Our First Rain Day

There's no way I could even take a picture on the bad curves!
I had my eyes closed!!

Leaving our Mother’s Day revelry in Coloma, we conquered the last 10 miles of crazy hills and turns on highway 49 and got onto I-40, our first major highway since before Vegas.  We stopped in Reno for Costco gas and ice (our great money saving tradition when available) and headed north on 395, the scenic road through the rest of California and into Oregon.

We continued to debate whether we should detour the 140 miles off direction to hit Crater Lake National Park.  We’ve so enjoyed the parks and hate to miss any as was the identical dilemma when leaving Death Valley but left the decision for when it had to be made.

Driving what seemed an endless but beautiful stretch of backcountry, we couldn’t find a place to stop!  With internet service coming in and out and our affinity for not staying in typical campgrounds, we began to get desperate!  Miles after we had intended on stopping, we finally took a turn onto a road leading to the Modoc Wildlife Refuge outside of Alturas, CA.  With another beautiful mountain range in the distance and pastures in the forefront, we took a walk down the train tracks before watching the cows retreat to the barn at sunset and being entertained by the ever-amusing jackrabbits. 

Back on the road the next morning, the critical turn for Crater Lake approached as the weather grew colder and more threatening.  Checking what was happening at Crater Lake, the ensuing snowstorm (what?!) made up our mind for us and we headed the other way.  Of course, the weather where we were didn’t look so promising either and we vowed to be sure to have a camp with power for the night.

That campsite ended up happening within the next hour!  With steady rain, dropping temps and 25 mph winds, it seemed a good day to be still.  We pulled into a state park on the border of California and Oregon – seriously, across the street from each other!  Rob battled the elements long enough to get the power and water hooked up and we went into hibernation!

The day passed with 2 movies, a game of Scrabble and several of cards, and watching robins scoring on endless worms and deer and quail wandering around the campsite ignoring the weather.  Cookie baking and lots of eating (including my favorite South African sweet potato stew at day’s end) left us fat, happy and with a bit of cabin fever!  When the rained stopped for a while late in the afternoon, we tried a hike and within 5 minutes were being pelted with hail!  So much for exercise! 

A little tutorial on “coach” living…we live on battery power which Rob enhanced on Moonshadow with 2 solar panels.  The frig, heat and hot water are all powered with propane although the heater blower requires 12v electricity.  Our water is in a tank that has an 12v electric pump. We usually resort to “boondocking” meaning we’re not plugged into anything.  We use 12v power to recharge our phones, etc. but any electric appliance is left useless without a generator being run or hooking up to AC power.

Being in a traditional campsite, we could hook to a power source which allows crazy things – like a TV to watch a movie, or charging the toothbrush!  AC power also meant no worries keeping the heat on all day and, hooked to water, I treated myself to a blissfully hot and long shower before putting our first weather day in 7 weeks behind us. 

And today we’re back on the road again, as the song goes.  A rest stop with a hiking sign allowed for a 40 degree, 20+mph windy hike and a chance meeting with a beer brewer from Colorado, Kurt.  The views on the scenic highway through central Oregon stretch out in all directions as the miles pass.  Rolling hills, crystal lakes, snow covered mountains and pastures of cows, sheep and goat entertain as we work our way to what’s to come.