March 23, 2012 ~ Friday

It's so easy to forget what day it is.  I'm not sure how it got to be Friday so quickly.


We got up to a little sunshine today which was a promising start to our day.  We talked about staying in Bandon another day (I'm sure another Crab dinner was the basis for our discussion although that didn't come up)  We decided to hit the road.  We want to go to Cottonwood, AZ and stay another two weeks (for free at the Thousand Trails there).  We loved it when we were there in September.


We drove though some beautiful wooded scenery today.  We went through an area where the redwoods had branched over the highway, making a canopy overhead.  Occasionally, sunshine was able to break though, leaving a dappled pattern on the highway in front of us.  It was so AMAZINGLY peaceful driving though that area; I felt like we were in church.  Judy commented it was a privilege to be able to drive though such a serene, beautiful place.  I can't imagine living in that area.  (We were in Richardson Grove State Park, just south of Benbow, CA) Unfortunately, no place to pull off the road for pictures but I'm not sure a picture could capture the magic of the place!


One thing I don't like about driving on this route is no truck stops for easy access to the diesel pumps.  I will be glad when we hit the major truck routes for that reason plus getting a subway sandwich for lunch will be much easier.


I had to bypass a Dairy Queen today because there wasn't any place near it to get off the road and park.  Judy quit crying about about 15 minutes....she does love her ice cream.  AND blizzards ARE on sale you know!  (She didn't really cry but I did PROMISE to try to find her a DQ tomorrow......I almost had to pinkie swear so you know how serious it is)

This is the largest "natural" fresh water lake in CA.  We drove FOREVER along the shoreline, totally enjoying it's beauty!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_Lake_(California)

I can't find the info I read right now but it said that at one time, it was a BIG tourist area but the Gnats killed tourism......so, they imported some little fish that fed on the same thing at the gnats and before long, the gnats were gone. (They had tried toxic spraying before the fish but that was killing more things than just the gnats)  The little fish turned out to be prime food for Bass and they returned in great numbers and the lake is now one of the BEST in the country for Bass fishing.

We enjoyed some pretty signs of spring; we saw California Poppies  too but I couldn't stop and get photos.....maybe tomorrow.

This is where we stayed tonight; the manger couldn't be nicer!



http://www.robinsonrancheria.org/aurora.htm