Our Travels to Southern California 2014

Our trip south started on 11/14/2014 after Dick got cleared to travel following surgery in September. We had been staying at the Keizer Elk’s. Our first stop was Timber Valley SKP RV Park in Sutherlin, OR. SKP stands for Escapees and this park is a co-op park. We put our name on the waiting list for a lot because we liked it so much. In the meantime we rent a space whenever we can. Each site has a shed and gravel to park on. They are all about the same size. Some sites are plain and others like this one is nicely landscaped.

 

Wild Turkey’s came to eat in our yard.

And so did the deer.

Our next stop was the Redding Elk’s Lodge.

The lounge is very nice. It has some very nice murals, this is just one of them.

We learned that Redding has a river walk along the Sacramento River. The next day we found the way to the river walk and headed towards the Sundial Bridge that crosses the river.

We met a friend along the way.

And some cute kids.

The Sundial Bridge is amazing.

Our next stop was the Lodi Elk’s Lodge for 1 night. Then on to Visalia Elk’s Lodge for 3 days. The weather was good the next day and we headed up Hwy 198 to Three Rivers and the entrance to Sequoia Nat’l Park.

After going to the visitor center we took the Sherman Tree Trail.

The General Sherman Tree is the oldest in the park around 1,000 years old. It is not tallest.

We decided to climb Moro Rock. The view at top, we were told is amazing. Up the stairs we went.

 

Still going up, there are places where you can stop and catch your breath.

We are almost to the top.

We finally reach the top.

This is the view of the Great Western Divide. This ridge of peaks divide the Kaweah River drainage in front of us from the Kern River Drainage on the other side. 

View of the valley we drove up and the Kaweah River.

This is the view looking west.

Now that we have rested it is time to head back down.

I can’t believe we managed to get to the top.

We had a grand day with the tall trees and we will come back to explore more of the region.

Our next stop was Wilderness Lakes TT in Menifee. It really isn’t a lake but canals that run through the park. The Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, Black-crowned Night Heron are common visitors and some nest here in the spring.

We had a lot of rain and some of the sites became water logged. Our site wasn’t too bad.

But some of them it was hard to even get out of the rig.

But the worst hit were the people in tents.

Maintenance worked like crazy to drain the worst sites. They had a fire hose hooked to a pump and would pump the water into a water tank on a truck. This flooding was not caused by the canals flooding but just the relentless rain.

Our next stop is Indian Waters in Indio, we will be here for Christmas.

 

In January we headed back to Oregon but that is another story for another day.

Ehrenberg, Arizona 2014

We are slowly headed back to OR for the summer. First stop is Ehrenberg and we stayed at the Colorado River Oasis. It was a Western Horizons park. It has been sold to the same folks that have Caliente Springs and Sky Valley. We met the new owner on check-in. It is going to be interesting to see how the park develops and what improvements are made.

Across from the park is the Pioneer Cemetery. First used in June of 1862.

The last burial was April 22, 1988. 

We took a day trip to the Cibola Nat’l Wildlife Refuge. Our GPS led us on an adventure. We traveled on the CA side of the Colorado River to a dirt road with ruts and sand and ended at a small dirt boat ramp with a sign that read Cibola NWR. This is not what we were looking for. A man that was about to get his boat out thought that the Refuge was on the AZ side of the river. So back track we did.

The visitor center was closed but the auto tour road was open. We walked part of the nature trail and took the auto tour. We picked up a brochure of the area and saw that in a number of places you could access the Levee Road and continue to the Cibola Lake Overlook.

We came across this Pioneer Dog Run house.

At the Cibola Lake Overlook we ate our lunch with a great view of the lake.

On another day we drove to the Blue Water Casino in Parker to visit their exhibit, “Leonardo Da Vinci The Genius”.

This exhibition brings to life the genius of Leonardo as an inventor, artist, scientist, anatomist, engineer, architect, sculptor and philosopher.

Italian Artisans have faithfully crafted interactive and life-size machine inventions. These works include the first concepts of a car.

 

Air Screw the beginnings of the helicopter.

The first Hydraulic Saw.

Pulleys designed to lift heavy loads.

He was fascinated with water and the things that might help man in water like the breathing tube, life ring, and to walk on water.

The exhibit also includes the world exclusive Secrets of Mona Lisa - an analysis of the iconic painting, conducted at the Louvre Museum.

If this exhibit comes to your town my advice is don’t miss it.

Southern California Fun

We started the new year out right with a party at the Palm Springs TT. We had a great time with great friends and great music. Then came the Humana Challenge Golf Tournament. PGA West on the last day of the tournament.

This year we got to go to the Appreciation Party. It was held at the Jackalope Ranch.

Great food, entertainment, and grounds.

After the great lunch we headed to Pio Pico TT in Jamul, CA for our first of the year pool tournament.

Here is the view of the park from our hike up the hill (really it’s down there).

This is the view from the “phone booth”. Yes I said phone booth, you can hike up here and get some cell service.

From here we headed to Wilderness Lakes TT for the second pool tournament of 2014. We had some foggy mornings.

And sunny evenings.

After the tournament we went on a couple of day trips. Our first excursion was to March Airfield Museum.

The entrance to the museum has war memorials throughout the grounds. This one is the memorial for the Canine Corps.

Karen is by another memorial.

They have a number interesting displays. They received a console from the NASA’s Space Program and have it set up with flight simulators. Dick really enjoyed flying.

This was a highlight of the museum. It is the SR-71 Black Hawk.

Here is another view where you can see just how big it is. That is Bill looking into the cockpit.

On another day Bill & Karen and Dick & Marla joined us in Perris to tour the Orange Empire Railway Museum.

We got to ride on 2 trains and a trolley.

The train ride takes you a short way into town and back. Trolley takes you through the grounds. We walked through the Engine House and car barns with Norm who knew everything about the trains.

We look pretty bored but it was nothing like that he was very interesting and had so many stories to tell. Our next stop was the Grizzley Flats Engine House. It houses a 3 foot narrow gauge steam locomotive, passenger cars, and related artifacts dating from the 1880’s.

Ward Kimball donated the narrow gauge train and barn.

Steam engine.

The narrow gauge railways served many mining, agricultural, and lumbar communities in the West.

Our next pool tournament is in Palm Springs in March. The weather is great, the food fantastic and the games fun. Hope, Kathy, and Mike are waiting to play.

Friendly competition between Earl and Richard.

The winner’s of 9-ball. Richard F., Vic K., and Ed R.

Jack & Jill winner’s Darol & Ruth, Budd & Beverly, Vic & Marilyn.

After the Jack & Jill tournament on Friday a bunch of us went to Mario’s for dinner.

Saturday was the Singles tournament. The winner’s are 1st Joe H, 2nd George R, and 3rd Bud H.

Last day Sunday is Doubles. The winner’s are 1st is Bob Munson, 2nd Joe & Bob, and 3rd was Richard & Doug.

Next week we head into AZ to visit with friends and take in a birding festival in Cottonwood.