We hadn't gone anywhere in a few months and the last trip was with our FJ Cruiser, so time for a camping trip. But it was summer and we risked hot weather. So we kept our start date flexible by not having made expensive Reserve America or  Recreation.gov reservations that lock us into a schedule. We had to set a start date anyway and luck was with us as California weather had been cool for weeks and it looked to continue for a little longer. As we had seen so much of the areas reachable without extensive driving, our trip got paired down from two weeks to 9 days finally. But the trade off was not too much driving, and while seeing some of the same areas, it was ones we were fond of with different trails and sights within those areas.

 

 

 

Monday 28 On this first day we took off at 8am after the usual frantic loading and headed straight for Lassen. Google said the trip should take 3 hours, but with the usual stops and that we weren't driving a Lamborghini our travel times are most often about 25% longer.  We thought we'd secure a campground right away but the entry ranger said all was full. Our first hike was to Shadow Lake, and we felt accomplished having made it all the way there considering the steep climb and bad knees. That is until two weeks later when I looked up our hikes and found we had been there 15 years earlier when we hiked to not only this lake but two lakes beyond it for three times the distance. Plate tectonics must have moved our lake in the mean time as I'm sure they were closer before. As it was getting late we headed for Manzanita lake near the north western end of the park. While it was disheartening to see all the burn on the way there, the lake area itself was lush and verdant with it's dark blue waters reflecting the sky . It was an easy and amazing hike with jaw dropping views around every corner after which we headed to our dispersed campground just outside the park. There we managed to tuck our camper right in among the trees and were the only ones there. But in the morning we found that some nice ladies from the Netherlands had pulled in after us. And did I mention it was free?
		The alpine like Shadow Lake

 

 

 

 

A forest of dead trees from the Park fire of 2024		Around the stunning Manzanita Lake in Lassen

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 29. Our destination for today was Burney Falls and then the Shasta area for another dispersed campground and more hiking. As usual Burney Falls was a little warm but we managed to find a shady parking place. Then took the wonderful hike down to the falls and along the river. It was a mob scene, but once a few hundred feet from the viewing platform they thinned out and you see few people. On leaving there were cars lined up to enter so were glad we came when we did. We stopped a few times on the way, one being a nice little informative forest hike and then a few overlooks before settling into our "Cattle Camp" dispersed campground. Our senior price was $7.50 and it was one of the nicer wooded one's we've come across. But after texting our daughter the name of the campground, she thought dementia might be coming on early. We took a nice river hike after settling in, but the weather was soon too warm for a more lengthy hike.

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 30 Today we headed to the Rogue River area in Oregon. The idea was to take some of the amazing trails that border this roaring river and then find a campground. On the way we stopped at the small historic town of Jacksonville about 5 miles west of Medford for a break and stroll. The ride along the Rogue is always enjoyable being of deeply wooded pines and broad leaf forests with lake and river glimpses along the way. After a wild goose campground chase for miles only to find it closed, we found one of the last places in a campground right next to many of the best hikes. After settling in we walked to our trail head and took a densely forested hike along the Rogue for a few miles before settling in for the evening. Easy low key day for a change.
		A catwalk spanning the Rogue

 

 

 

 

Jacksonville, a qaint little four block long historic town that's fun to stroll down

 

 

 

 

		Thursday 31 After a leisurely breakfast we took off for a quick look at some sights like the Union Creek Historic area and then to the Rogue River Gorge where the river is squeezed between ancient volcanic rocks to become thundering falls viewed from steel walkways. Then we headed to Crater Lake, another nice wooded drive. Our first stop was a little water fall that was not very remarkable. But that's the luck of the draw with new places. But as chances work, the next stop, 'Sun Notch Trail" was wonderful with stunning view of the lake and the 'phantom' ship heading into port. On pulling over for a quick stop we noticed a wildflower hike next to us we had not seen. Mimi's eyes lite up and we donned our hiking gear. This serendipitous find wound up to be one of the most lush and colorful wildflower hikes we had ever taken. As we rounded the crater to continue our journey the clouds got darker and darker. After a few more short stops we headed for our 'Diamond Lake' campground just north of us stopping briefly at the Pumice Desert overlook where it not only poured briefly but hailed as well. The lake and campground were wonderful, but it should have been called 'Mosquito Lake' instead of Diamond Lake. Luckily we were fast walkers and had screening on our camper.
The 'Phantom' ship of Crater Lake

 

 

 

 

A wet Pumice desert heading for the horizon		Pretty Diamond lake, popular with people and mosquitoes.

 

 

 

 

Toketee Falls, a favorite hike on the Umpqua. The visitors pictured on the right used the leaky pipe as a convenient shower.

Friday 1 Today we headed for Reedsport on the coast. Good thing since it's getting warm inland. We had time for only one remaining river hike on the Umpqua river and chose the Toketee Falls, the crown jewel of easy falls hikes in this area. It goes through stunning woods with winding stairways to a narrow but tumultuous falls cut deeply into lava rock the end. After stopping briefly at a scenic but hot spot for lunch we stopped again closer to the coast at the Elk Overlook among much cooler temperatures. Then we headed for our Windy Cove RV park where we got one of the last spots. While we usually eschew RV parks, other sites were booked up and this one had one spot left plus it was public being city run and near the beaches and harbors, which is always interesting to me. After securing our spot with nice harbor views we took in the Umqua lighthouse museum tour and then a walk on a log strewn beach before calling it a day.

 

 

 

 

The amazing wooded hike towards the Toketee Falls		One of the many stairs getting to the falls

 

 

 

 

		Some of the creative 'forts' made on this log beach
Cut through a deep canyon of columnar basalt the falls drop roughly 120 feet in two stages

 

 

 

Saturday 2 Today we start our drive down the Oregon coast among cooler weather. Our first stop was the Coos Bay History Museum set in a modern building with tasteful displays summarizing a history of the area. Just past that is the Coos Bay Boardwalk with old historic boats on display as you walk along the downtown harbor. And finally we took in the Charleston Marine Life Center a research facility with unique marine exhibits. Then to the Charleston Marina RV park to claim one of the few remaining spots on a slab among wall to wall campers. But everyone was friendly and it was close to some interesting sights. Considering it was Saturday night we felt lucky. After dinner we took a harbor walk to see the sights.
		Coos Bay History Museum set in a modern two story building.

 

 

Coos Bay Boardwalk parallels the old part of town		I was amazed it was still afloat

 

 

 

Part of the Shore Acre Garden		Sunday 3 Our goal was to make Crescent City while seeing sights along the way. The first stop was the Shore Acres State Park which was suppose to have a nice botanical garden. Not only did we get there too early, but as the friendly ranger was opening her machine malfunctioned and we got in free! This was one of the most stunning garden parks on this trip. It was laid out somewhat formally like the French gardens and had a beautiful pond reminiscent of Japanese gardens. While borrowing from other countries the effect worked well especially as it was all set in a lush wooded coastal surrounding. While here we hiked a few of the short trails overlooking the ocean before heading south again. Instead of backtracking along the major road, we took narrow winding road to 101 past the South Slough Estuarine research station. Unfortunately the station was closed but we took a highly rated hike right behind it. On to the 'Washed Ashore' gallery in the town of Brandon. I didn't expect much but the artists created unique gossamer like jellyfish out of the plastic debris tossed as waste. On to a lighthouse overlook to see a large merchant ship approach this tiny town that should have headed for an industrial harbor and seemed lost. Then through this charming little town to another scenic overlook and short trail just south of town. As time was getting short we cut our stops to only one more, the Port Orford and the Coast Guard station with another quaint museum and deep woodsy hike ending on a a cliff with stunning views of the shoreline. Our first campground on the list was the small county run Florence Keller Park as we knew the Redwood National Park was booked up. But this little 40 or so acre park and campground was as lush as any redwood forest we had gone to and we immediately got a spot. After leveling we took a short hike through this wooded wonderland.

 

 

 

Short trail from the Shore Acre Gardens		Scenic overlook just south of Brandon

 

 

 

'Jellyfish' from the Washed Ashore gallery		A big 10 foot long grouper also from washed ashore debris.

 

 

 

 

Port Orford's 'Nellies Cove Trail' to the coast overlook.		Part of the dense redwood trails at Florence Keller Park

 

 

 

 

Monday 4 Our first stop for today was the Battery Pt. Lighthouse & Museum. And as punishment for us early risers for coming early (8am) it was closed. The lighthouse was unique as it could only be reached by a foot and during low tide. But we lucked out and shortly crossed the block long rocky trail to climb the hill to the buildings. But I doubt the museum would have been any more interesting than the hike over and back and juntique surroundings. Being back in California the diesel was now around $5.50 a gallon. But thanks to Gas Buddy, diesel at the Indian Casino (no taxes) was about a dollar less than anyone else. And this would hold us until we got home to our cheaper fuel stations. On to the Newton Scenic Byway for a short wooded hike. Then to the Prairie Creek Visitors center. But we found it was a tourist destination and we quickly left the mob scene to stop by the side of the road to watch some elk lounging in the meadows. Running short on unique sites I asked Mimi if she would like to visit the Humboldt Botanical Gardens next. Grinning from ear to ear I took that as a yes. The plants were scattered about this large clear area and looked like a work in progress, but what they had done was nice and botanically it was great Mimi said. Perhaps in a few years it will be a real draw. Time again flew and we headed for Benbow a campground recommended by a few people. We almost didn't get there due to a washed out and deeply rutted road getting there and thinking we had taken the wrong turn, but finally a somewhat strange but friendly ranger check us into this dry dusty oak woodland campground for a fairly nice spot mostly to ourselves. After a short rangy woodland hike we retired for the evening.		Battery Pt. Lighthouse & Museum

 

 

 

 

 

An ecletic collection of 'beach stuff' at the lighthouse		Humboldt Botanical Gardens

 

 

Tuesday 5 I had installed a wifi antenna and it came in handy to pull in distant cell towers. This now gave us information on the shortest and most scenic ride home. It was a long grind home down 101 to Geyserville where we took a break and short walk around this quaint little town. Here we extended our vacation a little by taking the scenic 128 through the Alexander valley and then the Silverado home. As we always say, nice to go and nice to come back.