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| Good-bye desert. |
We have really kept the costs of travel down by cooking in the camper and inexpensive camp fees. California has been the roughest state for this kind of travel. On our way down we did two consecutive free nights one in a Walmart parking lot and one out in empty BLM land in the desert. We really prefer to stay in federal campgrounds because Dan has his "Access" pass that gets us in for half price. California seems to have mostly state parks and many of them are closed. It is hard to justify paying $30 for a night when you don't need or want hook-ups or showers. Last night we pulled into an empty state park at 9 and left at 4:30 this morning. We were supposed to pay $23. We didn't. Dan has been worried all day that we will somehow get caught and have to pay a big fine. Our average campground fee for the whole trip is right at $12. That includes tonight ($35). We are staying at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga. [Do you know how Calistoga got its name? The founder was drunk and tried to say, "This will be the Saratoga of California" but it came out, "This will be the Calistoga of Sarafornia"!] (The town brochure says it is a true story)
We have dined out exactly 3 times while traveling. Twice in Moab at the memorable diner, (see earlier post) and yesterday morning for breakfast in Needles, California. Nothing too mention about breakfast in Needles except the books on the table with instructions about how to be an old geezer. We went to the visitor center here in Calistoga and asked what we should see or do but it seemed like everything was costly and not what we would want to do. Wine and spas are what this town is about. They have a geyser but they even charge to see it. Dan held the picture up for me and said, "WHOOSH!"
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| Old Faithful Geyser, Calistoga |
The visitor center guy gave us several 10% discount coupons for local dining but I think I will enjoy Dan's popcorn more than I would any of the fancy meals.
It was a super windy trip across the Mojave yesterday. Just west of Needles a gust hit us broadside and took us half way across the next lane. Fortunately no one was there! The camper shifted more than an inch in the truck bed between yesterday and today. Not sure if it was the wind or California's bumpy freeways.
I am cheating with the above picture it was taken just over a year ago. We will get to the redwoods tomorrow. We plan to stay at Humboldt Redwoods State Park. We will be back to Oregon parks the next night. They are FREE, with Dan's veteran pass. We like free!
Time for a bike ride so we have room for our popcorn dinner. Did I mention Dan cooks on popcorn night? Life is Good on the road.
jean
It was a super windy trip across the Mojave yesterday. Just west of Needles a gust hit us broadside and took us half way across the next lane. Fortunately no one was there! The camper shifted more than an inch in the truck bed between yesterday and today. Not sure if it was the wind or California's bumpy freeways.
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| Hello Redwoods |
I am cheating with the above picture it was taken just over a year ago. We will get to the redwoods tomorrow. We plan to stay at Humboldt Redwoods State Park. We will be back to Oregon parks the next night. They are FREE, with Dan's veteran pass. We like free!
Time for a bike ride so we have room for our popcorn dinner. Did I mention Dan cooks on popcorn night? Life is Good on the road.
jean
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