Crossing the Siskiyou Mountains

Dave and I left Seven Feathers just before 9 am this morning.  The roads were dry and no snow or rain was falling. 

As we neared Mt. Ashland, the winter scenery was awe-inspiring, especially since the roads were still clear.

We drove over the mountain summit with no problems.

After a few more miles, we said goodbye to Oregon and entered California.

The Hornbrook Inspection Station greets travelers who enter the state from Oregon.

The inspection is for produce so that unwanted bugs don't enter the California environment. 

The inspection line was short today, with most cars being waived through.  We, however, were inspected more closely when an attendant came inside to look at our produce.  We passed the test and got a certificate stating that our fruit was "clean".

Shortly after leaving our lunch rest stop at the Weed Airport, it started snowing. 

Dave drove well  and about an hour later we drove out of the snow.  Our passage through the mountains went well! 

We got sticker shock when we stopped for gas in Corning, though.  Gas prices have gone up a dime since we were at this station on December 17.

We stopped for the night at Rolling Hills Casino in Corning and after going for a walk to check out the golf course, we stopped by the casino to use up our free $10 each.  I ended up winning $20, which paid for our 2 for 1 buffet meals. 

For anyone who is wondering, Dave's hose insulation worked well last night.  Our RV park neighbors, though, woke up to a frozen water pipe.  Tonight it's 42 degrees and raining.  Tomorrow, we head for the Mariposa Fairgrounds RV Park. 

From Home to Seven Feathers RV Park, Canyonville, OR

Today was the first day of our six-week trip to California.  We left home at 11 am after our garbage and recycling were picked up.  We had a leisurely 220 mile drive on I-5 south from Vancouver, WA to Canyonville, OR.  The weather was partly cloudy, then foggy, then sunny.  It's going to be cold tonight and the temperature is already down to 32 degrees at 7 pm.  Dave insulated our water pipe, so we'll find out in the morning if that keeps it from freezing.

The entry road to the RV Park shows off a dusting of snow on the hills.

We went for a walk after we arrived and then walked down to the casino so that we could lose five dollars in a penny slot machine.  Afterwards we rode the casino shuttle back up the hill to the RV park.  Dave is watching the Oregon Ducks play Auburn.  Go Ducks!

We checked into the park behind these folks from Canada. We were assigned to site #31, which is the same site we had the last time we were here, less than a month ago, on December 17, 2010.  It feels like home!

Tomorrow's the day we tackle the drive up and down the Siskiyou Mountains.  Snow is predicted, but we're hoping to make it through.  Tomorrow's desired destination is Rolling Hills Casino in Corning, CA.

Saying Goodbye to Pismo Beach

Welcome to my new blog follower, Donna aka Froggi.  Visit her blog, 2 Taking a 5th, to read about Donna's full-time RVing adventures.  Cute name for a blog, don't you think, since they tow a fifth wheel? 

Sunset at Pismo Coast Village

This morning we reluctantly said our goodbyes to Pismo Beach.  The area is expecting severe weather in the form of rain and wind, so we decided to begin our journey home to Vancouver, WA.  We had hoped to spend a day or two in Monterey, but that area was included in the severe weather warning, so we headed east to I-5 and then north to Corning.  It was another long day of driving, but by leaving Pismo at 7:30, we were able to arrive at Corning by 3:30 pm.  We're staying at Rolling Hills Casino again, and we just happened to be here on another senior half-price buffet night (Tuesdays and Thursdays). 

Pismo Coast Village   

The Pismo clam decorated for Christmas

Pismo Beach is truly a special place and we will no doubt be back in the future. 

Where was Lady Luck Tonight?

Tonight we stopped at Rolling Hills Casino RV Park in Corning, California.  I used up my free $5 slot play, and an additional $5, and won nothing.  My gambling leanings are over, done, kaput.

We stopped at this casino in honor and remembrance of our friends, Margie and Bruce.  Margie wrote about stopping here to eat at their wonderful buffet.  It was, indeed, a fine buffet.  We happened to be here on one of the senior 1/2 price buffet days (Tuesdays and Thursdays).  After signing up for the free Shasta Club Card, which also included $5 of free slot play, we paid a total of $14.95 for the two of us to eat at the buffet, non-alcoholic drinks included. 

Parked at Rolling Hills Casino RV Park

Margie and Bruce sometimes stayed for free in the dry camping area, but we decided to pay $25 and stay in the full-hookup area.  This area uses self-registration, which went smoothly.  It's a very short walk from both RV areas to the casino, unlike Seven Feathers Casino, where we had to take a shuttle bus. 

Siskiyou Summit on I-5

Our drive today from Canyonville, OR  to Corning, CA went very smoothly.  We saw some beautiful, snowy scenery but all the roads were clear. 

Scenery along I-5 South

Mount Shasta

Houseboats at Lake Shasta

Tomorrow morning we have a short drive of less than 100 miles to Grass Valley, CA, where we have an appointment at DiMartini RV on Thursday morning.  Our bedroom slide didn't ever get fixed properly, so they are going to attempt to fix it.  As long as we could get the motorhome there by the end of this year, Fleetwood agreed to extend the warranty on the motorhome. 

Sunset at Rolling Hills RV Park, Corning, CA

Better Late Than Never

Today was the day we planned to leave home for our trip to California.  We were up and ready to go by 9 am.  When Dave went out to back the motorhome out of the driveway and hook up the car, he noticed that the motorhome had a very flat driver's side front tire. 

Dave put in a call to our Good Sam Emergency Road Service and about five hours later someone came from Les Schwab Tires to remount the tire and put air in it.  We thought that five hours was a pretty long time to wait for service, but at least we were still at home and not stranded out on a highway. 

About 2:30 pm we were able to leave home, but first we had to drive to our nearest Les Schwab dealer that can handle trucks, the one just south of Kaady Car Wash on Mill Plain in Vancouver.  They checked the tire and found that a plastic grommet that goes on the valve cover had cracked.  The service person said that he sees a cracked grommet about once a year, so it's not that common, but does happen once in a while.

Finally around 3:50, we were able to leave Les Schwab, hook up the car, and head south on I-205 along the east side of Portland, OR.  We expected to hit traffic at that time of day, but we had very little traffic the whole way south, so that was a blessing. 

We stopped for the night at Seven Feathers Casino RV Park in Canyonville, Oregon, our intended destination for tonight.  We arrived here around 8 pm, which wasn't too bad considering what a late start we got. 

We took the shuttle over to the casino to get some food since I didn't feel like cooking after our stressful day.  After we ate, we played a penny slot machine and had some fun while winning $7.  I used to say that I wasn't a gambler, but I could get used to winning a few dollars occasionally!

Tomorrow we will continue driving south on I-5 as we tackle the Siskiyou mountain pass and hope to get through there after any snow and ice has melted or been cleared.  Our destination tomorrow night (we hope) will be an RV park in Corning, CA. 

Arrival at Mill Casino RV Park, North Bend, OR

This morning we left Armitage County RV Park.  We drove south on I-5 for about 40 miles and then turned west and picked up  State Highway 38 and drove through the small towns of Drain and Elkton.  We followed the Umpqua River for most of the way and crossed over to the north side of the river. 

Highway 38 west with Umpqua River on our right

Just before we connected with Highway 101 South, we reached the town of Reedsport.  We usually are here in the winter, so seeing the town in summer, with flowers displayed in hanging baskets and flags flying was a pretty sight to see.

This area of the Oregon coast is famous for sand dunes.

Without leaving Highway 101, it’s hard to get a view of the ocean along this part of the coast.  We saw a lot of trees and some impressive dunes. No, this isn’t Iraq, this is the Oregon Coast!

After turning south on Highway 101, we only had 34 more miles to go before we reached the Mill Casino RV Park in North Bend, Oregon.

Crossing over the bay into North Bend  

We signed up for the free Millionaires Club card in order to save 15% at the RV park, then we settled into site #92 with its view of Coos Bay.

We will be stay here for the next four nights.

Thanks for reading my blog!