We left Cottonwood, CA driving North to Ashland and Crater Lake, OR. We passed by Crater of the Moon, ID on our way to West Yellowstone, MT, the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Here's our route to date:

Map legend:

A) Parkland, FL                         K) Mesa Verde, CO                                     T) Arcata, CA
B) Ocala, FL                              L ) B l u f f , U t ah                                        U) Cottonwood, CA
C) Navarre, FL                          M) K a n a b , UT                                         V) Ashland, OR
D) Baton Rouge, LA                  N ) Las Vegas, NV                                       W) Crater Lake, OR
E) Austin, TX                             O ) Los Angeles, CA                                     X) Crater Of the Moon
F) Llano, TX                              P) Santa Ynez, CA                                        Y) West Yellowstone, MT
G) Carlsbad Caverns, NM         Q) P i s m o B e a c h , C A
H) Sante Fe, NM                       R) Sacramento, CA
I) Taos, NM                              S) Napa/Calistoga, CA
J) Pagossa Springs, CO                  Humboldt Redwood Nat
                                                    Forest, CA

After leaving Cottonwood, California we headed north to Ashland, Oregon.  Ashland is a beautiful town,
home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  Our friend, Donna, lives there and gave us a great tour.  There are some fabulous restaurants, great shops, and a magnificent park. There's also skiing, river rafting, trails for biking and lots of mountain lakes for fishing.  We just loved it!

Jeff, Peter's life long friend, flew down from Seattle to spend several days with us in Ashland.

Jeff with son Ben and girlfriend Tess

Downtown Ashland

Deciding where to have lunch in a town with such great choices!

Lithia Park downtown Ashland

Lithia mineral spring water downtown Ashland  Water flows continuously in these fountains.  Everyone seems to love the mineral water, but believe me, it's an acquired taste.  One small sip was all I could handle!

View from Ashland

There are free concerts downtown before the theater opens.  The two concerts we went to were really excellent.

We just loved Ashland and would love to return some day.

Our next stop was Crater Lake.  We went three hours out of our way to see it.  Actually, Peter had been there before and wanted me to see it.  It was incredible.

We parked the RV at one of the visitor centers and drove the Fiat up to the lake.

Peter and I camped on the Rogue River many years ago and I had such incredible memories of the area.  It was so, so beautiful.  I was excited to visit the area again and was not disappointed.  The river seems untouched by civilization, so clean and refreshing.  I look forward to returning some day soon to spend even more time there. 

While driving through Idaho I started to notice the landscape getting stranger.  It went on for miles and miles and then realized we were in Craters of the Moon National Preserve.  Lava flows and volcanic formations were all we could see.  I thought it was desolate and ugly and was anxious to get to the other side.

Next stop: Yellowstone National Park

We entered the park at the western entrance.  It was so cold!  There was actually ice on the roads while driving into West Yellowstone.  Yellowstone was cold, rugged and beautiful.

Gibbons Falls

Linda took these picture from the Fiat about 15 feet from this big Bison. 

The water here averages 170 degrees year round. The bison come to these waters to warm up during the winters when it can be 30 below zero.

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We are on our way to Cottonwood, CA a few miles south of Redding.

Here is our Route to date:

Map legend:

A) Parkland, FL                       I) Taos, NM                                  Q) Pismo Beach, CA
B) Ocala, FL                            J ) P a g o s s a Springs, CO           R) Sacramento, CA
C) Navarre, FL                        K ) M e s a Verde, CO                  S) Napa/Calistoga, CA
D) Baton Rouge, LA                L ) Bluff, Utah                                      Humboldt Redwood Nat Forest, CA
E) Austin, TX                           M ) Kanab, UT                               T) Acata, CA
F) Llano, TX                            N) Las Vegas, NV                          U) Cottonwood, CA
G) Carlsbad Caverns, NM       O ) L o s A n g e l e s , C A          
H) Santa Fe                              P) Santa Ynez, CA




After leaving Arcata, California, we headed east on Rt. 299 through a beautiful mountain range along the Trinity River into Redding.  We had been warned about the steep drive and high winds but Peter managed to keep the rig on the road.  We kept reminding ourselves that we successfully drove to Mesa Verde without careening over the edge so we could manage this road also. It's a beautiful drive.  We were heading to Cottonwood to visit my old friend from New York, Karlene and her husband Terry.  They have a beautiful "farmette" with goats, chickens and lots of wildlife babies that Karlene rehabilitates and returns to the wild.  Karlene has been working in wildlife rehabilitation as long as I've known her.  She is with the Shasta Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation and is very passionate about it.  It was great spending time with them!

Our first night out to dinner with Karlene and Terry.

We were lucky that Karlene and Terry had barn that has RV parking so we could have shade

Karlene and Terry have a Certified wildlife habitat. It's really a beautiful garden.

Adjacent to the habitat and barn is a relaxing Koi pond

Sweet Wanda, one of two goats

Award winning architectural achievement, "Sundial Bridge" 

Glass walk way across bridge 

Salmon enter on left into hatchery as they cannot jump up those steep steps

Here is is a picture Karlene provided from last years Salmon run. They follow the current on the left into the hatchery.

View from the visitor center before tour

California has such a severe drought that the Shasta lake is 143 feet below the level that would enable water to

 flow over the dam.

You can see how low the water line is at the shore

Karlene and Terry's dog, Jake 

Cottonwood town concert

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