Well still here, didn’t get eaten by any bears, although I did have to wake Mike last night to come outside with me to take Tal-y to pee; who knew it got so dark in the woods! Didn’t even see any bears, in fact the only problem I had with the furry creatures yesterday was that all the bins were bear proofed and I couldn’t get in them!
Had a nice day today, started with a good hearty breakfast, we even met Jetty Betty and then got on the road a little later than usual as only had to drive for 4 hours today. It was beautiful driving highway 101 along the Oregon coast, and got to see the ocean for the first time – it looks a lot colder here than in San Diego which maybe has something to do with the temperature not getting above 54º today. Went through lots of cute and quirky little towns along the way, and even stopped for gas in Newport . The driving wasn’t too bad, I only had to scream at Mike once today when he was doing at least 90 downhill trying to keep up with some huge lorry. Well it felt like 90 at the time, thinking about it he was possibly doing 45, but it was more than I could take. We’re still speaking to each other so I guess it’s all ok.
Ended up in Seaside early this afternoon at Seaside Resort, we are about 25 miles or so to the south of the Washington border. Park is lovely but has one or two strange folk, including a man in the laundry who wanted to talk to me about his underwear. Pity I had to do laundry today though, as it was bingo night and I missed it.
Nothing else happening right now so off to bed I think. Couldn’t go any early as it stays light up here till after nine, is that because the further north we go the closer to the sun we get??
See you tomorrow for another day of driving, only two more left, yeah!

Mike: Relatively calm day, not much hysteria. Great scenery and we are just two on the short list of people who have seen the Oregon sun. It rains in this area over 300days a year.

Left even earlier today but not before having my first experience of cleaning the toilet. I only got to hold the flush as it was my first time, but maybe next time I’ll get to use the hosey thing with the twirly thing on the end. I know it’s sad that this was maybe the highlight of my day but like I said this week is mostly just driving.
We did get to see some more gorgeous country today and we crossed the border. Oregon really is beautifully lush and green and the mountain drive was amazing although I’m not sure whether I prefer going up hill or down – I’ll let you know when I decide. The truck is awesome (spoken with a British accent just for Jazmin) but quite noisy when it’s pulling up hill. Tal-y likes the noise less than I do and climbs into the front seat when it gears down whether she’s tied in the back or not.
Finally headed towards the coast and away from the 5 freeway today which is a very pretty drive. Today was probably the longest drive this week; we were on the road for over 7 hours and got to Florence late this afternoon. During this long drive we did discover that Taco Bell has potato tacos and that they are good. The park, South Jetty Resort is the nicest so far. It’s very woody with each site private and isolated although this means no internet again tonight. Off to tale Tal-y outside now. If I don’t write anything tomorrow then the bears got us.

Mike: Great park, lots of trees and truly beautiful! I’m looking forward to breakfast at Jetty Betty’s Café in the morning. My first "Greasy Spoon" on the trip.

Left early again today, Canada in a week means lots of driving but it’s ok since when we get there we can just relax and do nothing for a few weeks since we don’t have any itinerary! Today our destination was Lakehead at Shasta Lake by way of camping world in Rocklin to get a new roof vent. Thank god we did the detour, on the way to Lakehead the rain came down so hard it was difficult to see the cars ion front of us. At least the road was nice and flat and the drive easy, at least that’s what Mike told me. We started heading into the mountains awhile before our destination and the scenery was fantastic. We were just trucking along heading for Trail In RV Park when we went right past it. Nell didn’t say a word for about another ½ mile then she wanted us to turn left in a place where there was definitely no left turn. The road at this point wasn’t really wide enough to turn a car yet alone a truck towing a trailer, oh what to do? Mike kept driving since he couldn’t really do a whole lot else until he found the road Nell wanted us to take. Did I say road, I meant a private gravel drive, no-way we could get up there even if it had been public access. So Mike proceeded to back the trailer up and pull back up the steep hill from a dead stop. Now this wasn’t my first stressful moment of the trip so far, but it was by far the worst, even had a few tears (the first of many I’m sure). I will never trust Nell again! As you can see, Tal-y wasn't too bothered by any of it.
Finally got to the campground, where Tom the owner informed us that all Nells send people right past his drive – you think he could get a sign or something? Ok, I could tell this was a little different kind of park just by the number of empty beer cans visible, Ozarks of the West is what Mike keeps referring to it as, and he thinks he has more teeth in his mouth than all the other campers combined, and there are 50+ trailers here. Tom sells single cigs and has a man in a rocker on the porch of his ‘office’ who looks mighty crazy. Everyone seems nice enough though and its our first night with internet, yeah we can watch the Laker game.

Mike: Becc’ don’t talk about Nell that way! I think everyone’s name was Bubba.

Managed to get on the road fairly early this morning as we had quite a drive, mostly freeway and uneventful although we did get our first rain of the trip. Arrived at Turtle Beach Reserve Manteca around mid afternoon. I had doubts that Nell the Navigator knew where she was going but she brought us right to the gate – I will never doubt her again! While unpacking the inside of the trailer I realised that the bathroom was a lot lighter than usual and assumed that Mike had opened the vent; it was only when I tried to close it that I realised that only the frame remained, the rest had gone poof somewhere on the I5. No big deal, Mike was extremely calm about it and we taped a plastic bag over the hole. The reserve was nice and quite and full off gopher holes. Today was the day Tal-y realised she actually is a terrier and is supposed to dig for the little furry things that stick their noses out of the holes. She was having so much fun she forgot she’s supposed to come when she’s called and not just pretend not to hear us.
Had to listen to the Laker game on the radio tonight as no internet or tv here. We got the whole game up until 1 minute left then the radio crapped out. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow if they won. Maybe should have delayed this extended vacation till after the playoffs.

Mike: Reserve had a big lake for fishing, but I don’t do the fresh water thing. (Nell is our GPS and I don’t know what people do without them.)

At last, retirement, well for Mike anyway, I guess I'm just unemployed. Today’s the first day of the trip to See the USA in a Chevrolet (every time I type that I hear Mike singing – ask him for a line next time you see him). Heading out of Del Mar today from the campsite where we’ve spent the last two months. Not the worst two months of my life either, it’s actually been fun being trailer trash, not having any stuff is quite liberating. We are leaving today around 11 am, or as soon as the poop man arrives and takes it all away. Tal-y is raring to go.
Ok first day over, well the driving anyway. Arrived at Acton (Soledad Canyon). Didn’t go to far today, just wanted to get through LA and out of the traffic. Had a quiet evening just walking the dog. Had a little problem with the electric, but nothing that going outside and flipping the switch couldn’t fix. I had to wake Mike around 1am cos the switch needed flipping (I think he put his pjs on to go outside, I didn’t hear any screams anyway). The first night away from San Diego, out in the middle of nowhere was a little scary, I didn’t realise it could be that quiet and that dark – hence the need for Mike to flip the switch, I needed the night light on to go to sleep! Had a fairly uneventful night apart from that, except from the freight trains going past and freaking Tal-y out of bed what seemed like every 30 minutes or so.

Mike: "Becc, It’s (See the USA in a Chevrolet) and I don’t have any PJ’s.

Well it’s finally here; the last day of work before the big adventure begins is over; the final emotional day of an emotional and weepy couple of weeks. Gonna miss everyone at work almost as much as Tal-y will miss them. Very mixed feelings, I am super excited about leaving and seeing the USA, but it’s hard to leave behind the ‘American/Mexican/Filipino’ family that I’ve been blessed to have for the past years. Roll on tomorrow!


Mike: "I’ll miss everyone too!"