A Few More Visits and Our First Time in Lassen National Park

May 12-15, 2017
Colusa, Los Molinos, Redding, California

I realize that it sounds as though we know a million people, and that we stop to see every one of them in our travels.

Seems like that to us too!!

Usually we spread our visiting out between multiple stops where we don't see anyone we know. In California that definitely hasn't been the case. After all the folks we saw in Sacramento, we make three more stops where we see even more!

Bill's brother passed away three years ago and we've only had the chance to see our sister-in-law once over that time. We were so happy that she found love again, but tragically she lost Stan to cancer last month as well. We had to see her on our way north.

The Colusa County Fairgrounds RV Park is the perfect spot for us to park just off I-5. From there it's a beautiful hour drive over Hwy 20 west to Clearlake. Well, it would be an hour without the road construction that is so common this time of year.

The delays aren't bad when the countryside is so pretty.

Oak covered hills line both sides of the highway.

View's from the lake house are stunning.

The water is at a 20-year high, flooding some of the waterfront homes in the past months. Marilynn's home had no damage.

Bill and Marilynn. We love this woman so much!!

It was a bittersweet visit, wonderful to see Marilynn, very hard to leave. Hoping we'll get her to come see us on the road!

Friday morning we were up and out early after a quiet evening in the nice green fairgrounds that we had all to ourselves. We only used the electric, but it's $20 for FHUs with 50 amp, and a great spot to stop for the night. 

Dog-tv in Colusa, California

Neither of us have seen Lassen National Park, and we have another good friend from high school who lives in the little town of Los Molinos. We're here for three nights at Hidden Harbor RV Park - right on the Sacramento River. It's been too long since we've been in a pretty natural setting, and this spot is really lovely. Nothing fancy, a few permanents, grass sites that are surprisingly level. FHUs with 50 amp. We love it!!

Friday night we set up our chairs along the river and enjoy several cold brews, listening to the many birds and laughing at the toddler playing naked in the sand beside us.

Saturday we drive the one mile to Cathy's beautiful 20 acre property. She has been here nearly 40 years, raised her family, horses, and organic walnuts. With a half mile of waterfront along Mill Creek and old growth oaks, it is a little pieace of heaven.

Mill Creek, Los Molinos, CA

Fluffy in the Flowers

Learning the history of the property.

We love the old barn.

Cathy and Bill.

We drive to Lassen National Park on Sunday morning. It's a beautiful, sunny day. At least until it starts snowing, then it's just a beautiful day.

The changing landscape from walnut groves to golden hills strewn with lava, to large blooming bushes, to thick oak and hardwood forests, to tall pines on steep slopes, to massive lava flows, to majestic volcanic peaks, make for a spectacular drive.

The road is closed beyond - snow banks are still over seven feet high.

The falling snow is a wonderful Mother's Day treat!

Mt Lassen

When we get back to Los Molinos it's 75 degrees.

Hail finds us in Shingletown.

We really love this area.

It's only a 40 mile drive to Redding so we take our time getting ready Monday morning. Win River Casino is another easy stop for the night. We're here to meet up with friends, also from high school :-))

Curtis, Cindy, Bill, Sharon, Sohana, Becki Jo and Linda

Bill and Sharon were life guards at the high school pool, and haven't seen each other in 40 years!

The Eller sisters - Becki Jo, Linda and Cindy. Cindy was Bill's sister-in-law for a short time

We're so glad we made the stop to see all these great folks. Next we head out of California for a few days in beautiful Ashland, Oregon. And a serendipitous reunion.......

Sacramento, California - Whew!

May 6-11, 2017
Sacramento, California

Bill lived in Sacramento for eight years, and I lived 40 miles south in Acampo, while also working in Sacramento, for ten overlapping years. It was in Sacramento that we reconnected after 20 years. 

While we're here for a few days we have plans to see a lot of people.

Saturday we meet up with my BFF, Janis, and her hubby Nick where I forget my first photo. It's great to get caught up with them.

Sunday is a crazy, busy day of seeing lots of people who were like family to me in the Lodi/Acampo area. Jenifer and Joey are like my kids, they were just starting out as a new couple when Jen watched Jeff before he started pre-school. They worked very hard and have raised a wonderful family. Can't believe they are grandparents too! We visit their lovely home and property - 20 acres! - and the time flies. Second photo fail.....

There were lots of young kids who lived on my block in the country. We meet a couple of them for coffee - Katie and Gretchen are still best friends :-) A photo!!

Gretchen and Katie - beautiful women

My boys would probably say the place that they consider their "old home" is the ranch in Acampo. Five acres with horses and lots of trees, it is now owned by my dear friend Greg. We have wonderful memories from here. Even Bill, his former wife, and his three oldest boys visited me here! Greg has made dozens of improvements and it's fun to see all the changes. Of course I get no photos except for the front yard. How can I be so bad at this??

Greg's daughter, Krystal (who was like a daughter to me as well), and a couple of her friends join us. Then her husband and kids, and finally the neighbors, Mary and Dennis (who are also Jeff's godparents), add to the group. It's like no time has passed as we hang out in the pasture and laugh at all the fun we've had here.

Later we all go for dinner a the Woodbridge Crossing where the service is horrible but the food and company are great. Not a great photo, but I do remember!!

Dennis, Bill, Hannah, Carson, Megan, Mike, Krystal and Mary

Carson Michael, a new generation making memories here.

It is a very full, and emotional, day and I'm exhausted when we get home after 10:30. I absolutely can't wait so long until our next visit :-))

Monday Bill drops me off at Janis' house while he goes to see his former co-workers. We visit in their beautiful backyard, and then I have a real treat - a long bath in her huge bubble tub!! If there's one thing I miss in this life......

Tuesday we run some errands during the day and head to Rocklin for a couple visits that we schedule way too close together :-( 

The first people we met when preparing for life as full-timers were Rene and Ron. She reached out from the RV Dreams forum when we were both going to attend the RV Show in Pomona. We met them and had a fun dinner, and have stayed in touch ever since. This is the first time we've had a chance to meet since then and unfortunately the visit is too short. Still, it's great to see their new home on wheels and meet their adorable pup, Rufus.

Bill, Jodee, Rene and Ron - we really should have included Rufus too!!

Although Bill and his former wife have gone their separate way, he is so happy to still be friends with his ex-in-laws. They're very fun, and it's great getting to know them better. We meet them for brews and light super at the local Claim Jumper. Steve got away before I got the photo - but hey, I got a photo!! Two in one day!

Bill, Ryan, Scott, Mick and Linda

One of Bill's best friends from college has been living in Costa Rica for years so they rarely get an opportunity to see each other. Bob is in the bay area to visit family this week so we extend our Sacramento stay by 24 hours and he drives over to see us on Wednesday. What a treat to spend a few hours with Bob!

Bob and Bill - college pals.

Before Bob arrives I run over to my old office - well, at a nearby eatery - to have a quick visit with my old co-worker Sarah. I've seen so many people already that I don't visit the office, but it's delightful to see Sarah and get caught up with her. 

Whew, we had a great time seeing so many special people this stop. Cal Expo RV Park is a perfect location for doing a lot of visiting, but we are happy to be leaving the large asphalt parking lot. Next we move on to Los Molinos to see Lassen National Forest - and another good friend.

Jodee Finally Sees Yosemite!

April 29 - May 5, 2017
Fresno, California

Other than one brief venture outside, I didn't see any of Bakersfield during my convalescence. 

Monday morning we're back on Highway 99 heading north to a family stop in Fresno.

Bill's cousin and her family have a large lot beside their house and we squeeze through the gate for a few nights of moochdocking. Water and 15 amp and we're good.

Unfortunately it's the hottest week of the season so far and nights without AC are a bit rough. But it's wonderful to spend some time with them, and with Bill's mom who lives nearby.

I get no pics of the family so of course we'll have to come back :-)

One afternoon we go with cousin Cindy and Mom to the Forestiere Underground Garden. I've seen signs for it for years, but never had the chance to visit.

What a unique place to explore. The tour is about an hour and tells an amazing story of one man's dream to build an underground resort. Dug mostly by hand and then rebuilt with the hard pan rocks, it includes a large ballroom (finished by his family after Baldassare passed away), a small living area, outdoor bathtub, and several small garden rooms with dozens of trees and vines.

One of many citrus trees - all are full of fruit.

Cindy navigates Mom through the narrow passages - lots of "Pull your elbows in."

He kept fish here and could watch them from the small room below.

Luxury bathing.

Large ballroom used for family events and presentations on the grounds.

At 95 degrees above ground, we really appreciate the genius of underground living in Fresno.

A driveway to the ballroom was planned but not completed.

I've lived in California my whole life and have never been to Yosemite National Park. Crazy, I know! Thursday we remedy this with a 90 minute drive out of Fresno. Bill backpacked here in the '80's and camped here when he was a kid, but it's been a long time since he was last here.

The number of dead and dying trees throughout the mountains here is depressing and sad. The polyfagous shot hole borer is the nasty little (seriously, the size of a sunflower seed) beetle that is destroying thousands of acres of pine trees throughout California, and there's no sign of slowing it down. Makes me so sad that I didn't see the area before the horrible devastation.

But as the day continues, I'm very glad that I'm getting to see the park after so much rain and snow. The main waterfalls are massive, and there are additional waterfalls everywhere we look - ones that most people never get to see.

Although there are hordes of people here on a weekday before Memorial Day, we do manage to find enough places to park to see what we want to see. The road to Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point is closed, and expected to remain closed through July due to flooding. There is so much water!

First view of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View - breathtaking! 

Half-Dome on the left, Bridal Veil Falls on the right.

We avoid the crowds at the wet and slippery base of Bridal Veil, but can feel the spray from here.

At least three tributaries carry torrents of water from the falls.

An additional benefit is that it's too loud for people to talk.

Parts of the parking lot are covered in the overflow.

Just to the right of the tree....

.....a rare falls makes its way down the rock.

A calm section of the nearly overflowing Merced River.

Upper Yosemite Falls with the tip of Lower Yosemite Falls starting at the bottom.

The cascading water is mesmerizing.

El Capitan.

Half-Dome.

Falling water crashes through trees on the side of a mountain.

Green meadows add more natural beauty.

Hard to believe we were "just" in the desert!

Dressed up like a Bristlecone Pine

They're everywhere - so many falls!

Lots of Dogwood in bloom on the drive in and out of the park, but I fail to get a decent pic. The blooms glow in the bright sunshine.

I can't believe I waited 60 years to see this wondrous place. The crowds are definitely a turn-off, and I doubt I would ever want to stay in the park, but visiting is a must-do. I know I'll be back - it must be amazing in the Fall!

Friday I am finally feeling 100% and after a morning visit with Mom, we're ready to continue north on our way to Oregon.

Jodee, Anne and Bill

The drive is un-eventful except for a couple drivers who don't understand the concept of merging into traffic :-((.

We get set up at the parking lot that is Cal Expo RV Park. We're here for the location and the full-hookups, and are looking forward to a few more California visits with old friends.