the trek to CALIFORNIA

Sunday, June 13th:
I actually drove through 4 states today, leaving Georgia to Birmingham, Alabama, then Memphis ,Tennessee and into Arkansas. Crossed the Mighty Mississippi and camped at Village Creek SP; very groomed and lovely about 13 miles north of hwy 40 West.

Monday, June 14th- Flag Day:
Had Oreo cookies for breakfast (driver’s indulgence) and headed West on #40 again until the storm caught me. I only got past Oklahoma City and not all the way across because the rain was fierce so I stayed at Lake Eufaula SP, safe under the trees and at least it’s now cool!

Tuesday, June 15th:
Camped through big thunderstorm for most of the night and the Oklahoma City area got flash floods and needed many people rescued so were lucky to stop when we did. Started early back onto #40 West to Texas and Amarillo. Stopped at the gorgeous redrock carved visitor center and got directions to Palo Duro Canyon SP, the grand canyon of Texas. It is 120 miles long and 800ft deep so a miniature of the CO version but just as colorful. The sagebrush, longhorn cattle and a couple of buffalo in the rustic corral was surrounded by juniper trees. “Palo Duro” means hardwood in Spanish. This is a perfect spot for families to camp and hike with many levels and trails, biking and equestrian trails also. It was very beautiful and comfortable. They have a grand “Texas” musical show Tues thru Sat at an ampitheater in the campground that is spectacular! Cowboys up on the cliff with an American flag and fireworks, then a cast of about 100, singers, dancers and horses put on a dynamite show, with a big fireworks display at the end….not to be missed and includes steak dinner in the pavilion if you choose.

My brother Bruce called me today and was rather “down” about his upcoming birthday. I pretended to be in Tennessee, headed north to throw him off to the route I’m really taking to get to CA by his birthday on the 28th; and I acted rather nonchalant about his turning 60. I talked with younger brother Nat to plan my arrival at their house in Petaluma by Friday, the 26th so I can go to the state fair with Olive that w/e…it will be great fun.

Thursday, June 17th:
Drove from Amarillo all the way through NM (I’ll be back) and drove through the Petrified Forest Natnl Park, to visit my 2nd Natn’l Park, did not stay…very desolate and hot. So I went on to the Kaibab Natn’l Forest, about 40miles south of the Grand Canyon, AZ and about 4 miles north of the town of Williams. It has been preserved as an original Route 66 town so was humming with people and great little diners, vintage car exhibits and memorabilia. The campground was in a cool shady pine forest and Lake Kaibab was small and oblong, full of trout. There was a forest fire about 60 miles to the east so for 3 days, from 8am to 8pm small helicopters swooped down about every half hour to suck up 1000 gallons of water to use on the fire. It was noisy but really fun to sit by the lake and watch them work. I rested there for 3 days after the 12 hour drive to AZ.

Sunday, June 20th:
Up into Nevada; driving through the central desert is a “Twilight Zone” experience….260 miles of sagebrush and dry land with huge gray rock mountains. I really did begin to fantasize that I would be driving through that desert for the rest of my life! Had to stay at a Best Western in Tonopah, NV but it was worth the money to get out of the heat and watch TV for a night.

Monday, June 21st (it’s summer!):
On to Carson City and the Lake Washoe SP campground below Reno. There the sagebrush and Juniper and whatever else makes the air very pungent and aromatic..loved the smell but sneezed a lot! We had gorgeous sunsets and very chilly nights, peace and quiet and a good rest.

Wed, June 23rd:
Got to Nevada City to visit my good friends, Marian and Steve. What a great little town that is; wonderful galleries, a princess and fairy shop (amazing), 3 theaters, and good eats. They live in a lava flow canyon above town, such a nice woodsy neighborhood and a house that Steve is renovating to be very pretty and livable. Dori was ecstatic to be able to run with their dog, Luna in the back yard and to chase her “green bone” with no leash on.

Friday, June 25th:
Arrived in Petaluma to my brother, Nathaniel’s home. So great to see him, Jeanette, and niece, Olive. We fit the RV into their driveway and it’s comfortable, cools way down at night. Saturday we all went to the fair, a revelation for Northern CA; you would think you were in Iowa with all the cowboys, livestock and carnival. We watched the little kids chase baby pigs and try to ride sheep. It was a very nice day.

Sunday, June 27th:
Today was the big surprise party for my brother Bruce’s 60th. And he was very surprised! Nathaniel told him that he had to sit on the sofa with his eyes closed while he brought the gift in because it was too big to wrap. I sat in front of him, Vicki, and Maya when he opened his eyes….it was a very fun time with friends and good food. Also called son Nick to wish him happy birthday today. I am staying in No CA for a week to see brothers and their families. Spent a day in San Francisco to welcome son Brett and his wife, Bree to their new apt. We walked around the city past the famous Lombard St to the Buena Vista café at the Marina for lunch, and staggered through Chinatown to get back on BART to Oakland….it was a memorable day.

Up the West Coast to Washington:
Sunday, July 4th:
I sadly left my great brothers, family and 2 wonderful nieces to start the drive up to Seattle. Tonight camping in Redwoods SP along the “Avenue of the Giants”. If there has been a “theme” of my experience so far, it is the glory of TREES! It would be a huge understatement to say that the views and variety of trees in our country is a treasure.