Day 22: California Here We Come!

While we have absolutely loved seeing all the beautiful sights around our country and Canada, there’s no place like home! Today we left our campground on the beach in Oregon (at least I think it was a beach, never actually saw it in the daylight) and found our way through the misty morning to Highway 101 and headed south to the Oregon/California border.

Don’t ask me why, but I was bound and determined to stand right on the border, so I could say I was actually in two places at the same time! Ever since Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) straddled the border in “A Walk to Remember,” I’ve wanted to do the same…call me Corny!  My ever-accommodating husband pulled off the road at the exact strategic moment, so I could do just that.  Check that one off!

During this last leg of our trip, we purposely didn’t schedule too many things, so we could freely decide what we’d like to do, moment by moment. This a welcome freedom as we can drive without the fear of being late!

We both knew we wanted to experience the giant Redwoods, and with that goal in mind, we mapped a 2-day route to visit the Redwood National Forest. First stop, Jedidiah Smith Campgrounds, where my Mom tells me we camped when I was a little girl. Mom, this one’s for you!!  We parked the RV and looked around the campground, while I strained to remember.  Alas, I can’t say that any specific memory was sparked for me, but it was comforting to return there nonetheless.

Our next stop was at the “Trees of Mystery” in Klamath.  We weren’t sure what we would find there, but it was worth a looksy…when we arrived, and saw how kitschy it appeared, we almost turned back.  But I dug my heels in…I mean how often do you get to pose next to Paul Bunyan?  Nope, we’re going in…and glad we did.  There were, in fact, enormous, gorgeous Redwoods for us to experience.  These trees are so magnificent, there is just no way to capture them in pictures.  With many of them hundreds of feet high and over 14 feet in diameter, it is an awe-inspiring experience to behold their wonder.

With no cell phone coverage, nor WiFi, we decided we should try to find our way to our campground before dark.  Good thing we did! There is no way we would have found Kamp Klamath in the dark.  Tucked away at the end of a canyon, Kamp Klamath is practically hiding from weary travelers…But no!! It could not hide from Greg and Sandy, the determined adventurers!  Since, there was no restaurants within 50 miles of our remote home for the night, my sweetheart barbecued a wonderful dinner of steak and roasted vegetables!  DELICIOUS!! What a way to end the day!!