On our way to Oregon, we stopped in Crescent City, CA for a few days. The town reminded us of the fishing towns in Rhode Island. We stayed at the Crescent City KOA.

campsite

redwood trail in campground

walk on beach

This became Thumper's favorite place. They have their own redwood forest, which Thumper would walk through every day. Since the weather was sunny and warm, we also enjoyed the beach.
  Tsunami that struck Japan two years ago also struck Crescent City and Brookings, Oregon. Both towns had major damage to their docks. According to a waitress, it was an 8 foot tsunami that game in to Crescent. It was low tide when it hit, otherwise damage could have been much worse.

   One day we took and excursion to the Mystery of the Trees which includes a walk along the trail through redwoods and a sky ride over the trees to an observation deck.

gondola ride up among redwoods

ride down on gondola



Are on our way to Oregon!!!!

AVENUE OF THE GIANTS!!!



rest area off US 101 (pee break for Thumper)

 



We are in redwood and sasquatch country - about 200 miles or so north of San Francisco in Humbolt County.  We pulled in for a couple of nights in Myers Flat at Giant Redwoods RV Park.

This campground in located on the scenic route (approx. 31 miles )known as the Avenue of the Giants. The campground is also located on the South Fork Eel River. Cleanest water we have ever seen. Thumper loved it here. Lots of sand to dig holes along the river.
 There are lots of trails for hiking and great pull offs for visitors to stop and walk around these beautiful trees.

South Fork Eel River

swimming

drive thru

Welcome to my home

one of many wooden sasquatches

Dyerville Giant - 370 ft fallen tree



 

Skip and Thumper touring

Wine, Pacific coast, more wine Sonoma Speedway and more wine!!!!! Happy campers we are!!!!  With hundreds of vineyards, the biggest decision was where to start. We just headed to Napa and as I was tasting, Skip and Thumper went touring the vineyards. Even if you don't care for wine, the area is beautiful to just drive around. We did stop at Chateau Montelena (which the movie "Bottle Shock"  is about). This was the vineyard that beat the French wines in a blind tasting in France, and put California wine industry on the map, in restaurants, and in homes.

Chateau Montelena

part of their vineyards

We also took a ride through beautiful farm lands (cattle we saw looked well fed) and along the Pacific coast.


We stopped in  Yountville, where The
French Laundry is located. Since it rates as one of the top restaurants or the top restaurant in the US,some one told me reservations are booked a year in advance.

French Laundry

French Laundry garden

We stopped in Bodega Bay with beautiful beaches and great candy store (Skip filled up on candy).



Skip's favorite store

Another day we drove through Sonoma county and stopped at a few more vineyards. Also pulled into the Sonoma Speedway (which is a road course, NASCAR will be there in June). There were a few stock cars running on the track, and an AC  Cobra (which Skip says is worth about $1,000,000.00.
Also got a ride in the Save Mart promo cart, and after a few glasses of wine relaxed in the big blue chair.

Fisherman's Wharf, cable cars, chocolate, "painted ladies", Lombard Street, an iconic bridge and a famous prison - all in San Francisco!!!! and baseball, too!!!! We stayed in Morgan Hill, CA about an hour outside of San Francisco. The area is beautiful and right now nice and green. Campground is very nice with a heated pool. Lots of traffic going into San Francisco. It is like driving into New York City, but we really had no problems.  We thought parking would be an issue, but we had none - only the fee: $40.00 seems to be the going rate!!!  Lots of tourists from all over the world. Can't tell you the various foreign languages you hear as you are walking around. Skip and I did the major tourist attractions.

Pier 39 at Wharf

Skip could start a new business

sea lions on whart

famous sign

cable car

 
 
 
 
 
Tour of Alcratraz - great ride in the Bay

 

inside cellblock

return from Alcatraz

Skip, Thumper and Golden Gate Bridge

"painted ladies"

flowers in bloom

 

 

Spent some time in Big Sur, CA. We stayed at Big Sur Campground. This campground is a challenge to get to. It is located on US-1 (Pacific Coast Highway) which is a challenge to drive in a car let alone a motorhome. The campground is located among big redwoods, so there was no satellite at all. Also no cable. I think it is because highway department does not want people talking, texting, etc while driving US-1.

Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean



Bixby Bridge U.S. 1

Skip and Thumper among redwoods

We drove through Carmel-by-the-Sea. Due to Easter weekend, it was overcrowded. Could not find a place to park so we kept on going to Monterey. Walked around the beach had lunch, on the pier and took the 17-mile drive around the Monterey Pennisula (they charge 9.75 - but well worth the drive. You pass at least 4 golf courses (including Pebble Beach) and water view all along the way. This was one of Thumper's favorite places. Lots of dogs on the beach.

Thumper and friends on Monterey coast

more of Monterey Pennisula

on Monterey wharf

Monterey Pennsula

Pebble Beach

Also went to Pfeiffer Beach off the highway. This became Thumper's favorite!!!!!! Lots of sand to dig into.

Pfeiffer Beach

Thumper in sand

Thumper and friend





 

On a drive down the coast, stopped for fuel - $6.69/gallon!!!!!




Parting photos of US-1

On our way north towards San Francisco!!!!!

The central coast of California is beautiful!!!!! We thoroughly enjoyed being there.