Week 1-Big Trees

Last week, we had been working non-stop to get our house ready to hand over to the new owners AND get our new home ready to hit the road for forever and a day.  We finally got to start our dream and leave Folsom in our camper in the evening on Friday, July 6.

We headed toward Kelseyville, where some family live on a vineyard and walnut orchard to visit and stay for a few days while we transition to living in a camper.  Added bonus:  PUPPIES!

Willow

Willow snuggles

Olive is Willow's sister.  She's not even a year old and so big!

It was a nice visit, since I can't remember when I ever got to talk with Elaine (Beth) and Allen at any other time that wasn't a special occasion.  It was easy to be in their house with them and they made us welcome whenever we want.  I also learned how to make fried rice.

We left late morning that Monday and promised to stop by again.

Our first official stop was in Richardson Grove, where the big trees in California begin.  We dry camped in the state park, then took a walk near the Eel River and through some groves of big trees.  It was lovely and I was thrilled!

We barely touched the surface of this park.

We did both of these trails.

It's diameter is taller than Daniel.

Rome isn't the only place with fountains.

I spent the entire walk in awe of views like this.

The next day, we continued north on 101 and stopped for the night in Fortuna at the Riverwalk RV Park.  On our way out, we got an amazing grilled cheese sandwich at the Loleta Cheese Factory.

There are three kinds of cheese in this sandwich!  The eating area is in a beautiful garden.

July 11-14, we drove through Redwoods National Park and Prairie Creek State Park.  We stayed at Klamath River RV Park on the Klamath River. 

We hiked in Prairie Creek on the Rhododendron Trail. 

This place is magical.

This bridge is a log.

We got the last of the rhododendron blooms.

Banana Slugs!

The next day we drove out to Gold Bluffs Beach and hiked to Fern Canyon.

Ferns grew on the walls of the canyon.  Ferns everywhere!

The fog burned off and we were treated to this!

This is where we parked the camper all day.  Not bad...

Back at the RV park, I stepped out of the camper to go to the laundry room, I looked up and saw this!

We left the redwoods and drove through Crescent City, saw a lighthouse (that we couldn't get to due to high tide). 

We crossed the Oregon border in the afternoon, went to the visitor center where we got lots of good information, took a short walk out to Crissy Field Beach (which is right next to the visitor center).  It was a perfect, sunny, warm-not-hot Saturday in July and the beach was practically deserted!

We then drove a little to find a place to camp.  We are now staying in a tent spot, dry camping, at the Riverside RV Resort on the Chetco River. 

Not a bad first week in the camper...

Rookie Mistakes:

• Gnats!  Someone accidentally left the screen door slider thingy open and before we knew it, gnats were swarming the lights.  We must've looked idiotic as we tried getting rid of them.
• We left our leveling blocks one day and came back to no leveling blocks.  Grrr....
• Did laundry after a long day out and didn't have enough quarters, so had to wash towels with clothes...gah!