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