After so much desert, and so much of drought stricken conditions, we are really enjoying the verdant green meadows and marshes around Klamath Falls.
Klamath Marsh
Klamath Falls is centrally located on a major bird migratory flyway, so with our new bird watching hobby, we are having a grand time, even though many of the migratory birds are far to the north at this time of year. There is still so much to see and explore!
I met this beautiful Cedar Waxwing for the first time in the wilds.
Cedar Waxwing
Then I shared a view with this handsome Goldfinch.
American Goldfinch
And discovered this male Yellow Warbler feeding his youngster.
Daddy Feeding the Babe
Caught this beautiful Osprey perched on what I think is a chick under her.
Osprey on Nest
Stopped along the way to smell a few flowers. Gosh my botany is very rusty, so I didn’t even get their names today.
Perfectly Pink
Still beautiful without proper names.
Mellow Yellow
And finally said good-bye to the day, watching this lone Double-breasted Cormorant watch over his dinner table.
Finding spots along the coast to spend the night has been a bit of a challenge. Since we never really know where we are going to be, it’s hard to make reservations in advance for a campground. Especially the state parks are usually full at this time of the year. There’s not much forest land along the coast either for U.S. Forest Service campgrounds, (which we prefer) or dispersed camping on National Forest land. Weekends in particular are impossible since that’s when most of the public goes camping!
Having our bed in the back of our van makes it possible for us to take cover and sleep in some interesting places.
We generally tend to avoid rest areas, since they tend to be extremely noisy being near highways and full of big trucks keeping their refrigerator units going all night long. But it just so happens that somewhere above Arcata, and below Cresent City, there is a very beautiful, very quiet, very clean Rest Area. And as long as you don’t stay longer than ten hours at a time, it is perfectly legal to sleep there. We very rarely EVER sleep more than ten hours!!
Peaceful Easy Feeling
Leaving early in the morning, we were rewarded with this peaceful sight of relaxing Roosevelt elk.
And this big fellow, watching over the ladies while munching his morning chow.
Elk Buck Browsing
Roosevelt elk (according to wikipedia) are the largest of the four subspecies of elk found in North America. Such a beautiful sight they are.
They don’t seem to have a problem finding a place to bed down. They are protected here from being hunted, so long as they stay on state property!
Our lack of planning in our travels leads to much spontaneity and many delights such as this. Sleeping in a Rest Area makes it all worth while when we get to wake up and greet the day this way!
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We really enjoyed Cresent City, spending time along the beach and pier watching the shore birds. There were more Black Oystercatchers nesting, Canada Geese, Cormorants, and of course lots of seagulls.
A bit sad to leave the coast, but inching up and inland to visit our good friend in Redmond, Oregon is the goal. Moving inland will also hopefully make finding camping spots a bit easier.
One of the things we look forward to when traveling is to check out the local Farmer’s Markets. You can really get a feel for a place by how many and what type of people come out for the event!
Here we find ourselves with luck at the Arcata Farmer’s Market in Humbolt Co., Ca.
Vibrant Colors
This is actually the second time, we’ve managed to hit this particular market, and I must say, Arcatians, (and I assume local folks from Eureka and elsewhere) really like to have fun at their market!
Mouth Watering Fresh Greens
Besides all the really local produce and beautiful flowers, there is music to enjoy, (a steel drums and bass combo today ) dancing, hooping, face painting, and gathering in the town center.
Hooping Around
We bought an assortment of young zucchini and a basket of blueberries, then went across the street to a local coffee shop and enjoyed a fantastic latte and fruit star while watching the show!
We’ve spent a wonderful three weeks back in the Santa Cruz area. We stayed longer than planned, even though it was strange being there without an actual house to live in. We did a lot of yard and driveway camping, thanks to our wonderful friends and family who didn’t mind having that VW camper top popped in their yards.
The call of the ocean was refreshing after being in the deserts of the Southwest. Margarita’s and calamari on the Crows Nest patio a few times, long dog walks and bonfires on the beach, camping and picnicking with family, bbq’s and good latte’s with friends. All was well.
Fun Camping
A special thanks to dear friend Ken, for allowing us to use his house up the coast in Davenport as a sort of home base. Not only was that comforting, we got to know Davenport well. And loved hanging out there.
We miss our nesting Black Oyster Catchers, the Brown Pelicans, and the baby seagulls we discovered. We went often and watched the parents rearing these kids on the rocks off the coast, and spent hours enjoying the antics while sipping tea or eating lunches, wondering why these little birds don’t fall off the edge of the cliffs.
Mendocino Coast
We’re now in Eureka, traveling up the northern coast of California. We had planned on traveling inland, but thanks to the hot weather we decided to avoid, we’ve kept to the cool foggy coastline. We’re meandering slowing toward Oregon for a large Northwest loop, and have decided to kind of make this part of the trip about birds and birdwatching. So far, so good. We’re keeping our lists, learning about bird behaviors and habitat patterns. It’s fun to wake up excited about where to go birdwatching and what we see next!!
The scenery has been awesome, the rocks, the desert, the animals and wildflowers have all been amazing! But really what fills in the story, what creates the colorful background to our trip are the people we meet along the way.
For instance, back in Moab after having finished a delicious brunch affair at the Peace Tree Cafe, we were walking around town when I spotted a yarn store I had to go into. Really I HAD to go in. The owner of the store was a wonderfully sweet women with her 8 month old baby girl. After chatting awhile, the first thing I noticed was the local fiber producers, and one in particular…a co-ETSY seller, who I had previously bought a few fiber braids from. It is those type of surprise connections that make traveling so interesting.
When I finally finished with my fiber and yarn fixation, I returned outside to find Fred talking to a couple with a VW Rialta. Not only did this couple at one time live in the Santa Cruz area, this couple knew MY BROTHER!!! I mean, seriously, the U.S. is a big place. And Moab, Utah is a long way away from Santa Cruz, California.
O.K…still not enough. When we finally got back to the Keevan, parked next to it was another white VW loaded down with cargo carrier, surfboards, firewood, bicycles…(and that’s just on the outside.) Fred and I looked at each other thinking this van looked familiar, and sure enough, when we spotted the stickers, we both knew we had again run into Cory and Emily from “Where’s my Office Now?”
The one and same couple we met in the middle of the desert south of Sedona, Arizona a month ago. Now here in front of a natural food store in Moab, Utah, we meet again.
Crazy, small, forever entwining world it is!
There’s been so many kind and interesting people we’ve met in campgrounds, in the parks, along turnouts, while dispersed camping, and in coffee shops and cafe’s.
There was the couple in Prescott that kindly told us that the YMCA in town would allow us each to take a one time free shower. On that particular day, that was the best gift we could imagine! Then every day for a week, we shared news on trails and hikes we each experienced. We compared camper van notes, retirement thoughts and art pursuits.
Then there was the sweet couple that gave us a huge bag of home-grown tangerines off their cherished tangerine tree back in San Diego, and then really encouraged us in our newfound love of birdwatching! They shared information about field guides, binoculars and good birding places to go.
The Colorado two traveling with their cats, shared so much info about Arizona, kayaks, good restaurants, archeological ruins, cultural studies, etc. and then invited us to visit and camp out at their high elevation homestead back in Colorado.
The fun-loving VW driving, margarita swinging couple we shared a campfire with for a few nights, and lots of VW stories!!
And my favorite, the Vita-Mix toting green smoothie girl wonder and her fabulous wood-working partner with a VW to envy all the way to Italy for an awning with a easy open crank handle. We really envied that awning, they really envied our solar panels. They also welcomed us to camp on their property.
There was the young couple with a 9-month old baby AND a 2 month old Great Dane puppy…all camping around in their VW. That was a LOT of CUTE!!!
And so many more stories.
See, it’s really not all just about rocks in the desert. These are the real people that are making this adventure so much fun.
Thanks so much to all of you who have shared so much.
After overloading on so much National Parkitis, we were ready for a little relaxation. The Parks in Utah are really magnificent, but there really is a limit, and taking in so many beautiful vistas in one trip results in a touch of scenic wonder overdose.
The fact is that Memorial Day weekend, a major holiday celebrated in huge fashion around the Moab area, combined with a storm front moving into town, had us looking at the map again. We wanted to spend one more night in the desert outside of Moab, but were concerned about rain on the very sandy roads we were camping on. Checking the weather over and over again, the weather people assured us no more rain would be occurring until mid-day on Friday.
We believed them.
Suckers we were!!!
We awoke at 4:00 a.m. to the pitter patter of raindrops falling on little Ms. Keevan. We discussed staying, we discussed going. We both tossed and turned in bed. The saying goes, if it rains, and you are on back roads in the desert, be prepared to stay put put for day or so, until the rain soaks in and the roads are once again dry and drivable. We had already decided to move on, and really didn’t want to stay put in the muck for a few days. Back and forth went the discussion, until finally at 4:15, we got up, dressed, threw everything on the bed, pulled the top down, and beat like heck, slipping and sliding out, all the way to the highway.
We drove, trying to get ahead of the rain, which was more of a downpour than a shower, the entire width of the state to western Utah, where we happily camped on dry BLM land with another great view.
The next morning we made our way into eastern Nevada, where we found the most desirable of forest service campgrounds, with lots of “NO ATV’s” on sign posts. Ah bless these parks gods from heaven. Just my type of people. We spent a couple of days at Ward Mountain Campground unwinding, relaxing, reading, and taking a lovely hike through the junipers and pinyon pine forests.
Through the Wastelands
Nevada. Now Central Nevada is it’s own character for sure. So much nothingness! And in between the nothingness, is missile testing sites, heaped up junkyards, and half filled pee bottles strewn along the highway. Mountain ranges separated by vast flatlands.
Sounds pretty destitute for sure, but in a way it was relaxing, so much nothingness, after so much everythingness of parks, rocks, beauty, tourists, visitor centers, and overpriced souvenirs.
But here’s the real story. When we went with the flow of the nothingness of Nevada, it all came to life!
First we came across a large band of Bighorn Sheep!! Not two or three mind you, but at least a hundred of them. So close to the road, we could tell the rams from the ewes. (By the horns, is how you tell.) They were so amazingly awesome!
Next, after alternately looking for wildlife and reading my magazine, I spot a lone Pronghorn Antelope!
And if that’s not enough, tooling down the highway, over yonder, we start spotting small herds of wild horses! Yes, those horses. The famous herds of wild horses of Nevada.
Wild Horses of Nevada
O.k. no more wonders of all wonders please!! We need to start looking for a place to sleep for the night, the shadows are getting long, and the sky is dimming. The last mountain range we pass over is the last bit of forest land for a long while, so we’re looking hard for a dirt road to turn off on. I spot one off to the side. Fred does a u-turn, and we turn in to check it out.
Driving slowly over the bumps and lava rocks we come around a bend, and shhh…”Fred, there’s a horse, right there!” And another, and another, and a young baby in the herd. A beautiful palomino. A Big Black. Wow.
End of the Trail
This is where we’re camping.
View From the Van Door
Another wow. This is the view out our door tonight. Dreams of slumber overcome us.
Life is Good. There is beauty everywhere. We just have to allow it in.
The Park is named for rock statues that look like Goblins all over the park, especially popular with the younger generation. When we arrived, there were no campsites available, so, as we do, we found a magnificent (do I dare say better) spot to camp just outside of the park. Therefore, we didn’t spend the fee to go inside the next day either. We enjoyed our own Goblins, and as people do in the desert, create their own entertainment by naming the rocks.
View from our Van Door
No Noisy Neighbors here
“Goofy”
“Donald Duck”
Arches National Park
Just when you think, there’s nothing new to see, geologically speaking…
Balanced Rock
Delicate Arch
Sunset on the Rocks
Twin Arches
Arches Everywhere
Congress Rock
And then… Canyonlands
See why I’ve fallen so far behind here. Utah is such an underrated state to visit. We could spend a year here exploring!
We Find Wildflowers!
And More Deep Canyons
Brilliant Colors
River Canyons
Gorges
Colorado and Green Rivers Converge
Around Our Dispersed Campsite
Desert Cactus at Camping Spot
View From the Van Door
Desert Cactus
The flowers and solitude of the vast high plateau deserts are such a welcome homecoming after days of visiting scenic canyons and vistas. It brings us back to the simple details and up close comforts of whats within our reach without the drives and roads and parks and people.
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For further information on the above parks, check out these wonderful websites below. Of course, we usually don’t do this, we just show up, and check them out after the visit. Probably not the best plan of attack, but it works for us…
We’re back in California for a brief pause before heading into the northwest for the second leg of our journey. Unfortunately this blog is still way back in Utah…a little out of breath.
That being so, I’m playing catch up by posting a few photo galleries of the past few weeks…in a two part series.
First up – Many Thanks to those below for sharing the land with us as we’ve traveled through their homelands.
Mr. Pronghorn Antelpe
Mr. Marmot
Ms. Pronghorn Antelope
Gopher Snake on the Burr Trail – This One’s Non-poisonous!
(May 15 – May 20, 2014)
And on to Bryce Canyon – One of the most amazing spots in America!
Bryce Canyon Amphitheater
Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon
The Canyon Floor
Hoodoos – Bizarre Geological Formations.
Moonscape at Bryce
Fairyland at Bryce
Side Tripping – in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Kiva Coffee House – Built into the side of the Hill
Fred Enjoying his Java – Relaxing in the Desert Sun
Before leaving on this epic adventure, we had read and jotted down some notes of places to see along the way. Hwy 143 in Utah was one of them, supposedly one of our most scenic highways!
So off we go, looking for more scenic views! We hadn’t ventured far, when I spotted this little trail I had read about as being a good place to stretch tired legs. Hidden Haven it was called.
A bit more of beautiful cold fluffy snow to deal with, but nothing our trusty hiking boots couldn’t handle. It was a gorgeous sunny blue sky day, so we trekked on up to this lovely bench. (thanks to some random boy scout, getting his eagle badge)
Hidden Haven Trail
As we continued to climb the mountain, we realized when the sign said “Road Open,” it was really just opened. With a 15% grade to climb, and the road sometimes one lane, we were sweating it out a bit. But lo and behold the Great White Van performed superbly, although at one point I really knew I could run faster alongside Ms. Keevan.
Brian Head, Utah
Brian Head. The top of the world! A very cute (what we could see of it) little community renowned for being the highest community in Utah. Obviously we were between seasons here, as it was deader than a doornail, and we saw I think one person in the whole town.
Heading Down, Clean Plowed Road
One thing for sure, it was a picturesque and scenic drive.
Lovely Day in May
Just one of those little surprises, venturing between desert and mountain ranges. The terrain changes so quickly. As do the temperatures.
Pass at Brian Head
Needless to say, all the side roads, and national forest service roads were closed, so um, no camping here.
Down we go…
and go, and go, until we are bombarded by more brilliant red rocks.
Red Canyon
Which signifies the beginning of Red Canyon.
Welcome.
Passing Through
Drive right in and stay awhile.
Thank you very much, we’ve made to it our new home for a few days…
Home Sweet Home
A bit of a challenge to get leveled up, but with a little effort, we settled in nicely for a tasty dinner and good nights sleep!
We came into Zion National Park, mid-day and were met by more huge monolithic rock mountains…of a different sort.
The many differences in geological formations keeps amazing and awing us.
We were a little uncertain about Zion, as everything we read said how non pet-friendly the park is, and that you had to take a shuttle to see anything. The shuttle of course doesn’t allow pets, nor do any trails except one paved trail near the park center. Fortunately, it turned out not to be a problem. All the turnouts along the road had ample opportunities to hike and play and walk the dog. As for longer hikes, that will be another trip. And the shuttle just went up one scenic canyon…there was plenty to see without that shuttle trip. We’ve seen so much outrageous countryside, we didn’t miss that canyon. We know we can’t see everything there is to see on one trip anyway.
I always feel like it takes one trip somewhere, just to get your bearings, and to know what you really want to do and see the next trip.
We did get to encounter these majestic Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep climbing around on the rock hillsides!!
We went through the longest rock tunnel we’ve ever been through. The park monitors the traffic, and only allows one way traffic through at a time. The tunnel was blasted and carved through these massive rock mountains.
Hanging out around all these massive rocks is no place to think about earthquakes, but being from California, Fred and I both had just those thoughts creeping into our heads.
We tried to just put those ideas far far out of mind, so to chill from the earthquake images, we strolled among the slick rocks.
And checked out some other canyon life checking out us.
Keevan Soul 