2009/07/11 – Saturday – Valley and Mountains

Well this morning the RV was getting warm, when I looked at the time, it was 9:30 – hmmm lat for us – o-well we slept in.

We finally left to head into the park – Yosemite.  It took us about 1 hour to get into the park.  I made the turn to head up to go to the tunnel view and drove the tunnel (both directions) and then stopped to take the necessary photos of the valley.

House Keeping store was our next stop – Mom M got her pennies pressed.

Our next stop was at the parking spot for the visitor center.  Now it was lunch time.  We found both penny press and eat lunch at the Grill (Burgers and Dogs).

Back to the van – we got ready for our hike .  We did the lower Yosemite Falls.  Eric, Amanda, and I also scrambled up to the base of the falls.  Amanda wanted to cross the water, so we started to cross, Eric made the last leap across, then I made it over, but Amanda slipped and fell into the water. She also hit her knee and stomach, but she was ok.  We climbed up to near the base, but the spray was a lot more on this side (west side.)

Our next stop was the visitor center.  Amanda had completed her junior ranger paper, so she was sworn in as a junior ranger.

We then stopped at the Samuel Adams gallery and Amanda got a few items.

The drive out was a little hectic, but we got back to the RV in reasonable amount of time.   We went out to eat at one of the local dinners. 

Back to the RV to load the van on the trailer, relax, and I through the ball for the dogs a few time.

Tomorrow is the drive home.

2009/07/10 – Friday – Park Fun

The camp power was cut off at about 6:00 – I had to turn off the satellite equipment because of low battery.

We finally left camp at about 9:00 and headed for Tioga pass. 

Tioga pass is a very hard pass to climb – I was down to 20 mph for quite a few miles.

Finally we made it to Yosemite.  The roads are tight.  The driver mirror almost got hit a few times, so I would hit the branches on the passenger side a few times so I would not get hit by the passing vehicle.

We did not drive the RV into the village, we headed outside the park to find a camp.  The first place was all booked up, so we went into Mariposa and found the fair grounds – they found a location for me so I don’t have to disconnect the trailer.

We got everything squared away and unloaded the van – so we went back into the park.

We had dinner at Curry Village and then we found a program to watch about Ansell Adams.  While we were waiting for the program, we watch a mule deer walk by.

The drive back to the RV was ok – now we get to drive back into the park again tomorrow.

2009/07/09 – Thursday – Drive Time

I got up and took the dogs for a walk and got to meet RV-Dreams Journal owners - They are very nice, but of course it was a short meeting because they were working and of course work never stops.

We finally left about 9:30 and headed south.

I pulled over at a pull out for lunch and I walked the dogs. Turquoise did find the creek and played in it.

The drive around lake Tahoe was slow going because of the traffic.

We are camped at Willow Springs RV park. We went to dinner a short walking distance up the road at a very nice small restaurant.

O – and no phone works here – my work phone works thought the satellite only.

2009/07/08 – Wednesday – High and Steam

We left camp late – I slept in but we finally got going around 10:00 – I could not find the engine keys for the RV.

We stopped for gas and kept on heading to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Our next stop was the North entrance to the park. Amanda got her Junior Ranger booklet and started to fill it out. Amanda, Mom M and Jesse listen to one of the ranger talks on bears. We also noticed that they are doing a control burn in the area.

We stopped at several of the pull outs. We even did some of the short walks for the Junior Ranger booklet.

We finally arrived at the south entrance about fifteen minutes before closing. Amanda got her Junior Ranger badge and we even got our few trinkets.

Now it was time for to camp – we made it to Chester. I found the RV campground that one of the bloggers that I follow works at for the summer (but they are not working today)

Trying to find a camp spot for me was a little hard, we drove through the campground and found one, so back to the office to register and then back to the camp spot. I pull in forward into the spot so we could unload the van. We even tried to get the satellite to work through the trees but were unsuccessful.

I unload the van and we went into Chester to find a place to eat.

Back at the RV, I loaded the van so we are ready to leave in the morning.

2009/07/07 – Tuesday – Tubes Away

We left camp about 9:30 and headed south east.  We crossed back into California before our first stop. 

We stopped at Klamath Wildlife Refuge on our way to the Lava Beds National Monument.

We stopped at a few pull out locations before getting to the visitor center.  Amanda did get her booklet for the Junior Ranger program.  We watch one of the videos as one of the Ranger led program.  We drove the auto cave tour.  We walked in several of the caves (lava tubes).  We returned to the visitor center so Amanda could get her badge.

I took the road less travel to exit the park – South East.  The road was not to bad, but I could understand why some people might not want to take it.  The road is paved, but it is not all that smooth.

Amanda and Mom M. looked for an RV park  and found one really close to our path.  We turned west to find the RV park, but I traveled about 10 miles before turning around to find the RV park only to find it about quarter a mile the other way that we turned west at.

We pulled into the first RV park and had a pick of locations. 

We did have a little bit of rain while  we are relaxing.

2009/07/06 – Monday – Trapped Water

Well, time to get going took LONGER then normal (see yesterday.)  Got the RV read, then get the trailer re-attached, and then finally get the van loaded and secured. 

We headed on into Creator Lake National Park.  Near the lip of the creator, it was sure slow going trying to climb the road.  When we finally see the water, we had to stop for some road construction. 

We stopped at several location along the west ridge.  At the main ridge lodge/ranger station, Amanda got and started her junior ranger program.  But the requirements to fulfill is to much – we would have to do two ranger programs and one of them being at 5:30 at the campground – so that means she will not get this one.  She did do all but one sheet.  We also stopped on our way out of the park heading to Klamath Falls.

Amanda suggested that we stay at Klamath Falls because between there and our next destination, it seems to be no RV campgrounds. 

So we are camped at the Klamath Falls KOA.

We did unload the van and we went for a drive.  Amanda had already found a restaurant, so we stopped at it for dinner.

Once back at camp, I loaded the van back on the trailer.  I also went ahead and checked and topped off all the tires (RV and trailer).

Now it was time to relax.

2009/07/05 – Sunday – Starting Home

We finally got everything loaded and headed on our way.

We stopped sometime after lunch for gas for the RV – 53 gallons worth!

Amanda looked for an RV camp close to Creator Lake – Diamond Lake

Well, we will never stay at this RV park again.  They do not allow any trailers (boat, car, or box) at any of the sites – so I had to take some time to unload the van and unhook the trailer (I was not pleased)

It took a bit to finally get the satellite pointed through the trees, but we got online, but we could not get our dish-tv online. 

We watched movies – 2004 and the 1956 versions of Around the World in 80 Days.

2009/07/04 – Saturday – Drive

Mom M and I drove her van to Packwood to unload items that she wanted to keep. 

We stopped at my old grade school to look at the museum they have inside and to help in identifying some of my old grade school classmates. 

On our drive back, we finally stopped to get some food outside of Randle.  The drive back was good.

We did watch fireworks out in the distant tonight and pre-paired for departure tomorrow.

2009/07/03 – Friday - Gorge

I was feeling much better, so Cheryl scheduled us for a cruise on the Columbia River.

We sat round resting and getting things taken care of.

We left and stayed on the Washington side until we crossed at the Bridge of the Gods.

We found the place, and waited for our time to board the boat.

We were escorted to our seats.

As we were eating dinner, I kept going out and taking a few pictures. We first went down stream and before the locks, we turnaround and then headed upstream, past our starting location and then again turnaround to head back to the dock. The total time on the water was 2 1/2 hours.

Once off the ship, we drove to H&E W for a really quick visit. We got back to the RV really late.

2009/07/02 – Thursday – Errand and Forts

I was still not 100%, but we went and did some Errands – Mom M got some things squared away with Family maters.

We stopped by Fort Vancouver.  Amanda got her Junior Ranger Badge for completing the necessary pages.

We went to one of Cheryl’s bank and where she did some necessary work, the rest of the family rested in the basement (the cafeteria) until she had completed her work.

We did fill up the water in the RV and Eric did drive a tractor and had a blast doing it.

2009/07/01 – Wednesday - Sick

I was Sick.  So I just laid on the couch all day

Cheryl, Amanda and Mom M. did errands.