Doran Park, Bodega Bay - October 2007

We spent a few days at one of our favorite spots - Doran Park. The day we arrived it was 80 degrees! That doesn't happen very often and it felt really strange, but it was beautiful. The wind and fog did arrive on the following days, but it was still beautiful in the high 60's/ low 70's.

View from our trailer door. It is the boat channel from Bodega Harbor (to the right) to Bodega Bay (to the left).


Seagulls and the Jetty

Maggie trying to herd the seagulls. (she was on a leash)

Bud's birthday was on Thursday the 25th so we celebrated with a picnic at the Marin French Cheese Factory. We discovered the Schloss cheese when Ross' parents were out for a visit and just had to have it again.

We then had a WONDERFUL dinner at sunset at River's End in Jenner. We have been going here to the restaurant and cabins for 25+ years, but this was the first dining experience under the new owners. Below is a picture we took from one of the cabins during Ron and Robbie's visit in March. The restaurant was closed the night we stayed there, so we'll have to take Ron and Robbie back someday for dinner.

September 2007 - Neighborhood Group Trip to Columbia, CA

A group RV trip was planned with four other couples in our neighborhood. We decided to go to Columbia, CA, the historic gold rush town which is a historic state park , and only a 2 hour drive from home. The group stayed at 49er RV Ranch for 4 nights (we stayed one extra night). The staff at the RV park were very friendly and very accommodating. We had the use of a group room whenever we wanted. The weather was in the 70's, with one day of off and on rain.

The Five Rigs


Cy, Roger, Diane and Mary


Brad, Bud and Martha


Billye, John, Christy and Jack
John and his friend Christy were visiting for dinner. John is Jack and Billye's son who lives in the area.


Bud sharing a loving look at his wife with the camera.


Calaveras Big Trees
On Friday, Sept. 21st, we took a hike at Calaveras Big Trees State Park with Brad and Martha. Click here for our Trail Tales blog for pics and description of the hike.

Moaning Cavern
On Saturday, Sept. 22nd, Bud and I went to Moaning Cavern for a tour. I don't have very good pictures, but what can you do when you are 165 feet underground? We also did some wine tasting/buying at Irish Vineyard. We were very impressed with their wine and enjoyed the visit.

Metal staircase descending down the cavern was constructed in the 1920's from WWI war ship scrap metal. Over 400 steps. I strained a leg muscle on the descent and it took a couple of days to lose the limp.


Formation named the "igloo".


What a happy tourist!!


Railtown 1897
On Sunday, Sept. 23rd, Cy, Mary, Roger, Diane, Brad, Martha, Bud and I went to Jamestown to Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. This was a great little steam engine train ride with a very informative docent in each car. This is known as the Movie Railroad as quite a few movies and TV shows have been filmed here. TV shows of note - the beginning scene from Petticoat Junction, Little House on the Prairie, Wild, Wild West, Death Valley Days, and many more. Movies - Unforgiven, Back to the Future Part III, High Noon to name a few.

Diane, Roger and Cy - Mary is back there somewhere


The steam engine transferring to the back of the train to pull us back home. What a classic picture - little boys and trains just go together.


Signs from movies and TV shows. Note the Petticoat Junction sign at top.


Movie backdrop - real track in front, painting in the distance. Now they just use computers!


Movie prop - fake rock. What a stud!


Yosemite National Park
On Monday, Sept. 24th, the gang headed home as Bud and I spent our last day at Yosemite National Park. There were lots of people and tour buses. Can't imagine what it is like during the summer.

El Capitan from the Valley floor


We ventured up to Glacier Point as neither of us had ever been there. It was really worth the view.

Half Dome from Glacier Point


The Valley floor




Can you see Nevada Falls in the middle of the picture?

Strict Parking Policy

Placerville's parking laws are not only very specific, they anticipate the unexpected. With this special parking area, you would think we would see more koalas roaming the streets - driving, car-owning koalas that is.




The explanation: A restaurant called Koala Sushi and Burgers used to be open across the street. They are now out of business.

An Evening at Boeger Winery - August 2007

Good snacks, good wine and good people - another nice evening at Boeger Winery . Our friend Cheryl joined us for a relaxing evening and Ali and Ross were able to meet up with us as well. This is a very popular event and we snagged the last good table.

Bud and Ross wisely wore wine-colored shirts; something they've learned from experience.


There were lots of families with well-behaved kids. We were the only ones that couldn't control our kids.

Wrestling and screaming broke out.

At least kids this age tire out easily.


A young local artist, Sarah Gautchi, was the evening's entertainment. We have seen her a few times at other events. She is only 18 years old and has been doing this for a couple of years and doing it well!

July 2007 - Hat Creek and McCloud - Last Day

Squaw Valley Creek Falls

We are heading home tomorrow, so for our last day, we chose a hike along Squaw Valley Creek. This creek is within the Shasta Trinity National Forest. The trailhead was about 9 miles from McCloud, the last 3 miles is dirt road. The total hike was 5+ miles round trip. The creek is small and the falls aren't big (15 foot), but it was a beautiful hike.

Squaw Valley Creek


Hiking up the trail.


The Falls


Another shot of the creek from the trail

July 2007 - Hat Creek and McCloud - In McCloud

McCloud

McCloud has survived the post-timber era by being renowned for its wild rainbow trout and the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train. The McCloud-strain of trout provided stock for the first trout in New Zealand, Chile and Argentina. The dinner train has been featured on several national travel shows.

Town artwork. Good thing they have the trout and train to fall back on.


McCloud Falls
The Upper McCloud River is about 5 miles from the town of McCloud and there are three waterfalls on this part of the river. This was our morning adventure.

Lower McCloud Falls


The falls are easily accessible and are a popular swimming hole. Kids were jumping off the rocks on the right. This zoomed in picture gives the feeling of wilderness.

If you look closely, you'll see the people on the rocks on the left.

Kong really wanted a pic in front of Mt. Shasta, so we obliged. Looks like he is on the edge of a reflecting pool! Unanticipated photo effect.

Middle McCloud Falls

Again, the falls are accessible to swimmers. I saw a couple people swim behind the falls. There are people on the rocks on the extreme right side of the picture, but you can hardly see them.


I took this for Ali and Ross. Do these plants look familiar????

Upper McCloud Falls

No one swimming here, but there were fisherman on the river above the falls.

Shasta Excursion Train
This was our afternoon event. There is an hour-long train ride on an open excursion train, pulled by a diesel engine. The car is open and has an upper and lower deck. All Aboard!


This is the Dinner Train - NOT the excursion train we took. Not a very good picture, but it does say "McCloud Railway Company".


Here is our little train. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.......

Kong enjoyed his own seat. He actually snuck in for free!

A view of Mt. Shasta from the train. You saw it periodically along the way.

Kong on the upper deck going back to town.


Haven't we all been here either as kids or parents? There are too many captions for this picture, so choose your own. What comes to my mind is "If I hear 'There's Mt. Shasta' one more time, I'm going to puke. I need to text message someone, but there's no cell service." Anyway, at $12 a head, looks like money well spent.

July 2007 - Hat Creek and McCloud - The saga continues

Travel Day - The Road to McCloud - July 27

We headed north on Hiway 89 to the town of McCloud. McCloud is an old lumber mill and railroad town 12 miles from Mt. Shasta. It is in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It is only 60 miles from Hat Creek, so it was a short travel day.

Kaya insists on back-seat driving. She would rather be at the wheel.

Here is Kaya Asleep at the Wheel!!!

There is a big road construction project on Hiway 89, and there were some delays.

Ahhh, Mount Shasta in the distance.


We set up in the RV park and decided to check-out McCloud. Kaya did NOT want to go back into the truck. I guess she was tired of driving. Anyway, not much in McCloud, but there is a distinct visual of an old "company town". Many old houses exactly the same (mill workers we presume) then some really big old places (lumber barons we presume). Reminiscent of Camino in our area - another lumber mill town.