On the road in Northern California

On the road in Northern California - 2008 . . .
during our travels in the Pacific Northwest

Updated: 11/30/08

Welcome to California. Now, lets talk about what you are bringing into our state. We had forgotten to eat two apples we had purchased in Washington. The border guard asked where we had purchase them. When we told her from a grocery store, she let us keep our two apples.

Del Norte County . . . Crescent City . . . On the road to Zion . . .

Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway Back on US 101 . . .

Del Norte County . . .

We were in Northern California to see the Redwoods.

The road was beautiful but twisty and narrow as we entered California. Some of the mountains were very close to the edge of the road. Rocks were held in place by wire fencing.

This river added to the beauty.

Crescent City . . .

The Redwoods we drove by on the way to the campground in Crescent City were impressive. And, these are not the biggest ones we were going to see.

The next morning before touring the Redwoods, we checked out the coastline at Crescent City.

Battery Point Lighthouse

At the end of many of the city streets leading to the coastline, a spiral staircase to the beach was available.

This homeowner was prepared for the rainy fall and rough winter weather ahead. The porch was closed in with glass panels.

A tree? . . . A bush ?

We spent the rest of the day driving among the Redwoods. (See our Redwood National and State Parks - 2008 page.)

On the road to Zion . . .

The following day we moved on. Our next destination, Zion National Park in Utah.

We had watched the weather forecast so we hitched up the night before to avoided getting wet the next morning. The forecast was correct, it was a rainy, foggy day. (All of the television newscasts were warning their audiences that they had not had any rain since spring. Because of that the roads would be very slippery until the accumulated oil washed away.)

Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway

While photographing through the windshield does not produce excellent results, it is a record of our travels. On the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. the diameter and height of the Redwoods were still impressive.

The elk were plentiful in this yard.

Back on US 101 . . .

The rain was heavy at times.

We are including all this weather information because we have had VERY LITTLE rain or bad weather during our entire trip. We didn't want you to think the good weather lasted for the entire trip. Yes, we are had a small amount of road construction. In California, all vehicle towing are limited to 55mph. Not good in hills when our Ram likes to go about 65mph.

At this exit we left the Redwood Highway we had been traveling on for 60 Miles.

Most of these guys were using gasoline powered grass whips.

It was a great day for that kind of work.

Tennessee is not the only state with 'smokey' mountains.

Mary Lou leans a little towards the center of the truck when we drive roads with rock walls or drop-offs on the passenger side of the truck.

We realized the color we were seeing was the result of the forest fire they experienced in 2008.

Seldom do we actually see 'falling rocks'.
This road had a lot of rocks on the road - probable due to the rain washing dirt from under them.

Yep, we are in California.

After hours in the mountains, we had "pizza pie" in Willow Creek. He actually 'tossed' the crust. It was very good.

At the edge of town, a huge number of logs were being watered. The rain didn't do the job well enough.

As we rounded a curve, we came upon an accident scene. The guy in the foreground was up the road warning drivers in advance. Fortunately, everyone should have been moving slow due to the weather and curves.