Another Day in the Redwoods August 29, 2013

We took another daytrip through the coastal Redwoods – this time south on U.S. Highway 101 to Big Tree Wayside.

This screen shot of the NPS map shows the route we took south on U.S. 101 south along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.

We stopped at Big Tree Wayside and found plenty of hiking trails to chose from.  First, we had a picnic lunch and then started out on a stroll on the Foothill Trail through the glorious redwoods.

There must have been 15 trails or more along the parkway.  Some are for avid hikers and many more for the recreational casual types.

Our hike was more of a walk – it was all flat and mostly paved.

We quickly found ourself in front of the main event.  This is know as Big Tree and stands 304 feet tall. It is 21.6 feet in diameter and 68 feet around.  This is the big one!

The redwoods were ‘discovered’ in the 1850’s and became hugely popular in the 1880’s in the lumber industry.  By the 1920’s the big trees were being harvested at a rate that was pointing to their demise.  The state of California stepped in to preserve some key groves and three state parked resulted:  Prairie Creek (1923), Del Norte (1925) and Jedediah Smith (1929).

The ‘old grove’ was intermingled with other trees and lots of moss.

The trees decay from the inside and look like they could be used by wildlife.

Sometimes, you had to stop and look around and try to absorb some of the beauty.

Even the roots and stumps of these big guys were noteworthy.

A very pleasant hike.

After our time in the midst of these splendid redwoods, we went on over to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center before going back over to 101 and heading north again back to our campground in Crescent City.  It was a great day for a drive and another look at the redwoods.

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  Thanks for the comments – until next time…

Randy Warner has posted an update to
http://www.warnerrvnews.blogspot.com

The Redwoods of Northern California August 26, 2013

We took another day trip through the Redwoods a few days ago.  It was a short drive from our campground in Crescent City up to Highway 199 off Elk Valley Road to the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

This was an interesting drive through the Redwoods.  I couldn’t believe that within 10 miles of the coast, we were in the deep woods with the huge and magnificent redwoods.  We were there in no time.  Then it was time to slow down and gaze and ponder these trees.  It was breath taking.  

Everywhere I turned it was another picture opportunity.  Or ten.

The road was mostly dirt and wound through the side of the mountains and between the large trees.

Our little Honda was dwarfed by them.

It was a tight squeeze at times, but we went slowly and there was enough space for others to get by.

We found a trail in the Stout Memorial Grove and had another picnic.

Then we started out on another short hike.

The trail was an easy one and either paved and/or very well maintained.

It is hard to grasp the size of these trees.

It was a nice day, not too cool ~ for a good walk through the woods.

The decaying Redwoods seem to rot from the inside and leave a thick, spiny bark of a shell.

The carpet of needles and mulch made for a comfortable walk.

The trail has been well maintained over the years and goes along side of many fallen trees.

We were not alone and saw 20 or 30 folks on this trail.

We enjoyed it and decided to try some other trails.  Stay tuned.

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  Until next time…

Randy Warner has posted an update to
http://www.warnerrvnews.blogspot.com

Battery Point Lighthouse – Crescent City, CA August 24, 2013

We have been here in Crescent City, CA for the last four days, staying at the Sunset Harbor RV Campground.

It is not as tight as it looks.  I thought the coach next to us had a very similar paint scheme and decided to include it with the Roadrunner.

During our stay we have taken a number of day trips and seen the Redwoods and some local sights including the Battery Point Lighthouse.  The cloudy, overcast skies opened up in the evening and we decided to go down to the city park and out to the lighthouse.

Access to the tiny islet only happens only during low tide.

It was a short walk down the trail and across the gravel area up to the lighthouse.

 Once on the other side, there were some very nice views.

The Battery Point Lighthouse was built in 1856 with $15,000 from the U.S. Congress.  It was built and run by the U.S. Lighthouse Service and one of 16 built along the California coast.  In the mid 1800’s, travel into harbor towns through the rugged waters was very important for their economic survival.  The lighthouse was automated in 1953 and was operational until 1965 when a flashing beacon at the end of the nearby breakwater took over and the lighthouse was shut down.  It was revived and reconstituted as a navigational aid in 1982.  Today it continues as a residence and navigational aid.

One interesting point of the Crescent City area.  It is susceptible to tsunamis.  The two most recent and noteworthy events was the Alaskan Earthquake of 1964.  The earthquake (most massive ever in the northern hemisphere) caused extensive flooding in the town and most was destroyed.  But the lighthouse stood.

More recently, the March 11, 2011 earthquake off Sendai, Japan caused a destructive tsunami in Crescent City.  Again, docks and boats were destroyed and huge waves flooded the city.  According to researchers at Humbolt State University and the University of California, the city experienced tsunami conditions 31 times between 1933 and 2008.

So the lighthouse has been an important icon on the coast over the years.  It rests atop the islet and is quite picturesque.

On the grounds, it had a nice little walking path and some benches which we enjoyed.

It was a good way to spend the evening after dinner.

Thanks for joining us on the Roadrunner Chronicles.  And thanks so much for those comments!  It is always nice to hear from you!  Until next time…

Randy Warner has posted an update to
http://www.warnerrvnews.blogspot.com

Heading South Along the Oregon Coast August 23, 2013

We spent eight days meandering down the southern half of the Oregon Coast.  We left Salem, OR on Tuesday August 13, stopping in Newport, OR and at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park for a few days before arriving in Crescent City, CA the afternoon of August 20.

Along this route, there were a lot of scenic overlooks and pullouts to see the beautiful mountains descending into the sea.

And we have had really great weather.  After the fog burns off, the sun has been shining most of our time here.

The last few weeks on our travel days we have been going about 200 – 250 miles.  This seems like a good length for us and we can get into the new campground by early afternoon and get set up.  Early arrival also allows us to have some choices if we want another campsite.  Usually that doesn’t happen but now and then we have overhanging trees or a small car parking area or something like that.

And only going 200+ miles a day means we only drive about 4-5 hours at a time which is fine with us. Even when the road and highway is good, sometimes the stress of being alert and concentrating on safety items can make for a tiring day.  I revert back to some Air Force training and think of ‘Safety Procedures’.  One thing about air crew members is that they are always always drilled on Safety Procedures when they fly.  They are always taught to think, “What would I do if…”  So they are ready and are not caught by surprise.

I try to be aware of those things on the road when I drive.  What would I do if I had a flat tire, lost my brakes?…. some of those items.  The main thing I think about is how much braking time do I have with the car/vehicle in front of me.

Other than that, driving is a wonderful thing in this comfy Roadrunner Allegro Bus.  With a 400 HP engine, we have no trouble getting up and down the mountains.  But going down the mountains (especially along the coast here) I have been using my Auxiliary Brake /”Jake Brake” so I don’t wear out or burn up my brakes.  Other than those things, I spend a lot of time seeing the majestic views along the coast.

When we pull off at the overlooks and scenic lookouts, we are treated with just breath taking views. I recently posted 15 photos of some of my favorite views.  I didn’t show you the hundreds of other shots I took.  Yes – hundreds.  I wish I could remember the vivid details of these places more.  Since I don’t/can’t I am relying on my pictures to refresh my mind.

On our last leg down U.S. Highway 101 we stopped at a lot of places for pictures.  And lunch.

Later on down the road we saw this

And stopped again

For this

It was another day full of memories.  And pictures.

Thanks for joining us on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  Thanks for joining us!  Until next time…

Randy Warner has posted an update to
http://www.warnerrvnews.blogspot.com

Sunday on the Oregon Coast August 20, 2013

It was a beautiful day on the Oregon Coast.  We are staying at the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park.  It is a great state park.  They have lots of Oregon State Parks along the coast and they know how to set them up, run and operate them.

Our spot is not real spacious but we got into it with no problem.  It has full hookups and a fire ring that we have used every day.

One thing I think is pretty neat is that the campgrounds have sites for “Hikers and Bikers”.  We have mostly seen folks (usually in pairs but not always) on bikes roll in after 4:00 P.M.  They are making their way along the Oregon Coast Bike Trail and the State Parks have tent sites and areas for Hiker and Bikers.

This is a portion of the map I found online.  I met a couple here for the night who were from Victoria, BC.  Another couple here yesterday were from Great Britain.  Plus lots more from Oregon and Washington state.

Yesterday we went for a hike around the small lake near the campground.  Beautiful trees, clear water chirping birds.  Lake Marie was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s and has a one mile trail around the lake.

Then we went over to the lighthouse.  Ship wrecks in the 1800’s were a scary thing and were all too common.  So lighthouses were built all along the coast.  This one was built in 1894 showing the entrance to the Umpqua River.

Looks like there is some U.S. Coast Guard active duty housing on the property.

Next, we took a drive up the Umpqua River on Highway 38 to the Dean Creek Viewing Area.  Way more than I expected.

Sure enough– a herd of elk were hanging out and eating a lot of grass.

After a picnic along the river, we went back to Charlestown south past Coos Bay and checked out some of the viewing observation points along the NW Oceanview Drive along the coastal road not far from Agate State Beach.  We found one with a lot of seals.

Friends of the Southern Oregon Coastal National Wildlife Rufuges had some scopes set up and a display showing the kinds and type of seals we were looking watching.

Like other volunteers, these folks give up their day to make it informative and a pleasant experience for the rest of us ‘tourists’.

At another stop in the area, we saw more seals

and then we went to the observation area over on the other side of the parking lot.

We wondered what was over there and found that there was a whale in the area that was spewing out and surfacing a bit in the distance.

We caught glimpses of him.  And I do mean glimpses.

This might be the best shot I got of him

It was a beautifully gorgeous day and a great time to get out and see some of the Oregon coast.

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  Until next time…

Randy Warner has posted an update to
http://www.warnerrvnews.blogspot.com

15 Reasons to See the Oregon Coast on Highway 101 August 18, 2013

We drove from Newport, Oregon to our campground at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park.  It was less than an 80 mile stretch along the Scenic 101 Coastal Highway, but we saw a lot of different landscapes and weather.  Here are some of our favorites.

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Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  Until next time…

Randy Warner has posted an update to
http://www.warnerrvnews.blogspot.com

Rt 30 and Crown Point in the Columbia River Gorge August 16, 2013

There is so much to see on the Columbia River Gorge!  We continued our afternoon drive and made a couple more stops along the scenic byway.

Even through the windshield the beauty shows.

Our next stop was at Bridal Veil

We walked down the trail to the overlook

Below, we could see the Columbia River, I-84 and the Union Pacific Railroad

We continued on up the road past another water falls

And then we made it up to Crown Point

Inside it looked like it was all marble

From Crown Point we could see a long way

It was a great drive and a nice day for a lot of pictures!

Thanks for joining us on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  And thanks for the comments!!

Randy Warner has posted an update to
http://www.warnerrvnews.blogspot.com

Route 30 and Multnomah Falls August 15, 2013

Months ago we thought it would be interesting to camp along the Columbia River.  I didn’t really give it much thought.  At that time, I had never heard of the Columbia River Gorge.  And then we got to see  the beauty of the area and it is really something.

When Lewis and Clark first came up this way in 1805, they were on to something special.  Of course they were not so concerned about the scenery as they were finding a passage to the Pacific Ocean.  

The scenic travels thing did not come along until the early 1900s with the decision to build America’s first highway for tourism became a goal with the building of the Historic Columbia River Highway.  Also now know as U.S. Route 30, traffic began along the route in 1914.  

Interestingly enough, a major proponent and advocate for the scenic highway was Samuel Hill – owner of 60,000 acres across the Columbia River on the Washington side and builder of the Stonehedge WWI memorial.

My mother grew up in Kennewick, Washington.  I heard her say many times, “What in the Sam Hill….?”.  I wonder if the saying came about as a reference to the same man?

Back to the scenic road – 

We got on it near the Cascade Locks.  It parallels I-84. 

Along the way, we stopped for different things.  Like this tunnel that was once used, but is now open only to foot traffic.

And then the majestic Multnomah Falls.  I have heard about this place and it was on our list of things to see.

One of the highest falls in all the U.S. (second highest in fact) at a drop of 620 feet, it one of 77 falls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River.

It is really two falls, with a bridge directly over the lower one.

We took a look from the bridge which was a short 10 minute walk.

From the bridge – 

After Multnomah Falls, we continued on the road-

More next time on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  Until next time…

Randy Warner has posted an update to
http://www.warnerrvnews.blogspot.com

Along the Columbia River – near The Dalles August 14, 2013

While at the John Day Campground at the Le Page COE Park we were only about about 20 miles from The Dalles.

We drove into the Dalles and tried to get a ‘feel’ of the area.  Clearly, it was a historical town with lots of different draws to the area.  The biggest identity is the fact that it is on the major waterway – The Columbia.  We saw barge after barge go up and down the river.

We decided to go over to the other side of the Columbia River and into Washington to see some things.  One thing that caught our eye was ‘Stonehedge’.  Really?  I thought that was in England somewhere. Turns out there is a replica right here in Washington.

The plaque says that Samuel Hill, erected a replica of Stonehedge to honor the war dead in the region from World War I.  He saw the real Stonehedge when he was in England 1914-1918 and found that the it was a place of sacrifice.  Hill said, ‘Men are still being sacrificed to the gods of war.’

The replica is precise and the same measurements as the original.

I am not one to get into astrological phenomenon but this was pretty interesting.

It is on the side of the river and it was a pretty view.  That is Mt Hood in the distance.

Next we went down the road to the Maryhill Winery.  It apparently has won some awards the last few years.  We thought – why not?  We are not big wine connoisseurs but who knows what we will find?

The estate is more than a winery.  It has a number of summer concerts there including some big names: Hall and Oates and Willie Nelson.  That would be fun to be there for one of those events.

Inside their store, they had lots of wine.

And a nice outdoor patio overlooking the Columbia River.

It was a couple of interesting places to see while we began our time along the Columbia River in Oregon.

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner!  Until next time…

Randy Warner has posted an update to
http://www.warnerrvnews.blogspot.com

Roadrunner Financials – July 2013 August 12, 2013

July was a great month to see some of Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho.

Roadrunner Recap
Our travels took us from La Valle, WI where Tom and Cathy have a family cottage — to Boise, ID for a total of 2130 miles and 12 locations.  It was a busy month and we saw a lot of people and a lot of places.

Our overnight stops included the following:

• La Valle, WI (Tom and Cathy’s Cottage)
• Milwaukee (State Fairgrounds)
• La Valle, WI (Tom and Cathy’s Cottage)
• Moscow, IA (HWH Factory)
• Des Moines, IA (East Des Moines KOA)
• Sioux Falls, SD (WH Lyons Fairgrounds)
• Omaha, NE (Offutt AFB Base FamCamp)
• Lincoln, NE (Camp-A-Way)
• North Platte, NE (Holiday RV Park)
• Cheyenne, WY (FE Warren AFB FamCamp)
• Fort Bridger RV Park (Fort Bridger RV Campground)
• Ogden, UT (Hill AFB FamCamp)
• Boise, ID (Gowen Field NGB Campground)

Good News Areas We Are Under Budget
Our second month on our new budget showed us under budget in very few categories.  I think the one I am happiest about it Eating Out.  Others:

• Gas for the car
• Medical
• Household items

Biggest Expenses
Diesel fuel was the high cost item for us again.  With all those miles and diesel at over $3.75/gallon, we filled up a lot.  We spent a lot of groceries too.

Large One Time Cost Item
No real big ones this month although we did pay for two items on our RV:

• New foot for our PS rear jack
• HWH control panel inside near driver’s dash

Both items were as a result of our sinking in the driveway.  We had to jack up the back end, put wood under the tires, then fill in the holes under the jacks and raise the Roadrunner some more.  The PS rear jack foot broke.  Fortunately, it was a quick repair at the HWH facility in Moscow, IA.

Monthly Average
After two months, we are still over budget, primarily due to the cost of diesel.  We will be traveling a lot of miles in August, but once we get past the central part of Oregon, we are going to take our time seeing the coast.

I am thinking in another couple of months we should be back on track and near our budget.  At least that’s the plan.  

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  Until next time… 

Randy Warner has posted an update to
http://www.warnerrvnews.blogspot.com