Spring Redwoods and Shakespearean Culture RV Trip

It has been YEARS since we have visited the Redwoods in northern California, so on inspiration from our eldest son, we planned a week in the big trees with our grandkids (and son!). So after a week fishing Kokanee at Wickiup (and a flat tire experience like no other) we hitched up and headed southwest toward the pacific coast. Getting a late start (from the flat tire experience) we stopped in Grants Pass for fuel and supplies, and continued west to the little community of Cave Junction. We stayed at a little private RV park we found through our membership with Passport America account (major discount for RV park membership). Nothing special but full hookups and a laundry mat where we did the tank dump, tank fill, and clean clothes routine before hitting the hay. OH ya add the sheets to the pile of laundry, especially after a week of fishing!!! The weather decided to dump some of that water stuff from the skies, so what the heck? Might as well get caught up on the domestic stuff right?

So next morning we are back on the road again. So for anyone that has traveled on Hwy 199, especially going from east to west, you know that this is quite an adventure for us RV folks. You might call it a sanity tester as it is a narrow, twisty, winding, white knuckled version of a cardiac stress test without ever leaving the drivers seat. Let's make it simple, a RV'ers dream (NOT!!!). Once you get to the junction of Hwy 101, you let out a HUGE breath of relief (kind of like getting a thumbs up after that cardiac stress test) and your heart rate goes back to normal (the sweat on the other hand does not dry out very fast in the coastal atmosphere).  We made a quick stop in Crescent City at the grocery store (local homeless/drug addict gathering convention) for last minute items, and headed south on hwy 101. We will leave out the white knuckled event being in the middle of two semi's where you just hit the brakes, close your eyes, and pray. We were very glad when we arrived at our stop for the week at Heart Of The Redwoods RV park. 

At this point you might be asking "why not stay at one of the California State Parks".... Well folks, all those beautiful state parks were designed for tent camping back in the 30's or so, and trying to get an RV through them is just not an option, so, RV park it is sometimes. After two harrowing towing adventures on the hwy that morning, we pretty much spent the day laid back and walking a couple short walks admiring the redwoods. Jill's sister Rae joined us for the week, so we enjoyed her company as well as the redwoods, and we had dinner with the son, grand kids, and sister in law that first evening. 

From then on we did the standard "touring" of the Redwoods State/ Nation Parks" for the rest of the week, and enjoyed our time with the giants and family very much... 

After the week with family in the Redwoods, we headed out to reverse the "stress test driving challenge" going east on hwy 199, to our next stop at Emigrant Lake County Park south of Medford (AWESOME place to park for the week!). Our plans for this next week in Ashland? Well of course, Shakespeare and all the plays on the spring schedule. The Shakespearean festival is a Hansen family tradition that has gone on for years, which usually involves many of Jill's family, but this year it was just us and Rae. This was also the first year for us to not be involved in Joe and Beth's study group (which we missed everyone from that group very much) so kind of weird being just the 3 of us. Anyway, we had a GREAT week, but must say that the level of entertainment just seemed off par this year.But still, Ashland and Shakespeare is always good for Tom's non cultural and sophistication background.... We will just leave that comment be LOL....

After Ashland we headed north to Roseburg to spend some time with Tom's brother Jim and his wonderful wife Karen. After a GREAT visit it was time to head back to Bend and reality for the next couple months. 

What's next for us you might be wondering???? Nothing special, just a simple, ten thousand plus mile, 7 month long RV trip around the US and Canada starting in August... Check back soon!!!