The Road Now Taken

On our ride to the Oregon border we discovered that the further we rode from the ocean, the air became warmer and warmer until we were forced to shed all of our jacket layers.   It remained hot on return exploration of US 199 when we reentered California 

 and again followed the beautiful Smith River.   

At the Visitor Center we stopped to se what we could see.    

We learned the difference between Coast Redwoods and Giant Sequoias,

and about the Smith River.

We admired a beautiful Coast Redwood just outside the building,

then road down and across the road to visit the day use area for a closer view of the river.

The day use area is adjacent to the campground.  Campers and picnickers were enjoying the beautiful clear green water.

As the afternoon slipped away the air grew cooler and we put on all our layers.  By the time we reached the ocean again, we were glad to have them.  We enjoyed the clear views as we made our way home.

Duane and I have a hike in our future.

Louise and Duane

The Road Untaken

North we went on a ride that was short on distance--120 miles round trip--but long on time--4 1/2 hours.  When we were driving from Oregon to California, we thought we might try US 199.  On the Oregon map it showed as a trucker/big rig route, but when it entered California, it looked dodgy.  Several people we talked to described it as passable by big rigs, but slow and tight. We decided to explore it by motorcycle instead.

We started at the bottom left of this map and rode north US 101 along the coast.

"We" included Brock, but Leola decided she had other things to do at home.

The weather was damp and chilly (upper 50's) with the Marine Layer forming low lying clouds just above the Pacific 

and blowing across the road.

As we rode through the beautiful Redwoods National and State Parks,

the clouds cleared, blue sky appeared, and the air warmed up a bit.

At Crescent City we picked up US 199, the Smith River Scenic Byway

through the Coast Ranges and the Smith River National Recreation Area,.

all the way to Oregon.

Return trip later

Louise and Duane

Resort?

What's the difference between a campground/rv park and an RV Resort?   A few years ago, nothing.  Now, on-ground activities make a resort.  Our new home at Chinook RV Resort in Klamath CA is very small--just 73 sites squeezed between two other rv parks on the north and south, and US101 and the Klamath River on the east and west, but has quite a few things to offer visitors.  

Entering the park, the office is on the left.  Also in the building are a small camp store and a nice activities center with game tables, a tv viewing area, fireplace and free tea and coffee.

Upstairs is a vacation rental, and at the end of the building

is a horseshoe pit.

To the right is another vacation rental, with a tent area the length of the park on the other side 

Behind the building is the rest of the park with playground area

and a small building housing the restrooms/showers 

and a tiny laundry.

close-up of our house with Brock and Leola next door

At the back of the park along the river is a picnic area,

an evening gathering place (campfire every evening)

boat ramp

dock

and fish (mostly salmon) cleaning station.

Last night we sat around the fire chatting with a couple of regular summer visitors and watching the seals that swam up from the ocean for some river fishing.  They are regulars also, but only across the river in the deeper water.  They appear as brown bumps that rapidly appear and disappear.  Some times we could hear their calls.

So far, a bit of fog, but no smoke.

Louise and Duane

 

Park Within A Park

Our first exploration in northern California led us from our rv park in Klamath south on US 101 (aka the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway) following the Klamath River to the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway and stopped at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center.  We took the same route home. 

 

We took a little detour along part of the Coastal Trail which led to fishing access points along the Klamath.

US 101 goes through the Redwoods National Park.  The Drury Scenic Parkway goes through the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park that lies entirely within the National Park.

We stopped at a pull out to admire the tall old giants.

I took a picture of Duane hugging this redwood.  He is that tiny little white spot at the lower right end of the tree.

After stopping at the Visitor Center and stamping our passports, we retraced our ride.  We stopped at the Big Tree Wayside to admire the Big Tree, of course.

bottom 

to

top

top of Big Tree as seen from the parking lot

 north to home

Not bad for our first CA ride.

Louise and Duane