Escape from Red Bluff

We have finally escaped the clutches of CA and the traction chain gods. We did have some gusty winds on the way and a pretty good snow storm at the top of the pass when we hit Oregon. We are now in Grants Pass. Very nice and interesting town. There is a quilt shop for Lou and a hobby shop for me to visit in the AM just across the street from each other. This is MUCH quieter than our spot in Red Bluff:) Tomorrow or Tuesday we'll head up to Sherwood, OR to visit with Lou's sister. Then, we will begin the final legs of our travel home. Should be back in Spokane by the end of the week (maybe) so NO MORE SNOW in Spokane please!

Red Bluff ELKS

Day 4 at the Red Bluff ELKS and still watching the road reports in Yreka and Weed. Chains are still required and all vehicles are being checked 10 miles north of Redding for "maximum chains". Campers and trailers are NOT advised due to high winds. We don't have chains for the RV and I won't drive where they are needed anyway. So, maybe tomorrow or Sunday.....or Monday to begin our dash north to Oregon. Once past the state line, weather issues will usually be limited to wind and/or rain. I can live with that but NOT snow/ice:) In the meantime, we will sit and enjoy the hospitality of the Red Bluff ELKS lodge. Really nice people here. This will give Lou another opportunity to do some baking. Yesterday, she replenished our cookie supply:) YUMM!

Hunkered down in Roseville

We are now in Roseville, CA watching the rain come down. Lots of rain.... and WIND! Lots of that also. It is really windy and gusty and the weather prognosticators are forecasting more rain and stronger winds/gusts after midnight until mid day tomorrow. Soooooo, we'll just stay here parked behind the Roseville ELKS Lodge plugged into electric and water until at least Monday. Maybe Tuesday. We had a great visit with Ken and Jackie Coyne while parked in front of their house for the last three days. They are very gracious hosts and super great people. We're sure that Ken and Jackie will wear out rather than rust out when the time comes:) Still a long time off for sure!
Next week, sometime, we'll head northward to Red Bluff or Redding for a few days and, keeping a close eye on the weather, plan our further travels up to visit with Kathleen.

New baby and rain...

We are now in Petaluma afer a few days of a noisy ELKS Lodge in Santa Clara. We were not aware of its proximity to the San Jose airport or the waste transfer station just down the street that the garbage trucks begin their runs at 5AM... even on the weekend:( Otherwise, it was a very nice spot. They served a super steak dinner for $8.50! We arrived in Petaluma with great anticipation of seeing the latest member of the Burns family, Lila Mae Doris Burns. She is beautiful and Dad is giddy with delight and wonder. Carly, Will and Lila are all doing well:)
I was going to go out and take pictures today but it's raining! Imagine that! Raining in California. This cold front will pass through this evening, we hope, and the rain will slow to showers for the rest of the week . We will head towards Roseville, via Napa, to spend a few days in that area. We look forward to visiting with Ken and Jackie, Lou's cousin, and maybe some wineries also:) We'll cycle from parking in front of their house and checking out some of the ELKS lodges in the surrounding areas. If it's raining, boondocking isn't as much fun. Having power, water and sewer connections permits one to just be a bit more comfortable.

On the move

Last night, Indio, CA. Very nice ELKS club but one night was enough so we moved on Westward past where we SHOULD have stopped (Oxnard) and continued on to Lompoc, CA. More miles then we planned but I was determined to escape the traffic congestion in the LA area. While in the Lompoc area we will visit, once again, Buellton and Solvang. We were here 2 years ago and it's worth repeating. Tomorrow, we will check out the Jamala County Beach Park a few miles away from here. It gets rave reviews for scenery and facilities. We'll see and judge it against the cost.

The Golden State isn't golden now. It's GREEN! The hills are covered in green velvet as Lou described it. Still pursuing cheap gas ($3.73 at Costco in Fontana) but we have seen it as high as $4.19! C'mon Ghadaffi, give it up and LEAVE:)