Weekend in Monterey

The drive on I-5 from Sacramento was fairly boring, as I-5 always is. I think it looks like moonscape except for when you pass orchards and crops. I turned toward Monterey and the road goes up to the Pacheko Pass in the same nondescript terrain, but when it starts down the mountain things sure change on the western side. Trees, lots of them!







I did pretty well following the directions and getting through the heavy traffic that is always on Highways 1 and 101, and got through Monterey and to Steve's house with no problems. The man from OZ, GPS Lee, finally settled down when he realized I wasn't going to go through the San Francisco Bay area to get there. I suppose if I could drive around Chicago I could - NAH, Chicago drivers are pussycats compared to California drivers. I'm glad I went the way I did.

The birthday party was held at the small park about a block from the house. I took a picture of Liam's cake, a toolbox, and the cupcakes for the rest of us. Each is decorated with "tools" made out of vanilla and dark chocolate - pliers, saw, wrench, etc. Donald really outdid himself again. My son Steve is one of the ultimate "fix-it" men, and his son Liam will no doubt learn from his dad.




I drove down on Saturday morning, and returned on Monday morning. After everyone left Sunday we drove along the beach and into Monterey where we ate at a seafood restaurant. Great meal, and even greater company!


I was extremely tired by the time I got back, and don't want to drive anywhere for a while. I figured out that in about 3-1/2 months I drove 10,000 miles! I can tell that I'm feeling the tiredness more than I ever did before, so it's time to settle down and find a place to live for a while, and become reunited with my belongings! I will be so happy to not have storage fees any more.

A bit of elation and disappointment

I have the transplant date set for Oct. 11. I hated to wait that long, but the Dr. is out most of September, so I don't have a choice. While I was in his office yesterday he performed a small laser procedure that should help me see more clearly in my left eye. Cataract surgery encapsulates a new lens, and the area of encapsulation can often turn cloudy, thus requiring laser removal. I think I have that right. So I am elated to finally have a date set for the surgery.

I've been looking for an apartment/house, and visited a site I have looked at previously, featuring four cabins on an old ranch in the Gold Country. I didn't go to look at them last time because it is so far from Sacramento, but yesterday afternoon decided to take Lady and go for a drive. I was absolutely enchanted with the scenery and terrain, and fell in love with the site of the cabins. I phoned the real estate company which handles the rentals and was told they were all occupied. The web site hadn't been updated, and the agent was thankful that I pointed it out - by the time I got home the information had been corrected.

Even though I was disappointed I realized it is really too far away from Sacramento considering the required visits to the eye surgeon, as well as those to get the tests recommended by the cardiologist. I am looking for something at about half the distance but can't find any rentals except at a large RV park in the area. I was put off by the age limitations for RV's, depending on what type of rental and for how long. I had found a Class C that I might have considered except for the fact that it didn't make the age limit. I think I'll just hold off on the RV search and try to find a 6 month lease on a sticks & bricks rental.

I'm off to Monterey tomorrow, where the temps are at least 30 degrees cooler than in Sacramento - mid 60's. I'm ready for that kind of weather, and have dug out long pants and shirts to wear. The birthday party will begin at about 12:30, and I plan to stay a few days visiting.

I only took one picture last weekend on the camping trip - just after setting up my tent. It was a nice level spot with trees that provided shade during a big part of the day, and right in the path of the moon traveling overhead during the night. As you can see, I didn't put the rain fly on the tent, and I was able to go to sleep looking at the stars. The moon made it look like daylight during the time it was traveling over.



I took a couple of photos on my trip to Gold Country but was really disappointed. I used the digital camera, couldn't see a thing in the crappy screen, and the pictures aren't worth showing. I am soon going to buy a digital camera with a viewfinder.

Weekend camping trip

I spent an enjoyable weekend camping with Jeanne (dau) and Joe (son) and their spouses & kids. Donald's Mom also came along on her first camping trip, and although I'm not sure what she really thought of it she was a very good sport.

I arrived at the campground first and set up my tent. The sites were nearly all empty, but a man and woman nearby were friendly. The man asked if I needed any help setting up my tent and I told him I could probably manage. He came over and helped me anyway, and the tent went up about 50% faster. I appreciated the assistance.

I finally got my car in for an oil change this afternoon. The yellow "Maint Reqd" light came on somewhere in Montana or Idaho, and I took the owner's manual into the motel room that evening to see what the light was indicating. I drove about 6000 miles from purchase to oil change, so I was about 2k miles overdue. I wish I didn't have that annoying light. I managed to get oil changes done regularly in my Ford truck, and didn't need a light to remind me.

I have thought a lot about it and decided that I will cut back to maybe blogging once a week or whenever I have something to blog about. Since I'm not traveling, and since I'm primarily looking for housing and waiting for medical appointments, there is no reason to bore anyone with uninteresting details. Besides, when I blog about most non-travel-related subjects I seem to draw more criticism for my viewpoints than I really want to deal with.

So until something exciting or at least interesting happens, I'm taking a rest and giving you one as well.

Blind Spot

To answer the comment from Anonymous that I should quit driving before I kill myself and others on the road, I will say I think everyone has a blind spot, and we learn about that when we learn to drive. We make adjustments such as turning our heads to look as well as checking the rear view and side mirrors. I do all this, and usually have no problem at all.

When I began to notice on my last day of driving that I was not able to check this blind spot, I realized it was probably the mirror on the right side that needed adjustment, and did so. I now have a much better view of what is coming up alongside of me. I miss the mirrors on the truck, and I got accustomed to the excellent view I had with those.

So to Anonymous and to anyone else who think I should hang up my keys, I would say . . . nah, I won't say it. I will tell you I think I have the problem solved and will keep alert to see if it happens again. The last thing I want to do is to kill myself or anyone else, so I'm going back to the AAA method of setting the mirrors to eliminate, or at least alleviate the problem of a blind spot.

Sacramento, CA

I left Klamath Falls around 8:00 am and I had the road all to myself, US97 and I-5S, until I reached Redding. From there on the traffic was heavy, and the driving habits of CA drivers came back to me. They sure scare me!

Every time I see Mt. Shasta my heart does funny things, and this was no exception. You may have to click on the pictures to get a glimpse of the mountain from such a distance.







I managed to get pictures from a viewing point along the way, but most aren't on my digital camera and I guess I took them all with the film camera. I need to shoot about 5 more pics and then have it developed. This mountain is so scenic, and there are two large glaciers to be seen from the scenic view point where I stopped. The third picture shows a glacier on the left side just down from the peak, and another one a bit further down on the right.

California does some really nice things with the median strips on the freeways. Here it's planted with oleander, and sometimes there is bottle brush.



I am fortunate to have seen two very beautiful places in two days - Crater Lake and Mt. Shasta. Both look promising as places to camp and explore further. I just don't want to do it by myself.

Yesterday evening we gave Lady a bath to try to get some of the excess fur off of her. She is clean and shiny but still sheds like crazy, and I know there is no cure for that. This morning I drove to the storage unit here and dropped off all the parts to my tent. My boxes arrived from Asheville and they all fit into the storage, but 4 still need to be moved as Jeannie & Donald ran out of room in their van when moving the other boxes. I have quite a task before me to see what I will keep and what I will get rid of out of those boxes.

My granddaughters seemed to have grown so much since I left in May. The younger one turned two in June, and is talking so much more now. She woke up very early this morning and hung out with me and Lady for a long time. I still have 2 more granddaughters to see here in Sac, plus a grandson in Monterey. The California family will be heading for Monterey towards the end of August to celebrate Liam's first birthday.

While I was enroute Jeannie called the eye surgeon for me and had my appointment moved up a whole month. I'm anxious to get the next surgery over with. I've noticed a big change in my eyesight the past few days, and have missed seeing several vehicles on my right - I guess I've developed a blind spot. Nothing serious happened, but I'm warned and uncomfortable with all but very local driving until I get it fixed. Damn, that's one of the things I hate about growing old.

Klamath Falls, OR

I started out from Pendleton this morning and pulled into the Shell station next door to refuel. I was surprised to see a young man by the pump waiting for me to swipe my card so he could pump the gas. He told me that a new Oregon state law (or maybe an initiative that isn't binding?) was for full service at gas stations. He said it was to create more jobs, and to that I say Hallelujia! I always loved fuel stops in NJ as they never went to self service. But after years of pumping my own fuel it feels sort of weird to stand by, so the next time I stopped I told the kid that I was going inside and that I wanted my receipt. When I came back out the tank was full and the receipt was under the windshield wiper. I'm all for providing an alternative for young kids to find employment somewhere other than McDonalds and fast food places, and I don't mind paying a couple cents more at the pump. I'd rather give it to a kid who is working for it than a huge oil company who has been gouging us on the price of gas for a long time.

Next I want to thank Bob C. for his comment on Lewiston being in Idaho. I ALWAYS get it mixed up, whether inputting it to the GPS or mapquest, and I usually get some sort of response such as "No Match". There are so many places with Lewis in their names in this part of the country that I just can't keep up with it. And he mentioned that wheat was farmed on the hillsides, and I have a ocuple of photos below showing the wheat fields before and after harvest. The wheat is a beautiful golden color and you can't miss it.



I really like Eastern Oregon. It is stark in appearance, high desert, and beautiful. Here are a couple of photos of what appear to be trees that were purposefully planted, but they are so close together I can't imagine what they are. The photos were taken along I-84, and that is the Columbia River to the right.








By the time I was nearing the end of today's journey I was really sick of all the small towns along US 97. The speed limit is 55, and then you must slow to 45, 35, 30, and often 25. Even after driving 55, 25 seems like a crawl. I was ready to drive non-stop to Sacramento after a while. Then I approached the turn-off to the northern entrance to Crater Lake. I pulled over and called the Klamath Falls Motel 6 to make sure I could get a room this evening, and then headed for Crater Lake.

Don't cry, Texas and Oklahoma, but in the middle of August there is still snow on the ground from last winter! I think the road I was driving on reached about 7682 feet in elevation.









I have never seen anything so gorgeous! It definitely requires a return trip, and I think one of these days or years, there will be a camping trip for my granddaughter and me: Crater Lake, Lake Shasta, and Lassen Volcanic NP for starters.

And FINALLY, (sorry to be so wordy), I have had a number of people comment that I drive too many miles in a day, that I should slow down and enjoy it more, take it easy, etc. Judy and I have discussed this a number of times, and yesterday in an exchange of emails I wrote this to her, and she suggested that I post it to my blog, so here it is. It's just the way I feel now, and I don't expect many RVers to agree, nor do I want them to. Everyone should live and explore in the manner that is comfortable to them. I sure hope Judy wasn't kidding me about posting it!

"I've really enjoyed the scenery - the open vistas and the closed in forests. I love taking pictures but I'm no photographer; I don't see well enough to distinguish birds, although I can see small animals they are usually too quick for me to grab my camera. Long gone are the days when I tried to see and do everything, walk through endless museums, dioramas, etc. and read every memorial board I came across.

This country is incredibly beautiful, even in the areas that look mediocre to begin with and I can drive along and wonder what life was like a hundred or a thousand years ago, who were the Norwegians that came to places that were so tough to live in, and what will happen now that their children are long gone from states like North Dakota. What would it have been like on the Plains when huge buffalo herds roamed there, and what about the Indians who revered and used them. These are the things I think about when driving, and what I enjoy most."

I will have to add that I saw directions today to a museum that I think I would like to visit, and I'll make a note to return to it someday. It is the Museum of the High Desert. Why do I want to see that and not another? I have no idea except that I've always been interested in high desert - but sure wouldn't want to live in one!

A great day on the road again!

Today was a good day, travel-wise. The sun was shining all day, and the only road work I ran into was about 40 miles from my destination. I had a bit of a wait - on the two lane highways they have to make one lane stop and wait until the highway gods decide it's the other side's turn. It works pretty well, especially if you just settle down, turn off the ignition, and be patient. Then it's just a mild irritation.

I left Missoula and the best motel I've stayed in so far at about 8 am. When I checked in the night before and saw the cleanliness and newness of the bathroom, paricularly the tub/shower, I brought in all my supplies for a leisurely shower including the razor and gel for my legs. I have been gaining an hour every other day or so, and my sleep habits haven't quite caught up to the time zone I'm in. That's why I always get an early start, but then I love the early stops as well.

The drive through Lewiston, OR was a piece of cake; through Clarkston wasn't quite as easy, and Walla Walla was a mess, but that was mostly because of the GPS and its directions. I do not like the way they announce street names. It might be fine if you are driving around a big city, but when you just want to get through quickly, it seems like following the route signs is much easier. I don't want to look for Court Street, just tell me that it's Route 12 I am following. I gave Lee the Aussie a fit when I left Missoula this morning, and finally had to add a way point to get him to stifle it. US 12 West was 1 block away from my motel but he wanted to route me to the nearest interstate, and after about 10 miles of recalculating I had composed a sizzling letter to Garmin about it. I didn't write it down, of course, so I have forgotten it by now.

Readers of this blog may remember that I drove some miles on US 12 through western Montana, N. Dakota and S. Dakota on my way to NY. I wanted to do more of it on the way back. At least a year ago and it may have been 2 years ago, I was enthralled by the blog of Diana, Life on the Open Road, as she described her travels across US 12. Those who read her know she usually travels with a group, so they have many stops and good fun along the way, and that trip was no exception. I almost veered up to Helena to see the state capitol building that she described. Now I plan to go back and re-read her blog entries for that trip and this time I will be familiar with some of the places she mentions. I plan to drive that route several more times, and next time I hope to stop more often.

A few readers have commented that I drive too many miles and don't take it easy enough. I started off the trip trying to slow down, and I did to a great extent. Two things have speeded me up - I am paying from $40 to $60+ a night for motels, and I am tired of handing out that kind of money. But another reason is my need for a cornea transplant on my right eye. I hope when I'm healed from that I can see much better. It is difficult to drive some times, although I manage to drive in little or no traffic, and follow safe driving practices that everyone should follow - keep to the speed limit, leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you, and stop when you're tired. I have done very well with it, and maybe next time I will have a camper of some sort so that I don't have the outrageous motel costs.

AND, I have always believed that people should hike their own hike - or in this case drive their own drive. I'm not a museum goer nor a sightseer. There are places I would like to stop at but most of the time lack the incentive without someone to share it with. That's the way I do it, and I'm happy enough with it.

There were lots of pull-outs today, but sometimes there is no scenery when you get there. These were taken from Missoula to Lewiston - a very winding road. I arrived before there was any traffic to speak of and had a really pleasant drive. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who gets carsick from twisting and turning. You may guess I hate to pass a creek without snapping a picture.








These were taken from Walla Walla down to Pendleton. I am always amazed at Eastern Oregon, as I think rainforest, lush, and green when I hear Pacific Northwest. Eastern Oregon looks like another planet sometimes. The brown hills are probably much like California's - they would be emerald green during the rainy season.