Here is Terry taking on the role of navigator. Looking a maps and charting the course. He is looking at a map of California.  We are playing all this by the seat of our pants on how to proceed into the grat state of CA. 
Now while in the passengers seat if he could just tel left from right on a map, we might get somewhere. You think I'm kidding. We yell A LOT at each wrong turn but at the end of the day all is forgiven. The scarry thing is he is the brains of this outfit.  I am going to catch hell for this post. That is if he reads it. HI Terry. He is on a walk on the beach, right now. 

 

Crossing the bridge in Brookings overlooking the harbor.
About Brookings-Harbor
Nestled on the southernmost Oregon Coast, at the heart of America’s Wild Rivers Coast, between the breathtaking scenery of the Oregon Coastal Range and the Pacific Ocean, the community of Brookings-Harbor offers an incomparable quality of life. 
It is a place where wild and scenic rivers flow through towering forests, a place where you can discover a quiet waterfront town overlooking majestic ocean vistas, and a place where you will find some of the best weather and recreation on the west coast. 
As the largest community in Curry County, with a population of approximately 14,000, spread over a fifteen mile long bench of land along the Pacific Ocean, the Brookings-Harbor area’s pristine, rugged, accessible and picturesque coastline, natural beauty, mild year-round climate and cultural activities attracts people from throughout the United States.

Views from Harris State Park where we are camped on the front inside lane with a great southern exposure for the satellite and a view across the drive of the ocean. The pics are from the lower drive to the beach in the park. $17 a day now in Oct. The Port of Brookings Harbor has 150 sites on the dock jetty, but want $30 for them. See the link for that and much more about the port.

When we came through Gold Beach, it was still foggy, so we just keep on driving. The day turned out spectacular, no wind, partly cloudy and about 65. It might go back to rain tomorrow, but for today it was a great day to be on the Oregon coast. Many would say any day, it is great to be here in Brookings, OR. We went for a drive and found this to be a big retirement location with many small modular homes. The literature talks about how warm it is here year round, and with all the flowers growing commercially, that must be a reason for the retirees. 

5 PM: Not a breath of air moving and I have the 5er door open with bright sun all around. What a change from yesterday with gale winds and driving cold rain up the coast at Cape Blanco and Fort Orford.

A map for reference as we go along. We don't want YOU to get lost as to where we are. Only we shoud be the lost ones.

The scarry part will be heading over into CA, will we need pasports?

 Had to add this shot from the overlook at the campground.

Tuesday  Oct. 2

The immigration control station at the California border on HW 101.  I mean fresh fruit inspection station...  They didn't ask for our passports. But right on down the road diesel was running $3.30 and in OR. It was $3.05 Talk about a foreign country. We will be in this land of plenty, for some time so I need, to just get used to it. I might even come to like it, do you, think?

We stopped for tourist info. in Crescent City at the C of C and the  State and National Redwoods Parks  info building. For more info visit the northerncalifornia.net site. They all gave us folders and advised us we were crazy thinking we would find sunny campgrounds anywhere in the area connected with the county or state. I had gathered that form the web but wanted to hear it from them, and also, just say doesn't anyone, in OR or northern CA like the sun? Most if not all non commercial campgrounds have NEVER seen the sun. But in their defense I can understand the reason. The wind and rain without cover as we found at Cape Blanco would be devastating. And in the Redwoods the inspiring aspect, of it all, is overwhelming.

So what did we do? We took the advice at the C of C and went next door and asked the rate to stay on the shore at Shoreline RV Campground. Note they don't call this a resort, and the price was right at $20.90 total with full hookups. A little rundown but they have big sign about under renovation. 

Terry went for a walk from our campsite and found Battery Point Lighthouse at Crescent City.

So what do you do when you are in Redwoods country. You take a drive to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
We stopped at Simpson Reed Grove. All I can say is it maks a person feel very humble to visit nature in all its glory.

More shots would not do any more justice. You need to be here to have this special place have its effect on you.

We explored on down the road to Klamath, CA to see what is ahead. The coast is more and more of great views of this indescribable coast. Looking to see what Eureka is like. Think that would be a good next stop?

Tomorrow we will get up and see what we want to do. All we can do in this life is, wake up and go on, till we can't!
We do not plan to take HW 299 as everyone sez this is not a good road. Futher south we are looking at US HW 20 to get back east to Lake Tahoe, and our goal to take US 395 south through central CA. 

Wednesday  Oct. 3

Let me tell you, we don't mess around when we get the bug. 
Wrong bug, but the bug to travel, way to much in one day. 

Many more Redwoods all along the route, and up and down hilly, OH, MY.

A few stands selling carved wood. Lots of bigfoot carvings for sale.

We went from Cresent City to Clearlake Oaks. Way down HW 101 and east on US 20. Why we did this I will be asking myself for days to come.  Now after we have landed the next question is where to next. I told Terry to determine that aspect as I'm tired. 

At the Lake County Visitor  center they sent us to B& B camoground on a point of Claer lake. 
Tight fit and a dry camp, but we are here, and now, trying to get a satellite sig out of here. 
It should be pointing up toward the far side above the trees, (SE) but it is try to point north then west. It is being a FRED today. 

I am doing this without satellite sig so will upload later. Not a happy camper without my satellite. We even moved 10 feet forward, and it is still just going round and round looking in all the wrong directions.

Thursday  Oct. 4

We never did get satellite on Wednesday. We had a breakfast of Cheerios,  and ready to get back on the road. The road to Williams from Clearlake Oaks was winding and narrow with a couple of long stops for construction. 
But we were not in a hurry so took it in stride. 

From Williams on HW 20 across the Central Valley, which is so very flat with all knids of kind of crops. 
Many what we think are rice fields. We stopped for fuel in Colusa and the attendant said they had no restroom... And I said, I am out there pumping big bucks into my diesel at $3.25 a gal. and you tell my you have no restroom. She decided to tell me how to find it in the back room real fast. Terry also went in and used it without an argument. Sometimes the customer is right. Next down the street I found we could pull in and out easily in small shopping lot to get a Burger King lunch stop. I knew, I would not skip a lunch break this day, as yesterday we didn't eat till we stopped for the night as that was not good. My blood sugar was not in a happy place missing lunch, and the stress of the road driving.

At Grass Valley we looked at the map and thought HW 174 (not shown) would be a shorter road to I-80. It goes from Grass Valley to Colfax. It was shorter, but a big time narrow winding road. It got us there, and way up I-80 we wondered how HW 20 would have been as it interescted with 80.  Another big day of hitting the road. Up and down and switchbacks. Up and and over Donner Pass on I-80. 
Just short of NV was this, on the other side of the road, a huge new facility to make sure, all are good to get into the California land of wonder. 

On the other side is this lonely sign... Welcome to Nevada... Where they will let you gamble it all away. 
We first stopped at a county park just south of Reno on US 395 but, it was hilly and large pines and NO sun. 

We asked the county park ranger where we could go as it was windy and the big sign on US HW 395 said we were prohibited from taking that road to Carson City. The ranger said take the old HW 395 south and all will be ok, and to try the state park, just 8 miles down the road from the county park, which we did, and stopped at for the night. 

It is  Washoe Lake SP south of Reno and north of Carson City.  Check out this great camping location when going to Reno. Terry is happy we have landed and he knows, I will be happy with sun and satellite access. Look at all the sun to the southwest!

Full sun and exposure to the south except for this sort of hill south of us. See behind Terry. 
This shot was earlier when we were just setting up and leveling the 5er. 
Terry is pressing the extend the leg motor button.
Now inside as it makes a difference if you not level to get connected. 
Datastorm is still searching and has found DirecTV but no 89W internet YET.
Hold it, as I am doing this blog post the D3 controller found it. WOW. 

We are now thinking about staying right here for the weekend ($14) (it is Thursday after all)  with great level, sunny sites with a view of the lake to the west. . We could explore the area. When was the last time time we did that, (without rushing down the HW). There is Virginia City (the National Historic District) area with a loop drive from Carson City though it and back to Reno.  See the map above.  Might be the thing to do. We if we try might even find a casino buffet in the process in the area. 

Friday  Oct. 5

Boy did things work out just right... We landed here between Reno and Carson City at the State Park and last night it snowed. If it snowed here, how much they must have gotten up on Donner Pass?  We can look at the hills all around and it has been snowing on and off all day. We were pushing it and hadn't followed the weather that much, but we lucked out when we came over the big pass yesterday. Now by watching the weather channel we see this is a storm that will pass on Sunday, and be nice here, but move on into the plains. By going south in US HW 395 we see we still two or more big passes, so will watch the weather and time it a little better. 
We went into Carson City turns out it is only just over the hill from here. About 8 miles. Went to  WalMart for food to fix Chicken catcciatora stew and also stopped and got propane ($2.99 a gal) and diesel for ($3.05).  That was an experience at this Arco gas station. My debit card wouldn't work at the pump and when I went inside the sign on the door sez cash or debit cards only. No credit cards.  I gave the guy my debit card and he asked if I will be pumping more than $80. I said I didn't think so. They said they wanted to debit any amount I say from the debit card and if I don't use it all they will give cash back.  He ran the card and said I was good to pump $98 worth. Terry was doing the pumping while I waited in the store. When he was done I asked how much he had pumped and if they were to return any cash to me. They looked at my like I was a nut case. Well  they only charged the card for the amount, $64.02. BUT charged me a 45 cent transaction fee.  I found this out later when I looked at the receipt I had to ask for. Most other stations were asking $3.19 a gal. for diesel.  Several people came in while I was waiting and would give them cash and get chips etc. and just say apply the rest to the pump # they were at. The local ways of doing things you learn, when you travel. We gather much commerce here, is done, in cash.
 Could it have anything to do with a gambling mindset. 

Snow in them-thar hills. That is right where we first looked at the county campground. 
We are across the lake on the east side looking west.

A late afternoon shot looking west across Washoe Lake when we got back from Carson City. We had intermittent sun, cold, but a day to remember. This is a nice area, and will explore it more on Saturday and Sunday. A loop drive through Virginia City  and the Comstock National Hist. District area is a must. We are warm happy and good food is cooking on the stove. Terry is working on a chicken catcciatora stew dish that was on food network TV today. We even bought porcabella mushrooms for it. Just the ticket on a cold Friday night high up in western Nevada. 

Saturday  Oct. 6

We woke to bright sun and warmer temps. with more of the same predicted for Sunday.  We headed off toward Carson City and west to Virginia City. There are 15% grades getting there yhe last couple of miles. When in the town they were having a Outhouse race and parade and we were diverted around the main street and had to go up and over to the next highest street. WOW looked it like straight up but we made it. 

The town was filled with people. We got this shot after they reopened the street after the parade. 

Looking down on the parade from the higher up B St. This is a tourist trap of the first kind. The kind Terry likes to stop at and roam the stores, and the kind I like to just drive through without stopping. Guess what we didn't do.
See the outhouses they race.

If you want to find out more about this historic area go to this link for a 2 part .pdf file 
History of Storey County and Comstock. 

Heading north toward Reno on HW 431 from Virginia City back over the mountain. 
 Reno, NV.

Looking at the map above I suggested to Terry, we take, a Sunday drive. (we are camped at Washoe Lake SP) 
Up HW 431 on the Mt. Rose Scenic Byway, on up to Lake Tahoe and go south on the Eastshore Byway on HW 28 and back to Carson City on US 50. I am a socialist at heart, and when I see all the McMansions, I tend to get upset with the waste of money, when it could be put to better use. Sure some of them earned the money, but think about the waste of energy, to run these huge homes. As I step down from my soapbox. 

 Sunday  Oct. 7

Off to see Lake Tahoe on the Mt. Rose Scenic Byway.  Well it was very scenic and nothing I would like to drive again, anytime soon.  That is some shortcut from Reno on HW 431. Straight up, big switch backs to over 8500 ft. WOW. Not much fun to drive at all!  But the view coming down into Lake Tahoe was breathtaking. 

Here is a shot at the main viewing area looking southwest. We are still at about 7500 ft and the lake is at 6500 I think. Notice the golf course below right. The rich do have to play. We took the lake rim drive on HW 28 below and to the left around and came back out on US HW 50 which turned to 4 lanes and was nothing compared to the drive up. 

Always have to get a shot of that Terry pondering the situation.
Learn more about it all at the Official Lake Tahoe Visitor Bureau site and a sub link to the  History of Tahoe.

How did this one sneak in here of me, looking at the information panels at the State Park. I tried to look cool with my Cabela's shirt and cap. This park stop (it had rest rooms) with viewing trails was free,  but just down the road they wanted $8 to use the day use area. All and all Lake Tahoe was more, and less than I expected. Like Terry said as we drove along the shore, the OR coast was beyond this. This was just different. And like Terry said, a place for valley people to escape the summer heat. 
We have been running around in just hooded zippered sweatshirts, so stopped at a Carhart clothes dealer when back down in Carson City. Looked at their light coats, but didn't find anything we liked. 
We are now, also watching how we feel as before we left, the park ranger came around and asked us if we had been drinking the water. Well YES we have, thank you. Terry with his Tea and me with ice cubes and water during the night. Now told, need to boil it, as it is contaminated with e coli bacteria. Thanks a bunch.  At least we didn't buy frozen hamburger from Sam's, also. The Sunday paper we picked on our road trip also said this is wide spread around here, with restaurants, etc. being shut down. We didn't fill the fresh holding tank here and had a 5 gal container with other water, so we have switched to the good stuff. I had to throw out the ice cubes and start over. We never drink water from our holding tank, just used for dishes and showers. (I do rinse with it when brushing teeth, a no no I'm sure) We have a container we place on the counter to draw our drinking water from. Filled when needed at the campgrounds water faucet. You never can tell what is growing in your holding tank ,and now it is also in the public water supply. What's a fulltimer to do...  In this case, gov't. came through and warned us. Good job. The Ranger said he came around as soon as he knew there was a problem. 

So here we are, Sunday at 5 PM and it is 71 deg. sunny and calm. Terry is taking a nap and I am done posting. What could be better than that. 
I leaned another thing today, (thought HW 431 to Lake Tahoe would be easy) you can look at maps all day long, and now with Google Earth, and still not know what the road ahead is really like. 
You have go for it, and drive it to find out!