DEATH VALLEY TOUR (CONT.)

Artist Drive was next on the agenda, a 9 mile loop thru some of the most beautiful rocks. My pictures do not do justice to the colors. Probably should have come back for the evening sun, but didn't think John would go for it. He enjoyed the drive, but I'm sure not enough to go thru again.

This is the most beautiful contrast, but just doesn't show up that well.

The last stop was Golden Canyon Drive. This really wasn't on my list to stop, but as John says "Since we're here, might as well stop and see it." This was a mile walk back into the canyon, was fairly level, so pretty easy traveling.

An interesting sidenote, about 95 percent of the people we met coming in, going out of these stops were foreign. Listening to conversations, most were Germans. One couple was taking pictures of each other and I offered to take one of them together. (This by sign language) We asked where they were from and he said Italy. As we left, I said "Have a fun time!" and she didn't seem to understand, so finally I said,"Have a good day". That she understood, guess it is a universal phrase.

DEATH VALLEY SIGHTS

At Furnace Creek, there were 5 different place we wanted to tour. Since it got up to 112 the first day we were there, we got up early Monday morning and started out about 6. Perfect timing.

Our first stop was Badwater Basin. As you can see it is 282 ft. below sea level. In the background it looks like water, but is salt. There have been several holes dug (by whom or what I have no idea) and about 2 feet down you can see water.

The next stop was Natural Bridge. From the parking area it was 1/2 mile to see the bridge, well worth the walk.

Next was Devils Golf Course. These jagged formations were deposited by ancient salt lakes and shaped by wind and rain.

Great views ......

SUMMARY OF CALIFORNIA TRIP

I wanted to tell a little about our trip from I-5 to Death Valley. We turned off on Hwy 89 from I-5 and traveled to where 44 turns toward Susanville. There at that intersection, I mentioned we might as well spend the night, as I was tired and it was late and I knew John was tired. He didn't really want to, has never wanted to boondock out in the middle of nowhere, thinks it isn't safe. (Come to find out, good thought)
We settled down and then a semi drove up beside us, I thought 2 is better than one. Well about midnight I woke up to what I thought was the air bags losing all their air at the same time, but then someone beat on the side of the coach saying WAKE UP. The about 5 seconds later a pick-up went roaring up the highway. By this time we had our wits about us and knew what was going on, when the pick-up came back and the guy yelled to Wake the #$*& up. Took off again. John said I don't know why I let you talk me into doing this. But I mentioned how beautiful the sky was and really I haven't seen that many stars in so long .... to much light. So we settle down again and I was thinking about what I would like to do to those boys. What I came up with was taking some black tank fluid and throwing it on them. WOW would I like to see those expressions.
When we got to Susanville picked up 395, traveled thru Reno and Carson City, then back into CA. We spent the night in Bishop at an Indian Casino rv lot. No hookups, but secure. Went over, got a card that had 5 dollars on it and was good for 2 off the prime rib. Was very good. Bishop is a very nice town and leaving saw some Wildlife Viewing signs, so slowed down and sure enough there was a herd of elk. It is rutting season the 3 big stags were trying to keep their little herds to themselves.
I forgot to mention that we were looking for diesel along about Susanville and it was 3.89! Yikes, we thought we were going to have to call for a loan (from someone reading this) but the Casino had it for 2.51.


At Lone Pine we turned on 136 head for Death Valley. There at the turn off is a very nice visitors center. The ranger that helped us said once we got to Stovepipe Wells the worst of the road was over. There was about 5 or 7 miles of very twisted curvy road, but when we started up the mountain that was 10 miles of climb. We had to stop and let the engine coolant cool a little. Even a tour bus ahead of us stopped. Of course the temp was about 109. When I first mentioned going to Death Valley, I looked up the forecast and it was suppose to be in the 90;s. I thought well we can handle that. But then after we got there the forecast was 112 for Monday. We really enjoyed seeing all the sights, it was beautiful. Will tell about that trip later.
It was so hot, the suv couldn't ever get cool and so we didn't bother to run it.

By the way 395 was 4 lane from Lee Vinning, CA.

MORE DELAYS!!

When we left Cummins Coach Care in Coberg, we thought spending money for repairs was over. (Little did we know. We were almost to Roseberg, OR when one of the ride ht. valves failed. John tried to fix it, but couldn't, so limped to a Home Depot parking lot and called a mobile rv service. I thought he had it fixed (and he did too, as he started paper work), but John pointed out to him that it was losing air again. So he finally gave up, this was about 7pm and he sent us back N. to a diesel and rv service place. The picture shows their parking lot, right by I-5. The next morning John is at their door at 7 and they don't open until 8:30. Come to find out they do not do that kind of work. John phoned a techthat use to be with CC and he told him how to air it up and then pull a fuse and it will hold.

Here is where he sent us, it is in Grants Pass and they worked us in. They did get it fixed and we were on our way about 4 pm. Let's see, the mobil rv guy cost 2oo, and this bill was 198.(which we were glad to pay)

Did I mention we have decided to go to Death Valley since we were so close. So I just threw in this picture to prove we finally got out of Oregon and I couldn't begin to spell or pronounce these mts, and they are beautiful.

This is Mt. Shasta and our road when we got off I-5 took us to the back of it. Just think snow left over from winter. It is Saturday pm and we are parked in the parking lot of an Indian Casino in Bishop, Ca. Hopefully the next time you read, it will be about Death Valley!

TRAVELING I-5

Now we have left Albany, after the paint job and heading to Coberg. First the stuff you see far away looks like smoke.

When you get a little closer you think, yes it is smoke!

But then you realize it is dust. All over the Williamette (pronounced will-a-met) Valley farmers are plowing, disking, planting their fields. This is big seed-producing farms .... rye - fescue and I don't know how many more.

We are heading to TT Verdi Valley, should be there by Saturday. (If there are no more delays.) It is between Flagstaff and Phoenix. Hopefully that should be where my next blog comes from.

FINALLY FINISHED !

This is a great place to have paint repair done. The father and son team are very knowledgeable and know what dealing with 3M is like. In case you've forgotten, when the 3M was removed part of the clear coat came off, so we were sent to Albany,OR (it was on our way) to get it fixed. We were there for 5 days before approval of the estimate came. Then it only took 3 days to fix it. I like Albany and the surrounding area, lots of farming ... seed farming. More on that later.

Here it is primed and ready for the paint job.

AND the finished product.

They let us stay in front of the office in the evenings, with 50 amp hookup. Now would you believe on our way to Albany John discovered the fan controller to the engine fan is running on high all the time. The guys at Pacific Paint suggested we use Coachnet in Coberg to fix it. So called and made an appt. for Wed. afternoon. When we got there, John explained the problem to them. So they took it in and after about 2 hours the tech came out and said sure enough that was the problem, but they didn't have any in stock. By this time our warrenty people in Fl had already closed, so will spend the night here (50 amp) and check with them in the morning. So goes the lives of the Livelys. (we love it!)

THOUSAND TRAILS @ LONG BEACH,WA

This is the beach at Long Beach TT. It is about 100 yards from the campground. Going to the beach you cross a paved walking/bicycle trail. It is very nice and Dave you would be proud of John and I. We walked our bikes to the trail and rode on it to the town of Seaview. I say walked our bikes because the sand is very deep going to the beach.

This was the way the ocean looked the whole time we were in the park. I could just sit and look and listen to it all day.

Just south of the park was a lighthouse on Desperation Point, I"m sure there is a story there, but we didn't stop to visit it.

This is from several years of storms and in a state park. The park is open to drive thru to a jetty that was built between the Columbia River and the ocean. Remember we were by this river several weeks ago.
This is Labor Day week-end I hope everyone has a safe one.