Murphys, Ca. -- This summer we traveled almost 3,000 miles in a giant loop from home in the mountains to the coast, to Eastern Washington state, and back home again via the coast.
We dodged fire, smoke and heat along the way.
More important we saw beloved family and friends, plus enough scenic grandeur to satisfy John Muir.
We had a wonderful trip with no big problems or challenges and lots of serindipity.
Only regret is that we did not have enough time or energy to see everybody, or stay longer.
First, some data: Our route took us from Murphys, Ca., to Fort Bragg and Patricks Point on the norther Redwood coast of California to Bandon, Oregon, Scapoose, Oregon, and the Columbia River pathway to Spokane, Washington. The trip home followed a similar route to avoid smoke and fire and heat.
We stayed in campgrounds for three weeks every night but three, and our traveling home was our almost-new NuCamp Tab 320, a small trailer that we could pull behind Pat's Subaru and had all the essentials: comfortable bed, a refrigerator, and a toilet.
We made the trip easier by taking our time-- no ten hour driving days and usually stopping for several nights so we were rested and had time for exploring.
The first stop was about six hours to the coast near Fort Bragg, as MacKerrichner State Park, where we had stayed before. I hiked over the dune to the beach for a look before sunset.
And then we got up early the next morning and drove out to the point where we whipped out the Coleman stove, a made fresh coffee to go with sunrise on the beach.
Then we drove an easy trip through the redwoods up to Sue-Meg State Park, formerly known as Patricks Point. We gather here every summer with family, a tradition started years ago by son-in-law Brian Gray's family. We've been here for more than 15 year and it never gets old. We are outnumbered by Grays but they have always made us welcome.
The sunset photo at the top of this post is from the trail near the campground, where we gather almost every evening to watch and see if the sun will really set.
Our camp site, located across from Ruth and Brian and next door to the rest of the Gray family, was like a scene from a Disney movie. First the birds come, and then the chipmunks, and then the rabbits. Every day.
I had never seen a rabbit or a Stellars Jay lie down on the ground to soak up sun, or a rabbit ignore me five feet away while it munches on a green leaf.
We had a great relaxing time with family, and our Calaveras friends Mark and Pat McCormick stopped by on their way to visit family. We always enjoy the Gray family and have been close for over 35 years.
After a week we traveled north to Bullard Beach State Park in Oregon, near Bandon. As we have found elsewhere, the Oregon campground is well designed, offering privacy, maintained well with clean rest rooms and staffed by friendly people. A highlight was a campfire program by the Old Time Fiddlers group, a bunch of traditional musicians almost as old as I am. I sang along with every tune.
A short drive brought us into Brandon and good seafood and a visit to the lighthouse and a unique art gallery.
Aftyer three days in and around Brandon, we moved north to a quick visit with our Sacramento/Mexico,Sailing friends Michael and Sylvia. They live in a floating home on a tributary of the Columbia river and have the waterfront views and toys to go with the lifestyle.
Here is a shot of Pat trying out Sylvia's new water cycle. Now she wants one.
The next two days were traveling, mostly along the Columbia River, to get to our furthermost goal -- Spokane -- and our son, granddaughter and our two great-grandchildren.
That will come in Part Two!
