Under the Weather

Our last Oregon morning was T-shirt weather, very warm and sunny. Driving south we enjoyed breathtaking coastal views and rain forests bathed in sunlight. An hour later we broke into California's grey-green mountains dotted with scruff bush and clumps of tall cream-tufted grasses. Twisted Cypress were back lit creating dramatic silhouettes. We passed areas where snow had fallen that morning but luckily melted from the highway surfaces. The dry, warm skies were replaced with haze and cooler temperatures by afternoon.

We set up CC facing a sheltered bay of the Pacific in Crescent City. We settled in our lawn chairs at the beach's edge. Comfort demanded a few layers of sweaters and scarves but allowed us a long repose  to watch the clammers, digging and slowly filling their pails, myriad seabirds floating on the surf or gliding above it and Sunday-afternoon families strolling on the beach or fishing from the pier. A lighthouse flashed a warning light out to sea at thirty second intervals. We could hear the lonely tone of a bell calling out to ships with a long "Me" as in "Do, Re, Me" every ten seconds. The temperature dropped and the wind picked up as the sun descended. The sunset was Class A with oranges, pinks and purples laying down magenta streaks across the turquoise water.

By bedtime the wind was howling around us. The tops of the slides were blowing with such ferocity during the night that we felt like we were inside a circus tent rather than a solid-sided motor home. The skies opened and rain smacked down all night. I half expected to awake in Oz! With news that the edge of a major storm in Oregon was heading south towards us, we decided to drive inland.

Trekked along scary winding roads, again with little or no guardrails. The Redwood Highway was impressive even under overcast skies. The larger trees, eighty to one hundred feet tall were so thick around that their huge trunks met the edge of the highway. They were marked with reflectors for night drivers. Our large vehicle could pass oncoming vehicles with only a few inches between, Not exactly a relaxing drive! Passed a number of roadside carving and bad-art shops all featuring giant Bigfoot figures, Native-style faces, bears and tacky cartoon characters often with wonky proportions and eyes that weren't quite right. We stayed two nights under the mighty trees of Redwoods River RV Park. More rain and cold.

Headed back to the coast on a long and winding road through fog and rain.
Hunkered down in a cosy site at Pomo Rv in Fort Bragg.  Living in an RV means living close to and under whatever weather conditions get thrown your way. At least we always have the option of driving on whether we will find better weather or not!