Spring into Canada

From Astoria OR, I drove for just over an hour east to Longview, Washington where I stayed at a Walmart. It was still raining on and off and there were spring blossoms and trees just putting out their new leaves. Everything felt like it was waking up after winter.

The next day was finally sunny. I  drove north on hway 5 ,then a short drive east to the Mount St Helens Visitor Center. I remember when that volcano erupted and was surprised that it has been almost 36 years since that happened
( May 18, 1980). I had a friend who lived quite far from the site and talked about the many pounds of ash she had to clear from her house and lawn. At the time, I had seen some vials of ash being sold in a gift shop!

Mt St Helens is the snow covered peak

The Visitor Center was impressive with its displays and stories. Their film was quite moving and reminded me of how powerful nature can be.
For 2 months before the eruption, there were a series of earthquakes. 
Despite most people being evacuated, approx 52 were killed including a photographer and some hikers.
Outside the center was a lovely hiking trail that led around part of a small lake.

That night it rained again as I stayed at a very nice State Park ( Ike Kinswa) in that area. Given all the rain, it felt good to be hooked up to electricity. Fortunately they had showers available and it was a pleasure to have a shower that was more than 1-2 minutes long! ( in the RV water is limited).
It rained on and off during the 2 days I was there but the sun did come out for brief periods. I took advantage of the dry spells to go for a bike ride or hike their trails. Along one trail I was delighted to come across 2 deer grazing beside the path.It was a wonderful way to celebrate the first day of spring.
I spent a restful 3 days there and was happy to see the sun for those short periods.

Instead of driving west to Hwy 5, I decided to go north to Tacoma using #7 which was slower but more scenic. This road hooked up with #5 again which took me past Seattle. Despite many lanes, the traffic was extremely heavy and congested. It took me 1 1/2 hrs of stop and go driving just to get around Seattle and I wondered how so many people can manage to commute that stretch twice daily for their jobs. Although I love cities for brief visits, I doubt I could ever live in one.
I finally found a good rest stop just north of Marysville and spent the night there along with many transport trucks and a few RVs. It was rather noisy with the trucks coming and going all through the night but I was tired and slept fairly well. It rained all night again. Don't the clouds ever run out of water??

At that stop there was an interesting display of a cedar stump.
Giant cedar trees once grew in this area. This huge cedar stump is over 20 ft in diameter, from a 1000 yr old tree, and discovered by early settlers.

As in most places I stopped at, I met other RVers. They were usually from the US but also quite a few from Canada, just about always from BC or Alberta. It was interesting to share stories.

It was now March 22 and the next stop was a short drive of only 15 min. It was to a casino near Arlington which had an official RV park along with some hook ups (fee charged) ,a dump station, and very nice landscaping. I went to the free dry camp area where there were a few other RVs. The "Angel of the Winds" casino was very well run and the staff helpful and friendly. I go to casinos for the free parking and good food rather than for gambling. I have worked too hard for my money to lose most of it! Besides, I dislike the noise but had to walk through the casino to get to the restaurants. Some good take-out food meant I didn't have to cook or wash dishes which, in an RV with limited space, is always a challenge.

It rained on and off for the 2 days I was there and my slideout was leaking again in the same corner as before I had it fixed over a year ago. Frustrating! I took a deep breath and reminded myself that compared to a lot of life's problems this is fairly "small stuff". Rolling up a towel in that corner was a temporary solution and I'll get the seals checked after I'm back in Canada.

The RV next to me belonged to a couple from Washington. It was the woman's birthday and in the evening she knocked on my door to bring me some of the fancy cupcakes that she got for her birthday. It was a very nice gesture.

The 2 days went by quickly. I had wanted to go to the tulip festival in Mt Vernon.
and found out that the daffodils are in bloom now but the tulips are just starting to open up.Besides, it was raining so I decided to wait a few days. 


I stopped at a Walmart in Arlington to get some groceries and also look for a replacement toilet seat as the hinges of mine broke. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the size I needed, realizing that many things in an RV are not routine sizes and may require going to an RV store.
Hinges and latches often loosen or break due to the vibrations caused by driving. I've had to replace a couple of these on drawers so far. 

Spring buds

I turned off #5 and drove about 2 1/2 hrs NE on #530 tocaptionbhead in the Cascade mountains. The route was scenic with mountains all around. The disadvantage was that it was raining and there were low clouds obscuring some of the mountain peaks. A sign on the road warned that shortly after Marblehead, but before the campground entrance, the road was closed due to snow. I could see snow on the mountains. It rained most of the way because the road was at a lower  altitude. Oh, that rain!!                                                                                                                                                                      

In the town of Marblehead, I stopped to top off my propane and shortly afterwards, arrived at the Alpine RV park. I chose this park because it gives a discount for Passport America members but mainly because it is surrounded by the Cascade mountains. I have always loved mountains and it seemed like the perfect place to spend Easter.
 I was greeted by the manager and given a site close to the office in order to get their WiFi signal. This was important to me as there was no cell service in that area.
I could see the nearby mountains in every direction but the farther ones were cloud covered and there was a drizzle which lasted all night.

I woke the next morning to SUNSHINE! Oh, how good that felt.My heart was filled with gratitude for our sun which heats us and makes our food possible. It also provides me with electricity through my solar panels. ( my panels still pick up a small amount of energy from the sun even when it is raining and with dark clouds, which I find amazing).

The sunshine lasted 2 days and I was able to go on some long bicycle rides. It was wonderful to see so many mountains, often with snow on their peaks. All along the highway were signs of spring and there were many birds singing.

One of my stops was at a fish hatchery,  arriving there just as one of the staff was feeding the fish. "Leroy" invited me to see the fish more closely and took some time to explain the work there. The fish at the hatchery were Rainbow trout and various types of salmon. They sedate the fish for a brief period then catch them and squeeze them to get the eggs which are then hatched. When the fish are old enough , they are returned to the river. The hatchery protects and feeds the fish so that the stocks can be increased.

As I rode my bicycle along the highway, I marvelled at the many mountains surrounding me. These mountains are a part of the Cascade range.

On the way back to the campground, I stopped to take a photo and a cyclist coming the other way stopped to chat. He seemed a bit strange and told me about research he was doing on the Sasquatch. He said he lives in the woods and has seen several of them but was vague about details. I thanked him and was relieved to be on my way. It seems this part of the country  is known for its interest in the Sasquatch. I wonder if they actually exist!

A Sasquatch greeting visitors to Marblemount

After the 2 sunny days, the rain came again, just in time for Easter. That should make the flowers grow! It was too wet and cold for a bike ride so watching a movie and reading was on the agenda. I also got things ready for leaving the next day and was looking forward to meeting my friend Barry from BC who was visiting relatives just an hour north of there. 
We decided to meet at the Walmart in Mt Vernon and go check out the tulip fields near that city.


On Easter Monday, I left Marblemount for the drive west to Mt Vernon. It was a glorious sunny day and the mountains were fantastic. Numerous blossoming trees and bushes lined the highway and I was singing as I drove.
Spring is such a joyful season!

I arrived at the Mt Vernon Walmart right on time and Barry was already there waiting. It was good to connect again as it had been quite some time since I last saw him. We had a buffet lunch that lasted about 2 hrs while catching up on our lives. The manager at the hotel he was staying at gave me permission to park in their lot which was great as Walmart would not allow overnight parking.
We then drove to the tulip festival area to see the flowers. The festival is officially during the month of April and coming a little before that meant less crowds. I had no idea the flower fields were so extensive and had never seen anything so colorful over such a large area.

 

Besides having beautiful flower displays, they are a major producer of flowers and bulbs which they ship all over the world.
                                                                         

The next day we drove to Anacortes to see town and the ferry terminal so I would know where to go the following morning. Later on we said our good byes and I drove about 15 min north to stay at a casino. On the way I stopped to fill up with gas which, at $2.04/gal was less expensive than the gas in Canada. The casino was just a 20 min drive to the ferry at Anacortes and that was good because I had to be there by 7:30 in the morning.
Warm sun followed me to the ferry and I could see snow capped mountains on the horizon, including Mt Baker. I was surprised to see only one other RV in the line and about 2 rows of cars. It was still early in the season.

Last one on the ferry!

The crossing took 2 1/2 hrs on very calm water. We passed by the US San Juan Islands briefly stopping at one port.
I had never paid attention to this group of islands and they looked exotic. 

San Juan Islands with snowcapped mountains on the mainland 

I felt emotional when first seeing the coast of Vancouver Island, knowing I was back in Canada and how much I love it.When hearing about the wars and problems of some other countries, I am always grateful to call Canada my home.

The ferry arrived at Sydney BC on time and I ended up being detained by a friendly customs agent informing me I would need to pay some tax because I was over the allowable limit for things bought in the US ( I had bought a bicycle and rack, a ceramic heater, and some RV supplies.) It's the first time I have ever had to pay tax.

It was a pleasant 1/2 hr drive to Victoria and further on to a Walmart just west of the city where I was told I could park for 2 days. Victoria does not have much space for parking so that worked out well.
The next day I met one of my sisters who lives in Victoria and she took me on a walk then lunch at their beautiful waterfront. It was good to catch up as it had been a while since we saw each other.
The weather was sunny and warm with blossoming flowers, bushes and trees.

Now I'm still at the Walmart with plans to see Victoria's downtown and some other areas of interest. I found out I can park at their casino for free and will go there tomorrow. I had a brief visit to this island a few years ago and am looking forward to exploring more of it.

My RV journey continues.

                                        "Creativity is intelligence having fun"
                                                          --- Albert Einstein

         "You must find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible"
                                                             --- Deepak Chopra

                          "Others have seen what is and asked why.
                                                      I have seen what could be and asked why not."
                                                                            ---- Pablo Picasso

                          "Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties."
                                                           ---- Erich Fromm


Happy Spring!

Maria

whyknotrvmaria@gmail. com
                     







, 

Oregon treasures

Oregon ( pronounced orgon) is a state I have never been to. I heard there were many hot springs in this state and it took me a while to find one on the internet that was in the area I was in. I headed about 30 mi SE to Ashland. After a few wrong turns, I finally arrived at Wellsprings, a hotspring and spa. I was happy to discover a little piece of paradise with its blossoming trees, a large tiled hot spring and a huge swimming pool.They even had a steam room which I loved.
I was able to dry camp close to the pools and had a relaxing 2 days. 

It rained most of the time I was there but that didn't make much difference when soaking in a hot spring pool.
I was surprised to discover that they request silence while in the pools.
It was an unexpected pleasant feeling sitting amongst about a dozen people and fully enjoy the experience without the distraction of conversation.

From there, I drove north on #5, not sure where I would be that night.
I found a very good rest stop that appeared to allow overnight parking as there were some trucks there. The rain continued on and off and it got quite cold.
It wasn't until the next morning that I noticed a small sign by the washrooms indicating a limit of 12 hrs stay there but I hadn't noticed any staff.

Driving further north through a small mountain range, there was some wet snow falling. I wondered if I would need to put on those tire chains I now had.
Thankfully the sky cleared a bit and there was no snow or ice on the road.
I stopped at a town to explore several antique stores there. They were filled with all sorts of treasures including depression glassware that I love so much.

There were many colours of glass but I liked this display of blue glass

Later on, I stopped at a campground wanting to hook up to electricity. Because of all the rain and overcast skies, my solar panels were not able to fully charge my batteries. The office at the campground was closed for the weekend and a notice said to dry camp for those arriving after hours. I wasn't about to pay just to park there! I drove back to the highway to the city of Eugene. On my "Allstays" app, I found a place to park overnight. It was the far parking lot of a large mall. A security guard gave me a pass to stay there up to 2 days. What a treat as it was right beside a river. There was only one other RV there but it was a safe place with a security vehicle diving around regularly. There was also a bike/walking path all along the river and I felt that I had found another gem.

Spring blossoms at the parking lot along the river:

About 4 blocks away was a Ford service center where I was able to get the truck part of my Motorhome checked and serviced. The rain stopped for a while and there were actually some moments of sunshine breaking through the clouds.How wonderful that sun felt after all that rain!
The parking lot was that of a big mall and I got a few things I needed as well as visiting a cinema to watch the latest Star Wars movie. It wasn't as good as I had hoped, with too many battle scenes but it was nice to see a movie on a big screen. I've always liked Star Trek much better.

On the way out of the city, I stopped at a community pool and had a long awaited swim. It is one of my favourite forms of exercise and much needed.
The daffodils were in bloom. Spring is a wonderful season with everything waking up after the winter.

It rained again all that day. My RV was getting free washes!

Just south of Salem, I drove east to Silverton where I had found a PA campground. It felt good to hook up to electricity and get my batteries fully charged again. My campsite was very pleasant with blossoming trees beside me.
It was good to be able to dump my tanks as well since I never know where the next dump station will be.
The next day was a boring drive north on #5 past flat farmland but then I turned east and crossed the coastal mountains to Tillamook. That town is know for its cheese factory which I toured and found quite fascinating.

I was able to park overnight for free at a cheese store. They had a small petting zoo and park as well as chickens which roamed freely. 

 I enjoyed the animals but would have slept in a bit the next morning had it not been for a very energetic rooster who crowed his heart out at around 5am!

This rooster was still singing by 8am!
The sky was clear and I was so happy to see the sun, that I didn't mind that rooster.
It was also St Patrick's day and warm enough to be out in my green T-shirt.

I had read about doing "Random acts of kindness" ( in Richard Carson's "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff") and decided it would be a good thing to do regularly. 
I asked a woman at the ice cream counter if I could pay for an ice cream for the next child coming in. She loved the idea and I felt really good. It's a small thing but results in happiness not only for me but for all those involved. Besides, it was fun. There are many opportunities to practice this every day and many don't cost anything. I am often so busy or distracted that I don't think about it. Can you imagine our world if everyone practiced these little acts regularly? 

I left there to drive north to Astoria, a coastal town at the border of Washington. 
Along the way, I noticed a sign advertising the sale of Cannabis ( marijuana) which seems to be legal in Oregon.

There was also some beautiful coastal scenery.

Astoria was a pretty town on a hill overlooking the Columbia River. A large bridge connects it to Washington state on the other side.
At a length of 4.1 mi, it is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.
I drove over and back again just for the thrill of driving across such a big bridge!

The Astoria-Megler bridge seen in the distance. ( better photos can be seen on Google search). Photo was taken from the Washington side.

I did not overnight in Astoria, choosing to keep going into Washington and inland to Longview where I stayed at a Walmart.
My experiences in Washington will be a story for the next blog.

                          " One must dare to be happy"
                                    --- Gertrude Stein

                       "Stop trying to find a ladder to reach the sky.
                         Stay still and the sky will touch you."
                                          ---- "Notes from the Song of Life" by Tolbert McCarroll

Smile often.

Maria

whyknotrvmaria@gmail.com

Soggy foggy redwoods

After leaving Santa Rosa on March 7, I drove over another mountain pass to get back to the coast. The road was very twisty and the driving was slow. Along the way, I passed many vineyards and some Apple orchards. California is famous for its wine but I didn't know apples grew there.

A vineyard

The coast was rugged and the surf crashing onto the beaches and cliffs. I first arrived in Albion with the plan of camping at a state park. Unfortunately most of them were closed due to some heavy flooding during the recent rainstorm.
(the same one I experienced while in San Francisco). 
I had to keep driving past Mendocino. I finally found a campground at Westport and got a reduced rate because I was  woman traveling alone! It was a lovely place right on the beach. It rained all night and felt damp and cold. Luckily my heater worked well. I was now 1254 km (779 mi) from Victoria, BC , my first destination back in Canada to visit one of my sisters there.

The next morning I continued driving north along the coast.The rain continued on and off all day and there were foggy patches. The countryside was becoming more forested and before long I was driving amongst some giant redwood trees. These coastal redwoods are taller and than any other living thing. I took the scenic route, "The avenue of the giants" and marveled at the size of the trees. They can live over 2000 yrs, able to withstand fires, floods and insects. There have been several reports of Sasquatch or "big foot" seen in the area! ( info from brochure).

Taking a break to take a closer look at 
these marvelous trees

The coastal road had many sharp curves and steep sections, and with the added rain, made driving difficult and slow. There were also several signs along the way warning of small mudslides due to the heavy rains. The road had been cleared but it was still unsettling, and I was hoping there would not be a slide as I was driving by!
I wasn't sure where I would spend the night and was happy to come to a rest stop along the highway, close to the town of Trinidad. A sign stated no camping but further along another sign stated parking allowed for up to 8 hrs and there were trucking lanes. A couple of trucks were there and I felt all right staying overnight. Shortly afterwards,  another motorhome pulled up behind me. There was a light rain throughout the night but no one bothered us.
Again there was a steady light rain throughout the night. 

After breakfast, I drove to Crescent City and then turned inland on hway 199, crossing into Oregon and to Grants Pass where I found a Walmart. I asked if I could spend the night in the parking lot and was told that technically overnight parking is not allowed but if I parked at the far end of the lot and stayed only one night, no one would bother me. The rain continued and I wondered where it was all coming from. The temperatures have been cool, in the 50's and 60's F.
I've been missing the warm weather of the southern areas but also relieved I don't have to drive through snow.

Along hway 199

I wonder where I will be tomorrow night and what interesting places I'll discover in Oregon?


                          "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass,
                                 it's about learning to dance in the rain".
                                                    --- sign in Walmart washroom


                              "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity.
                                An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
                                                                             ---- unknown



With all this ran I may have to think about turning my RV into a boat!


Maria

whyknotrvmaria@gmail. com


         

The magnificent Pacific

After the dry desert, I was looking forward to seeing the ocean. As I drove west, the vegetation became more and more lush.
On the way to the coast I parked at a store for supplies and as I was getting ready to leave, someone knocked on my door. It was a young Australian couple with a rental RV who had just been to Yosemite National Park. They had some tire chains to give me if I wanted them. 
Evidently everyone visiting Yosemite at this time of year is required to buy chains because of the snow on the roads. A store at the entrance was making good business selling them. The Aussies had no use for them back home and refused any offer of payment.What a gift! They are expensive and I have often thought of getting some in case I have to drive over an icy mountain pass. When you least expect it something wonderful like this happens!

Soon afterwards, I arrived at Ventura, on the west coast of California and had my first glimpse of the expansive ocean. What a treat that was after such a long time in the desert!
A few miles north of town, I found Faria campground. My site was right against some rocks separating me from the pounding surf serenading me to sleep.

Farmland on the way to Jalama beach

I left the next day continuing north
along the coast. The green fields and trees were a delight to see. The road led inland to Lompoc then I took a side road heading back to the coast to Jamala Beach that someone had told me about. It was a slow 14 mi drive over a narrow, windy road and hilly terrain.
Arriving at Jamala Beach was like discovering a hidden gem. 
I was a week day and I was able to find a campsite. This beach is very popular and some people reserve a site and pay for it for 1-2 days before the weekend to ensure getting a site.

My campsite, central and right by the beach

Although rather remote, there was internet, showers, a dump station, and even a restaurant.
The weather was glorious and I went for walks along the beach twice a day.
The surf was high and the water too cold and dangerous for swimming (strong undertow and rip tides) but it felt good to walk barefoot in the warm sand.

Pacific coastline

Surfers getting ready for kite surfing

Something I had never seen before were people kite surfing. Dozens arrived for the weekend and it was fun watching them wait for the correct wind and wave conditions. I asked one of them about this sport and he said it was easier than regular surfing because you hang on to the kite and skim across the top of the waves on boards similar to surf boards. They can stay out for hours, riding the waves, going at high speeds back and forth along the shore. It looked very exciting!

A sign at the campground

When I saw the above sign, I remembered that this whole coast is prone to earthquakes. Hopefully there will not be any during my journey!

I stayed a few days and then took a small side trip into Lompoc to take care of some business. My medical travel insurance was expiring soon and it was a long and frustrating process to get it renewed for another month. Given that our Canadian health care covers only a very small part of the services in the US, it's imporant to get the extra insurance .

When traveling like this I am often out of cell phone or internet service. Luckily I found a Staples store and got my forms printed and faxed. 

Just east of Lompoc is the popular tourist town of Solving. It is a replica of a Danish town that someone told me was worth a visit. The bakery had a long line-up and the town was busy with tourists. It was fun walking down the main Street.

Solvang had many wonderful flower gardens and restaurants.

Later that afternoon, I drove to Pismo beach, a favourite place I camped at last year. The state park is located right along an expansive beach.
A big disappointment for me was that most of the monarch butterflies who usually spend the winters there had already left for their journey north. Spring is early this year with the wildflowers in bloom.
Last year I saw this group of monarchs nesting in the eucalyptus trees in that park. They are from west of the rockies. Another group  from east of the rockies fly down to Mexico for the winter.
Despite my disappointment, I did enjoy some walks along the beach and the weather was sunny and warm.

The sunsets at Pismo Beach were always a treat.

The next day, I continued a short distance north to Montana de Oro, another favourite state park I had stayed at last year. I had told my friend Peter about it and he met me there. It is a great place for hiking and we enjoyed exploring and waching the surf splash up against the cliffs. The next morning we hiked to the top of Valencia peak, 1347ft altitude. The day started out sunny but we then watched a fog bank roll in and over us. Luckily we were already quite high up and soon saw the sun again .The views were fantastic. Those orange flowers are California poppies.

I left there to drive to the Franklin hot springs, northeast near Paso Robles.
It was a good place to relax for a while. There was a camping area right next to the hot springs and people came from all over for the healing properties of that water. An added feature was a very large pool and I finally got some swimming done.

After leaving there, I returned to highway #1 along the coast and stopped to visit Hearst castle. It was built after a dream of William Rudolph Hearst who said he wanted to build "something a little more comfortable than a tent"! 
He hired architect Julia Morgan to design it. It took from 1919 to 1942 to complete it and is impressive to see. The main building , Casa Grande, is 60,645 sq ft and has 136 rooms. The buildings and grounds contain a massive number of artworks and antiques. During his time there, he had many famous guests.

Casa Grande

A short drive later on, I stopped to see some elephant seals that were in a protected area of the beach. The males were huge and can weigh up to 5000lbs. It was fun seeing some of the young pups playing.

 

From there, the coastal road became more windy and hilly. There were sharp curves and with sheer drops on one side down to the ocean and mountains on the other, it made driving a challenge. There was a surprising amount of traffic.

The slow driving gave me more time to enjoy the scenery.   

It was still daylight when I arrived at Kirk Creek campground and found my friend Peter parked there. The camp host was not available and it was self serve. I was happy to find a site that had no indication of reservation on it. After parking, I went on a trail down to the beach which took a while as the campground is high up on a bluff . 

Trail to beach

I loved watching the surf break against the rocks.

I was making dinner when there was a knock on my door. A couple told me they had reservations for that site and showed me the papers. The staff had neglected to mark the site as reserved and I had to leave. It was getting dark so I hurried off without a chance to say good-bye to Peter. It was the first time I have had to leave a site and it felt rather unsettling. The road was too treacherous to drive at night so I decided to park in a turn out on the side of the road, hoping no one would ask me to leave. I felt uncomfortable parked there with no one around and with no cell phone signal.  There was nothing I could do about that but I did keep my bear spray handy!

The night went by without incident and I woke up to fog. This lifted a bit once I got going but it still meant driving very slowly. The fog patches added a mystical atmosphere.

An hour or so later, the road became straighter and faster. Soon I was driving through residential areas and I reached the outskirts of San Francisco. Near the airport, I found a mall and decided to park there for the night. I noticed a couple of trucks parked there and felt it was probably all right. 

The night went by quietly and the next morning I decided I had better move to a different area of the mall. A security man showed up just after I arrived and asked if I was shopping there. I told him I wanted to take the public transit into the city and asked if I could park there that night. He told me there was no overnight parking but offered to take me to an area at the back of the mall where no one would likely bother me. I felt like royalty being escorted by a security vehicle with flashing lights!

He was very kind and said he would tell his supervisor I would be there just one night. He then showed me how to get to the transit station and wished me a good day. It's always such a pleasure to be treated with kindness!

I found the BART transit station. There are several subway and above ground trains that travel to the city regularly and I didn't have to wait long. 30 min later I arrived at Embarcadero St which runs all along the waterfront. I happened to get there for the farmers market and it was interesting walking around inside and out. The atmosphere was festive and there were a lot of tourists (most were inside due to the rain)

It was a long walk around the bay and I finally reached the well known Boudin bakery where the public could watch sour dough bread being made.

Since it was lunch time, I decided to have some of their clam chowder, served in a bread bowl. It was very tasty and gave me the energy to keep going. As I was sitting there watching many people come and go, I suddenly felt homesick for my family and friends. It's interesting feeling lonely while surrounded by people while I didn't feel like that in the desert where there were times no one was nearby.

After that, I arrived at Fishermen's wharf, a popular tourist attraction with numerous restaurants and stores.

It was a rainy day but that didn't deter the many tourists. I was happy I had brought my umbrella.

Getting tired of wandering about, I turned back the way I came. I noticed the San Francsco Bay Aquarium and decided I would visit. 

There were many well done displays of all sorts of  fish, including sharks , and various sea creatures. I was fascinated watch an octopus, which is evidently very intelligent. My favourite were the jellyfish. I had seen some in Nova Scotia while swimming but have usually kept my distance. I didn't realize there were different types of jellyfish and some are quite beautiful.

It felt good to return to my RV after such a full day. That night the winds increased and there was heavy rain. My RV was rocking in the wind but heavy enough to be stable. I was grateful to be in a warm dry place.

In the morning, I was happy to see no ticket or note on my window. It took some time to drive out of the city because of heavy traffic and many stoplights. I was excited to finally get to the Golden Gate bridge and drive over it. There was a look off place to park on the other side and I was able to take a photo of at least part of the bridge.

The road from there was a large expressway leading north and I stopped at a campground near Santa Rosa, on hway 101 inland from the coast and where I am now. They honor Passport America which means I got in for half price. It feels good to be hooked up as my solar panels were not getting enough sunlight to fully charge my batteries. I could also do my laundry and have a shower.

Now to check my map and see where I want to go tomorrow. My timing is good and I don't think I will  have any difficulty getting back to Canada by the end of March.

The Golden Gate bridge

Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."

--- Socrates

Did you know that the sun orbits the center of the galaxy roughly once every 200 million years and that the very center of the milky way is home to a black hole with the mass of 3 million Suns!

-- "Astronomy" by Ian Ridpath

"And in the end it's not the years in your life that count.

It's the life in your years."

---Abraham Lincoln

Take time to play!

Maria

whyknotrvmaria@gmail.com