Some Final Facts

We kept track of how much we spent on fuel this Summer along with the price per gallon.

Total spent on fuel: $3157

Average cost per gallon $4.22

High: $4.69 on 5-10-11 in Banning CA

Low: $3.71 on 8-18-11 in Port Angeles WA (using a  club card for a discount at Safeway)

That averages out to about $21 per day considering we were gone for 5 months.

Home Again

We left Pismo Beach early around 6:30 AM hoping to make it home before it got too hot. All was well until we were just north of L.A. on HWY 101 and we saw a sign stating the freeway was closed at such and such street due to an accident. Got off 101 for gas and by the time we approached 101 again it was a total standstill. We followed some side streets not sure where we were headed...then called friend David in Seattle to log onto CalTran and check the highway status for 101. He could see that we were almost in the clear (after about an hour of slogging along) so we got back on 101 and finally made it through L.A.

Home in the afternoon and it isnt too miserably hot. Got the air,water TV and internet up and running,along with food and clean sheets. That will have to do it for tonight.

We met our new neighbor Savannah Walker (hope I spelled that correctly) She is a 4 month old Golden Retriever and adorable. I want one!

Hearst Castle

The main "house"

Outdoor Pool

Indoor Pool

We woke up to heavy fog this morning and headed north on Hwy 1 to tour Hearst Castle. They offer several different tours which take you into various parts of the "castle". Our tour took us through the main entry,dining room,billiards room,movie theatre and a reception area. We were free to walk around all the grounds and gardens afterwards and watched a short movie on how Hearst came into his wealth (daddy found silver in the 1800's) and how the property was built over a period of many years.

Hearst Castle features 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres  of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world's largest private zoo. Zebras and other exotic animals still roam the grounds however we didnt see any.  Hearst even kept polar bears at one time. Hollywood stars were invited up to the castle for weekends or  longer. Our tour guide told us you knew when your time was about up when at dinner  you were seated farther and farther away from Hearst. Apparently Cary Grant would pack up and leave when he was seated halfway down the table from Hearst.

We had a picnic lunch across the  highway on the ocean side afterwards...still really foggy.

Having a spaghetti dinner at the local Elks Club tonight with friends Dorothy and Mervyn who are in the RV park there for a few days.

Morro Bay

Surfing Morro Bay

Doom and Gloom

Yikes that's enough for me! I'm out of the water!

Pismo Beach Area

Dunes

Campground

We are currently at an RV park in Oceano Ca, which is about 15 miles south of San Luis Obispo. The park itself is okay as far as location,cost and amenities, however I checked out the laundry room this morning and won't be using it as it was dirty and one of the two washers was out of order. Windy here last evening and there is some sand blowing in off the dunes but the dunes are pretty.

We had a great Mexican dinner last night just down the street. My cucumber Margeurita was excellent.

This area itself in and around Pismo Beach feels rundown and depressed to me. It looks like a surfer/ATV/dune riding kind of place that maybe appeals more to a younger crowd.

Hearst Castle is not far away and we plan on visiting there this week before heading home Saturday.

17 Mile Drive and Pebble Beach

Lone Cypress. This is actually trademarked by Pebble Beach.

18th Fairway Pebble Beach

18th Fairway Pebble Beach

The beach below the 18th green at Pebble Beach...lots of golf balls

On the 17 mile drive,still foggy

The Lodge at Pebble Beach in back of the putting green

Rock Piles on a beach..17 mile drive

18th fairway Pebble Beach

Jack and I arrived at the Monterey Fairgrounds Thursday the 22nd. It has full hookups,free wifi and satelite,laundry and our site is backed up to the Monterey Pines Golf Club. There is obviously an airport nearby as planes fly low over the golf course and there are actually runway approach light towers on the golf course. The RV park is adequate for the time we'll be here.

We took the 17 mile drive around the Pebble Beach area today. There are three entry gates into this private community and it costs $9.50 per car. Some of the homes overlooking the water here are stunning and enormous. It was pretty foggy when we started out but by the time we reached Pebble Beach Golf Links the sun was out and we had a magnificant view. The area encompasses three well known golf courses:  Pebble Beach of course, Spyglass Hill, and Poppy Hills.There are several private courses here as well.

I have been known to pick up a golf score card when we visit various courses and then pin them on our garage wall. No so at Pebble Beach. A scorecard is $10. A round of golf is $495 per person, a caddy, which is mandatory, is $150, a golf cart is $65 and then of course you are expected to tip your caddy at least $40. There is a public viewing are of the 18th fairway where I took most of these pictures. Believe it or not, a lady climbed over the knee height fence (where there is a sign stating not to)....walked onto the 18th green and grabbed the flag so her partner could take her picture. At the same time a group had teed off and was approaching the green. Jack and I couldnt believe how bold and rude she was.

We continued on to Carmel By-The -Sea,where Clint Eastwood used to be the mayor. There were hoards of people walking,not a parking space to be seen and the traffic was horrible. So long Carmel!

On to Cannery Row in Monterey Bay where we had a late lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp....save your money. It is cute and gimmicky but very expensive and my order of Steamed Clams also arrived with Mussels which I detest. I will give the waitress kudos for bringing me another order of clams when I voiced my distaste for the mussels...on the house thanks.

Wineries,Geysers and the CIA

Castello di Amoroso

Rhine House Berenger Vineyards

Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga

Took a drive over to Santa Rosa this morning and checked out the Railroad Center. Mainly antique stores and vintage clothing but some cool old buildings.

We checked out the Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga. One of 3 famous geysers in the world erupting every 30 minutes. Apparently when there is an earthquake pending the geyser's schedule is thrown off and does not erupt on schedule....handy I would think.

Back to the wineries and Castello di Amoroso (The Castle of Love) built to look like an old European castle with dungeon and torture chamber etc. We did not pay the $32 for the tour but enjoyed the surrounding grounds. We did stop at The Berenger Farms Vineyard for a sample of their Cabernet. Many of the Vineyards here charge a tasting fee of anywhere from $5 to $15. That could get a little expensive if you spent your afternoon tasting! We also stopped at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and checked out their gift shop and amazing collection of wine openers/corkscrews. The building itself looks like a monastery and hosts cooking classes and a restaurant. http://www.ciachef.edu/visitors/gs/

Very warm here today.. upper 90's and humid.

Hwy 1 Coastline

Glass Beach@ Fort Bragg CA

Glass Beach

Hwy 1 Coastline

Jack checking out the fluffy things. Of course I had him cut some to take home!

We spent two nights in Willit CA where we had no wifi,cable TV or Satelite...Primitive camping at it's best. We did make a drive west on Hwy 20 to Fort Bragg,which sits on Hwy 1 and some spectacular coastline scenery. We specifically wanted to visit the Glass Beach.

Glass Beach is a unique beach, not because nature made it that way, but because time and the pounding surf have corrected one of man's mistakes.
Beginning in 1949, the area around Glass Beach became a public dump.  Back then people dumped all kinds of refuse straight into the ocean, including old cars, and their household garbage, which of course included lots of glass. The decades of wave action and pounding surf has smoothed the glass into bits of beautiful small pieces.  Although you are not suppose to take any of the glass there were dozens of people there along with us prospecting and gathering glass.

South of Glass Beach on Hwy 1 we stopped in the small town of Elk because we like towns named Elk, and there was an scenic overlook to the beach below. Elk is also where Jack London wrote "The Call of the Wild" in 1902!

We decided to take a different route back to Willit...did I mention I was driving? Always like to give Jack a break so he can look at scenery and not the road. I look at scenery whether I'm driving or not and therefore sometimes swerve a bit away from the shoulder..... Anyway we took the twisty turning narrow road..Philo-Greenwood Rd, back to Hwy 128 and the Anderson Valley Wine Country. We stopped at Scharffenberger Winery for a quick taste of their wine and then back on the road. Hwy 128 eventually runs into 101 again and civilization. We stopped in Ukiah for lunch at the Ukiah Brewing Co and saw this weird party bus. There were 4 or five guys riding in the back and there were surfboards on the top.

Left Willit this morning and headed south on 101 then detoured over Hwy 29 which was once again a twisty turning road....this time we were towing the 5th wheel but Jack did a great job as always and we made it to the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga. Full hookups,satelite TV,wifi,sunny and 90 degrees. Looking forward to some wine tasting over the next couple days and maybe I can convince Jack to take a therapeutic mud bath,which is what Calistoga is famous for...

Rogue River

Boats Fishing on the Rogue River

We took a drive over to the Jetty to feed the Jetty Kitties but didn't see any. Their houses look pretty rundown and some were even blown off over the edge onto the rocks.Maybe they all found homes and have left the jetty. Left them a can of Ocean Whitefish anyway.

There are lots of fishermen out on the Rogue River today. Jack heard that no one is catching much however we stopped a a fish cleaning station and the guy there was cleaning a huge King salmon....said he'd caught two. We stopped at the Cannery for fresh Rockfish and Razor Clams. After our fish stop we headed to the beach and gathered some more driftwood and agates. We found another RV park that is about $15 less per day than Turtle Rock, closer to the beach,with the same amenities. If we pass this way next year we will probably give it a try.

I'm doing last minute laundry before leaving in the morning. Jack has gone to Ace Hardware to pick up some fuses. Everytime he tries to raise the landing gear on the 5th wheel a fuse blows.

No wifi for a couple days until we get to the Napa Valley Fairgrounds on Monday.

Turtle Rock

http://www.turtlerockresorts.com/

We left Newport around 7:30 AM and headed south on Hwy 101 through Florence and Coos Bay and arrived in Gold Beach around noon. The weather is sunny and about 64. We like this RV park for it's close proximity to the ocean (via a short trail through the park) and the great seafood for sale at the Gold Beach Cannery.  I've already been to the beach to scout out the rocks and driftwood. The tide is high now and it is pretty windy. We have a great RV spot right in front of the laundry and wifi. It's nice to have wifi from the 5th wheel as well as satelite TV and cable.

There is a little bar across the street that we like. slot machines and good food as well as a Happy Hour at 4. Kind of a local hangout.

We'll only be here for two nights and then head into California to Willits for the weekend...where we will have no wifi or cable TV but they have a nice swimming pool.

Next Stop Gold Beach

Another gray,foggy day on the coast in Newport. It didnt get much over 60 degrees today. Jack and I took a drive down Hwy 101 to Florence for some different scenery and something to do. Hwy 101 south of Newport is beautiful even in the overcast gray. I've been walking on the beach almost every morning scavenging small pieces of driftwood. Thinking of some projects using driftwood once  I get home.

Thursday we will head south to Gold Beach for a couple nights...then on to Willits CA. There is a beach near Fort Bragg (and Willits) that we want to check out..more about that later. From Willits we move to Calistoga CA and wine country. Then Monterey and hopefully a visit with my cousin Craig who lives there. After Monterey we will spend a few nights near Pismo Beach and then probably make a run for home.

It's hard to believe it is mid September already and we'll be home soon.

Bayfront Walk in Newport

Art?

Yaquina Bay Bridge from The Newport Bayfront

Not enough room  for the big guys in the new "capture cage"

A beautiful,sunny day on the waterfront in Newport Oregon. Jack and I were hoping to see more fresh fish for sale on the piers during todays "Wild Seafood Festival" but it seems like most of the catch was sold out by 10AM. We still enjoyed walking along the bayfront,and we always get a kick out of the noisy Sea Lions napping on the docks.

Over the years, many visitors to Newport's Bayfront have observed sea lions with various forms of entanglement in marine debris, typically plastic "packing bands" wrapped tightly around the neck, cutting into the animal's skin, blubber and muscle.

Because entangled animals are generally active and defensive, options for removing debris are very limited. Sea lions will not tolerate close approach and unrestrained anesthesia is deemed too dangerous for the animals since a sea lion injected with drugs by a pole or dart would likely flee to the water only to subsequently drown.

A custom-built capture cage has been deployed at Port Dock 1 to address this problem of sea lion entanglement. The cage is basically a modified floating dock enclosed on four sides by a galvanized steel structure, with sliding doors on two sides. It is designed primarily to serve as an additional haul out area for sea lions to use freely, with its doors locked in the open position so animals can comfortably come and go as they please. If an entangled Sea lion is observed in the cage, responders from the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network will then have an opportunity to close the cage doors and confine an affected animal so safe and proper removal of debris can be performed.

Yaquina Head (Near Newport Oregon)

Kind of in the woods

Yaquina Head

Black Rocks at Cobble Beach

Jack and I visited the Yaquina Head Lighthouse this morning which was first  lit in 1873. We opted for the beach instead of climbing the 114 steps to the top of the lighthouse.There is a steep stairway that leads to a black rock beach where I had planned on "mining" rocks for my beach at home,however, there was a Forest Service guy sitting at the bottom of the steps....obviously watching for people like me who takes rocks off beaches. I put my little plastic bag away and took pictures instead.When the waves break over the round,black rocks they make a "gurgling "noise. The fog rolled in and out and we could hear some ships blowing their horns way out in the ocean. The wind was quite strong and cold enough to make my ears hurt, so we did not spend too much time on the beach. Actually had to turn the heat on tonight. Not complaining...the cooler temps are pleasant and since it is still well over 100 degrees in the desert I'll enjoy  it while I can.

Tomorrow is the Newport Wild Seafood Festival on the bayfront in town.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse with the Fog rolling in

Trail from the campground to the beach

Max Bet Pays Off

Spent the night at Spirit Mountain Casino in Grande Ronde,not far from Lincoln City Oregon. Have another great casino story:

I was playing the penny slot "White Orchid". As those of you who frequent casinos know, the "max bet" button is generally placed next to the " repeat bet" button...(I'm sure this is intentional so you'll hit that max bet button "accidentially"after a few cocktails)  Anyway, I was betting 80 cents and sure enough hit the max bet buttonby accident which bumped my bet up to 400 ($4.00 per spin). Well lucky me it hit a win for $400.00! Woo Hoo. Sadly the food was not up to the usual good meals we get in casinos. The bed was comfy, I got to take a nice bath, and won the $400 so I'm happy.

Made the short trip over to Newport Oregon and we are set up in the Whalers Rest RV Park. We have a pretty good spot near the club house (wifi and laundry) and the weather is a cool 60 with some fog. A pleasant change from the hot temps inland.

This weekend in Newport is the Wild Seafood Festival. Can't wait for that!

Leaving Washington

We'll be heading into Oregon tomorrow. Today we returned the rental car,did some grocery shopping,washed the truck,cleaned up around and in the 5th wheel and Jack is hitching up the truck right now.

It's about 215 miles to our next stop which is the Spirit Mountain Casino in Grande Ronde Oregon. We're spending the night in a room...got a great deal for $59...and then on Thursday we'll move to  an RV park in Newport Oregon for a week.

Still didn't get to see everyone or do everything we wanted to while in the area.  I'm going to check airfares for a possible trip back up here this Winter. Maybe I'll ask Santa.

"We're Partying "till the Sun Comes Up!"

Jack,Derek and in the middle, the groom Brennan

Brennan and Muffin

Bridesmaid Katie,"Reverend" Derek and Maddy after the wedding

Jack and I went to Brennan and Muffin's wedding at Lake Wilderness yesterday evening. It was a beautiful 80 degree day in a beautiful setting by the lake.Derek did a wonderful job officiating the ceremony.

Madison busted loose with some dance moves and said " We're partying 'till the sun comes up!" That didnt happen....we were home before 11PM.

Madison on the dance floor

Brooklyn,Muffin and Brennan's daughter couldnt stay awake

Last Week in the NW

Sister in Law Judy, Mom, Nephew Eli

Sister in Law Judy, my Mom, my daughter Katie,me, and my cousin Gaye

Jack took advantage of the nice weather and played 18 at Elk Run with Gary L. I pointed the rental car North again and had a nice lunch with some of my favorite relatives. Had a surprise visit by nephew Eli as well. Yesterday I walked  around Greenlake and had lunch with best friend Denise. In the afternoon Jack and I stopped by to visit Mary H and check out her new place just up the street from our RV park. It has been nice to see everyone this week and we hope to squeeze in a few more  visits before we leave. It seems like we are always rushing to catch up and can never see all of the friends and family we would like during our stops in the NW.

We are attending a wedding this weekend where my son in law Derek will be officiating. Madison will come home with us for one last visit and we'll be heading into Oregon Wednesday.

Sand Sculpture Federal Way

These are incredible sand sculptures on display in Federal Way. We have Madison with us until Tuesday and she was impressed with these creations.