Some final notes...

Home!  Today we busted out the longest leg of the trip, and drove from Yreka to West Linn in about 6 hours.  So we got home a day early! So a 29 day trip, start to finish.

As we conclude this trip, here's some facts about Lily and Polly's Airstream Adventure:

Total miles traveled: 3825

States visited: Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California.  Somehow we missed Nevada, lucky us!

Temperature ranges:  33 degrees in Durango, CO and 108 in Needles, CA.  But it was 34 this morning in Yreka, and ice on the truck windows.

Highest elevation: Just under 9000ft, outside Durango. Lowest elevation: Napa, so sea level.

Most expensive gas: Needles, CA $4.39 gallon
Least expensive gas: Gallup, NM, $3.49 gallon. Funny thing, these two places are less than 200 miles apart, so a full dollar increase by just crossing the border.  Californians are getting screwed, as they also have the worst roads!

Worst roads: California, without a doubt.  But getting better!
Best roads: Idaho.
Most terrifying road: Laureles Grade Rd., over the hills from Hwy 68 to Carmel Valley Rd.  A true white-knuckler with a 7000 pound trailer shoving you down at every opportunity.  (Note to self: if the road name contains "grade", this indicates something steep)

Best campground: McCall RV Park & Margy's front/back yard.

Sketchiest campground: The one we didn't stay in, on the way to Carmel, after the most terrifying road, see above.

Biggest bump:  Somewhere between Moab and Durango.  We launched a dishpan out of the sink with glasses in it, we're still picking up glass shards. Also busted off a galley door under the sink, also bent the stove where it hangs on the counter. Who knows what else, it heads to Airstream NW for it's bath on Wednesday, maybe they'll find something else.

The last pics...

Leaving Yreka this morning...

Your tax dollars at work, a new sign!

Going over the top, the Siskyou Summit.  Foggy and steep!

We must be home, right? Right? RIGHT?

Almost...

Home!

 Sorry there aren't more interesting pics, but it's hard to photograph stuff you've seen a million times already.

So that's it, the end of the trip. Hope you all enjoyed Lily & Polly's Adventure, we sure did. I suppose that we'll do another one of these some day...when that happens, we'll add to this blog. But until then, this is it, the end of the road, the final post!

Oh yeah, Best Shower: Home!

Homeward bound...

Last night had to be the hardest rain that we've seen in quite awhile...and loud, being inside a glorified beer can!  The rain started about 10pm, and just came down harder until 2am, when the wind started.  But by morning, all had passed and we woke up to a clear, blue-sky morning.

Today we hit the road north, with the thought that we'd stop in Redding.  Well, we arrived about 1pm and decided to keep going to Yreka.  We think that we'll get home Thursday, one day earlier than planned.  Alyson, how's that lawn look?

A few pics from the day's drive...but first, where's Waldo?  Can you spot the Airstream?  An island in a sea of fiberglass?  An oasis in a desert of plastic? (How's that for metaphor usage?) I've even uploaded a larger pic so you can look closer, click on it to get a larger view. This is RV park in Napa, at the county fairgrounds. Make no mistake, this is not a campground, it's an RV park, a place to park your rig while you go off in search of the perfect wine.

It's there, look close!

Shasta Lake is nearing full...but probably dumping water now to make room.

A wet day, from Redding north...

We had snow in the rain as we drove over the pass...39 degrees.

Yreka, see the snow in the hills above town?

Tomorrow we head home, to West Linn.  One more day of the open road,(I-5, really?) the wind at our back,(more than likely not!) the road less traveled,(again, I-5, us and the trucks) yadda, yadda, yadda!

And then it began to rain...

Well, we left Monterey, with the rain on our tail.  Literally, we could see the storm coming, and while it was clear when we left, it was raining when we arrived in Napa.  Lily and Polly are thinking that this is not cool, wearing the raincoats, we're not far behind that thought.

We did one quick visit to a winery yesterday, but the bulk of our wine tasting was today.  After a great breakfast of huevos rancheros ala El Frijol de Plata, we started about noon today, wrapped it up at 5:30.  Liz was the designated taster, Jeff the designated driver.  The dogs were the designated riders, and they must truly think this is a total waste of time, as they got out of the truck in the same place they got in, but five hours later. Okay, we let them out a couple times, but no tasting for them, as much as they wanted to.

And on to the pics!

Monterey beach, rain is coming!

As always, a stop at Pezzini Farms in Castroville!

Liz's all-time favorite produce store!

101 to the 680, then 780, then 980, then 480, that's how you do the hokey-pokey...

These raincoats really suck!

The French Laundry garden...all for one restaurant!  Make your reservation now for next year!

Our frog has a brother, and he's at the Peju winery!

Huge table, all one piece, cut in 3...redwood.

There's grapes, we must be wine tasting!

Spent the kids inheritance here, really nice wine!

Tonight we had a great dinner at the Fish Story restaurant.  We had eaten here a couple years ago, every bit as good this time as last.  This is the same restaurant that served the crab with harissa.

So tomorrow we hit the road home, the final stretch.  It really doesn't seem like we've been on the road as long as we have.  Could we keep going, we think so, but life is calling in West Linn.  Redding Wednesday night and Canyonville Thursday, West Linn on Friday! This won't be our last post for this trip, so check back, no doubt we'll find something to share! Tonight we turned on the heater for the first time this trip!

El Capitan to Monterey...

In an effort to get caught up, here's another post with more photos of the trip so far.

Last night we had a great dinner with Ken in Santa Barbara, on the waterfront/marina. Lots of stories about boats and the like...

Today we left Ocean Mesa (El Capitan) and ventured off to we thought would be Carmel.  But let me backtrack a bit...Ocean Mesa was a lot of fun, it's right next door to the El Capitan Canyon Resort, which is a collection of cabins, tents, yurts and the like. Sort of an adult summer camp, but with plenty of kids and stuff.  We did take a hike along the beach, sans dogs.  Unfortunately, there are some oil rigs offshore and they must be leaking a bit, because we came back with tar all over our shoes.

So after leaving El Capitan, we drove north along 101 and headed out to Carmel...up and down one of the most steep, winding roads we've ever taken the Airstream. 10% grades up and down...and curves to boot.  No pictures of this, too busy white-knuckling our way. Some beautiful views of the California coastal hills. (or so I'm told, as I was not able to look...)

Tonight we are in Monterey, at the Marina Dunes RV park, which is just south of Monterey proper, in the small town of Marina.  We've stayed here before and for whatever reason, we've seen more Airstreams here than any other place, today was no exception.  One from Sacramento, and one from Alabama.  Took Lily and Polly down to the dunes, a nice afternoon, not much wind.

Okay, now the pics...

El Capitan State Beach, near the turn-around point of our walk, we started at the far left of the pic.

This is what was behind me when I took the above pic, tide was headed out...

The Silver Bean rolls along!

Jax at our dinner table!

Those pepper ristas might dry one of these days...

The barn at Alisal...not changed a bit.

Pepe the lizard...lots of these guys running around, all named Pepe!

The California salad bowl, just south of Salinas

El Camino Real, or 101 as it's known here.  You have no idea how many times Liz tried to take this shot...

They grow 'em big here...

Lily & Polly's big adventure...on the dunes

All the girls on the dunes!

The view out our back window...the fog lifted minutes later.

So that we could see this!

 Tomorrow we hit the road again, off to Napa Valley and the rain, or at least that's what's forecast. Guess we're getting acclimated to coming home, one day at a time.

El Frijol de Plata!

Sorry for the delay in posting, the internet connection in Santa Barbara was sketchy at best.

Okay, the Silver Bean with Lily and Polly made their way to Santa Barbara.  Left La Canada Thursday for a quick drive north. We spent 5 days with Don and Betty, a nice visit.  Polly decided that the pool cover was the best place to hang out!  The summer sun has warmed the water, and it's nice and squishy. She also has tweeked her knee at the local soccer field, so she's having to remain quiet, not an easy task for her.

We stopped and visited Liz's brother Ken, and his boat Varnebank.  More accurately, Varnebank is a small ship.  He purchased the ship in Holland, and he transported it here to the west coast.  It truly is a unique, one-of-a-kind all steel vessel. The only fiberglass is a deck locker.

Liz's (x)sister-in-law Jax stayed with us Thursday night, after a great dinner, made from the Elote Cafe cookbook.  Grilled salmon, elote, beans and guac! The next day we walked down the beach as far as we could, picked up some rocks, which needed to be carried...we need to get backpacks for the dogs.  However, California in general is not very dog-friendly.  None allowed on the beaches. See the next post for pics of El Capitan State Beach.


Saturday we drove up to Alisal Guest Ranch, near Solvang.  Don and Betty were married in Solvang in 1961, and spent their anniversaries at Alisal for the next ten years.  Liz has fond memories, and wanted to see it again.  Most everything was the same except everything was closer together and more enclosed, as in larger trees.  Imagine that, 50 years later!


We did drive through Solvang, wow, what a tourist trap!  We happened to be there on a Saturday, so that added to the crowds, but in spite of all the Danish flags flying, I don't think there are many Danish folk to be found.

Okay, some pics!

The Silver Bean tucked in it's La Canada campground...just fits!

Polly's favorite place, the middle of the pool cover, where we can't catch her!

Polly and Lily's other favorite place, at Grammy & Grandpa's feet, where they can catch things!

Pumpkins! On the way to Ventura...

Ken's boat, er, ship, the Varnebank.

The flying bridge, the real deal, not a canvas one!

The main salon, galley to the left.

Aft deck, main salon on left, engine room on right.

 Okay, so check the next posting for our arrival at Ocean Mesa RV park, at El Capitan State Beach. Lots of catching up to do with these posts, so check back later Sunday night!