Staying in Redding

With 40 MPH winds with sheets of rain throughout the day, we decided to layover another day in Redding. It's not the California coast but we are safe and dry.

Change of Plans

October 12, 2009

Why is it that we do not celebrate Lief Ericson Day? Wasn’t he here 500 years before Columbus? And Columbus never set foot on what is now considered US soil. There is plenty of evidence that Lief did.

We’ve had a change in plans. The beauty of life in an RV. One source listed 40 MPH winds. Another mentioned gusts up to 70 MPH. One source listed 2-4 inches of rain in the next three days. Another mentioned up to 8 inches. It looks like the coast is up for a major storm. If we were sitting snug in a condo with a fire in the fireplace and view of the beach we would enjoy the weather. But given that we are in a RV and given Barb’s health status, we abandoned the beach plans. Also, we were to cross the coast range two times. It looks like there may be some significant weather in those mountains in the next 3 days.

Yes, we are disappointed. We wanted to revisit the area that we wandered through on the way to Kate and Steve’s wedding in 05. The giant trees and the beautiful bays and inlets are unique biomes, true art forms of our Creator. But our goal is Yosemite. We chose to go the comfortable way, one in which Barb can have time to heal.

Tonight we are in Redding. This area is in severe drought. Rain is expected tonight. The locals are excited for their first rain since spring. It was an easy 140 miles down I5. Barb still has a headache and a deep cough. Her energy has improved but she still lacks the spunk that defines her. Tomorrow we have another 160 miles and we will hunker down near Sacramento. We do not leave for Yosemite until Saturday.

Picture of Shasta Lake today.

Leaving Medford

We are leaving Medford and heading west then south today. Barb still has a lingering headache and sore throat. Some of her energy has returned but she is not her normal self. In our three nights here, she has not left the campsite. Thankfully the 70ish sun and the babbling creek with frolicking mallards that swim by the front of our RV has given Barb some refuge in which to heal.

I did drive out to Jacksonville Saturday morning. This historic town has kept it's charm and style. Once the largest town in southern Oregon, Jacksonville was the site of a gold find in the mid 1800's.Many of the present day buildings date to 1850. It's boomtown past has its sordid element. Chinese workers were imported to work the mines and blatant racism occasionally raised its head in violence. On one occasion a drunken miner fired on a group of unarmed Chinese men walking down the street. One Chinese man was killed. The miner was arrested and charged with the unlawful discharge of a firearm within the city limits.

Because of Barb's health situation we did not attend any plays. I was able to have lunch with my cousin Diane.

We plan to take two days to drive to Fort Bragg, CA the plan to arrive near Sacramento on Thursday.

Up before dawn

It's 4 a.m. Because Barb is sick, she is in the bed in the bedroom, I have the sofa next to the dog. We have had four dogs in our 40 years together. Bubba, our last dog, was with us from '93. He traveled well and he was 10 when we got the RV. He required little work/exercise and he knew the routines of RV life. He died the spring before our big US trip.

We now have a pup, Loki. Loki is the Norse mythology character whose defining characteristic is mischief. At our home, Loki sleeps in the garage. In the RV, with me on the sofa, Loki is just a few feet away. It is 4 a.m. and he wants to play. I had forgotten how much work a pup is.

Listed below are the swine flu symptoms. Barb has them all.

Swine Flu Symptoms

According to the CDC, like seasonal flu, symptoms of swine flu infections can include:

• fever, which is usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, is sometimes absent
• cough
• runny nose or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme

Thankfully. Barb is experiencing no vomiting or other gastrointestinal complications.

Barb remains to be the trooper that she is. She doesn't complain. Her resolve is to heal. She dealt with an infection while traveling in India and bruises and scars from the accident in Indonesia. Hopefully this will only be a minor setback on this venture.

Back to sleep for me. Loki is now curled up on his sleeping mat.

Medford

Arrived in Medford by midafternoon. Barb's cold or flu has intensified so we will stay close to the RV park to get healthy. We plan to stay three nights and hope to visit Jacksonville, a historic village near here. Also hope to see cousin Diane and family however will not make those efforts if Barb is fluish. Meanwhile the campsite overlooks a babbling creek but a block away is a MacDonald's, 4 coffee huts, and the bike trail that runs for several miles through the valley. We can hunker here comfortably. There is cable TV and all those football games tomorrow...

Gresham

Thompson Farms was in full array today. Dahlias, pumpkins, lettuce, and probably another 20+ marketable produce. We arrive in time for Barb to have her walk, I to have my bike ride, and a family dinner at Vicki's and Ed's, who so welcome us each time we are in town. Tonight we are attached to an outdoor outlet at the family farm. Tomorrow we are Medford bound.

National Park Bound

We are heading out tomorrow, hopefully. Barb is feeling a bit under the weather today. It may be the onset of grandparent/grandchild separation syndrome. Janie is here today as we pack. We will see Jensen tonight as we return Janie, then drive to the Gresham farm tomorrow. The goal of this trip is Yosemite though some family visits, some California coast, and some Shakespeare may be in order as well. The Burns video on PBS over the last few weeks has heightened our anticipation. I have always been in awe of the parks as we visit them. It is even more meaningful now as we have learned of the sacrifices and efforts made by individuals to set aside these pristine environs as a natural state for eternity.