6/24/17 - Day 14

We woke up to a balmy 87 degrees, and took full advantage of the hotel pool.   

 

We were happy to leave Redding at 10:30 when it was already 100 degrees, and forecast to be 112 that afternoon.  We got on highway 299, and drove through the Shasta Trinity National Forest - passing through towns with populations like 182 and 32!  I wondered what people do to earn money in a town that small.  Most of the businesses seemed to be around rafting down the Trinity River. 

This is what the terrain was like for most of the drive through the national forest.

 

 

We drove by a sizeable mudslide!

After the long (and pretty) drive through the forest, we reached highway 101 where the temps were more bearable in the mid 60's.  

Remember that sigh of relief at seeing the Pacific Ocean?  Well, that happened again, and you can see why!  

 

Until next time, California!

 

Hello Oregon Coast!

 

Now on to our "accommodations" for the night.  You may remember last Saturday night we couldn't find a place and ended up in an overpriced Holiday Inn in Watsonville.  We hadn't planned far enough ahead to get a spot at any of the Oregon Coast state parks within a reasonable driving distance from Redding.  We did, however, find a spot in Gold Beach called the Turtle Rock RV "resort."  I put that in quotes because I would use that term VERY loosely.  We had booked a site a few nights ago, and they reserved site 16 for us.  When we checked in they were having some discussion amongst themselves about what site to put us in because site 16 had a water leak.  Then they said they were going to put us in site 15, but someone was still there and we couldn't go in site 14 "because of the caution tape (!)."  No big deal.  Hey, we're flexible, we're road trippers!  Site 11 it is!  

 

So far, not so impressed.  It was really more of an RV park than a "resort."  We were excited for some of the amenities - one of them being free hot showers.  Chad wanted to take advantage of this before dinner so off he went.  After what seemed like a very long time - I was about to go check on him - he came walking back towards us.  He reported that there had been some instructions (see below) as to how to get the hot water working in the shower. I bet you can imagine where this is going.

 

He could not get the hot water to work no matter how long he let the water run or how many times he turned the tap on and off.  So cold shower it was!  And, by the way, he did not enjoy his shower as the sign suggested.  

On the bright side, it was quiet and we had easy access to the beach.  

 

 

Here we are with turtle rock.

 

There were beautiful rocks on this beach, and as many of you know, I love rocks.  Lilly took this picture of a some rocks I found.  She called them my "peace stack."  Love it!

 

We are all excited to be done with long driving days!  We get to explore the beautiful Oregon Coast as we make our way home over the next 6 days.