Rolling Along With The Reynolds

Jim and Cindy's Adventure Blog traveling all over the USA

Tag: sunset

California, NE corner

Pic Album #51 – Standish, CA

 

Just a Stop-Over

Standish, California. Never heard of it? Neither did we, but it was a good stop-over point on the map when leaving Oregon destined for Lake Tahoe, Death Valley, then to Yosemite.

Turned out the 200+ mile drive from Chiloquin, OR took us down a serendipitous scenic drive on Hwy 139 and beyond to Hwy 395.

Soo close, but not close enough to do a swing by to the Lassen Volcanic National Park. We soaked in plenty of scenery though, driving through the Modoc National Forest, the Modoc National Wildlife Reserve, and Lassen County. 

Days End RV Park

This was a Good Sam Campground located in Standish (population 779). We weren’t expecting much of the place, because all we had seen was remote, dry, wilderness/desert. In fact, the large Honey Lake nearby appeared to be totally dry.

But what a pleasant surprise; an oasis in the desert! The campground host was super friendly and laid-back, ala Cali-style.  The grounds were well-maintained, and gardens of blooming flowers were throughout. Perfect. A bit of shade at the site was welcome in the near 100-degree heat.

The weather here was a bit strange. 100 degrees went to 70 or lower that night, the sunset was gorgeous, and then winds picked up. We stayed an extra night to attend to Lois’s A/C (needed recharging). Also, to re-assess our itinerary; Death Valley National Park just closed indefinitely due to 1,000 year record flooding! Wildfires near Yosemite are a bit concerning as well.  Stay tuned for where we decide to roll next!

Pic Album #51 – Standish, CA

PNW Beaches 

Forks, Washington. Famous for the “Twilight” movies.
Arrived in time to take a drive over to La Push to soak in the spectacular scenery near Rialto Beach, and First Beach, Second beach at sunset, with Champagne!
 Got a Tutu pic too – it’s now been to both the Atlantic coast and the Pacific coast!
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A Jaunt on the Route Less Traveled

Impressive Vistas. Rugged Coastlines. Driving the Washington State Route 112 is spectacular along this 61-mile National Scenic Byway that takes you on the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula coastline. The Strait connects the Pacific Ocean with Puget Sound. 22 miles to the North across the water, you can see Canada’s Vancouver Island.  The coastal communities are interesting and each one unique; Joyce, Clallam Bay, Sekiu, Neah Bay/Cape Flattery (home of the Makah Reservation). 
Pictured above is the Trailhead; a beautifully lush cedar-planked boardwalk leading to a magnificent view of the Tahoosh Island Lighthouse. We spotted Puffins, and other shorebirds making nests on the cliffside while seals were happily swimming in the rough waters below. Brightly colored orange starfish were seen too hanging onto the sides of rocks right at the pounding waterline. A Paradise.
      

Cape Flattery pics (Album 37)

Took a short detour down to Shi Shi Beach

Still within the Makah Reservation, we drove south along the coastline to stop off at Hobuck Beach and Shi Shi Beach to get up close to the water and discovered all kinds of life teeming in the tide pools. The rock shapes created by the tides were artistically beautiful unto themselves.  I could’ve stayed and play all day here.   

Pics of the Tide Pool Beaches (part of album 37)

Lake Crescent

For a different route coming home, we decided to take Hwy 113 and loop around the 101 to hug the southern shores of Lake Crescent. That was a hard decision to make, as the trip westward was so scenic, but this route certainly did not disappoint either. 

This lake is 12 miles long, and the deep, clear, turquoise waters are no lie. Stunning! We stopped at the Marymere Falls trail, and saw the quaint national park lodge/cabin that was built in 1916, highlighted by grazing deer out in the wildflower pasture.

To wrap up the full day, we landed in Port Angeles to have dinner and view an amazing sunset, admiring the skies and the ships cruising along in the Strait.

Full Album of the Day in the NW point of WA (album 37)

 

Big Sky,

Spectacular Sunsets 

We were only able to revel in this beautiful spot for an overnighter. That’s all I could manage to squeeze in availability. Seems to be more challenging nowadays, I suppose it’s both due to being Summer time as well as more popular locales. What a beautiful place.  
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Having only 4 to 5 hours before sunset arrived (which occurs well after 9 PM!), the local attractions had already closed down for the evening. Too bad, as there’s lots to do in this region; several ghost towns are within an hour or so, then there’s the Old Prison Complex in Deer Lodge, and hot springs too. This area is one that is marked for a return visit when we can stay 3, 4, or even 5 nights to immerse ourselves.
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Staying at the Riverfront RV Park, we had to do the hike near the water’s edge as was suggested by our golf cart camp host greeter. “It’s just over that hill. Go to the water and you’ll see the trail that will take you over the train tracks. Then go underneath the I-90 bridge and continue. It’s a very nice walk”. Well, it certainly was. Not much of a nice trail however (unless we managed to take a little-used offshoot, which I think was the case.) Yet the scenery and environs changed around every bend. The river was crystal clear (and cold!) and so pretty lined with round rocks.  We did indeed cross over the train tracks, excited to hear a train whistle coming our way, but disappointingly it was a sister track so we only go to see the train snaking alongside about a half-mile away. Next up (after stepping high and wide over the downed barbed wire fence) we found ourselves under a bridge. The vehicles crossing over it above our heads was a surreal sound; a strange mixture of whirring similar to the windmills we just heard/saw a few days ago and a high frequency buzzing of rubber. Cool! We don’t find ourselves underneath bridges like that very often! Moving onwards, the trail became less and less defined and staying close to the water’s edge was not possible because of mushy marsh. But the cows on the river’s other side kept us entertained with their very loud and insistent moos to each other. Turning back towards home, we discovered two horses that we didn’t even notice on the first pass. They were friendly and very interested in our presence. Too bad our backpacks had no carrots.  Once back to the campgrounds, we were yet again treated to a spectacular sunset. Back-to-back with the one last night in Idaho Falls!
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We will be back. Yet another locale that begs one to stay for much longer.