Home!

Our campsite in Needles as we got ready to go

There must have been some good rain, because everything is so green!

Such interesting formations

When Cary first spotted this cloud shadow on the mountain, he said it resembled an angel playing a trumpet. Now it seems to be a witch riding a broom!

We got home about 2:30, had time to unload the refrigerator, then it began to rain and hail!

When it stopped we were able to get a few more essentials out of the trailer, but the rest can wait till morning.

It was a wonderful trip, but we are both glad to be home!

From the Needles KOA

 The first thing I did today was lose my trailer keys! I always have them in my pocket, so I suspect that when I pulled out my handkerchief, my key fell out. Somewhere, but not in the trailer.

Our plan was to spend the night in Newberry Springs, but when we arrived, the place was booked for a group of folks there to do some off road stuff. So, two more hours on the road to Needles where the KOA did have a spot. It was hot when we arrived, but has cooled down nicely.

Coalinga Tonight

 It was worth the extra hours of driving since it is really too warm to spend that time sitting in an RV park. 

Almond Grove RV park, about a 4:30 arrival. Filled up with fuel at Rolling Hills Casino. Lunch at a rest stop. No problems with the truck at all.

We have TV and wifi; supper will be really simple.

Coalinga was originally called Coaling Station A. There was also a coaling station B, but I don't know where it was/is now. But after googling it, there is an apartment complex in Coalinga by that name!

Of course, originally it had to do with the railroad.

My sister attended an Oktoberfest in her senior living center--sent me this pic today.

She loved the bratwurst, pretzels and sauerkraut!

Yes!

 We got the truck to the shop by 8:00 (and you know, Cary, even before 8). It was originally a Desoto dealer (makes me think of  The Groucho Marx show and the commercial for Desoto--de-lightful, de-lovely...).

          There was a picture in the office of the original--opened in 1947.

Our shuttle driver, Wayne, gave us a brief tour of old Redding, which has been refurbished and looks like a very fun place to explore. I did not have my phone handy to shoot pictures. But I found some online of  Umbrella Alley and of one of the many murals. We think we are going to fit Redding into our itinerary next year!

While waiting for the truck to be ready (we did get a call that it was the thermostat), we took another walk, stopping to visit with the substitute teacher who was working on some veggie plants. Somehow it came up that he had been at a club in Newport, CA,  that John Wayne bought for his wife, Pilar, so she could play tennis. I couldn't remember what exactly his role at the club was, but regularly played chess with John Wayne!

Cary reminded me of the context: the guy was talking about pre-interstate days and Cary mentioned that when he lived in Newport when the interstate was being worked on. 

The truck was ready by 3:30. Wayne came and got us and everything is just fine. One of the technicians complimented Cary on how well taken care of the truck is!

Ready to start home again tomorrow.

Continuing

 

First thing this morning we took the truck to Crown Dodge in Redding; they couldn't get to it till Wednesday, suggested we try another Dodge dealer, so we did.

They can get to it tomorrow at 8:00. Since we have added at least three days to the trip, we went to a nearby Walmart for a few more supplies (beer and ice cream included).

I have not slept well for several nights, but did manage to take a few walks and shoot a few pictures. The Sacramento River is so pretty.

On one of the trees in the park, a Government Insect Trap, do not disturb.

I think this picture shows the same kind of bird as the one below. I took that one from the dining room window. We do not have any birds near our house in Tucson with blue plumage.

I definitely needed a nap, felt much more like myself afterwards. Supper was a "TV dinner," not that tasty (turkey with mashed potato and gravy). I added cranberry sauce, broccoli and fruit. Ice cream for dessert.

Sunday morning

If we had to be "stranded" anywhere, this was a good place to be. A very pretty RV park (we went from giant redwoods to palm trees in just a few hours), and I could hear a train every so often--a bonus!

It felt like summer when we went to bed, but woke up to temps very similar to those yesterday morning in Crescent City. I put on a sweatshirt for our walk around the park.

We are right on the Sacramento River, a little hard to see here.

This guy told us Good Morning as we passed, so we had to stop and visit and ask about his project. He had built a stand for a planter out of some folding camping chairs (barely seen here behind Cary). He had made the wooden planter out of boards salvaged from a construction site and was getting ready to plant pansies. Very creative. Two days a week he subs at a high school, could work more but isn't interested. He commented that the elementary schools are awful for discipline problems. So sad!

 This house is down a private road at the campground; we assume the owner lives here!

We got a kick out of this image--what a powerful Corvette!

Well, this wasn't our plan!

 After leaving the rest stop around Weed (right across from the Weed airport), we heard a warning sound, saw a notice to check all the gauges, so we turned off the AC. Every so many miles Cary pulled over to check it out; the fluids were fine. But we knew we couldn't continue the drive to Corning, as was our plan, decided to find an RV park in Redding where they would be likely to have a Dodge dealer. We were successful, called the dealer once we set up here at JGW RV Park, and will take the truck in Monday morning.

Because it was a little early to start the trip when we first got up (hard to sleep the day before a trip), we took a walk around the park one more time, got to talk to a few folks too.

Lunch at the rest stop by the Rogue River. Small yellow leaves announced that this really is autumn as they sprinkled us and our table.

                                                  

Got a few shots of Mt. Shasta too

I took this from our RV spot.

Can September Really Be Over?

We got to the lighthouse early so we had time to visit with our great coworkers. Cary posed at the pipe organ for our first photo.

 Bill brought out his corncob pipe for our last day!

                                                                        

                                                        And us!

A last look back at the lighthouse as we left work. Tours were great as usual. People were here from Australia and New Zealand, and also from St. Augustine, Florida. That guy had pictures on his phone of the flooding--just awful!

Another perfect day for pictures.

As soon as we left work we headed to an estate sale! No pictures, but we found lots of goodies! Some of the items are headed to my sister's for crafting. In fact, I have a bunch of stuff I have collected from yard sales and thrift stores--hope she has room for it all!

Walmart after lunch for sandwich fixings for the drive home--and some ice cream cones, because it will be hot as we travel south!

Beautiful Day (we have had a fair amount of them)

 It rained yesterday, but the skies cleared, leaving lots of blue sky and puffy clouds.

Today we worked one and a half hours, had lots of water to walk through afterwards. I took several pictures in the lighthouse; it was the first day there was so much illumination from the sun that I thought there were extra lights turned on.

  I can't believe we just have another hour and half to our time here.

The parlor was so bright today!

                                       View from the keepers' bedroom

Misty and Cool

 One last trip to Brookings for fuel before heading back to Tucson on Saturday--diesel was $5.49. Stops at the Grocery Outlet, Goodwill and the Humane Society Thrift Store too. Cary found some books and I got some magazines and a blouse. Before we left town we found another thrift shop/boutique--walking distance to the quilt shop.

             

Lunch at Mattie's Pancake House. Cary was able to enjoy eggs benedict, one of his favorites, and I had a shrimp melt.

There is a car theme going; the waitresses have some great tee shirts.

It never did warm up or clear up, but I got in my walks and Cary joined me on the last one.

                                   I caught the deer again; they let me get pretty close.

Quite Chilly

 The highlight of the day for Cary was exploring a fire engine. Unfortunately one of our neighbors was having a medical issue. His brother was trying to get into the trailer to see what was going on. One of the workers/longtime residents was nearby and called 9-1-1. When we got back from Walgreen's, three emergency vehicles were in front of his place and ours. Cary hung around because he has a thing about fire trucks. After the ambulance took the neighbor away, the fireman asked Cary if he wanted to check out the truck. I asked him to write about it.

I got the full tour, every nook and cranny, every tool, and assistive device that they use. They are a volunteer department. They earn a pittance for each call, ranging at $10-$15, depending on the type of call. The only thing he did not let me do was to drive it around the circle with lights and sirens going. Now I know that the tools they use on Chicago Fire are the real deal. 

Unfortunately, I was in the trailer and had no idea what was going on, so no pictures!

Cary remembered to take a picture of us playing Mexican Train. Yesterday we played in the sunshine, short sleeved shirt and visor...not so much today!