Skunk Cabbage Trail

September 23, 2009

Today Mindi, Dena and I took a hike on the Skunk Cabbage portion of the Coastal Trail in the Redwood National Forest. We didn't start out until 1:30pm when the fog was finally beginning to lift and therefore we didn't make it the 5 miles to the ocean. The hike was lush and pretty and the weather was perfect for hiking - a cool breeze, the sun peaking out among the trees. We ended up turning around about 1-1/2 hours into the trip and it wasn't until we go back to the trailhead that we looked at the map and saw that we were almost to the overlook, which has a wonderful view of the ocean. The trail then continues along the bluff where the trees are replaced by grass and wildflowers. I was so dissappointed that we didn't make it that far. I guess it's a good reason to hike this trail again in the future only this time starting earlier in the day and bringing more water for us and the dogs. I think a good idea, if you don't want to make the 10 mile round trip, would be to park a car at the trailhead and another at the beach.

After leaving the trail we were all hungry and so we stopped in Orick at the Hawg Wild bar, which is a local Harley hangout. I've been there before so I knew what a great bar it was with a vast array of ecclectic odds and ends decorating the place....the bathroom alone is worth the visit by the artwork on the walls. We each had a IPA and a buffalo burger with fries. The trek through the woods made us all hungry and we ate every bite! The bartender was selling little plastic Harley Ducks to benefit "Relay for Life" so Dena bought us all one! Mine has a red bandana around his head and a black leather jacket!

Another great day in Northern California!

Camping at the Fairgrounds

September 23, 2009
On Monday, September 21st, I hit the road for my first RV trip of any length. I plan on being gone for three weeks and my first days distance was 400 miles from Portland, OR to Eureka, CA. It was a long day but I wanted to arrive here before dark so I could set up camp. I'm staying at the fairgrounds in Eureka; it's only 2 miles from where my daughter lives and close proximity to town so I can walk anywhere.

Yesterday afternoon her roommate had a company picnic at a park in Arcata and we were able to join in. She works at a local restaurant called "The Looking Glass" and the head chef did some barbequeing at the park. We had chicken, sausages, BBQ pork, barley, spinach, potato and broccoli salads which were very good and to wash it down, a keg of beer. This place knows how to throw a great party.

I took Cooper with me and he met a 4 year old little boy and a 4 month old Akita pup, both of whom he played with for a long time. I think all of them were worn out by the end of the day. Cooper slept very well last night.

I'm staying at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds RV Park in Eureka and for the most part it's just a strip of hookups that looks more like a parking lot. One nice amenity is that you can back up to the redwood trees which affords shade and privacy. They have a seperate bathroom and two showers which are old and without much appeal but there isn't a fee to use the shower and the bathrooms are locked and only accessable by code. This weekend they have a few functions at the fairgrounds. Friday night is soap box derby and Saturday night is Roller Derby. I'd like to see the Roller Derby if we have time!

Today we plan on hiking Skunk Cabbage Trail in Orick, CA. There are so many hiking trails in Redwood National Park that the hardest thing is deciding which one to go on. It's only supposed to reach mid 70's today so it should be perfect hiking weather.

Soul Food

On Saturday my daughter-in-law and I went kayaking on the Tualatin River. It was a picture perfect day with the temperature in the 80's, the water serene. We leisurly paddled up river to the bridge and then back to Cook Park where we started. It was calming to the soul and just what I needed.

Make a Smilebox postcard

New Things

I'm excited because I'm learning all sorts of new ways to improve my blog but because it takes time I'm getting nothing else done. I sit in front of this computer all day long! This morning I woke up, totally intending to take my dogs for a walk and now it's three hours later and I'm still here and they're barking in the back yard! In the meantime it's getting hotter and hotter outside!

Lately I've learned how to embed slideshows on my blog and how to add a map with places I'm at or plan to travel to. One adventure leads to another and I find there's this whole new web world out there designed to make my life easier (or more complicated?) Either way, I'm having a great time learning and trying to apply what I've learned.

I'm hoping that by the time I go on my adventure trip to Alaska I'll have most of this figured out!! ha, ha!! It will be a nice way for friends and family to keep in touch with us as we journey through the United States, Canada, The Yukon, and Alaska.

My next trip is going to be to California where I'll visit my daughter for a week and meet up with my parents and then we're going to travel north along the coast. I'll map it out and blog about it - just to give me practice!!

Until then....take a step toward living the life you LOVE!!

Shakespeare and Wine

Last weekend I went to see "As You Like It" presented by the Willamette Shakespeare players at the picturesque Stoller Vineyards in Dayton, Oregon. I went to the 2pm showing on Sunday afternoon and it was sunny and warm with a view of the vineyards and the valley below....a truly inspirational place for Shakespeare!

DG and I brought our lawn chairs, sunscreen, cooler stocked with food and then we bought a bottle of Stoller cabernet to share while we sat back and enjoyed it all. We were not disappointed in either the wine or the play!

Ryan, my son Justin's good friend, headed the cast as Orlando, son of Sir Rowland de Boys. The play was clever and funny and the cast very talented and entertaining.

They're presenting this play at a few other venues in the area during the month of August and I'm hoping to go again, this time at night. I think it's well worth another round.

Happiest Place on Earth

Recently I went to Disneyland. For me, it's always been a land of creativity & magic...a place where dreams come true, a place where you can always feel like a child with all the wonderment and excitement that comes with being in such a magical place. I've never even considered that someone would actually hate Disneyland. Does it depend on how and where you were raised as a child? Does it depend on whether or not you had a happy childhood? Maybe it does. After all, my memories of Sunday night with Disney and Disneyland are filled with the magic, the romanticism, the creativity, the dreams of childhood. If I grew up without all that, would I still feel the same about Disneyland? I really hope I would. I hope it's the core of who I am inside and not my background and how I was raised.

To me, it's not just about your past....it's about all that can be in the future. It's about believing in magic & innocence & fairytales and that life is a good place. For a time, while walking the streets of Disneyland, I can believe in all that. Don't we need a magical & happy place we can go to from time to time?

I know that Disneyland is crowded and that there can be cranky children (and adults) all around me. I know that Disneyland can be an expensive place. I know that I can stand in line 60 minutes for a 3 minute ride. I know all that. But for me, right in the middle of Aneheim, outside of Los Angeles, California sits a few acres of "magic" and "wonder" and "fantasy" and for a little piece of time, Disneyland transports me to a place of innocence, fairytales, wide-eyed wonder, and most importantly, childlike laughter.

California

It's too bad that California has so many people and high taxes because the state is beautiful and the weather isn't too bad either.

I just returned from a week of traveling through the state and sorry to say it was not in the motorhome, it was in the car. Gas mileage was great at 26 mpg but the lodging was very high, maybe because I was traveling on a high volume holiday week. In my mind, if you pay even $50 per night for a campsite it's better than the $200 per night for a hotel, and not some grand hotel either....try Best Western, Holiday Inn. Okay, maybe it's the fact that I was in San Francisco and Monterey - that might have something to do with it but still. I could afford to pay for more gas if my lodging was less AND I would be able to sleep in my own bed every night, eat my own cooking. Next time maybe I'll plan ahead and make a few campsite reservations or better yet, I think September might be a fabulous time to view the lovely state of California. There are a lot of places still unexplored. Hum....the wheels are turning.....