Redding to Grant's Pass

We pack up and move on our way again today with a sort of early start hitting the road around 9.30 am and heading north for Oregon up past Mount Shasta.  We have enjoyed North California but will be happy to make our way north into Oregon and Washington to catch our tour & cruise - something different for us.

 They know how to build bridges and new highways over here......... Kapiti could learn a few things!

Love the bear sign........

Mount Shasta south side - we are heading north but the temperature is still well into the eighties - nice.




We haul up over the mountains with a couple of stops for lunch breaks etc and roll down into Oregon - the scenery is changed and green like NZ.

View as we roll down into Oregon.

We find our camp and have some fun trying to get into the assigned space, eventually giving up and detaching the trailer then moving to another site.
When we finally plug in, the power shorts out but fortunately the guy at the camp is familiar with this and tells us to pick up a plug down the road ($9.54) and he helps us rewire the new plug.

The burnt out culprit.

Finally we settle in - it is now 4 pm and we unwind before Daryl reminds me he is taking me out for dinner for my birthday.

We head for the Taprock Northwest Grill where we had dinner a couple of times in 2009.  We manage to find the place easy enough and get a table outside on the river like before.

















We have our pic taken in the same place as 2009 of course..... and then have to pose with the bears too.

The set up and art work around this place is fantastic - the food is a little more bar type now but still okay.

We wander around the area for a while and then drive through the original town center before heading back to camp.



















The view from our camper as we are camp right on the Rouge River & Daryl relaxing - on facebook of course!

Redding - Lake Shasta & Whiskytown

We stay in Redding and decide to have a look around after breaky.  We have heard of the Sundial Bridge and go to check this out first.

This has a glass surface with a tall sundial on one end - good nesting place for the swallows.










Next we decided to cruise up around Lake Shasta area as we have heard so much about this area and had only a quick stop in 2009.

House boats for hire

The water levels have dropped even more since then, which takes away some of the beauty that would have been there
when the water was up to the top.  You can clearly see the water line in the photos.

Bridge Bay Marina

Next stop was the Shasta caverns but we decided not to take the tour and moved on heading back to Redding where we call in to Bridge Bay and then out to Whiskeytown National Recreational Area.  And you thought it was another whiskey bar!

 Here we pick up another National parks pass for the year as we will be visiting some in Alaska & on the way up, so much more economical to buy the annual pass.

It's 3.30 pm and we have limited time but get directions to a few points in the park.

First we head over the dam opened by JFK and visit Cherry Beach (which of course is a lake).  Nice area with lifeguard on duty, hire kayaks, paddle boards etc.

Cherry Beach

 

Next we head out around the 299 and to Crystal Creek waterfall which was one of the smaller ones but we are running out of time.  Very clear cool water and a tranquil spot - there was no one else there at all. 

We both have a paddle before heading back to camp to sort out dinner and our next stop - Grant's Pass.

On the way, we pick up some swordfish for tea - something new for us but made very nice for steaks on the BBQ.

Sacramento to Redding

It is funny seeing Hydrangeas & Agapanthas in flower around the camp knowing they have all died off at home.

Today we hit the road & oh yeah it's that time of the year again.

Anyway we head off following the GPS and then decide we do not want to go the I5, we want to take the 99, so we take an off ramp & turn around to go back to the turn off for the 99.

Hard to tell in this pic but the plane flying so close to freeway

Good choice Mr D, the road is good and not as busy, a lot more scenery and interesting sights on this route.




Highway 99 lined with flowering Oleanders - very pretty and on both sides in some places.

We stop at Chico for lunch parking in the Lowe's car park and boiling some eggs up for fresh ham & egg sandwiches, orange & lemonade and free wifi from Lowe's - what more could you want.  

Naughts & crosses anyone - do you think the pilot was bored?

Moving on we are heading for Redding, our next stop for two nights before leaving California.

We arrive at camp, and hop out to realise the weather is a lot hotter up this way, which we were not expecting heading north.  Setting up we check and the dial is nearly on 100 F - the air con is the first to go on!!!

After checking out the camp we head out to pick up something for dinner, sockeye salmon and fresh salad. When we get back the shade is just reaching the RV - small mercies and we crack a beer for a relaxing evening in camp - can't beat it some days.

Nice spot - very good camp, Redding Premier RV Resort.

Nice relaxing evening with my darling - thanks for making my day so special. xxxx

Bakersfield - Eagles Concert

Duane gave us a fabulous wedding present of tickets to see the Eagles live, so today we headed south back to Bakersfield to meet up with him for the concert.
Daryl & I shared the four hour drive south down the I-5 which is very dry and not the most interesting road in America.

Arriving at Duane's in time for snacks and drinks with Duane and Dianna before we head out to see the Eagles.  I had (most sober one) to drive Duane's truck into the concert.....when we get in there parking is at a premium and we do the change driver's routine at an intersection - talk about musical seats as Daryl hops out to let Duane out of the back before hoping in to the back seat & I climb over the front seats while Duane runs around and hops in the driver's seat - bit of a laugh.

Massive stadium and very full - time to pick up a t-shirt and some beers before heading up to our seats.

Never seen the Men's line soooo long.... a lot of hopping up & down going on!

Great concert, great music & great company - what more could you want - thanks Duane for a fantastic wedding present.  After the concert we hit a couple of bars and then head home where we make some toastie sandwiches (a new experience for Dianna) and watch the start of the doco on the Eagles before crashing (around 3am we think).

Next day we head back the 300 miles to Mark J RV Park in Sacramento and have an early night!

P.S.   Found these for you Duane.

Sacramento - Our week here so far

So here we are and no matter where you are in the world, you still need to do the house work and the washing! After completing our chores......in the afternoon we headed over to Folsom Historic District as the neighbours had been down there and thought we would enjoy it.  Very nice area and well set up in theme but not so crowded as not a usual tourist place.

 We found a bakery for lunch (compulsory Macaroons) and having finished poking around the shops, went looking for the brewery we had been told about across the river, where it just wouldn't be right if we didn't enjoy a bear for Thirsty Thursday.

Over this time we have been sorting our cruise to Alaska - now I know why you use a travel agent!!!
Anyhow, we have booked a 5 day land tour starting @ Fairbanks and through Denali National Park, Mt Whitney and a few other places before heading to Whittier (Anchorage) where we board our ship for a 7 day cruise down to Vancouver.  We are looking forward to our Alaskan Honeymoon:).

Following day was another day of jobs with the car being serviced and so we went for a long walk to some shops and checked out what they had picking up some clothes for the kids & looking around the Home Depot for some time until the car was ready.

Daryl taking a stress test....

Saturday and it is Memorable weekend here - there is a Jazz Music Festival in Old Sacramento & so we head down to check this out, (but first have to check out a local car show).  Most bands are closed off and you have purchase tickets to enter the areas, plus food, plus drinks, plus merchandise etc etc etc.  We opt to walk around the area and check things out listening to the music and settle for lunch over looking the river - coconut prawns & calm chowder, yum.

After lunch we walk over the Tower Bridge & spot the State Capitol down town so head that way and check it out also.  

View from State Capitol back to Tower Bridge

Some very ornate rooms.

Daryl posing with Arnie.

Leaving here we wander into town and see some great old buildings like this church - where we saw our third wedding for the day.

We head back into Old Sac and find some bands playing in the street so hang around for a few numbers as they were pretty good.

 And of course, Daryl sniffs out another car show....

Still in Sacramento, yesterday we spent the afternoon with Starry Malcolm& Linda Malcolm in Tracy, it was a great catch up, they even feed & watered us which was totally unexpected & and muchly appreciated, it was great to see Starry's toys & projects and to see what they have achieved around their property since we last visited 3 years ago, thanks guys for your hospitality.
Off to the Eagles concert with Duane Jones tomorrow night, then we head North.