North to Alaska … Day 1 – Monday 5/3/10 to Grants Pass, OR
We couldn’t ask for a better start to our 24 day trek to Wasilla, Alaska. For the most part the weather and traffic cooperated to the max. Nice warm day in the mid 70s until we reached the outskirts of Lake Shasta and beyond. Cloudy with some showers until we stopped for the night at Jack’s Landing RV in Grants Pass, Oregon. Saw more CHPs today then probably all our trips up North. Guess they need the money since it’s the first part of the month. Thank goodness for my radar detector … saved me some big bucks today.
It was wonderful seeing Lake Shasta full!!! When I first saw the lake 2 years ago it was no more than a mud puddle and the end of the boat ramps were hundreds of yards away from the water. But now – Lake Shasta is full again and waiting for the crowds that are sure to follow this summer.
Stopped in Weed, CA for a splash of diesel and could only see portions of Mount Shasta cause the top was under cloud cover and it appeared that it was snowing. Check out this photo of Mount Shasta. It was only a short skip to the Oregon border and Karen took this photo of the crossing.
Tomorrow we continue our Trek and will be stopping in Portland, Oregon for the night. Hope to get there early enough so that we can take in a few sights and sounds. We’ve driven through Portland many times but have never really checked anything out.
Titanium West Coast 2010 Rally – Morgan Hill, CA – Day 1
We had plenty of time yesterday to drive around and check out the local activities and shops. Karen found 2 quilt shops to wet her whistle with and found some much needed (LOL) materials to add to her stash!! The weather right now is about 70 degrees and would really be pleasant if it wasn’t for the wind. Wind, however, is something you’ll not get rid of this time of year. Decided to have a leisurely lunch at a local sidewalk cafe in the center of the Old Town Morgan Hill district. Chose to stay off Highway 101 and take in some of the scenic routes and enjoy the farming communities.
The Rally festivities started with a wonderfully entertaining Welcoming Party packed with great appetizers and fellowship. Out of around 30 Titaniums, there are about 6 of us newbies enjoying our very first Titanium West Coast Rally. Many of us then met around the camp fire to swap stories and experiences. The first liar never stood a chance. We had 3 propane campfires to help us keep warm from the wind.
Titanium West Coast 2010 Rally – Morgan Hill, CA
Arrived yesterday afternoon after a leisurely stress less drive from home. Chose to come down I-5 to CA-152 West, over Pacheco Pass, through Gilroy, and come into Morgan Hill on US 101 North. It’s about 20 miles longer but I didn’t have to deal with the traffic on I-205 through Tracy, I-580 through Livermore, I-680 through San Jose, and US 101. There’s a lot to be said for not dealing with drivers in the Bay Area while towing a 5er.
My first impressions of the Coyote Valley RV Resort have been very positive. The friendly staff has been very helpful and their assistance when parking the Titanium (Ti) was greatly appreciated since I needed to back up blind on the driver’s side due to the design of the park. After visiting the amenities and dealing with the staff, it’s easy to see why it’s so highly rated by Good Sam.
As a Newbie Ti owner I am looking forward to spending 4 days with about 30 other Ti owners/couples. The Ti is not a unit one readily sees on the road or in parks. This is also our very first Rally and as such we plan to enjoy it to the fullest. Let the festivities begin …
Check out photos of the sleepy community of Titaniums on day 1.
Grants Pass, OR
Under way … shift colors!! Ahoy mateys. Well we’re out and about again heading north again up to the Seattle area. We’ll be staying in South Prairie, WA. It was great getting out of the San Joaquin Valley. Not that I have anything against the valley but today it was foggy and the traffic through Stockton and Sacramento was the pits. Once the fog burned off and we got past Sacramento the rest of the trip was routine. Made good time – traveled 402 miles in a little over 7 hours. Not bad considering that we had to travel up some good grades … and then come down those long 6% grades. Gotto love that GMC 2500HD with the 6.6L Diesel and Allison transmission. Pulling our 41 foot Titanium Fifth Wheel was no problem.
We’re spending the night at Jack’s Landing RV Resort in Grants Pass, OR. Nice park. Well kept, clean facilities, and great friendly staff. It’s next to I-5 and there is traffic noise but not all that bad. Will definitely stay here again. Only cost us $30 but the night with Good Sam discount. Hoping to get underway tomorrow morning a little after 7 AM.
Being on the road again is great. Life is good.
Hells Canyon – Snake River Jet Boat ride
Today we took the ultimate jet boat ride. A 240 mile round trip from Clarkston Washington to Hells Canyon Dam straddling Idaho and Oregon. It lasted a little over 10 hours and Sun Dancer Excursion proved to be a great host. Our driver Gabe was a true professional and I take my hat to him for some great driving. When I say that I take my hat off I really mean it. I bought a nice Sun Dance Excursion hat and on a sharp left hand turn returning home I left said hat in the River. I believe I’m not the first nor will I be the last to lose a hat.
Having cruised the Rogue River and their rapids on Jerry’s Jet boat we were looking forward to new adventures. We quickly learned that the Rogue and Snake Rivers have a personality of their own and that the jet boats used on each river is designed for different purposes. The jets Jerry uses are built more for acrobatics while the jets Sun Dance Excursions uses are built for awesome rapids and hard pounding. We were treated to a variety of rapids, wildlife, rafters, stunning scenery, great food, and many, many showers … Early on I stopped trying to compare the rivers and boats and just enjoyed the experience.
Here are some photos of some of the wildlife. It included osprey, otters, wild turkeys, blue herons, an albino heron, big horn sheep, a herd of big horn sheep, a bear, bald eagle, deer, 3 young big horn sheep males, a variety of birds, and we were treated to the sights of a sturgeon being caught and released. All in all, the wildlife alone would have made it a great trip but in reality it was just the icing on the cake.
The rivers are shared with numbers of rafters and it looks like fun but I think we’ll stick with jet boats. Check out some of the rafters we ran into on the river.
Our trip up to Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River and back to Clarkston, WA started at 7 AM. Here are some photos of the sights and sounds of the trip. For the most part they are self explanatory. There were so many rapids that it almost became second nature but you had to keep your wits about you. Check out the photos of the rapids.
Here are 4 videos of those 2 class 4 and/or 5 rapids near the dam. The first 2 videos are going up river and in the last 2 we are going down river. Going with the current is always a wilder and wetter drive.
Up River Rapids –Video 1 … Video 2 … Down river Rapids – Video 3 … Video 4