13 - Oregon to California

This week has been one of contrasts.  We left Oregon for California on Monday and headed down the coast.  Some may prefer to skip more ocean pictures.  I could never get enough.  It seemed every turn brought another spectacular view!  The day was a bit overcast so some pictures look kind of washed-out.  (Now you know why this Pisces lives in Florida :)

The Poser -- will work for bread 

We finally arrived at our campground in Crescent City, CA, near the redwood forests (yes, still same day -- and don't ask what it took to get Paul to stop for all these pictures). 

On Tuesday, we went exploring in the Jedadiah Smith National Forest.  It was about 12 miles of one-lane gravel road, but... Wow!

The great humbler

This is the road

Of course, some of us are used to being short in a big world

Didn't really expect me to stay away from the ocean long, did you?

Lighthouse at Crescent City.

Nearby beach ...

Meanwhile, back at the local marina... "I'm cool.  I'm Boss sea lion here."

"And this is my harem... they don't work for nobody but me"

We did have to eat.  A little local flavor - best real tacos in town and only $2.59.  No Tex-Mex here.

We reluctantly left Crescent City on Friday for Cloverdale, CA.  My bad on the way.  I convinced Paul to take this little road (towing the camper) in the Humboldt Redwood Forest so I could photograph the biggest redwood around, AND he didn't even get to see it.  (I think he's finally forgiven me:)

We've left the coast and are making the eastward turn Tuesday.  Meanwhile, we feel right  home here in the Sonoma wine country.  'Til next week...

A little Saturday afternoon wine-tasting at Kendall-Jackson

They turn the wine into water for the finches and hummingbirds

12 - Oregon Coast

OK...pictures of our trip along the Oregon coast this week have probably been better and enhanced, maybe even into posters, since it may be the most photographed area of the US.  Nevertheless, I feel privileged to have seen and photographed it personally.  Along with thousands of others, I love the "sea stacks!"

Oh, although no picture, Paul had to brake sharply as we drove toward Portland for the day for the black bear cub who ran out in front of us.

11 - Washington Coast

All week we've been on the Washington Coast.  Monday thru Friday was spent in La Conner, WA (north of Seattle, near the San Juan Islands).   Our campground was on the water with its own little beach.

As Paul's niece said when she was little, "Oh, if I could live anywhere, it'd be here!"  One day was spent driving around Whidbey Island/Deception Pass/navy base, another day in Seattle at the Pike Street Market, and another day ferrying through the San Juan's. 

Unfortunately, my two co-worker buddies (Cathy and Jack) were in Chicago for the week so no visit with them.

This week-end we're in Ocean City, WA, again on the beach.  It just isn't the San Juan's though.  Monday we're off to Oregon.

Log jam on campground beach (cool fog)

After about 20 min., this guy had made no headway!

Kiwi and I

Pike St. Market (Seattle) - Crab, lobster, salmon, cod?

Ferry to the San Juan Islands (late as usual)

Landing at my personal favorite, Orcas Island

More Orcas - the village

Beautiful night in the San Juan's

What the heck is this, we said?  After walking the beach, it came in real handy in finding the path back to the campground!  (Ocean City, WA)

Pacific Ocean by the campground this week-end

Big dogs!  (Nah, riders in the sands.)

10 - Somewhere around Quincy, WA

Friday, we drove from West Glacier, MT to the family campground for Fairchild AFB, WA (near Spokane).  It was a bust, even at $17 a night.  Our neighbor's kids with five dogs pitched a tent with a spike into our asphalt site just under the bedroom window; people were slamming doors and talking until almost 3 AM.  Paul called it retribution for his "misspent youth."  (may be true!) 

We did a base run for necessities.  On the way, we almost hit a deer.  Just missed it by about a tail's length!  I said, oh my gosh, we'd be stuck here waiting for repairs!  We were outta there by 10:30 AM.

The rest of today and tomorrow, we're at a Thousand Trails campground somewhere around Quincy, WA.  Since we're TT members, it costs $0.   Monday, we're off to another Thousand Trails campground north of Seattle.

The lake near this campground

9 - Ziplining in Whitefish, MT

Paul and I decided we needed a little excitement in our lives so we made a reservation at a resort in Whitefish, MT to zipline.  We did six lines in about three hours.  What a fast few hours.  It was sooo much fun.  The only thing is you go down the line so quickly you hardly have time to look around. 

On line # 5, would you believe I got stuck about 15' out from the platform.  The guide said, "Oh, I never had that problem here before."  That reassured me so much!  He came down the line on his own trolley and said, "OK, the rock's out."  I asked if he was sure 'cause I did NOT want to get to the middle and get stuck again!

Line # 6 was the fastest -- about 50 mph by the time we got to the end.  I bought a picture of us, which I received via e-mail, but I can't open the ^&%* thing (my computer glitch).

Uh -- about that bar for the front ---

You'll notice which one has the zip

Think we're ready for Alps yet?  A little mountain climbing?

Headline:  woman stuck 30' in air -- vows to never have another glass of wine if Higher Power will save her