June 26-July 1

We had a great time watching our oldest grandson graduate from high school, followed by a week of family fun then two more weeks of just us with the grandsons.  What more can grandparents ask for, quality time with their children and grandchildren.  We are so blessed.

Time to get back on the road, we had reservations for a one-night stay at Cane Hot Springs in Oregon, this was a surprise stay.  We were not looking for anything special, but when we realized that there was a hot spring pond that was 5 feet deep with a maintained temperature of 104-106 and open 24 hours weather permitting, we changed into our swimsuits faster than Superman in a phone booth.  The mineral springs are known to have high amounts of negative ions which can help promote feelings of physical and psychological wellbeing.  Well, whatever they do after 2 hours of soaking we felt pretty darn good.  Would have been nice to say an extra day but we already had reservations at our next stop.

Next destination was in Culver, Oregon for a one-night stay, again.  This RV Park was a KOA which are known to be very family friendly.  The park was nice, but when they said they were having a ice cream social that night Walter said  “this is awesome” just two scoops!

On to the Eagles Nest RV Campground that was located on the Washington State side of the Astoria Bridge.  The campground was ok, maybe because it was cold and muddy from all the rain they recently had but the location was great.  We got to see so many things.  Astoria is where Goonies, Short Circuit and Kindergarten Cop were filmed.  So first on our punch list was locating all the Goonies icon locations. Success, we found the Goonies House, the jail that the Fratelli brothers broke out of and the Flavel House.  The last iconic Goonies stop was a drive to Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock.

The Short Circuit house was fun to see, they even had a life size Johnny Five decal in the window.  Last but not least, the John Jacob Astor Elementary School where Arnold’s character taught kindergarten. (and no, it is not a tumor)

We visited the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, learned a few things that we either forgot from American history in school or never were taught, either way it was a great experience. Hiked to the Cape Disappointment lighthouse (not disappointing at all) and the toured Columbia River Maritime Museum.   

Have you ever been to a cranberry museum, well we have.  I have a better appreciation for our Thanksgiving cranberry jelly, it takes a lot of work to get wrangle those little berries.

What is a trip without finding the largest gooey duck oyster and frying pan!!

July 1-2

We found a hidden gem of a campground, the Taidnapam Park campground.  This is a campground that is managed and supported by the Tacoma Power Company.  Full hook ups, co-located to a fishing lake, walking paths, playground for the kiddos and every campsite is paved, and had fire rings, covered with beautiful 100 ft pine, spruce and alder trees.

We planned on two nights at Taidnapam Park so we could make the 1 ½ hour drive to Mt. St Helen.  Can you believe it has been 46 years since the eruption?   Most of the forest that was destroyed has been reforested but you can still see the scars of the damage to the Toutle River  when all the debris flowed down stream to the Columbia River and then the Astoria harbor where it meets the Pacific Ocean.

May 26-28

Sequoia National Park is in California’s southern Sierra Nevada mountains, a large forest of giant sequoia trees including the world’s largest by volume, the General Sherman Tree.  Our day started early with a incredibly winding and steep drive featuring over 140 sharp switchbacks as it climbs into the park to a altitude of 7000 ft.  I did my homework and checked the weather at that altitude. We were in long pants, sweaters and coats because it was 42 degrees with a foggy mist of rain.  But as you know nothing slows us down. 

The 1800- to 3000-year-old trees were amazing! 

The weather started to make a turn for the worse (even worser) the fog was getting thick.   It was time to leave since we had a 25-mile drive with those nerve racking 140 sharp turns and visibility of 10 feet in front of the truck.  

May 29-31

Next national park on the bucket list was Yosemite National Park.  We were lucky and scored a campsite in the park.  There are no services like water, electricity or sewer hook ups but we figured we could rough it for a few days. 

This was perfect as the park was in full swing with tourist season, cars and people everywhere.  By staying in the park, we could use the park service buses or walk, we did both.  We hiked to some of the well-known granite cliffs, waterfalls and meadows (5.5 miles) beautiful and amazing.  We were in awe the whole time but by the end of the day we were looking for the closest bus to get back to our campsite. 

 

We had been watching the weather for the Tioga Pass (11,000 ft) while we were in Yosemite, because this would be the best and shortest road to start working our way to Nevada.  It was touch and go one day the pass was open then the next closed.  We lucked out the day we were leaving, the pass was open.  We landed in Lee Vining, a very small town just on the other side of the Sierras for a down day. We were still in California but now only hours from our family in Fallon, NV.   

May 31-June 2

We took advantage of our down day and went to Bodie California to a genuine 1880’s goldmining ghost town preserved as a California State Park.  Once a booming metropolis of 10,000 people before being abandoned in the mid-20^th century.

Founded after the discovery of gold in 1859 by W.S. Body, the town exploded in 1876. At its peak in 1879, it boasted 2000 structures, saloons, gambling halls and red-light district.  The boom was short lived, and the population quickly declined.  The last open mind officially ceased production in 1942.

As we walked to park there were so  many structures, some were houses, store fronts, post office, hotel, fire house, church, saloon, barbers, a saw mill.  Many of the insides of the buildings looked as if they were frozen in time. There was even a gas pump from 1920’s and a one schoolhouse that was used until 1942.  We had always heard about this place and glad we finally got a chance to see it.

 

It is time to travel the final miles to Fallon for our Grandsons graduation and family fun for a few weeks.  But don’t worry, we will be back on the road June 26 working our way to the great northwest before we start heading east back across the US to home.

 

 

May 20-22

Still making our way through Arizona, on the 21^st  trying to take pictures and visiting  Route 66 attractions, diners and museums.

We did a two-night stay at a campground in Mohave Valley. Our focus was to visit the historic town of Oatman, AZ on Route 66, known for its wild burros roaming the streets and it’s “ghost town” tourist appeal. Featuring Old West reenactments, shops and saloons.  Originally a gold mining camp that boomed in the early 20^th century, it declined after the mines closed and Route 66 was bypassed, but was revitalized as a tourist destination.  The original road to Oatman on Route 66, was locally known as the “Arizona Sidewinder” featured exactly 191 curves, twists and switchbacks over a demanding 8 mile stretch through the Black Mountains.  It is highly recommended to take your time driving this route due to narrow steep drop-offs and the occasional wild burro crossing.  We found two routes into Oatman, the 191 curves road and a back road that was pretty straight forward except for the occasional burro.  We took the straight road into town but you betcha, we took the “Sidewinder” home, what a ride!

May 22-25

Then we crossed into California.  The land of $8.29 for a gallon of diesel, be still our hearts.

We were able to get into the Fam Camp on Seal Beach Weapon Station.  This was a great option as it was secure and cost a fraction of what a RV park in LA would be.

 

We arrived at 1pm, unhooked and made the hour drive to Santa Monica Pier.  Can you believe it, we were on the final leg of our Route 66 trip. After 39 days, 8 states on route 66 (13 states from home) total of 6000 miles, God knows how many gallons of diesel we were at the end of the road, literally.  We found the “End of the Trail” sign at the pier, took a picture, quickly followed by a celebratory margarita.  Can you believe it we did what most cant do we traveled the entire Route 66 just like people did in the heyday of family travel during the great depression and the Dust Bowl.

While in the LA area we decided to mark a few items off our bucket list.  Fist stop was a visit with my sister in Santa Barbara who prepared a fantastic lunch for us and great conversation.  We took Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway back to the RV park.  It was a long 3-hour drive home but well worth it. 

Spent the next day truly be tourist.  We visited the La Brea Tar Pit and Museum, the worlds only active Ice Age fossil site since discovered 1905.   The pits have yielded thousands of fossils like mammoths, saber toothed cats and dire wolves.  Today there are two active excavations site within the park.  Over 3.5 million specimens have been discovered representing over 660 species of animals and plants.  The tar (aka asphalt) still bubbles up today.

drove to see the infamous “Hollywood” sign, Griffith Observatory and of course we took a walk to the TCL Chinese Theater, originally Grauman’s Chinese Theater, a iconic movie palace on the Hollywood walk of fame known for its exotic architecture, hosting major film premieres and famous forecourt of the Stars where celebrities have left handprints and footprints in cement.

Oh my, I forgot to mention that we found the original “Randy’s Donut” shop from 1952.  2 cups of coffee and a box of donuts, heaven

This is the end of our Route 66 trip but not the end of our journey.  We are headed to Sequoia and Yosemite Nation Parks for a few days before we settle in Nevada for a few weeks for our grandson’s high school graduation and some needed grandparent time with all our grandsons.  Don’t worry we still have to make our way back home to South Carolina, there are many adventures to be had getting there.