Heading to CA July 2010

840 miles in 9 days

Tuesday 7/6/10

We drive West to Lincoln City, OR and then South down the coast.  Spent the night in Florence, OR at the Three Rivers Casino.  They have an RV lot for dry camping for free.

This Ultra Coach caught up with us in Lincoln City.  If you click on it a couple of times it gets big enough to see.  There is some more info on it at Ultra Coach

Wednesday 7/7/10

Old Town in Florence

                      And the Tonka in Florence.

 Drove from the Casino to a spot in Old Town for B'fast.  They have free WIFI in Florence and the cheapest gas on the coast is in Florence.  While we were getting gas and some food at Safeway, a man came up and told us he saw a Tonka toy at the local thrift store just like Wilbur.  So we went over to look at it but didn't buy it.  I already have one at home.  There are a couple of other "little shops" we like to look at and then thought we would drive to the beach.  The fog was along the beach so we went back to town and lunch.  Found the local Fire fighters restaurant and had the deluxe clam chowder.  I would highly recommend it.  Much better than the moe's stuff.  After lunch we drove South to Coos Bay.  And of course the local Macy's store is a must see place.  I even looked at a MH for my brother but it was not really in great shape.  We spent the night at the Mill Casino in the free dry camping lot.

Thursday 7/8/10

Brooking Oregon

Brookings, OR

The Dump Station in Coos Bay

The traffic on 101 is kind of close to the Casino and we got up early.  Not really early for work but early for retirement.  After B'fast we walked into the Casino but didn't see any good shows coming up.  We drove to the city dump station and took care of the holding tanks before heading South.  A few miles out of Coos Bay I noticed the Alt gauge was not showing it charging so I turned around and went back to a Knechts Auto to check things out.  With a meter on the battery there was no charging going on.  I do carry a spare voltage regulator and changed that but still no charge so off comes the Alt.  It was bad and I bought a lifetime Alt.  Once installed we hit the road again and all was good until we stopped for road construction and heard a growling noise from the engine.  We drove into Bandon and I double checked the alt and belt but nothing wrong there.  I took the belt off the Alt and no noise.  So after a call to Knechts and found out that there are no other places South of us we head back to Coos Bay and removed the new Alt.  Guess what, the new Alt is making noise.  So now for the second time this afternoon I change the Alt. We decide to just stay in Coos Bay another night and drive around to try out our newest Alt.  We were kind of tired and I was cleaned up and we just watched a movie and relaxed for the night.

Friday 7/9/10

Today we leave Coos Bay again, and drive to Bandon again.  No noise so we keep going.  It's 100 miles from Coos Bay to Brookings.   It was a sunny day and everything is fine.  We pull into the Brookings Elks only a few minutes before a couple of RV's take the last 2 sites.  Maybe my luck is changing.

This has been a great day.  We have warm weather, cable TV, WIFI, elect. and all the water we want and a dump station right here.  Well worth the $18.00 donation.  So it was bath time, TV time, great food and the world is good again. 

Saturday 7/10/10

The old pump in a Tupperware container to catch the drips.

After a good B'fast and a gas stop at Fred Meyers we drive to Crescent City, CA.  The last time we were in CC we only spent the day and this time we have a couple of days to hang around.  About 3 miles into CA on hwy101 is a casino called Lucky 7.  We did stop and look at their RV parking area and it looked like a good place to spend the night.  We also checked out a casino in CC called the Elk Valley Casino and they have a gravel lot to overnight.  Then there is the Elks lodge in CC that is down town.  Not really a great place to overnight but I called the lodge and was told we could spend the night there.

After lunch and some time looking at the ocean we go to the store for more food.  At the CA border they do a agriculture check for fruit and veggies so we could use some more stuff but at the store things are kind of expensive.  And after driving thru more of the town in CC it looks like people might not be able to buy so much at the store.  Sophie feels bad about that.  We spend some more time on the beach before we drive to the casino for the night.  There is an AC/DC impersonators band at the casino but I pass on that.  As Sophie gets in bed she says the carpet is wet.  Not a large spot but I will check it out in the morning.

Sunday 7/11/10

The lighthouse in Crescent City, CA

After B'fast I look in the back of Wilbur for the leak but not much wet there so we dive to the beach where I will take the rear bed out to look at the water system.  After removing the mattress I see the water pump has a slow drip when it is on.  We find a Tupperware container to put under the pump and I will check on it later.  It does get a little water in it but not much.  The beach is foggy this morning so we drive into the redwoods to take a walk.  Same place we visited last year but we took a longer walk thru the trees.  The road thru this area gets so narrow that they have cut notches out of some of the trees on corners so trucks and RV's can have more room.  We take a nice drive around the forest and back to hwy101 then down another road along the Smith River.  There is a boat launch at a park where we stop for lunch.  This area grows Lilly's and we follow the road to where it goes back to 101.  Close to the Lucky 7 Casino we find a place to get on the beach.  Another place for Sophie to find more rocks to bring home.  Good thing Wilbur can carry more weight.  After getting more sun than we should, and a camp chair that did not want to fold up, we go to the casino.  This place has a great supper deal in the new restaurant so that took care of supper.  We were the only ones in the RV lot and Sophie didn't care for that, so we drove the 5 miles or so back to the Brookings Elks. 

Brookings Oregon Elks

Monday 7/12/10

One month has passed since the big OSU graduation and engagement.  And we never thought we would make it thru that.  We hit the Fred Meyers store where we try to fill up the fridge and cabinets.  Things were getting so empty stuff would roll around.  The trip North was into the wind and it was very windy.  Lets just hope Wilbur holds together.  We stop in Port Orford and check out a park we never saw before.  There is a Coast Guard Museum we look thru.  Still very windy so we keep driving north.  In Bandon we walk around town, buy some clam strips at out favorite walk up eatery, look into some stores, buy some cheese curds and drive on north.  In Coos Bay we stop at the Burger King parking lot to relax and surf the net.  Still very windy so we drive on.  In Florence we stop at the Three Rivers Casino for the night.  This day was 150 miles of a strong head wind.  We walk around the casino and go back to Wilbur and call it a night.  Popcorn and a movie.

In the Redwoods forest.

Tuesday 7/13/10

If this is Tuesday we must be in Florence.  There is a plan that if the Tonka Winnebago is still in the thrift store it will be on sale.  But it was sold so no more Bagos on this trip. Sophie did find a rather large wicker basket that took up plenty of room.  The only good thing was out dirty clothes bag fit in it. Had a B'fast camp in Old Town and checked out some other little shops before driving to the beach.  We had to get hungry and find the firefighters place for more chowder.  Filled up with chowder and then gas.....uh I mean Wilbur got the gas and we headed into Yahats.  After a snack and a nap we take off.  Just before the Newport bridge traffic stopped so we took a detour and parked out on the South Jetty for awhile.  Since it is kind of cold and windy we decide to head inland to Toledo.  Now for those who have never been to Toledo, OR you either like it or not.  It is about 7 miles from Newport. We had been here before but not with Wilbur so I figured it was time to check out the Elks.  A small RV lot with Cable, Elect, water and dump $12.00 so we stay.  The lodge was closed but we check out the town and there is a farmers market tomorrow.  And there are a few "little shops" here.  The town is built on a hillside so a short walk is enough before bedtime.

Wednesday 7/14/10

Down Town Toledo Wednesday Market.

Since we need to be home tonight this is our last day for this trip.  The town has sidewalks set up with tables of everything from fresh fruit and veggies to thrift store give aways.  Don't tell anyone but Sophie even picked up something from the free box at one place.  And then on the way out of town towards Newport I see an old Bago in a driveway that also has a garage sale.  Now any excuse to look at Bagos is a good excuse.  This place had been a wrecking yard/townig place for years and had more RV junk than should be allowed.  I was told there were 40 acres of junk here.  I did find 1 and 1/2 Bagos and there were probably more around buried in mud and blackberries.  Sophie didn't even get out to look at the junk and told me no more of this kind of place to stop at.  I left my phone number with a guy who said this was his dads place and his dad was in bad shape.  So maybe they will just loose my number.  In Newport we check out another "little shop" where Sophie finds a crystal bowl she loves for $2.00.  The casino in Lincoln City is our next stop and then it is on to Spirit Mtn. casino to use the dump station.  I did have a spring break on the toilet in Wilbur and it will need to be removed so I want the holding tank to be clean when I do that.  The last 30 miles home was just fine except the valley is warmer than the coast.  Another great trip down the coast with a few problems but nothing we couldn't handle.

The Casino in Crescent, CA Dry camping lot.