Bakersfield to Long Beach, CA

 A beautiful sunset in the western sky over Bakersfield turned to reds, yellows and oranges as dusk began to close in.  Had a good look around Bakersfield, an oil town in the high sierra.  Lots of shopping and we had a list of "must gets"...Camping World three times, Marie Calenders for a late lunch and our favourite Shepherd's Pie and homemade pie slice, a pedicure and shopping at Walmart, an amazing recycling centre that took everything we had been saving since Chilliwack and the list goes on.  I had found an internet special at Bear Mountain RV Park for a three night's stay for $60.  Good deal!!!

Travelled over the Grapevine. We were worried about snow that was in the forecast so we were on the road earlier than usual and while it was sunny!  We were not sure what the higher elevation would hold.

 The Grapevine is an amazing engineering feat as it winds through this pass through the Tehachapi mountains.  Wind gusts are prevalent and come out of what seems to be nowhere, but really they just travel through the valleys and gaps.  The highest point is Tejon Pass at 4200 feet and then it's downhill from there, in all, about 20 miles.

 Pyramid Lake

The 118 m (387 ft) earth and rock dam was built by the California water Resources Department and was completed in 1973. Pyramid Lake is part of the California Aquaduct, which is part of the California State Water Project.  Outflow goes downstream to Castaic Lake. Pyramid and Castaic act as the upper and lower reservoirs for the Castaic power plant; a hydroelectric plant^. It is the deepest lake in the California Water Project system. Its name comes from the Pyramid Rock, created when a ridge was cut through in 1932 by the Ridge Route Alternate (US 99). Pyramid Rock still exists directly in front of the dam.

 Garberville CA, and the One Log House, created using a Redwood trunk!  It wasn't open, but it was opposite the campground that we used here.  It must have taken some work to hollow  out that trunk!

And it is Spring in Chino, a suburb of Los Angeles.  Spent a couple of nights at Golden Shores RV Resort in Long Beach with friends, Ab and Esther.  Very nice area as we didn't drive anywhere after arriving, but we did walk the boardwalk and the area along the shore.  Thanks, Ab and Esther, for a great visit!  Mountain Lakes was our next stop, a beautiful spot in the mountains north of Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga.  A fun area and the weather was great! 

Crescent City CA South to Garberville, CA

 The view from Hwy 101 along the N California coast is stunning!  Rocks protruding from the sea, whitecaps on the many waves, sandy beaches, small coves, and fishing lorries dotted along the coast are more than the eye can see as one drives along this highway.  We stopped at a couple of spots, one to rest, two to walk Caper and three to take pictures and to "drink in" the sights.  Beautiful!

 Just to show the comparative size of a Redwood and a Dodge pickup, one can get the idea of the diameter of one of these majestic Redwoods.

 We encountered a work crew who were cleaning up and repaving after a landslide.  There has been so much rain along this coast, that mudslides and downed trees are very prevalent, although this is the only one we saw.  News reports indicate there were many.

Stopped for lunch here...what a joy to listen to the waves pounding the shoreline as we ate.  Signs warning of "rogue waves" or "sneaker waves"  dot the shore and there are also memorial plaques in a few spots regarding those who have lost their lives because of them! The tides are amazing and to be respected!

Redwoods and The Avenue of the Giants

 Our trip south was rather uneventful and uninteresting through to Grant's Pass as we followed the Interstate 5 south.  Heading southwest from Grant's Pass (southern Oregon), though, was a beautiful trip to Crescent City CA, and the first sighting of the giant redwoods added to the interest.  We first spotted them as we headed toward Jedediah State Park.  These trees are unbelievably huge as the road wends its way between them.  Small markers at the base of the trees warn you of how close to the road they stand...watch those mirrors as we twist and turn through them.  Amazing!

 Glimpses of sunlight glistened through the trees, the first we have seen on this trip.  How nice to feel its warmth once again!

Note the marker at the base of the roadside giants!

 A trip through the Avenue of the Giants is not to be missed!  The camera does not do the height of these giants justice...one can only imagine their height and know that these are very old trees...probably 400-500 years.

 Looking up!  WOW!  I know that the amount of rain we have experienced on the west coast is responsible for their growth.

An uprooted tree, shows the size of the root system, probably 50 feet across.  God's amazing handiwork!