We left the Switch It Up Huddle in Roseburg, Oregon mid-morning on June 2nd and started a quick cross-country trip. We only had a few days to get back to South Carolina to prepare for our next mission project. We did, however, deviate from the quickest route a little to add three new states to our RV’d in map. By dropping down to I-70 from I-80, we were able to pick up Nevada, Utah and Colorado and yes, we spent the night in all three.
This is what we saw for several slow miles shortly after we left Roseburg.
Our drive allowed us to see many more snow-capped mountains …
… and other beautiful scenery.
After driving in mountains the next section of the country looked really flat.
The Eisenhower Tunnel was the highest point on our route at 11,158 feet (3,401 meters) and is also the highest vehicular tunnel in the United States.
That route also made it possible for us to visit a few iconic tourist spots such as Diamond Lake in Oregon, Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and, of course, Buzzard Belly General Store in Cisco, Utah.
Diamond Lake
We had not studied the route very much, so we were a little surprised when we topped a hill entering Utah and saw all this white.
But we took time to stop and take a couple of pictures.
You can actually walk out on the salt.
Buzzard Belly General Store
The rest of the trip was state after state of Interstate highways and construction. We overnighted at 4 rest areas, 1 Walmart, and 1 Bass Pro Shop.
We were entertained by prairie dogs at one of our stops.
One of the rest areas we stopped at was infested with these giant Mormon crickets.
And a little ways dow the road they were all over the shoulders.
We arrived in Johnston, SC around 4:30 pm on June 8th after driving 2,940 miles in 7 days.
Our RVing map at the end of the trip. Only two states left. (We have been to all 50 states, just haven’t spent the night in an RV in New Mexico and Arizona. We probably won’t take our RV to Hawaii.)
After spending close to half the day at Home Depot making repairs to BB and trying to clean the glass out of the couch and floor without cutting ourselves, our hearts were not in any more touring in California. On the afternoon of May 26, we decided to return to Oregon where we had planned to be on Wednesday anyway. It was a beautiful drive through the mountains and was a good time for us to wind down from the events of the day. We arrived in Roseburg late afternoon and were able to check into the site we had reserved for the Huddle, 3 days early, so we wouldn’t have to move again. Since we had been moving almost daily, we were looking forward to being stationary for a few days.
We were told that the person who designed and built this gate used to work for Disney.
Tuesday, May 27 we began the process of scheduling the repair of BB. We emailed Paul, one of our friends at Coachman and explained what happened. He was very helpful and by Wednesday we had an estimate for the repair and a time tentatively planned to get the work done. The folks at Coachman Class B Division are always so helpful. We also had to make a claim with the insurance company, Progressive, and get that process started. They have always been good to work with and we trust that this time will be no different. The rest of the day on Tuesday we just rested and visited with friends. The rest was definitely needed.
The Switch It Up Huddle began Thursday afternoon and it was great to see old friends and make some new ones. Friday was our give back day when we always do some work to leave the community better than when we arrived. This time we worked at a children’s center, improving the play areas and some landscaping on the front of their building. We had a great group of workers and we accomplished everything the agency had planned for us by lunchtime.
Our crew for the give back
Loading sand for the sandboxes
Adding the sand to one of the two sandboxes
Loading mulch for the front flower beds
Spreading the mulch
Cleaning out one of the raised planting beds
Spreading gravel around one of the buildings
Raking and cleaning one of the playgrounds
The kids and staff presented our crew with this “thank you” banner.
Friday afternoon there was a painting class. There was a lot of laughter and visiting with friends along with learning more about painting. Anne says that she still has a lot to learn.
Anne at the painting class
Saturday was a very busy day. We drove the Waterfall Highway to hike to some great waterfalls as you will see below. We would have loved to have more time at the waterfalls but we barely managed to get our deviled eggs ready for our potluck dinner that night.
Like many of the trails in the area, the trail to Susan Creek Falls goes through a burned area.
Susan Creek Falls
Steamboat Falls
Toketee Falls
Watson Falls
As always, the potluck was one of the highlights of the huddle.
Sunday we had a worship service with Todd and Shelia, always one of the highlights of the weekend. We had a wonderful catered dinner at a winery Sunday night. The setting was so peaceful, landscaping beautiful and food delicious. This was a smaller than usual Huddle, but because of that, we were able to get to know more new friends. It was very good. Monday morning is the hard day at a Huddle. We will probably never see some of the people again. Sad! It’s when we have to say “see you down the road” to our friends. We will see some of these friends at Talona Ridge (Georgia) in the fall but until then we will keep them in our prayers for safe travels.
May 25 was a drive day for us. We were up early, made a trip to Fred Meyers for some supplies, returned to the Blue Heron for breakfast and were on the road. We followed Highway 101 down the remainder of the Oregon coastline and drove about five miles into California to spend the night. The drive was beautiful. The azaleas and most of the other flowers were in full bloom so we couldn’t resist taking more pictures even though we already had plenty. There were also a lot of coastline pictures since the Oregon and California coasts as so different from the Gulf coast.
So different from our coast
The coast changes every few miles.
We just couldn’t stop taking pictures of them.
There are so many beautiful flowers along the Oregon coast.
We hoped it would be a fun visit
Monday morning, May 26, Memorial Day, we were up and rolling toward the Redwoods National and State Parks at 6:00am. We knew there would be holiday crowds later in the day and we wanted to avoid that if possible. The last portion of the road was unpaved, narrow, and sort of rough, but BB was fine. When we arrived at the trail head for the Grove of Titans there were very few cars. We were amazed as we hiked up the mountains enjoying the beautiful, huge redwoods and all the other foliage. We sure live in a beautiful country. We feel so blessed to be able to travel and see the wonderful places that God has provided. We only saw one other couple on our way into the forest and four people on the way out. Such a peaceful, amazing hike. When we returned to BB the parking lot was getting tight. So glad we gave up a little sleep this morning.
Scenery on the way to the trailhead
Driving through the park
Hiking among the titans
The road out from the trail head was even more narrow and winding than the one in.
This fern covered log beside the trail …
… formed a tunnel.
One of the titans
Pictures cannot begin to show how enormous the redwoods are.
This trillium beside the trail looks a little different from the ones we see in Alabama.
The last few miles were a narrow dirt road through the trees. We had to pull over and stop if we met another vehicle.
From the Titans, we drove to the National Park Headquarters to get our Passport stamped and get suggestions for what to do the rest of the day. As recommended by the staff, we headed a little further down the 101 to a spot where we should have been able to see some whales and their babies. Unfortunately, we didn’t get very far. As we were driving, a man ran out from the side of the road toward BB, acting strangely. He stopped just before entering the road and threw a rock at the van. Fortunately, it did not hit the front side window. It did hit the back passenger side glass and destroyed the window. Glass everywhere including the bed. It could have been much worse because the rock (we still have it) could have severely injured Anne. We of course pulled off the road. The police said there was nothing they could do for us or the man unless we made a citizen’s arrest, and would agree to return to California whenever the case goes to court. The police did tell us how to get to Home Depot to get what we needed to make some temporary repairs to BB and we decided we didn’t need to be in California any longer. It is very sad that in this country we cannot get mentally ill people the help they need. Police said it would take probably 4 more incidents such as ours before they could do anything. We pray that the man is not injured or killed or hurts someone else before he gets the help he needs.
On Saturday, May 24 we woke up to another beautiful day. We had stayed overnight at the Lewis and Clark rest area located on the banks of the Columbia River. It was such a nice way to start our day. There was a trail for us to walk and a geocache to locate. This was our last Washington find in nice peaceful setting.
Immediately after leaving the rest area it was time to cross the Columbia river and enter Oregon. First stop was the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park in Astoria. We arrived before the park opened so it was a great time to get our steps in another beautiful, wooded forest. The park includes sites along the Columbia River and the Pacific Coast in Washington and Oregon but we were visiting the headquarters in Oregon. The park includes a replica of Fort Clatsop, which gives you a real sense of what the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery experienced more than 200 years ago. There is also a nice museum to visit and of course some movies. Since we are more outdoors people, we spent most of our time in the Fort and then some of the hiking trails. We are so blessed in this country to have our educational national parks across the land.
Fort Clatsop replica
Hiking at Fort Clatsop. The trail led through the woods and along the Lewis and Clark River.
We thought these poles in the water were for mooring boats, but they were actually put there years ago to assist on sorting and rafting logs.
From the park, we resumed our drive down Highway 101 arriving in Tillamook, Oregon early afternoon. The drive was beautiful and included numerous stops to enjoy the Pacific shoreline. The spring flowers were in full bloom, along with all the pollen. So pretty. It’s fun as we travel to sometimes experience multiple springs. We stopped to view the various sea stacks and seaside communities. The 363 mile Oregon coastline is not to be missed. It’s nothing like our beloved Alabama/Florida Gulf coast with its beautiful sugar sand beaches but still not to be missed. In Tillamook we stayed at the Blue Heron French Cheese Company. It is a Harvest Host location whose RV parking lot can handle over 40 RVs. The restaurant is very good, serving breakfast and lunch and some oh so good Tillamook ice cream.
Blue Heron French Cheese Company
Some of the old farm equipment at the Blue Heron
The RV parking area at Blue Heron
They also have a petting zoo …
… and a very vocal peacock.
And another state added to our RVing map
We also visited the Tillamook Creamery which was horribly busy on Memorial Day weekend. However, we did find our first geocache in our 50th state there. It seems fitting that it was at an ice cream place since so many of our geocaching adventures across the country ended with ice cream.
We didn’t stay at the creamery very long because of the crowds. Fortunately, we were able to get Tillamook ice cream at cheese company where we overnighted.
Our first geocache in our 50th state …
… just “happened” to be at a creamery with really good ice cream.
RVing With a Purpose 