Day 19 - 25 - Our 2012 Trip to Oregon & Back

August 22 – 28, 2012

This was another great week of finding new places to go, new lighthouses to see, and old places to eat – yes, we went back to the Bridgewater Fish House for a lunch. 

Saturday we were off to Coos Bay again.  It was the day of the Wild Blackberry Festival and we wanted to see what they had.  We left the house early and drove straight through this time.  The festival was small, but nice.  One of the people there asked where the blackberries were.  They were told that it was too early for most of them on the coast.  There were some pies, syrup, and jellies, but not much more.  A lot of crafters were there and we looked at everything, twice or three times (because I had to go to the bathroom and it was on one end).

We were looking for a small foot stool because one of our broke.  We looked in all the Antique stores, and found one in the same store we found the breadbox, from the same lady.  Vonna really likes her stuff!  We looked around some more, and decided to go the lighthouse.

We passed the town that Vonna wanted to stop at, Charelystown, and off to the lighthouse.  We didn’t want to walk too much, Vonna’s legs have been bothering her, so we by passed the Gardens and stopped at a couple of the places on the road that overlooked the ocean.  The first place was overlooking seals called Simpson Reef Overlook.  It was really nice.  There were a lot of people there, and some had setup telescopes.  I had bought a pair of binoculars and could see everything.  We took lots of pictures.

Cape Arago Lighthouse

We stopped at another location and we could see the lighthouse, Cape Arago Lighthouse, and ocean.  There was a lot going on there too.  We took pictures and headed back to town.  It was a nice day and very sunny.

We stopped at a couple of stores.  One had a large sale on fishing goods.  One of these days I may take up fishing again.  Vonna found a couple of sales.  At one place she was looking at something and the lady said that it was going on sale the next day and gave her 50% off.  She talked some more and bought a couple of items.  She is quite the shopper.

On the way home we stopped at the Pizza Hut and got dinner.  It was good for a change.  We had a great day.

Sunday was a stay at home day.  We always have a lot of fun, doing everything.  It clouded up in the afternoon and we were getting rain most of the afternoon and into the night.  It was the first day of our trip to get the rain.  It was nice to hear it on the roof when we were going to bed.  And Vonna said – no leaks, meaning the new vent that I put over our bed.  We had a good night’s rest.

As we drive, Vonna takes some
Pictures of the road.

The next morning Vonna got up and stepped next to her seat at the table and I could her her say that it was wet.  Not a good morning.  We had the leak fixed before we left home, but it is leaking again.  We have had this problem since the rig was new, but hard to find when there is no rain.  I got upset at everyone, took pictures, said lets go home, and finally Vonna settled me down and said let’s not let a little rain ruin a great trip.

Tuesday was our day to get ready for travel.  We cleaned the rig, and did the laundry – 6 loads – and did some shopping to get stuff we needed – groceries, etc.  We are really getting lazy.  Reading during day, relaxing, eating meals, and playing games at night.  Talking to the neighbors.  This was a nice place to visit, but Vonna is hoping more open space at next location.  She is really tired of trees.  This reminds me a lot of Crestline, where my grandparents lived when I was growing up.  I hope the next place has a lot more openness.  We will see.

 Until then, we are looking forward to hearing from all of you, and we think of you all often.  Debbie was in the hospital and I know that it was hard for Vonna not to be there.  A part of traveling is not being everywhere you want to be.  I look forward to the rest of our trip.  Let’s pray for no rain or just a little rain, maybe one day a month.

Day 11 - 18 - Our 2012 Trip to Oregon & Back

August 14 - 21, 2012

It has been about a week since we wrote on here.  The weather is nice, but a little more sun would be nice.  It gets down to 50 at night and a high of 65 to 73 or so.  Sun has been coming out in the afternoon for a couple of hours.  A few sprinkles, but no rain.  One of our neighbors who comes here 6 or 7 times a year said that he has never been here that it didn’t rain at least 2 or 3 days during the two weeks they spend here.

We received a nice note from my sister on the last blog about places to go.  We did go to Coos Bay, but never got to the gardens.  We shopped, and even bought a couple of things, and it was 5 before we knew it.  Hope we get to try it the next time we go, but we have been having a great time.

Tippi & Clohe on beach

Vonna on Beach

First thing on Wednesday – clean-up day.  We worked on the trailer, cleaning and vacuuming, putting things away.  I took the washing to the Laundromat.  By noon we were finished enough that we decided that the sun was out enough that we loaded the dogs and drove to the beach.  It was nice to be there.  Vonna was getting a little claustaphobic with all of the trees in the campground, so we drove as far as we could go, and walked over a levy alongside of the river to the sand and ocean.  It was really nice, except foggy.  The dogs loved it, I put there long leashes on and they were running and playing.  Vonna and I looked for rocks, shells, and small pieces of wood.  It was a great couple of hours.  There were quite a few people out there, even one or two surfers.

On the way back had to put some fuel in the truck.  It is really hard to get used to sitting in the truck waiting for someone to fill it up.  You are not allowed to self-serve yourself in Oregon.  Seems really strange after so many years without someone else filling up.  I was even asked if the windows needed to be washed.

We went back to old town in Florence again to look at a couple of things.  We forgot the garden flag, and Vonna wants one that looks like the ocean, or area at least.  The sun was shining, we found a place to eat.  Very nice afternoon.

Lighthouse on way to Coos Bay 

On Friday we decided to go to Coos Bay.  It was a nice day, a little overcast, but nice.  We stopped on the way at a couple of the pull outs overlooking the ocean.  At one there was a couple and Vonna started talking to them.  After we got their life’s story we found out that they were staying at a cabin in Florence that belonged to her sister.  They stopped at an estate sale and said that the house was for sale and they were thinking of moving from Eureka.  The house was about 2400 sq. feet and under $250,000.00 all custom and flyer made it look nice.  Anyway, just thought I would fill you in what can happen when you stop to take a few pictures.

Coos Bay

We stopped in Coos Bay, walked around to all the shops, and found at least one thing that was really nice and we both thought we couldn’t do without.  A nice bread keeper that will help keep somethings off the counter.   We found some friendly people, talking and visiting.  Most were very helpful on places to see and ways to get there.  We ate at a small little fish market, 2 tables, and had a nice fish meal.

Then we headed for the gardens that Michele had told us about.  We saw an interesting town with a few shops and by the time we looked into them it was a little after 5 and we decided it was time to head back.  We will have to look at the gardens next time.  No way can we see everything in one day.

We drove back and it was a finish to a great day, a great week.

Saturday we went into Florence to pick up a few items.  I don’t know what we do with everything we get.  Most of the stuff is groceries, so maybe I need to cut back on the food.  We spend the rest of the day relaxing.

Sunday was a really relaxing day.  We both read most of the day.  We had signed up for a dinner and had to be there at 4.  We showered before we went, thought it was time.  Shaved and cleaned up a little.  We enjoyed the talk and dinner.  We sat with five other couples, all on the road full time except for us.  It was really interesting to talk to them and hear all about their travels, problems, and experiences.

Great Day at Heceta Lighthouse

Monday was a nice day.  We woke up to sunshine.  A very nice day.  We decided to go to the Heceta Lighthouse.  We enjoyed the drive, and took a walk up to the lighthouse even though it is being refurbished.  It was about a mile round trip, uphill and then down.  Loved the walk, took pictures, and enjoyed being outside, looking at what God has created.

View from walk way

Walking up to lighthouse

Light keepers house

Lighthouse is being refurbished

Not another picture

She can find a gift shop everywhere

We drove on to a small town north of the Lighthouse, and stopped to look at the shops and eat lunch in a fish market.  This one was larger than the one in Coos Bay, had about 6 or 7 tables inside and some outside.  We had a great meal, all fresh fish, and finished looking at the town – took about 30 minutes.  Not a big town.

View from small town

We stopped at the Sea Lion Caves again.  The sea lions are gone for a while, so we didn’t take the tour.  Vonna was looking for ear rings.  I will stop here to tell you what we talk about on our trip.  There was a lady, maybe 35 or so, with an older couple, maybe 75-80.  We decided that the lady was taking very good care of the couple, making sure that when they crossed the road that they waited for the traffic – she held them back with her hand.  She held the door open when they went into the store and out.  She drove and made sure that they were taken care of.  Vonna said that she was either their daughter or granddaughter.  I told her that she picked them up and was going to steal all of their money and that they didn’t have a family to take care of them. 

I’m sure that Vonna was right, but we have to use our imagination.  We talk a lot about people as we drive.  We stop and talk to people in shops, other campers, and just enjoy our time out.  So if you see us out and about, you can make up a story about us.  I know that we are not as busy this trip, but we are enjoying ourselves.  We are both having a great time and know that we are going to have many more.

Vonna Painting Corner Studio

Today is Tuesday, the 21^st of August.  I was going to get on before today and finish.  I will publish in by tomorrow.  Time flies when you’re having fun!

I will try to get back to this blog in the next few days.  We are here for another week or so.

Day 5 - 10 - Our 2012 Trip to Oregon & Back

 August 8-13, 2012

Vonna taking pictures

We woke up early today, ready to hit the road.  I reached up to close our vent, and what do you know, it was gone.  It broke off sometime while we were here.   We ate breakfast and off I went to Grants Pass to the RV Supply Store.

Again

It was about 15 miles.  I got there and found out that there are 4 different types.  I had to go back to take the old one off, and then back to the RV Supply.  Brought it back.  I was up on the roof of the trailer and Vonna was inside trying to figure out how to get the new one on.   We finally got it on, but broke a piece off.  We closed it up and I needed a drill motor (I forgot and left it at home) and a small screw.

The river along road

Who is the Baldheaded fellow
changing the tire?

Anyway, we needed to be out of the campsite at 1 pm, and we finally left at 12:45.  We are driving along and Vonna says she saw something flying off the top of the trailer.  I stopped and the new part was still on there, I bunged the vent down so it wouldn’t lift anymore.

We drive and the roads were up and down through the mountains.  We were talking and having a great ride.  We heard a bang and the car next to me pointed toward the trailer.  Yes, we had another flat, or blowout this time.  We were 4 miles from Myrtle Creek.  I had to get out and change it.  Not too hard, but we were on the side of the road this time.  I finally got the spare on and off we go, slow but surely.  I looked at Map Quest and the next Les Schabe was in Myrtle Creek.  There were two men on the side of the building, the waved me to pull up there, I got out pointed at the blown out tire in the back seat and got two new tires.  We shouldn’t have any more problems.

Look Close - Elk

Bridge going onto 101

We stopped to eat lunch at McDonalds, and walk the dogs.  Then off for the rest of our trip to South Jetty Campsite in Florence, OR.  We got in about 6 or so and got the trailer set-up and sat down to relax by 8.  It was a long day.  South Jetty is a nice park.  Lots of trees, but I know that Vonna was counting on being closer to the ocean.

Pulling into South Jetty
Campground

We got up and had a small breakfast.  I told Vonna I want to get into town to get some tools and screws to fix the vent.  Before I left I went into the bath room and opened the vent and what do you know, it was also broke off.

There is the bald guy again

I went to True Value, got some things, asked where the nearest RV Supply was and headed there.  Found the RV Supply at the end of our road, and got another vent for the bathroom.  He asked if I was sure about the type and I said yes.

Couldn't have done it without Vonna

Got back to the trailer, got everything ready, remove the stuff from the bathroom so Vonna wouldn’t have to and climbed up on the roof again.  Went to do the hard one first, fixing the broken one.  Remember I said that Vonna saw something fly off the roof?  Well I know what it was, the part that I was going to drill and put a screw in to fix.  It was gone. 

I finished the bathroom in case I needed something else and then back to the RV Supply Store, and buy a new Vent for the bedroom.  The screen was broke in there and I couldn’t find a replacement anyway, so I guess all things happen for the best.  Finally, $100 later, at 2 pm, I climb off the roof and clean everything up.  But we have two new vents.

Including Alan's Kitchen

Camp is set-up

With Peace Signs

Even on the dogs' pen

We finish there rest of the afternoon setting up our campsite – empting the truck and getting stuff out from the storage under the trailer.  Everything looks good and we are ready to cook dinner.  It was getting late and we were tired, or at least I was after a few hours in the sun on top of the trailer.  Don’t know where my son, grandson, or brother-in-law is when I have work to do.  I’m not used to this working stuff.  We are able to get TV here, so we watch the Olympics and relaxed after dinner.

On river town of Florence

Bridge into town

Florence

Lunch at Bridgewater

First buy in Florence

Friday we decided to go into town, in fact we were going to go for a long drive, and we saw the riverside Old Town of Florence and decided to stop there first.  It was about 11 when we stopped and by 3 I told Vonna that I was getting hungry.  We were going into the shops and having a great time looking and reading my book.  It was fun.  Vonna had heard in one of the shops about the Bridgewater Restaurant so we decided to try it.  It was great.  We both had seafood and everything was very good.   We will go back before we leave the area.

After shopping at Sea Lion's Cave

At Sea Lion's Cave

After we finished shopping we drove around town and then out to the Sea Lion Caves, but it was too late to walk down to them.  Maybe another day.  We did have time to look in the gift shop.  By the time we got into town it was getting late, and we were tired, so we didn’t stop at the store as planned, but decided to go tomorrow.

On 101 heading back to town

Saturday morning we got up, relaxed, ate breakfast, loaded the dogs and headed for the beach.  We drove and it started getting cloudy (it is about 3 miles to the beach) and windy, and colder.  There are sand dunes and we found a parking lot.  I told Vonna to wait and I would walk to see how far the beach was.  I was going to take a picture and send to her to see.

Vonna's Family Lake

Well, I walked and walked a little farther.  Up a hill and down, hearing the wind and ocean, and then I think just up one more hill.  I can see the water, but not the beach.  I reach for my camera, and I had left it in the car.  Oh well.  It is cold and windy, and I don’t need to see it anyway.  I walked back and we got to talk and laugh about it, but decided to wait for a warmer day to go back.

Sunday at Ocean

We drove into town.  It was sunny and clear.  We stopped at the grocery store, which also has a Starbucks, and bought some groceries.  Back home, had a BBQ, Pork Chops.  It was a nice day, full of fun, and we are all set for tomorrow.

Both Sunday and today have been lay-back days.  We had BBQ’ed steak on Sunday, spaghetti on Monday, Biscuits and gravy for breakfast, cottage cheese and fruit for lunch.  We have had time to just relax and catch up on some nice relaxing retirement time. 

Vonna is working at the table.  Her favorite place.  We both read a little, do our devotions, and just talk.  We talked about where we would like to go while in this area.  We plan to stay near the campsite most of the time.  We will visit a couple of light houses and go south to Coos Bay.

Vonna is also going to finish Mikaylah’s book that they started 5 or 6 years ago.  We want to get it published before her anniversary.  We have things to do, but just enjoying our time together.  I will write more over the next week.  We are really enjoying our trip, and enjoying the cooler weather.  Enjoy the summer and we will talk soon.

Day 3 & 4 - Our 2012 Trip to Oregon & Back

August 6 & 7, 2012

Leaving Red Bluff this morning.  It has been great visiting with Matt, Elissa, Jason, Ethan, and Timothy.  But it is time to move on to our next adventure.

We left our campsite at about 10 am or so.  Everything was great, the beautiful mountains, trees, rivers, and much more.  We were enjoying the drive and every thing was going great.  We came to some steep downgrades which worried Vonna a little.

Shasta Mountain

Another Mountain

Just driving

We got to Valley of the Rogue State Park, and had no problems.  We were a couple of hours early getting there and had to wait at the rest area before we could get in.  The campsite was great.  We had full hook-up and it was $24.00 per night.  Well kept up, and bathrooms were nice.

Just a side note - it is something that the State of California can't keep their parks open, most don't have hook-ups, and cost from $35 to $50 per night.  Maybe they should talk to Oregon about how to keep the park system going.

I got the BBQ out and our chairs.  Didn't want to get everything out for 2 days.  Anyway, the BBQ had a leak, and gas was coming out.  I looked at it and the piping was rusted out.  We decided to cook the salmon in a pan, so I got the stove out and set it up.  Everything turned out great.  We relaxed the rest of the evening.

Another shot of Shasta

Was almost the only picture that
Vonna got of the river

The next morning, after breakfast, we were off to Grants Pass.  We looked around downtown and then off to Staples, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, and Safeway.  Grants Pass is a nice, freindly town.  It was hot, but seems cooler than it was.

Here I am cooking

This one showed the trailer

This is Tippi

This is Chloe'

All finished with breakfast
and ready for town

Bought a new BBQ at Wal-Mart, along with a few other things, had a Mocha Frap Lite at Starbucks (which is at Safeway), bought some groceries at Safeway, and headed back to the trailer.  Grants Pass is a really a nice place, would like to spend more time, but two night is it.  Tomorrow we leave for South Jetty Campsite in Florence, Oregon.

Cooking outside again.
Leaving tomorrow.