Pacific NW and Back.  April/May 2026

We are ready to hit the road but with heavy and sad hearts.  You may or may not already know that Moreno was put to sleep on Monday April 13th.  We had taken him to the Vet on March 24th to evaluate some changes that we have been noticing.  Lack of appetite, sluggish in his walks and a strange indented skull above his eye.  He was still pretty peppy when we would go out but would tire easily.  At night when we would go to bed he started not wanting to walk up to the bedroom and now we think it was because he was so weak that he could not do it.  The doctor called us with the results of the blood test and the repeated values confirmed the sad diagnosis of significantly advanced white blood cell count (Leukemia).  Secondary testing was needed to confirm and we got that on Thursday.  Acute and maybe with treatment, he would have 3-6 months.  Well, on Saturday we took him to The Filling Station for breakfast.  He was shaking and just laid on the floor until his hamburger patty showed up, but even then he was so out of it.  His eyes said "please."  Those sad eyes told us everything we need to do.  He was telling us that he could no longer stay with us.  It was time to move along.  What could we do.  We cried and we called the Hospice Vet who came the next day and put him to sleep.  Some of his close friends came to say goodbye and on Monday we drove him to the ACE hardware where they loved him, and to the Vet so his friends could say goodbye.  He could not even get out of the car.  So weak. So sad.  We miss him very much.  Monday was his last sleep.

Friday 4/17:  left OPH @ 9:15am, 65 degrees, sunny.  A beautiful day to travel.  No Moreno this time.  But he’s always in our hearts.

Mileage approx.  5800
Propane fill on Edinger $28.00
Official time:  10am on the road.
1st gas/diesel stop:  1:30pm Carpinteria, CA $8.19/gal 😳😳😳
$169.84, 20.7gal, 18.5 mpg

We got to McPrice Myers Vineyards

A great way to get the trip rolling.  Tasting at MM.  At 4pm.  Eldon had one flight tasting and we had a cheese plate with water.  Eldon has been a member here since forever.
Liz & Jason entertained us in the cellar then treated us to nice Italian dinner in Paso.  Much wine was drunk.
We went to bed at 11:30pm after sorting out challenges with starting the RV, turning on the water.

Saturday 4/18/26, up at 7:02am, left MM at 8am sunny, 56degrees.

Took surface streets to go to next stop, Pinnacles National Park.

Passed Lake Nacimiento and all the those memories of past trips.

Eldon was frustrated by the poor geological presentation of such a significant rock formation, just one sentence on a poster board and the ranger knew even less.  The point is that The Pinnacles are the identical suite of volcanic rocks as the Neenach Volcanics down by Tejon Ranch (Castaic) and have been transported nearly 200 miles northward by progressive displacements (earthquakes) on the San Andreas fault.  When first proposed in the 1950's the two geologists (Mason Hill and Tom Dibblee) were considered crack-pots.  Of course they were proven correct.  Mason Hill was one of Eldon's very first MS degree thesis advisors, until he died.  

We arrived at Elliston Vineyards, Harvest Host and settled in with a very luxurious wine tasting.  It was a Tea Time serving but we only ordered the cheese tray to go with our wines.  The facility was very elegant and the surroundings felt like we were in a movie.  

Gloria Victus, sculpture to honor the lost warriors.

Clara was particularly "taken" by an Asian couple, the female of which was dressed in a gaudy 1800's admirals outfit with wig, including a ton of makeup.  Her male partner spent the entire time taking photos and movies of her as she "ate" "drank" and "admired" the grounds, plants and flowers.  I guess we have seen our first, ever, influencer.  Sure influenced us to never see her again.

Of course there was wine tasting, and wine buying. 

One giant ostrich!!!!  They had several others.  

Eldon prepared a yummy meal of leftovers and we managed to get the TV to work on some channels.  It has not been easy to navigate this TV.  I can't find my Game show channel nor my usual Criminal Minds and Star Trek shows either (Eldon is not sad).  At least last night we found Law & Order!!!

Sunday  4/19/26, up at 8, left Elliston Vineyard at 9a, cloudy 59 degrees.

We continued our trip along HWY 1 and drove primarily on local surface streets.  We enjoy doing that way so we can see more of our country.  

Beautiful California Poppies.  

This was a welcomed find since it had amazing cheese and it's been here since 1865.  The oldest cheese makers in the USA.  

We bought some cheese to take along to share with the gang.

Arrived to Briceland Vineyards at 4:15pm. A very rustic vineyard. Another Harvest Host spot.  Had a brief wine tasting with Andrew, the winemaker/owner because he was trying to fix a broken waterline before the rains started.  Eldon liked (and of course bought) his Petite Sirah. Rain started in the early evening and all night.  It sounds nice and we relaxed reading too. 

A view from our kitchen.  

Another "master.  So at the beginning of the trip we took all the leftovers from OPH to use for dinners on the trip.  This night was leftover Machaca (eggs, shredded pork, onions, chilies) from the Filling Station.  When you add in the leftover hash browns and tortillas and an avocado, poof you have a dinner.  

Morning at Briceland after the rains.  This is his Petite Sirah vineyard.

Monday 4/20/26, up at 8a left at 9a, raining , 45 degrees!!!

Drove north along the Avenue of the Giants!  Beautiful!

Arrived at 3:15p to the next Camp spot which we passed and had to backtrack.  This is Retreat at Redwood Shores but it didn't quite feel like a "Retreat site".  Well, maybe depending on how you read "Retreat".  Lot of semi-permanent residents and abandoned trailers. 

Arrived finally at 3:45p, grey, raining, 55 degrees.  Variety of campers and socioeconomic financial levels.  

Along the way here we passed some beautiful sites.

Along HWY 1.  What a view!!!!

Carson Mansion, Eureka, CA.  A Private Club originally only for men.  (Not now:)

Do you need a piece of Redwood for your project???  Only one of many, and mostly larger, log piles.

This is NOT one of the bridges of Madison County, but rather Humboldt and one of many we crossed over the Eel River.

My 5 foot wing span only probably goes half way across.  Such giant trees are hard to imagine, and even this one is not the largest we saw, just the largest that Clara could get to.  The green vine-like growth on both sides of her are Poison Oak - which is everywhere here.

Raining along HWY 1 in the Redwoods.

This was such a fabulous ride.  Despite the rain. 

You have to visit this place someday.

                                            And the windshield wipers still worked.

Got wood?  Sadly this is where the trees eventually end up.  There were dozens of such places along the drive today.

Tuesday 4/21/26, I slept in till about 10am but Eldon was already up at around 9:00am.  Weather is not conducive to be outside.  Grey, rainy and mid 50’s.

Time to really work on the Blog.  I tried last night but failed😞😫.  I can see why I would not fare well in this climate.  Not much would get done.  

It has rained most of the day but the sun is actually breaking through at 4:30ish.  I'll go take a shower and change to fresh clothing after several days of doing sponge baths.  We can use our shower in the RV but we are not comfortable yet using it.  

I think I will call it quits for now with the Blog.  It would be good to send it out since some of you might want to know what we are up to and where:):)

Our exciting camp for two days.  Oh well, chance to catch up on the Blog and Eldon got some time spent on reviewing a couple of depositions, and hopefully getting paid for it.

Wednesday 4/22/26, up at 8:30a, 52 degrees, sunny & crisp.  Left Retreat at Redwood Shores in Eureka, CA at 9:30a.  

Along the way we stopped for lunch at a seafood restaurant in Crescent City.  Hot clam chowder, scallops, cole slaw, clams and fries.  

Eldon with his clam lunch and my scallops and chips.

Brought home leftovers.  I also ordered a piece of lemon cheese cake to bring back to the RV.  Can’t wait to dive into that!!!!

For you in the know, the town of Crescent City was badly impacted by a tsunami generated by the 1964 Alaskan earthquake.  They even had some harbor damage from the much more recent Japanese Tohuko earthquake that took out the Fukushima nuclear plant.  

Now entering the Oregon Coast and were there more sunshine it would be a stunning drive.  These photos do not really do it justice, but best we can do.

Our next Campground is Sunset Bay State Park in Coos Bay, OR.  Arrived at 5pm, Sunny, 54 degrees but feels like 45 degrees.  Wet cold, being right by the beach.

We stopped at O’Riley to buy some diesel additive.  Our first time with that.

We filled up our water tank.  Unfortunately there is no sewer to empty our tank at our site but there should be one on site to do on the way out tomorrow.  Nope.

We noticed an LTV RV checking in today.  Maybe we’ll meet them and compare notes.  The Ranger who checked them in told us that they came down from Canada.  Never met them.

By 5pm it’s now grey and cloudy, with rain coming in the night.  I guess that is normal up here.  Not my style😫 but not too shabby either.  Hope the Big One and its tsunami do not come tonight.

Note the beautiful marine terrace cross cutting the steeply dipping bedrock.  The terrace is the orange sands that cut horizontally across the grey bedrock.  This is evidence for coastal uplift, obviously from very large earthquakes.  The last Oregon Coast earthquake was in 1701.  The tsunami was recorded in Japan so we know exactly when it happened.  Here on the Oregon Coast, it was recorded in Native American totems, placed at the high water mark.  Basically when Lewis and Clark arrived here in the early 1800's the natives did not live on the beach, but a some (dud) elevation above it.  Of course, that lesson has been lost.

What would you do if the water suddenly receded?  Run out to collect shells, or run like hell for the hills.  Darwin has an answer for you.

Thursday 4/23/26, up at 9am and left camp at 10a.  At least it is not raining but just gray.  Back on 101 heading north.  The ocean is just to our left with steep cliffs and constant large waves.  Hundreds of resort options too.  Also, every town has at least one little 10x10 coffee shop drive through which we love to find and score more coffee for Eldon, hot chocolate for Clara, and a cream cheese bagel for lunch.

Also lots of campgrounds in this area.  We thought that next time we will not bother with reservations but just come see what there is.  Every mile has another State Park campground and/or RV "resort."  

Clara likes bridge photos.

Weird salmon seen along the 101

We have been on HWY  101 since LA ultimately to Seattle, WA.  We started listening to the

country-rock band Hwy 101!!!   Lot of good driving and drinking songs.  The reality is that this road should be taken from north to south.  All of the view pullouts are on the ocean side (left for us) and all are where the road turns, so for us to pull to the left to get into a viewing area means a blind left turn, and usually at speed.  So we do not have too many photos of the grey ocean, sky or waves.

On the way we crossed the 45th Parallel at just north of Lincoln City, OR.  It was 1:30pm, overcast at 56 degrees cloudy.  This is half way between the Equator and the North Pole!!!!  Pretty exciting!

Got to Tillamook OR and went straight to the Tillamook Creamery cheese factory having passed fields of awesome grass and happy black and white cows with the classic Tillamook sign on the field indicating where their milk went.  The cheese works is an awesome place and highly recommended.  You can look down on all the industrialized processes of cheese packaging.  We were too late for the curds and way part though.  Of course there is a HUGE gift shop and we bought some cheeses but also ice cream cones.  

We had been playing road-tag with this other LTV Unity for a couple hours and now we ended up parked next to them at the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  Other than waves, we never got to say HI.  They have Washington plates.

Clara at the gift shop, candy land (cheese land) for her.

The beginning of the impressive gallery where you can look down on all the various stages of cheese making, cutting and packaging.

It is well worth a trip, and they also have LOTS of cheeses for sale that you will not find in Albertsons or Safeway.

Or just ask and Clara will deliver for you.

Arrived to our HH Blue Heron French Cheese Company, also in Tillamook, OR.  Arrived at 3:30pm, 56 degrees cloudy.  Did a wine tasting (bleh) and bought some small things to fulfill our "free" camping obligations.  The Blue Heron only had one style of cheese French Brie.  We already had that style from the cheese place in California so instead we bought some dried soups.  This weather is soup weather.

We haven’t been able to make the TV work so we are doing a lot of reading!  I miss my “Perry Mason” and “Star Trek” and several other favorites:):).