The thoughtful adventures of Man, Woman and Cat.
I took delivery of Peggy, my new truck, just after the first of the year. After a shakedown trip to Florida with the new camper, I departed Georgia on the third of June. On September 21 I arrived in Fortuna, California, the unofficial turnaround point of my 2018 odyssey . Up until now I had been travelling to get here, when I leave Humboldt County I will be travelling back to Georgia.
I’ve never had the knack for timing purchases in the fields of investments or real estate, and this weakness apparently extends to gas stations as well. When in Idaho, I thought I could save ten cents a gallon if I waited a few miles. Then suddenly I was in Washington, and the price went up forty cents a gallon.
Oregon was a little cheaper, but they have a peculiar rule: you aren’t allowed to pump your own fuel. It’s not a Back to the Future deal; you won’t get your windshield washed or oil checked, you are simply forbidden from operating the pump. This means you have to wait for an attendant, who in a big station may be handling a dozen pumps. Nobody I asked could explain why the State mandates this, only that it had been that way for a long time.
The final surprise came in California, where the price of diesel fuel increase a full dollar a gallon. I suppose I should have expected it, since everything is more expensive here. My tip for travelers is you might want to check here on your phone as you approach state borders to help you time your gas purchases. I know I will from now on. Continue reading “Northern California Coast – Klamath to Arcata”
Once again I found that Crater Lake was like most National Parks; securing a campsite without a six month advance reservation was practically impossible. Luckily there was a Forest Service concessionaire at Diamond Lake just north of the National Park entrance, and they operated until the end of September. I made base camp here and took day trips South to Crater and North into the National Forest.
One advantage of Diamond Lake was it’s circled by a good bike trail, giving me my first real opportunity to try out my new folding bicycle.
It uses quick-releases to collapse without tools, and takes up half the space of a full size mountain bike when folded. The bike passed its maiden voyage with flying colors, as it rapidly became apparent the limitations would come from the rider, not the machine. You may never forget how to ride a bike, but you do forget how much of a workout your legs get on the hills! Continue reading “Crater Lake National Park, Umpqua National Forest”