WE HAVE SPENT LOTS OF TIME ON THE BEACH WITH OREANA AND I HAVE LOVED FEEDING THE SQUIRRELS.
WHILE HERE WE SAW THE ELEPHANT SEALS,HEARST CASTLE,DROVE UP ROUTE 1 ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST, PISMO BEACH AND BIG SUR.  WE SAW A HERD OF ZEBRA AND WE FOUND A BEACH WHERE WE GOT TO WALK AMONG THE SEALS.  THE ZEBRAS WERE A PART OF A HERD THAT BELONGED TO THE HEARST ESTATE.  WHEN HE GOT ILL HE SENT MOST OF HIS WILD ANIMAL ZOO TO OTHER ZOOS , BUT RELEASED THE ZEBRA INTO THE HILLS AROUND THE CASTLE.  THEY HAVE SINCE FLOURISHED IN THE HILLS AND ARE OFTEN SEEN GRAZING WITH COWS OR HORSES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.
THE CALIFORNIA COAST IS BREATHTAKING, THE ROAD IS NARROW WITH HAIRPIN TURNS AND MANY ELEVATIONS AND STEEP GRADES DOWN. WE STOPPED AT THE RAGGED INN FOR LUNCH.  THE MEAL WAS SUPERB,AND THE VIEWS WERE OUTSTANDING.   WE WENT TO EVERY SURROUNDING CITY AND TOWN.  THE FLOWERS WERE IN  BLOOM, THE YARDS WERE A FULL RAINBOW, OF VARIOUS MEDITERRANEAN AND CALIFORNIA  FLORA.
THE WEATHER WAS PLEASANT, WARM DURING THE DAY AND COOL NIGHTS.
IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE HERE, GAS WAS FROM $4.15 TO $5.99 A GALLON.  THE GROCERY STORES CHARGED .10C PER BAG. AND A MEDIUM PIZZA WAS $22.50.

CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME

IT WAS A WARM DAY WHEN WE LEFT YUMA. NO WIND AT ALL, SO GOING THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA DESERT WAS A SIGHT . THE DUNES WERE LIKE LARGE SWIRLS OF WHIPPED CREAM UNDISTURBED BY THE USUAL DESERT WINDS.  IT WAS A SHORT FIVE HOUR DRIVE TO OASIS PALMS RV PARK IN THERMAL CA. WE HAD STAYED THERE BEFORE, IT WAS PLEASENT SO WE DECIDED TO STAY AGAIN.  WE PASSED THE BOARDER PATROL CHECKPOINT.  WE HAVE NEVER BEEN STOPPED AND QUESTIONED. THEY TAKE ONE LOOK AT US AND WAVE US ON. WE DO NOT POSE A THREAT TO THE ILLEGALS OF THIS COUNTRY.  WE PASSED THE SALTON SEA, THE ORANGE GROVES AND THE DATE FARMS TO ARRIVE AT OUR DESTINATION.
     THE OASIS PALMS RV PARK IS CLEAN AND WELL KEPT, EACH RV SLOT HAS A CITRUS TREE OR TWO IN IT. EITHER AN ORANG TREE,GRAPEFRUIT TREE OR LEMON TREE. WE ARE TOLD FROM THE BEGINNING TO HELP OURSELVES.THE PROVIDE TEM FOOT POLES TO HELP WITH THE PICKING.
     WHEN WE FIRST ARRIVED WE PICKED A SPOT THAT SEEMED QUIET AND REMOTE.  THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A BIG ERROR.  THERE WAS A SMALL POND AND BETWEEN THE POND AND THE RV WAS A FIRE RING.  WELL MANY OF THE PATRONS LIKED TO GATHER AROUND THE FIRE,THAT ONE OLD MAN CONSIDERED HIS DUTY TO MAKE AS LARGE AS HE COULD, TO TALK,AND DRINK AND YELP.  THE FIRST TWO NIGHTS WERE OK THEN IT GOT COOL AND A BON FIRE WAS MADE.  THE SMOKE WAS SO BAD WE HAD TO CLOSE THE WINDOWS AND TAKE OFF.  WHEN WE TRIED TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT WE COULD NOT BREATH. I GOT UP AT 1 AM AND STRIPPED THE BED AND MOST OF OUR CLOTHES AND WASHED THEM. I WASHED THE RV WITH LYSOL AND FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WE CHANGED OUR SLOT.
THE AREA WAS OPEN WITH PALM TREE FARMS, OREANA AND I HAD A GREAT TIME WALKING AROUND THE AREA. SHE HAD A MEMORABLE TIME CHASING RABBITS.  WHILE IN THE AREA WE TOOK DAY TRIPS TO JOSHUA TREE PARK AGAIN AND 29 PALMS, AS WELL AS FINDING ALL THE VINEYARDS,DATE FARMS AND PRODUCE FARMS IN THE AREA. SOME OF THE PRODUCE GROWN ARE ARTICHOKES,SPINACH,BASIL,CILANTRO AND SCALLIONS.

ON THE ROAD TO YUMA

WHEN WE LEFT KINGMAN,AFTER THE COLD MONTH WE STAYED, WE TOOK THE SOUTHERN ROUTE TO THE WARMER YUMA. WE STOPPED AT LAKE HAVASU CITY FOR A SHORT STAY AND VISITED LONDON BRIDGE.  THE CITY OF LONDON SOLD THE BRIDGE BECAUSE IT WAS SINKING. THE BRIDGE WAS MADE FOR HORSE AND CARRIAGE,AND NOT FOR AUTOMOBILES. THE 200 YEAR OLD BRIDGE WAS RECONSTRUCTED IN LAKE HAVASU CITY. WE WERE ABLE TO WALK ON THE BRIDGE AND UNDER IT. THE LIGHTS ON THE BRIDGE WERE FROM MELTED CANON FROM BONOPARTE'S ARMY. IT WAS A THRILL TO WALK WHERE VICTORIA,DESRALI,AND SO MANY OTHERS WALKED.

FROM THERE WE DROVE TO YUMA.