Week 363-365 - North to Anaheim - 08-11-2013

North to Anaheim

Last April we presented this map as our possible tour for 2013. This path would have put us into Eastern Canada in the fall. We have been told that the trip to the "Maritimes" is a must see RV trip, especially in the fall. So our plan was leaving California in time to reach Prince Edward Island by September/October. Then cruise down the Atlantic Coast in time to be run over by a hurricane in Florida.

That plan did not work out. We have had too many family and friend events to leave the Central Coast.

This is our current 2013 tour map, starting in January and ending the middle of September. We'll add some more black arrows in September.

The majority of our summer has been in San Luis Obispo's North County: Atascadero, Templeton and Paso Robles. We will return in September for Ellen's best friend Janet's son's wedding! With a little time slot opening we decided to head to Anaheim for a onsite web design project. What better way to get there then to take roads you have not traveled?

Here is our plan:
    101 North to Moss Landing
    Hwy 1 to San Francisco
    Hwy 1 to Stinson Beach, Fort Bragg and to it's end at Leggett
    101 to Eureka
    Hwy 299 to Redding
    Hwy 5 and 99 to Paradise
    Hwy 70 to Reno
    Hwy 395 to Barstow
    Hwy 15 to the Los Angeles area
    Slug through traffic to Anaheim
    After the Anaheim job, to a family wedding in Calabasas
    101 to Santa Maria to visit Paul and Judy
    Back to SLO North County for the wedding

Let's see how we're doing?

Day 1 - Atascadero to Paso Robles Truck Center for new front tires. Ca-ching! We stopped by YanksRVResort.com for some photos. This is a new RV park in Greenfield, California. We designed their website before there was any development. It should be open in the next month or two.

Next we were off to the KOA in Moss Landing. Not a typical A-frame, full-of-kids, needing-maintenance KOA but a KOA Express. It is upscale resort with paved pads, near the beach and a restaurant. We rarely make reservations as we never quite know when we will arrive. Oh no! Moss Landing is full and we can't get in. That's okay, we headed off to Gilroy for the night. 1) Day 2: We got over to the coast on Hwy 129 passing through Watsonville and onto the Santa Cruz Elks. The Elks RV parking has eight sites now but will permanently close on September 1st. An elder care facility will be built on the property. 2) Heading up Hwy 1 is always a delight. We are looking forward to traveling from Mill Valley to Leggett. After completing that leg of Hwy 1, the Mothership will have traveled its entire length from Oceanside to Leggett.

It gets a little busy on Hwy1 in San Francisco. The last 20 miles took about an hour. But that's okay, we're home and can grab a snack or a nap.

1) Reaching Mill Valley, Hwy 1 to Stinson Beach looks a little winding. We have done roads like this a dozen times, so let's go. Not so fast, we reached Mill Valley, it's Saturday at Noon, traffic is extremely heavy on the 1 and a sign says "Not recommended for vehicles over 35 feet". Quick math tells us that 44 is greater then 35. Normally, not a problem, but with heavy traffic we did not want to irritate other drivers. So we head back to 101, saddened that we can't take the 1. Next time we try this road we'll do it at sunrise before there is any traffic. 2) Actually the 101 is nice; a beautiful drive as we pass Healdsburg and the Dry Creek Valley full of vineyards and wineries. Day 3: We stayed at the Petaluma Elks where we celebrated our 39th anniversary. The Elks is very nice and is walking distance to the Calvary Chapel Church.

Days 4,5,6: Heading up the 101 doesn't look much different then Hwy 1, except you can't see the ocean. We stopped by the Ukiah Elks. The RV host is also a local sheriff deputy so we felt safe. However, the lodge was closed and there were no RVers there. No people, no fun; we continued on to Benbow RV near Garberville.

1) The 101 is at time four lanes and sometime a narrow two line road with no median lines. 2) Getting close to Benbow we viewed the last day of the Reggae on the River festival along the Eel River.

Hwy 101 drive through the redwoods exhibits the beauty of God's creation.

The RV Park at Benbow is just north of Leggett (the north end of Highway 1). We spent three days at the park giving us time to take a scooter ride down Highway 1 to check out what we missed. It was 340 miles back to Stinson Beach, a little long for ride there and back in one day. We settled on going 70 miles to Fort Bragg. 1) South end of Fort Bragg and 2) the north end of Highway 1. The last 6 miles of Hwy 1 is a motorcycle rider's dream with constant twists and no straight-a-ways longer than 200 feet. You can see our Highway 1 trip at BigRigBible.com/WeeklyTravelogues/week363-365a.php.

Days 7,8: Leaving Benbow we had just 76 miles to meet Pete's sister Donnalee in Eureka. For 30 miles of this drive you can take the 101 or get off and cruise the Avenue of the Giants. This 30 mile side road is a worthwhile trip as it darts in and out of dense redwood forests and open areas. On our day the traffic was light passing only a couple dozens vehicles.

1) We stayed at Shoreline RV Park in Eureka. It was nice to see grass so well manicured as so many RV parks let their grass languish. 2) The Ingomar Club is a high end example of the many Victorian style buildings in Eureka.

We mentioned going to Eureka to several friends. Every one of them told us to visit the Samoa Cookhouse. The cookhouse was built 1893 by the John Vance Lumber Company to serve their employees. Whether you arrive by car, truck, SUV, motorcycle, motorhome or bus, you'll enjoy the family style, all you can eat, dinner.

20 miles south of Eureka is Ferndale, chock full of historic buildings. Six buildings in the town as well as the Main Street Historical District are listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

This is the Main Street with a number of the business signs you'll see here.

Another side trip with Donnalee was to Trinidad. The rocky coast is picturesque shown from this view taken south of Trinidad. Trinidad is located at the far end of the photo. Trinidad Head is the large hill at the top left. See a dozen more photos of the beautiful Trinidad coast line at BigRigBible.com/WeeklyTravelogues/week363-365b.php

Days 9,10: Highway 299 takes you from Eureka to Redding. 1) This is another beautiful 150 mile drive through the mountains and forests. 2) Pete and Donnalee stop at the View Point for, yes, a view! 3) The roadway parallels the South Fork Trinity River for much of the way.

In the tiny town of Lewiston, California is One Maple Winery. We enjoyed our visit with the yet-to-know-the-name-of host, vineyard owner and winemaker. Mr. Unknown has been making his wines for 20 years and he was a lot of fun to schmooze with.

In Redding we stayed two nights with the Mothership parked in front of Donnalee's house. Having spent a wonderful, action-packed four days with her, next week we head off to see Emily and Chad in Paradise.

Thanks for being with us and we'll see you next week.

Love, Pete and Ellen

Finally, the folks are asleep and I get a chance to write. I've been thinking. After an unceremonious 2nd birthday on July 13th, I better start planning for the future. In their terms I'm 14 now. So, I'm thinking about my "senior portraits".

What do think of this one?

Maybe my other side is better?

A lot of my sophisticated, mature friends, like Sid and Karen, go for the short hair look. What do you think?

Time to get off the computer, mom's up and wants to take me for a drag. Please write back and let know what I should do. Woof!

Photos from Aug 2013